Complementary Cancer Care

About

Our Board of Directors

Christina Tecson, LCSW – President
Executive Director / Support Services Director / Social Worker

Christina, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist holding a Master’s Degree in social work, began as a volunteer with Complementary Cancer Care in 2019.  Her experience as a breast cancer survivor and also previous volunteer at several cancer organizations aid her to facilitate support groups and develop a variety of social support and creative expression programs for Complementary Cancer Care.  She was selected as a “Hero of Hope” motivational speaker for American Cancer Society and an advocate for Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s national advocacy program for women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 45.  Her career prior to social work encompassed 20 years in marketing and public relations, including several years working in the nonprofit sector.

Christine Jaehne – Vice President
Support Services Assistant 

Christine Jaehne, a 16-year ovarian cancer survivor, graduated with a bachelor’s in Forensic Psychology and is currently in the process of obtaining a master’s degree in Social Work.  She is a McNair Scholar Alumni.  Christine has been working for the government for 22 years, where she has worked with children for the past 16 years.  She served as a liaison between the federal, state, local, and private sectors.  She is a first responder and trained as a Peer Mentor coordinator. In her role with Complementary Cancer Care, Christine assists with program development and management, as well as facilitates support groups and counsels clients.

Ken VanDyck – Secretary

Ken VanDyck, NHA, REALTOR, SRES grew up in Satellite Beach and has dedicated his career in Brevard County as a Healthcare Administrator and Pandemic Era Start up Business Owner specializing in Senior Living. From Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Home Health and Skilled Nursing, Ken is a well round and versed professional in Senior Living and a great resource with a strong vetted community network of dedicated healthcare professionals built over the last 25+ years in Brevard County.  Ken is proud to be involved with Complementary Cancer Care to honor his father, a former Air Force Serviceman who worked for AFTAC at Patrick Air Force Base, who battled cancer twice in his life.  “I miss him daily.  He stayed positive and was a fighter till the end.”

Mary P Parker – Treasurer

Mary is the owner of Computer Management Corporation, specializing in website design and creating online courses.  Having been referred to Complementary Cancer Care in 2019 by her oncologist, Mary regularly attends our Mind-Body Classes and participates in a variety of our Support and Educational events.  She launched (and maintains) our new website in Jan 2021 and became an Advisory Board Member in 2022.  Mary received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida, is a retired executive bank operations officer, and served on the boards of the local and state non-profit genealogical societies.  As a cancer survivor who was blessed by an abundance of support, Mary is passionate about providing and promoting resources for those along their own cancer journey.

Our Co-Founders

Lorien Neargarder, BSME, C-IAYT, E-RYT500 – Yoga Therapist
Founding Director / Mind-Body Program Director

Lorien holds a degree in mechanical engineering and is a certified yoga therapist who specializes in working with chronic pain and cancer. She provided yoga therapy for Californian cancer programs, such as Stanford Cancer Supportive Care Program, Kaiser Permanente and Good Samaritan Hospital and developed a thriving program that partnered yoga studios with the nonprofit organization Cancer CAREpoint. In 2018 she co-founded Complementary Cancer Care after a move to Brevard County, Florida, where she continues to serve the cancer community with the Mind-Body program.

Amy Fentress, RN, MSN, OCN, RYT – Oncology Nurse & Health Coach
Founding Director / Education & Navigation Program Director

Amy holds a master’s degree in Clinical Nurse Education, is an Oncology Certified Nurse and Certified Holistic Cancer Coach as well as a 200-hour certified yoga teacher. She has been a nurse for 31 years and became passionate about oncology nursing 17 years ago, working in many capacities as an oncology nurse including chemotherapy infusion, management, pharmaceutical educator, case management, and most recently Co-Founder of Complementary Cancer Care Inc.  She has worked at Florida Cancer Specialist, The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Cancer Center of Kansas, and Space Coast Cancer Center.  Amy is a member of American Holistic Nurses Association and Oncology Nurses Society. She also is a member of Lighthouse Christian Church. Amy began offering free yoga classes for cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors in 2017; the positive impact of these classes led to building the Complementary Cancer Care nonprofit. Through her “Seeds of Hope” program with Complementary Cancer Care Amy provides free education, navigation, and inspiration services to cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors.

Advisory Board Members

Nancy Bindig – Complementary Cancer Care art instructor, owner of Nancy Bindig Art

Elise Pearce, DPT – Complementary Cancer Care physical therapist, owner of Live Gracefully Physio and Wellness

Janet McKune – Complementary Cancer Care wig boutique manager, owner of Wig Diva

Taylor Aldrich, BSN, RN — oncology nurse, certified in chemo and bio therapy administration

Renee Gates – oncology liaison at Cancer Care Centers of Brevard

Robin Krasny, LMT#7734, BS, psychology – massage therapist, yoga instructor, Reiki practitioner, life coach

Gail Dunbar, LCSW – social worker

Melinda Sands – cancer survivor, leader of Space Coast Survivors breast cancer empowerment and social group

Patty Molitoris – cancer survivor

Karen Pesta – cancer survivor