Beyond Boobs! is one big happy family, but it is also a business. In addition to a host of amazing volunteers, BB! has been blessed with a group of talented, hardworking staff members who are truly the backbone of the organization. Because of their love and dedication, we are able to continue our mission of providing encouragement and support to young women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Staff members work behind the scenes to make sure all of our events run smoothly, and they take care of the millions of not-so-sexy, but just as valuable, details of running a business. Most important, they are there for our Boobers!, helping them live life with an exclamation point!
We share so much of our lives with our staff. Spending time with these amazing women and getting to know them and their families is a joy. And now it is our great privilege to introduce them to you. In the coming weeks, the blog will feature profiles of our staff members – the women behind the boobs.
In January of 2014, Lisa Marshall began a new chapter in her life. Recently divorced, she had retired from her 30-year teaching career and her daughter Eme was away at college. She was also celebrating 10 years as a breast cancer survivor. It must have been fate, then, that led her to BB!’s booth at the MyTime Women’s Show in Hampton, Virginia.
“I was drawn to their booth,” Lisa said. “It just radiated energy.”
That day Lisa met Vicki Vawter, BB!’s Events and Community Relations Manager, as well as Gale Bryant, a BB! volunteer. The three hit it off right away, and by the time Lisa returned home she had received an e-mail from Gale about volunteer opportunities. Lisa became a “Tuesday Tag Team” (T3) volunteer and is now a Full-Support Volunteer for Events and Corporate Liaison.
As a volunteer, Lisa jumps in to help with any number of events BB! hosts or attends each year. In fact, one year after she met Vicki and Gale, she was manning the booth at the MyTime Women’s Show. Lisa spends a great deal of her time preparing for the “Breast” Ball Golf tournament, as well as the Pink Carpet Gala. She has also traveled with BB! cofounders René Bowditch and Mary Beth Gibson to out-of-state conferences related to breast cancer.
“The spirit of Beyond Boobs! fills my heart,” Lisa said. “The unconditional love they have for survivors is tremendous. If I can help with events that raise money to support this group, then I want to do that.”
Lisa lives in Newport News with her daughter, Eme, and a miniature dachshund named Pretzel. Lisa enjoys crafting and cooking, especially Cajun food that reminds her of her Louisiana heritage. She also loves to travel.
“I never seem to run out of things to do,” Lisa said. “I live life with an exclamation point, and I want to help others do the same.”