AmeriCares Program Managers Participate in American Express Leadership Academy

Stamford, Conn. – May 15, 2015 – Three emerging AmeriCares leaders have been selected to participate in the 7th annual American Express Leadership Academy, May 17-22, at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona. The participants from the emergency response and global health organization will spend five days engaged in class discussion, case studies, team exercises and leadership style evaluation. Designed to teach skills that can quickly be implemented into the workplace, the academy is open to developing leaders from 10 social sector and nongovernment organizations selected by the Thunderbird Academy. Accepted organizations choose whom to send.

AmeriCares Associate Director of Emergency Response Kate Dischino has been on the front lines of dozens of emergencies including Hurricane Sandy, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu and, most recently, the Nepal earthquake. She also serves on the board of directors of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. A native of Stamford, Conn., Dischino has been with AmeriCares since 2012.

AmeriCares U.S. Medical Assistance Manager Lindsay O’Brien directs the nonprofit’s fastest-growing program, which supplies more than $85 million in free medicines and supplies to safety net health clinics serving more than 5 million patients in need. O’Brien, who joined AmeriCares in 2013, is a longtime resident of Riverside, Conn.

AmeriCares Director of Latin America and Caribbean Partnerships Marty Zanin is responsible for one of the organization’s longest-standing programs, supplying health care facilities in seven countries with more than $90 million in medicines and supplies annually. Zanin, a New Haven, Conn. resident, joined AmeriCares in 2011.

“Kate, Lindsay and Marty have already made invaluable contributions to AmeriCares,” said AmeriCares President and CEO Michael J. Nyenhuis. “I’m so proud to send them to the American Express Leadership Academy, and I look forward to seeing them continue to grow with our organization.”