Staff
Jamie Bearse, President and Chief Executive Officer
As CEO, Jamie Bearse oversees the operations and oversight of ZERO. He is an 11-year veteran of the organization who has held many roles and responsibilities within ZERO including Chief Operating Officer and most recently Chief Strategic Officer.
Jamie developed the DASH FOR DAD National Race Series and later merged it with Great Prostate Cancer Challenge to create the premier national men’s health event for prostate cancer, taking place in 33 cities across the U.S. in 2012. He also created ZERO’s endurance team program and was the first individual to participate in the program, by competing in the Marine Corps Marathon in 2008.
During his tenure, Jamie has landed key relationships for ZERO including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and baseball icon Ken Griffey, Sr. and Fortune 500 companies like Kimberly Clark and Amgen. Prior to becoming executive vice president at ZERO, his communications work won the organization several awards from the League of American Communications Professionals, ranking ZERO’s efforts in the Top 50 best PR campaigns in America.
Before joining the non-profit industry, Jamie worked for Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-Boston) on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail. He also worked as an editor and reporter for several newspapers in Massachusetts.
Betsy London, Executive Vice President, Events
Betsy London is the Executive Vice President, Events at ZERO. Betsy directs the Drive Against Prostate Cancer, leading the effort to screen over 110,000 men for prostate cancer. She has formed strategic partnerships with hundreds of hospitals, corporations, media partners and other non-profits to help make the Drive the success that it is today. Prior to joining ZERO, Betsy managed corporate events at Cvent, a technology company located in Fairfax, Virginia. Betsy holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland.
Kevin Johnson, Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Advocacy
Kevin Johnson is ZERO's Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Advocacy. In this role, Kevin directs all policy and government affairs-related activities at ZERO, including federal and state lobbying efforts, communications with federal and state legislators and other government officials, and development of policy programs.
Prior to joining ZERO, Kevin served as Director of Federal Business Development for Sciperio, Inc., a small technology company based in Oklahoma City. In this role, Kevin advised the CEO in matters dealing with the federal government and Congress, and worked to develop strategic business partnerships with companies in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Before his tenure at Sciperio, Kevin served for eight years on Capitol Hill as a staffer on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and then as Legislative Director for Oklahoma Congressman Ernest J. Istook (R-OK). Kevin holds a bachelor's degree from George Mason University.
Kathy Costigan, Vice President, Operations
Kathy Costigan serves as ZERO's Vice President, Operations. She directs and coordinates the full range of business and administrative functions at ZERO. Kathy brings considerable management and congressional experience to ZERO after having served as Congressman Tom Bliley's District Director in Richmond, Virginia and as legislative aide on Capitol Hill to Congressman Duncan Hunter of California. Kathy, a cancer survivor, graduated from Mary Baldwin College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management.
Evan Denhart, Vice President, Development
Tracy Cesaretti, Director of Events
Tracy Cesaretti joined ZERO in July 2008 as Special Events Manager. Tracy focuses much of her efforts at ZERO on the DASH FOR DAD race series and ZERO's Endurance Teams. Prior to joining ZERO, Tracy worked with the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure, as the Logistics Manager/Assistant Race Director. Prior to relocating to Washington D.C., Tracy was working in Chicago as an Account Manager at CAPRI Events. During her four years with CAPRI Events, she worked on a number of events such as the Accenture Chicago Triathlon and the US Women's Triathlon Series.
Tracy is a 2002 graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign with a master's degree in leisure studies.
Melissa Kadish, Communications Manager
Melissa Kadish joined ZERO in June 2011 as Communications Manager. In this role, she manages media relations and social media activities, and serves as editor of ZEROHOUR. Prior to joining the ZERO team, Melissa worked at The George Washington University Medical Center, where she managed media relations for the schools of medicine, public health, and nursing.
Melissa spent the beginning of her career at a public relations agency in her hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, working with clients such as Wal-Mart, Exelon, and the Pennsylvania Tourism Office. She recently received a master's degree in Strategic Public Relations from George Washington University and holds a bachelor's degree from Penn State University.
Amanda Jenkins, Event Manager
Amanda serves as Event Manager for ZERO where she is instrumental in organizing the ZERO Prostate Cancer Summit and ZERO Prostate Cancer Golf series. Before joining ZERO, Amanda worked as a Fundraising Associate and Events Manager for a small campaign fundraising firm in Washington, DC assisting with fundraising efforts for 11 members of Congress. Prior to relocating to DC, she worked on the re-election campaign during the 2008 cycle for an Indiana member of Congress as the Office Manager for the Campaign Headquarters and as a Field Organizer. Originally from Ohio, she graduated from Indiana University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Quardricos Bernard Driskell, Manager of Government Relations and Advocacy
Quardricos Bernard Driskell is the Government Relations and Advocacy Manager for ZERO. In this role, he tracks and reports on federal legislation, government policies, and national and local politics pertaining to prostate cancer and men’s health.
Prior to ZERO, Quardricos served as youth advocate at YouthBuild Public Charter School. In this role, he monitored and advocated on behalf of issues affecting disadvantaged youth in Washington DC. Quardricos spent a brief stint on Capitol Hill including working for the Republican National Committee as the data regional political coordinator.
His work as program manager for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund where he managed relationships with representatives from member colleges and universities, and representatives from corporate partners and government agencies, managing various programmatic activities for the Fund. He holds a Master’s in Legislative Affairs and Political Management from The George Washington University, a Master’s degree in Social Ethics from Harvard University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Leadership Studies from Morehouse College.
Haley Webb, Development Assistant
Haley Webb joined ZERO in Sept. 2011 and serves as Development Assistant. In this role she focuses on fundraising efforts for the organization. She previously served as Staff Assistant where she was instrumental in the daily operations of the organization.
Prior to working at ZERO, Haley served as Operations Assistant at a Washington, D.C. political news outlet. She is from Massachusetts and graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a bachelor's degree in political science.
