The USCAP Team

Melissa Russo joined the team in 2022 as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, and was appointed Interim EVP and CEO September 2025. She received a B.A. in economics from UCLA, and an M.A. in Art History from the University of Illinois, and holds the credential of Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). She has over 30 years in nonprofit and government agency leadership, specializing in administration, fundraising, program development, event management, and public and government relations. She was previously Director of the San Bernardino County Museum, garnering a record number of National Association of Counties (NACo) excellence awards during her tenure. She also served as Director of Institutional Advancement at Chabot Space & Science Center, Executive Director of the Western Museums Association, and Corporate Treasury Officer for National Westminster Bank, PLC. She has extensive experience serving on nonprofit boards including those that promote education, business, cultural arts, and social justice that serve at-risk and exploited youth.

Melissa is an avid photographer, with goals to capture images on every continent of the world traveling with her husband from their home base in Rancho Mirage. Between them they have four grown children.

Krista Cairns joined the USCAP family in July 2015. She has 25 plus years of experience working in public, private and government education systems. Krista holds a B.S. in Social Psychology and a M.A. in Education, Curriculum and Instruction. She prides herself on being a lifelong learner and passionate educator of learners of all ages. Krista resides in Augusta, GA where the USCAP home office was located for over 40 years.

Outside of work, Krista enjoys spending time with her husband, their adult children, and grandchildren. The Cairns family are animal lovers and currently have four rescue dogs and one cat.

Robin Costello is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and has more than 20 years of experience in hospitality management. Prior to joining USCAP, she worked as an Event Planner for the nation’s largest non-profit addiction treatment organization, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Robin has been on sales and marketing teams supporting convention services and event management for the Palm Springs Desert Resorts Communities Convention and Visitors Authority. She is responsible for the site selections and logistics of all the USCAP meetings. 

Robin has been married for 20 years and has two children. She enjoys hiking, watching soccer, traveling and spending time with her family.

John Doyle joined USCAP in 2024 as Director of Member Services. Originally from the United Kingdom, he has more than 10 years of experience working in membership associations. He received a BA in History from the University of Manchester and a MSc in Global Marketing from the University of Liverpool. He started his membership management journey working for the Intensive Care Society in London, before moving to the United States where he found a new professional home at the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

John gains great satisfaction from improving the member experience and finding ways to build association communities. In his free time, he likes spending time with his wife and daughter, traveling, walking the family dog and watching soccer and cricket.

Christian Giangreco received his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and his Master’s degree in Public Health from UCLA. After working as an Epidemiologist for the LA County Department of Health Services, he began working for a number of Internet eCommerce companies as a developer, project manager, and director of technology. In 2001, he started a Web hosting company (RIS Technology) that supported such clients as Nissan, Sanyo, The Recording Academy (GRAMMY.com), and Gatorade. After the successful sale of his hosting company, he was hired to build out the Managed Services practice at Guidance Solutions. Most recently, he worked for the County of San Bernardino, Department of Behavioral Health implementing a replacement to their legacy Finance system and a new Electronic Health Records system. Christian will be focusing his talents with the Information Technology and Digital Development projects.

Feel free to challenge him on his 80’s music and film trivia.

Daniela Gómez joined USCAP in 2018, bringing membership skills that enhance her member engagement and relationship-building in Fundraising and Development. She earned her Certification in Fundraising Management (CFRM) from the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and is currently pursuing her Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation. Daniela manages the Advancement’s fundraising initiatives and programs, focusing on building strong, meaningful relationships with donors and members. She is committed to inspiring them to understand the importance and impact of giving back to the pathology community.

Daniela is a true crime enthusiast with a passion for plants and nature. As a devoted cat lover, she shares her home with her three rescue cats.

Stacie Hargett originally joined the USCAP in November of 2012. Stacie supports Robin Costello, the Director of Conferences and Events, in the logistical planning of the Annual Meeting and USCAP’s stand-alone meetings. With a B.A. in Communications from Augusta University, she enjoys the opportunity to work with talented people from around the globe and is honored to work for such an internationally renowned organization.

Stacie enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, exploring new restaurants, exercising, and volunteering to help stray animals.

Michelle Jensen joined USCAP in 2025, bringing more than 25 years of comprehensive accounting experience. An Oregon native, she holds a B.S. in Business Management and Marketing from Oregon State University and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Accounting from Linfield College.

In 2020, she and her husband bought an RV, sold their belongings, and spent several years traveling full-time. In 2024, they decided to put down roots in Cathedral City, where they now live with their two border collies. She loves returning to Oregon to visit her two daughters and grandchildren as often as possible. When she’s not working, Michelle enjoys hiking, fishing, and—after years on the road—being able to plant flowers and care for a yard again.

Dr. Ketcham has been the Managing Editor of Laboratory Investigation since 2003 and of Modern Pathology since 2009. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Florida and was a postdoctoral fellow at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She then spent seven years in the San Diego biotechnology community focusing on manufacturing issues and business development. Upon returning to the University of Florida, she held research and development positions at the Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, and then joined the Pathology department to manage Laboratory Investigation. After relocating to Atlanta, Catherine founded Ketcham Solutions, which was contracted to edit both journals.

She has traveled extensively throughout China and Japan, speaking about scientific publishing and promoting the journals. She is now based at USCAP in Palm Springs. 

