Our mission & vision

Founder.

Advocate.

Educator. 

 Katie’s work is deeply rooted in both lived experience and continued education. After her family was directly impacted by a traumatic brain injury resulting from a pedestrian incident, she experienced firsthand the uncertainty, emotional overwhelm, complex systems, and lack of clear answers that families can face following a life-changing injury.

That experience became the foundation for Katie’s commitment to helping other individuals and families navigate the challenges that can accompany traumatic brain injury at any point of their journey—regardless of how the injury occurred.

In addition to her firsthand lived experience, Katie has completed numerous educational webinars and trainings through the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and continues to expand her knowledge in the field of brain injury advocacy and family support. She has completed coursework and gained experience working with families experiencing crisis, end-of-life circumstances, grief, and loss, giving her a compassionate and family-centered understanding of the emotional challenges that can accompany traumatic and life-altering events.

Katie is also an advocate with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and serves as an Ambassador with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC), further connecting her work to education, resources, and support for individuals and families impacted by disability and brain injury.

She is actively working toward application approval to pursue the Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) credential through the Brain Injury Association of America. This continued education reflects her commitment to strengthening her knowledge and skills so she can provide families with informed, compassionate, and meaningful support.

Katie’s approach is centered on meeting families where they are—providing education, resources, advocacy support, compassionate guidance, and a listening ear during some of the most overwhelming moments of their lives. She recognizes that every brain injury and every family’s journey is different, and she strives to help families better understand their options, find appropriate resources, and feel less alone as they navigate the road ahead.

In addition to her work supporting individuals and families affected by brain injury, Katie leads efforts in distracted driving prevention, pedestrian awareness, and roadway safety education. She is also the lead in creating a series of early street safety education curricula for children and families, as well as distracted driving prevention curricula designed to educate and empower young drivers and their families. Through education, prevention, advocacy, curriculum development, and community outreach, she is committed to helping create safer communities while giving a voice to survivors and families whose lives have been forever changed by preventable roadway incidents.

Her mission is simple: to turn lived experience into knowledge, knowledge into advocacy, and advocacy into meaningful support for families who need it most.

President.

Treasurer.

Parent Advocate.

Jeff's deep commitment to the cause and mission behind this outreach is rooted in personal experience, having witnessed Addi's accident, fight for life & her journey thus far gives Jeff a unique heart for supporting Dad's navigating the initial shock and long-term journey of trauma.

While Jeff’s professional background is in real estate & entrepreneurship his true calling lies in theology and ministry. Outside of his leadership roles, Jeff is a dedicated father who works alongside Katie to expand the reach and impact of their mission. 

Vice President.

 Youth Community Outreach.

Teen advocate.

 Amber brings a wealth of civic leadership to the outreach. A dedicated public servant, Amber is a city councilwoman and former vice mayor, providing the board with invaluable expertise in local governance and community advocacy.

Amber’s commitment to the mission is deeply personal, rooted in a shared journey of navigating life after tragedy. As a mother of three—one being an angel heaven side—she serves as a specialized family advocate offering profound empathy and support to mothers who have experienced loss. In her dual role, she spearheads youth education initiatives and community events, leveraging her political and personal background to drive systemic change for Addi's Miracle Foundation - Survivors against distracted driving.

Secretary.

 Crisis Advocate.

Community outreach manager.

Cristeena brings a robust background in administrative operations and a deep personal commitment to the organization’s mission. Her 18-year history of collaboration with the leadership team provides a foundation of trust and shared vision that is central to the board's success.

With specialized experience in domestic violence advocacy and mental health support, Cristeena is a calming force for families in high-pressure situations. As Community Outreach Manager, she excels at connecting people with essential resources, ensuring that no one has to navigate their challenges alone. Her dual expertise in organizational governance and direct crisis intervention makes her an indispensable asset to the families we will meet along the way.

City Advocate - Maricopa/Pinal County
 

Tena Dugan joins Addi’s Miracle Foundation’s Leadership Board as a dedicated community advocate and longtime Maricopa resident with a deep commitment and understanding of importance to roadway safety and family support.

As a former Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputy, Tena brings valuable firsthand experience in public safety, crisis response, and community advocacy, along with a strong, caring passion for distracted driving prevention and pedestrian safety.

