I wish all people with MS could attend a CAN DO Program. I doubt there is anything, anywhere that even comes close to the quality and quantity of information and concern that was displayed. Thank you very much!
CAN DO Program ParticipantCONTACT US
For general questions or comments, please use our contact form.
Administration |
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Heidi A. Heltzel Heidi A. Heltzel is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Can Do Multiple Sclerosis. A national nonprofit organization based in Edwards, Colorado, Can Do MS is an innovative provider of lifestyle empowerment programs that empower people with MS and their support partners to transform and improve their quality of life. Ms. Heltzel also currently serves as Secretary on the Executive Committee of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition.
Prior to Can Do MS, Ms. Heltzel Co-Founded and served as Executive Director of, the American Transplant Foundation (ATF), a nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado whose mission is to save lives by reducing the growing list of women, men, and children who are waiting for a transplant. In her work with ATF, Ms. Heltzel launched educational and outreach programs, directed fund raising efforts and coordinated collaborative efforts with organizations throughout the community to ensure that ATF fulfilled its mission. Ms. Heltzel was previously the Vice President of Governmental Affairs at the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, the State Chamber of Commerce, where she spearheaded statewide legislative and regulatory efforts to support small, medium and large businesses. |
Melissa McClendon Melissa is the Can Do MS Controller. She has nine years of experience in finance and accounting, and is excited to use her knowledge of numbers to help the Can Do MS team assist people impacted by multiple sclerosis. Melissa has lived in the Vail Valley for eight years, and loves to spend as much time outdoors as possible, usually accompanied by her dog, Maybelline. |
Programs |
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Lauri O’Brien Lauri joined the Can Do MS team in July 2012 and oversees all the strategic, programmatic, financial, and management operations of the Programs Department. She has more than twelve years’ experience as a manager and comes from a diverse background in experiential marketing, non-profit leadership and hospitality sales. Lauri’s passion for giving back and making a difference in people’s lives led her to Can Do MS. With her strengths in planning and program execution skills, Lauri is dedicated to implementing powerful empowerment programs for people living with MS and their support partners. Lauri loves living in the Vail Valley and relishes time with her family in the great outdoors.
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Pat Kennedy RN, CNP, MSCN Pat Kennedy, RN, CNP, MSCN has been working in the field of MS since 1987. As a nurse practitioner at a comprehensive MS center in Denver, Colorado, she has been part of the professional staff of Can Do MS for 24 years. Pat speaks to professionals and people living with MS throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is active in the International Organization of MS Nurses and has helped mentor many of the MS nurses in practice today. She serves on committees of the National MS Society and is active in The Consortium of MS Centers. Her passion for MS comes from working with people who are able to see beyond the limitations and uncertainty that the disease brings and move on in their lives in a direction that enhances a better quality of living. She has recently relocated to Virginia to be closer to her family and the beach.
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Suzanne Vondrell Suzanne joined Can Do MS in November 2007 as a part time Programs Coordinator working in various areas of the Programs Department. Her passion of the Can Do philosophy, working with the Program Consultants and organizational skills led her to become the Programs Manager and now oversees the planning and logistics of the 4-day CAN DO Program as well as the JUMPSTART Programs. Although she hails from Wisconsin with a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management, Suzanne’s love of the mountains brought her to Vail, CO in December 1986. She spends as much time outdoors as possible either skiing or sailing with her husband, admiring her 17 year old son’s skills at the skate park or the mountain terrain park or hanging out in her flower gardens with the dog and cat.
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Anne Lee Anne joined the Programs Department of the Can Do MS team in June of 2013. After college, she worked as a high school math teacher for one year in Richmond, VA before transitioning into the non-profit healthcare arena. Anne has over 8 years of experience in education and program management working as a Sr. Education Specialist at the American College of Cardiology in Washington, DC and as the Director of Education at the California Pharmacists Association in Sacramento, CA. She is excited to bring her experience in education and program management to support the Can Do MS mission of providing empowerment tools and programs to people living with MS and their support partners. Anne enjoys golfing and cooking, and as a new resident to Vail, she is excited to explore the Rockies with her fiancé and dog Bentley.
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Development |
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Vicki Flynn Vicki has been with Can Do MS since June 2007 in several Development Department roles, from the Special Events Manager and the Senior Development Manager to her current role as Director of Development. She currently oversees all aspects of Can Do MS’s fundraising department. In 2002, Vicki moved from Chicago in pursuit of the great outdoors and exploring the world. After falling in love with the Colorado summers she has made the Vail Valley her home ever since. She enjoys all Colorado has to offer with her 1 year old son, husband and dog.
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Holly Loff Holly came to the nonprofit sector with a pocketful of idealism and an environmental undergraduate degree. Working on the programs side of a small nonprofit she was forced to wear many hats and soon realized she had a passion for fundraising. She made the leap into development after taking some graduate classes and was soon working as a development director. Later she decided to take some time away from the 9-5 work day to be a 24/7 stay-at-home mom. To stay in tune with her professional side, Holly launched a grantwriting consulting business, in her spare time and from her kitchen table. Once her children were registered in kindergarten and preschool, Holly leaped back into the 9-5 world and eventually found herself at Can Do MS- a job she greatly enjoys. When she isn’t at work, Holly can be found on her bike, hiking, skiing or on a miscellaneous body of water with her husband, son and daughter… and their crazy German shorthair pointer.
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Laura Jones Laura joined the Can Do MS team in May of 2013. Her passion for events, marketing and non-profits led her to her position as the Development Associate at Can Do MS. She works to assist the development team with her strong communication skills; encouraging and creating opportunity for donor contact, facilitating 3rd Party Events nation-wide, and supporting Can Do MS’s mission. Laura graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Political Science. Go Tarheels! After college, Laura lived in North Carolina and worked as the Director of Sales at a premier facility in Uptown Charlotte; she loved her job but couldn’t resist following her dream to live amongst the beautiful colors of Colorado. When she isn’t at work, she can be found on a bike, hiking or hanging outside most likely chasing her ridiculous boxer (dog), Emma Grace.
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Marketing and Communications |
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Jennifer Myers Jenn directs marketing and communications for our Program and Development Departments. Her passion for meaningful work led her to Can Do MS in April 2011 as the Communications and Marketing Manager. Since then she has been promoted to Director and oversees all marketing operations. Combining strong writing skills and an enthusiasm for communications, Jenn supports Can Do MS’s mission. She currently serves on the communications committee for the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition. Jenn graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in Communications/Public Relations. She enjoys using her can do spirit by teaching Yoga to fellow colleagues weekly to empower the Can Do MS staff to take an active role in feeling healthy. When she is not in the office, you can find Jenn hiking with her dog Mr. Pele, skiing or striking a Yoga pose.
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Scott Robinson Scott graduated with a Journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2006. He lived in Denver and worked in network television until he couldn’t resist moving to the beautiful Vail Valley. He has worked in marketing since 2008. Scott joined the Can Do MS team in April of 2012 and works to increase their presence on the web and in social media. If he’s not working, you’re guaranteed to find him on the slopes during the winter or riding his dirt bike in the summer!
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Can Do Multiple Sclerosis™ is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Charitable Organization Number: 74-2337853
Formerly The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis | Founded by Jimmie Heuga
A national nonprofit organization, Can Do MS is a leading provider of innovative lifestyle empowerment programs
that empower people with MS and their support partners to transform and improve their quality of life.
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