Claire Kilfoyle joined USCAP in 2017 as Director of Education. She has over ten years of experience in medical education. With a background that includes working with neuroscientists, microbiologists, and endocrinologists, she is well versed in providing top notch education to physicians and scientists. Claire truly enjoys working with members to develop and execute educational activities. She has also worked on many strategic initiatives throughout her career including the development of regional and international programs and fostering relationships with global partners.

Tricia La Marca joined USCAP in 2025, bringing more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Prior to USCAP, she spent eight years at The Conference Board, a global nonprofit business membership and research organization, where she led major business units including U.S. Events and peer-networking Councils. Her background includes executive, consulting, and business development roles in the human capital services industry. She has also served as President of the National Association of Women MBAs and Toastmasters International, and remains an active advocate for arts education and underserved students. Tricia holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a B.A. in Music from California State University, Fullerton.

She lives in La Quinta with her husband and enjoys fine art, music, and international travel.

Andrea Lindhardt joined the USCAP team in 2022 as an Education Coordinator, focusing on the Palm Springs Live Interactive Microscopy Courses. She holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and an A.S. in Administrative Management. Andrea has worked in various positions within the hospitality field, including front office, group reservations, accounting, and has extensive experience in office management.

Andrea was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary and moved to the United States in her late teens. She is passionate about continuous education, health and wellness, hiking, and traveling.

Susanna Martinez joined USCAP in July 2017 and currently serves as the Senior Education and Programs Coordinator. In this role, she oversees the development and management of educational content for USCAP’s eLearning Center, supports faculty for the Interactive Center and Destination Courses, and serves as the staff liaison to the American Board of Pathology’s Test Development Advisory Committee (TDAC). Susanna’s background is rooted in the arts—she studied music in Los Angeles and earned certification in Audio Engineering and Production. A signed recording artist and former studio owner in Palm Springs, she cultivated a strong entrepreneurial mindset and a deep appreciation for continuous growth, both personally and professionally.

Outside of work, Susanna enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, tackling home renovation projects, and training their two energetic Australian Cattle Dogs.

Deanna Over joined USCAP in August 2025, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in publishing, editing, and media. A lifelong learner with wide-ranging interests, she earned her B.A. from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. Previously, she served as Senior Journal Manager at Elsevier for Modern Pathology, Laboratory Investigation, and other respected titles where she oversaw production operations, improved time-to-publication metrics, and supported peer-review integrity. Deanna sees peer-reviewed publishing as a bridge between rigorous scholarship and real-world impact, and she is dedicated to supporting authors, reviewers, and editors throughout the publishing process. Also intrigued by data visualization and analytics, she earned multiple Tableau certifications and is pursuing a Master of Data Analytics from Southern New Hampshire University.

She lives in Newark, Delaware, with her family and cats, and enjoys concerts, cruising, exploring new places, and all things hockey.

Dillon Phillips, a Palm Springs native with an inherent passion for all things tech, has cultivated his love for innovation into a self-coded mobile app designed for language learning. With a background in supporting small businesses through impactful IT solutions, Dillon brings a unique blend of technical expertise and commitment to driving efficient operations and embracing the many possibilities of technology.

Beyond all things tech he finds solace in motorcycling and the artistry of photography.

Teresa Powers has been a member of the USCAP team since August of 2012, and supports activities associated with member acquisition and retention. Teresa also provides seamless constituent satisfaction with USCAP meetings related to pre- and post-registration efforts. Teresa previously worked with other nonprofit organizations and has years of experience dedicated to a member-centered approach to service.

Teresa lives in South Carolina. She is married and has one daughter who is attending Georgia Southern University. Teresa is an animal lover who enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, spending time outdoors, and cheering on the Clemson Tigers.

Alex Pugh joined USCAP in August 2025 as the Information Technology Analyst. He earned his M.S. in Computer Science from Ball State University, his M.P.A. from Augusta University, and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Tennessee. He holds Security+ and Network+ certifications from CompTIA. Alex has been developing software for 5 years, and enjoys using these skills to solve problems, improve user experiences, and support USCAP’s digital initiatives.

Originally from Evans, Georgia, he moved to California in 2023. In his free time, he enjoys learning more about graphics programming and game development, and relaxing at home with his cat, Momo.

Antonette Stegen joined USCAP in July 2024. She has over 30 years of professional experience in a variety of industries, specializing in office administration and project management, with skills in computerized systems plus a strong accounting background. Antonette most recently worked at California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, Desert Oasis Healthcare and Princess Cruises.

Antonette was born in the Philippines, raised in San Pedro, and currently resides in Cathedral City with her husband as new empty nesters since their child started college out of state in the fall of 2025. She enjoys fun with family and friends, travel, music, food, plants, and hiking/exploring national parks.

Sean Stevens joined USCAP in 2026 as Director of Marketing and Communications. He has over a decade of experience supporting nonprofit medical associations with their marketing and digital content needs. Prior to joining USCAP, he worked at the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Thoracic Society.

In his free time, Sean enjoys reading (predominantly fantasy, science fiction, and horror), video, board, and tabletop games, watching hockey and baseball, and spending time outdoors. He lives in Portland, ME, with his fiancé and their cat, Tom.