With a special concern for the safety and well-being of families in her own city, Tena has long been an advocate for safer roads and stronger community awareness around preventable traffic tragedies.

In her role with Addi’s Miracle Foundation, she will aid in our efforts to strengthen our city and community outreach efforts by keeping our outreach board informed on key local meetings, roadway safety concerns, and events that align with our mission.

Tena will also serve as a powerful voice for families navigating the aftermath of traumatic pedestrian and distracted driving incidents—helping ensure they feel seen, supported, and connected to our outreach for the support and the resources they need. Her leadership, local insight, and heart for service make her an invaluable addition to our board and our mission.

Safety Coordinator Specialist.

 Chief Mark Goodman brings over 30 years of distinguished experience as a first responder and law enforcement leader. Currently serving as the Police Chief for the City of Maricopa, his career has been defined by a commitment to community protection and the evolution of public safety protocols.

Chief Goodman’s involvement is driven by a deep alignment with the organization’s mission to combat distracted driving and improve pedestrian safety. "Katie truly has a special mission born from her personal journey," says Chief Goodman. "I look forward to engaging with families to discuss the critical importance of street safety and the preventable dangers of distracted driving." His dual perspective as a seasoned law enforcement executive and a solution-oriented advocate is instrumental in the board’s efforts to enhance safety for all. 

Public Relations.

Community Outreach Specialist.

Elias joined the leadership board after a career-defining experience covering Addi's story as an at the time local journalist. Through his reporting on  pedestrian & distracted driving fatalities, he found a profound professional alignment with the mission and & goals with Addi's Miracle Foundation - Survivors against distracted driving.

Today, Elias applies his decade of experience in traffic and public safety reporting and journalism to his role as Public relations and community outreach specialist. He is dedicated to using his background in media and the legal system to champion TBI advocacy, distracted driving prevention and pedestrian awareness in effort to create safer streets for everyone.

Lead director of advocacy & education council

Bio  coming soon!

 Chaplain.

Crisis support.

 We are honored to have Brian on our board, where he serves as a chaplain and crisis support advocate. Brian’s journey with our outreach began when he met Katie & Addi during her acute rehabilitation admission, and he has been a steadfast supporter of the mission behind Addi's Miracle Foundation - Survivors against distracted driving ever since.

Based in Phoenix, Brian brings a wealth of wisdom from his dual career as a Chaplain at Phoenix Children's Hospital and a member of the Reserves. He provides a steady, caring hand for families in crisis, offering a "calm presence" and spiritual support when it is needed most. Brian’s leadership helps keep our outreach initiatives on the right path, ensuring we serve our community with the highest level of empathy and care.

Communications & Marketing photographer

Dayna serves as the board’s visual content specialist, bringing a unique "story-first" approach to the organization’s mission. Having been a dedicated supporter of the TBI advocacy journey since its inception, Dayna combines her deep understanding of the cause with her passion for photography. 

Impact Partner - Director 1  

 Kara’s journey with Addi's Miracle Foundation began in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where she watched Addi fight for her life surrounded by phenomenal nurses and dedicated medical teams. Kara found herself profoundly moved by the strength of families and the medical professionals and everyone  who rallied around support each one of them. Today, she translates that inspiration into aspiring a feature as a pediatric intensive care or Neonatal intensive care nurse herself. 

Wanting to give back to families that have had their lives turned upside down or altered forever, encouraged her to step into a role that gives back and that she can channel her creativity and determination into building high-impact campaigns that bridge the gap between awareness and action. Kara has a natural talent for connecting people and ideas, she specializes in developing engaging, heartfelt fundraising initiatives that drives growth within the outreach bringing added support to the families who need it most. 

Impact Partner - Director 2

Paisley is a founding member of the board who approaches every challenge with thoughtfulness. She comes with a cheerful & lovable personality that brings people together.

Paisley channels her imaginative ideas into meaningful projects that go far beyond meeting fundraising goals—they tell a story of resilience and joy.

Paisley’s empathetic soul is the driving force behind her work. She is dedicated to creating "one meaningful fundraising campaigns that ensure that the outreach mission message of prevention, safety and support reaches the hearts of the communities everywhere. Her natural artistic gift  and her commitment to helping others make her a perfect fit for our mission to support survivors and advocate for safer streets now and in future.