Kevin Honeycutt was named CEO and president of Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy in December 2018. His principal role is to help realize and enhance the vision of the organization’s 2001 co-founders, Barbara Netter and her late husband Edward, and to spearhead the organization’s focus on funding the next generation of challenges brought by metastatic cancers and solid tumors while continuing to build organizational alliances and joint ventures. 

Prior to joining the organization, Mr. Honeycutt served as the president and CEO of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, executive director of the Avon Foundation for Women and in a variety of consulting roles through his firm, Honeycutt Partners, including projects for the American Diabetes Association, the New Venture Fund, the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and other leading nonprofit organizations. 

Mr. Honeycutt serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Cancer Institute and Friends of Mozart. He is a past Board member of the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, University of California, Los Angeles. 

Named for the 1965 hit song by the Beach Boys, Barbara Ann Lavery has a passion for creativity. Whether she’s transforming the landscapes of Ireland, Iceland and California into large-scale abstract paintings or finding and funding life-changing opportunities to cure cancer, Ms. Lavery is guided by an inspired sense of appreciation for innovation. 

“Cell and gene therapies embrace an entirely new paradigm,” says Ms. Lavery whose years of experiences with non-profit and for-profit organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions helped build her framework of knowledge in life sciences. “Since its inception, Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy has led the way in recognizing and advancing revolutionary new ideas that really matter.” 

As chief program officer, Ms. Lavery is responsible for programmatic initiatives, including leadership of the Academic Research Program and the Biotechnology Investment Program. “This is my dream job,” says Ms. Lavery. “It combines science and research with business development and venture philanthropy in a forward-thinking, non-profit environment that’s dedicated to brilliant people who are finding creative new solutions to some of cancer’s toughest challenges. I love it!” 

Sharon DaCosta joins the team at Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy with more than 15 years of administrative experience. She joined in November as the organization’s Foundation Administrator.

Ms. DaCosta served as administrative assistant or executive assistant in various industries such as finance and hospitality. She has an emotional connection for the work done at non-profit organizations like Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, which is dedicated to researching new avenues to create a cancer-free future.

“It’s meaningful to me because I’ve lost family members to cancer,” says Ms. DaCosta, “and I really feel working for a non-profit is more meaningful than working for a large corporation. I feel more purposeful in what I do on a daily basis.”

She handles administrative duties for Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, including but not limited to management of the donor database, prepare donor communications, oversight of grant requests and payment timelines, assistance with external communication efforts, such as email newsletters and donor correspondence, and help with event planning and management.

Nearly three years before Devin Golden joined Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, he began his first job in the field of cancer. He worked for more than two years as a content specialist for a mesothelioma patient advocacy organization, where he grew a deep passion for helping people affected by all types of cancer. This inspires him to join the team with Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy as the Content Manager.

“I feel this vision – a cancer-free future – is my calling,” says Mr. Golden, who earned a journalism degree in 2010 and worked for various news publications for six years before transitioning to digital marketing. “Pretty quickly upon producing content related to cancer, I became invested in new therapies and treatment options. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, gene therapy and T-cell therapy are the next frontier in cancer treatment.”

Mr. Golden is responsible for producing and maintaining all external communication efforts. He plans to use his digital marketing and content production experience to raise awareness of Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy initiatives, including grant funding for research and clinical trials. He hopes his efforts, along with those of his colleagues, will usher in a cancer-free future for mankind.

“The work being done by organizations like Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy is work I want to do to help people who have been told for years they have no options aside from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation,” says Mr. Golden.