Meet our chapter board
Our chapter is governed by a volunteer board of directors, responsible for planning, creating and implementing strategies and tactics in service to our mission. While they have a wide range of backgrounds, they share a commitment to our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia®. Over the next year, we’ll be introducing you to them and sharing what inspired them to become involved.
Nancy Westcott, Chair
Nancy Westcott first learned of the Alzheimer’s Association® through a business colleague who was on the chapter board of directors. He invited her to attend a fundraising luncheon for the Alzheimer’s Association. Nancy said that she walked away from the luncheon not just as a donor, but as someone who “recognized the significance of the disease, the impact on caregivers and the threat to families and the nation.”
Nancy was asked to be on the chapter finance committee in 2014 and to join the board in 2015. It was a natural fit, given her background. As a finance professional for medical device companies, Nancy understood the healthcare field. Her family has also been affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Ernie, Nancy’s brother-in-law, was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 60.
Nancy currently serves as our board chair and participates on a number of committees. She has been an active leader of our chapter’s involvement in The Longest Day®, having co-chaired the planning committee along with her husband, Bart. An avid ballroom dancer, Nancy worked with Arthur Murray Dance Studios to help them become a Global Team for The Longest Day.
Having worked in the corporate world for 35 years, Nancy has experience with a variety of companies. “I am thrilled to be involved with such a well-run organization that is so dedicated to making a difference,” she says. Being on the Board “is some of the most rewarding work I’ve done.”
Anne Hinton
Anne Hinton of Redwood City has been a board member since 2016 and currently serves as Board Secretary. As head of the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services for 11 years, Anne had the opportunity to work closely with Alzheimer’s Association staff. They worked together to improve services for people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Under Anne’s leadership the City of San Francisco was the first city in the country to develop a multi-year plan to address Alzheimer’s.
Besides her volunteer leadership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Anne is also an AARP Senior Volunteer Advisor and is a board member of Self Help for the Elderly and the Institute on Aging. She is also currently a volunteer advisor for the Region 4 Area Agency on Aging as they develop their four-year plan with a focus on Alzheimer’s.
Anne’s interests include public policy, programs, and equity and inclusion. She has served on our chapter committees that reflect those interests. When asked what she is most proud of related to her Alzheimer’s Association board activity, Anne mentioned the work the board has done to increase the diversity of its board.
Marc Loupe
Marc Loupe, a partner at CFOs2GO, has served on our board since 2019. Marc is currently a member of the board leadership committee and is the finance liaison. Marc serves on not just one, but on two Walk to End Alzheimer’s® planning committees, for Sonoma – Marin and Napa.
Marc’s younger brother, Jean, was born with Down syndrome and later developed dementia. Later, Marc’s mother also developed dementia. While helping to care for his brother and mother, Marc heard a radio ad for the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) and decided to call. “I was so moved,” said Marc. “The people on the other side of the phone really cared. They told me how to navigate finding a care setting for my mom and taught me about memory loss. In a 15 to 30-minute conversation, I felt mobilized, capable, and I knew I could call back if I fumbled. They gave me direct resources that I could use. They told me, if you need help call us back. I’ve never had a call like that in my life.”
After benefiting from Alzheimer’s Association services, Marc was inspired to volunteer. Marc educates other businesses on the impact of dementia on their employees and encourages them to support the Alzheimer’s Association.
Courtney McCrea
Chapter board member Courtney Russell McCrea has firsthand experience with the troubles families face getting an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Her father was originally placed in an alcohol rehab center, where the head of the center recognized the dementia symptoms and encouraged her father to see a neurologist. He was diagnosed in 2013 and died in 2015. Courtney says, “The lack of awareness for such a common disease is appalling. So is the lack of a proper diagnosis. Even after he was diagnosed, everyone I told said it was impossible to diagnose Alzheimer’s without an autopsy and that it must not be true.”
Inspired by an Alzheimer’s Association Facebook post about volunteer opportunities, Courtney reached out to see how she could get involved. “Given my background and my interests, I was put on the public policy team and shortly thereafter became the Ambassador for Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s offices.” A few years later, in 2018, Courtney joined the board. She serves on our public policy and advocacy committee and our volunteer advisory task force.
Courtney is the co-founder and managing partner of Recast Capital in San Francisco, a platform supporting and investing in emerging managers in venture. Courtney has an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BA in economics from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
When asked about her board experience, Courtney told us, “I am quite proud of the success of the Alzheimer’s Association advocacy work in getting attention and resources to address this terrible disease. I am proud of the small, but important role I played in helping to pass bi-partisan bills and increase NIH funding for Alzheimer’s research to over $3.4 billion annually.”
Todd Morris
Chapter board member, Todd Morris, said that his parents inspired him to make an impact and get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association. Todd’s father, Tom, had a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and a successful career in scientific research and education. Tom was dedicated to his family and friends, loved nature and photography, enjoyed music, and was athletic. The Morris family’s lives were tragically changed when Tom was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 55 and passed away when he was 64. Todd’s mom, Ann, left her own career in education when Tom was diagnosed and was a dedicated caregiver to her beloved husband.
Todd initially volunteered as a public policy advocate and participated as a donor and fundraiser in the San Francisco Walk to End Alzheimer’s. In 2016, Todd expanded into a volunteer leadership position, joining our chapter board. In his six years of board service, Todd has served in several leadership roles, including terms as board chair and public policy committee chair. Todd has also consistently been one of the top fundraisers for the San Francisco Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Todd described his board service as “a wonderful and fulfilling experience working with the talented and passionate team at the Alzheimer’s Association. I am honored to have played a small role in the enormous movement to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”
Based in San Francisco, Todd is currently the Founder and Managing Partner at Eucalyptus Growth Partners. He has over 25 years of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity experience, including 20 years with M&A advisory leader Harris Williams.
Diane M. Riccio, PhD
Diane M. Riccio, PhD, first connected with the Alzheimer’s Association in 2014, when she signed up as a team captain for the Silicon Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The mission of the Association is very personal for Diane. She lost her mother, grandmother and uncle to dementia. She also has an aunt who is currently living with dementia.
In 2017, Diane was invited to join the Alzheimer’s Association board. Diane has been very active in our fundraising efforts. She serves on committees for Fund Development and our annual gala, A Bright Night. Diane has continued to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s each year. Since 2017, she has also participated in The Longest Day, by hosting an event and/or raising funds. Diane’s goal is to “raise as much funding as possible to support the full mission of the Alzheimer’s Association.”
With a science background (Diane has a PhD in cell biology) she understands how important research funding is to finding a way to end Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Diane has appreciated the opportunity to support the Association’s role as the world’s largest non-profit funder of Alzheimer’s research. She is a research champion on our board and has attended the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC).
When asked about her board service, Diane said, “My experience has been wonderful. It’s so empowering to volunteer with others who are equally committed to ending Alzheimer’s and all other forms of dementia.”
Cece Sellgren
Cece Sellgren joined our chapter board in July and represents a very important perspective on our board, that of someone who is living with Alzheimer’s. Cece was in her early 50s and working as an environmental manager for Contra Costa County when she found herself struggling at work. It took a lot of personal advocacy and over a year of testing, including an expensive PET scan, before Cece finally received a diagnosis of younger-onset Alzheimer’s in November 2019.
Her physician suggested that she reach out to the Alzheimer’s Association. “The Alzheimer’s Association has been pivotal in my life and has really helped me come to terms with what was going on. I’ve been part of the younger-onset support group with the Alzheimer’s Association. When I walked into my first support group, I felt like I had just made ten new friends and it was just great.”
Besides participating in the support group, Cece has shared her story with the media and participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “Although we have this terrible disease and it’s affecting our capabilities, we are still here and we want to be listened to. The folks I’ve been working with at the Alzheimer’s Association, they really are champions and they get it.”
Valerie Toler
Valerie Toler’s father, Burl Toler, was the first African American official in the National Football League, serving as a field judge and head linesman during his 25 year NFL career. Sadly, Burl died from Alzheimer’s in 2009. Her initial introduction to the Alzheimer’s Association occurred when Valerie was working in the clinical trials/drug safety space with Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy. They participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Valerie became involved with the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of her father and because of the impact that Alzheimer’s has on the African American community. “I know that Alzheimer’s affects African American communities more than others, so I think it’s important,” shared Valerie. Valerie joined our board in 2019 and serves on our public policy and advocacy committee. She has been a team leader at our California Advocacy Day and has participated in our African American Forums.
Valerie currently works as a Project Manager for LabCorp and lives in Hayward. Besides the Alzheimer’s Association, Valerie has volunteered with several other organizations, including Gateway Public Schools, Susan G. Komen, San Francisco Junior League and the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary.
“My volunteer experience has been insightful and I believe impactful,” said Valerie. “I will continue to be a strong advocate for those individuals who are in underserved communities through outreach, advocacy and telling my story.”
Interested in learning how you can get involved? View our entire chapter leadership list and learn more about our volunteer opportunities, including other leadership positions. You can also reach us through our Helpline at 800.272.3900.
