Meet Team Soar
We Advocate, Support, and Engage
Our dedicated team makes our mission possible. As an organization, we approach our work with Collaboration, Hope, Love, and Joy. These values guide and fuel our work, strategies, and integrity. They motivate us to strive for improvement and provide us with our cultural North Star as we aim to reach new heights by removing barriers that help children and their families achieve the life-changing care they need regardless of distance.
Mark E. Brown currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Miracle Flights and brings with him an extensive background in philanthropy work, marketing, communications, public policy and government affairs.
His past leadership includes Chief Executive Officer of Mark Brown Communications, Zen Entertainment and Partner and President of R&R Partners, an advertising, marketing and public relations corporation. Brown also served as Executive Vice President of The Howard Hughes Corporation and Executive Vice President of Station Casino.
Brown began his career as a senior legislative assistant for former Nevada Senator Chic Hecht overseeing the Senator’s Banking and Energy Committee assignments
Mark has an extensive background in nonprofit activities, chairing numerous organizations and raising millions in external fundraising. He also managed all philanthropic donations for both the Howard Hughes Corporation and Station Casinos where he directed contributions exceeding $40 million throughout Nevada and the western United States. Brown also led the effort to raise over $25 million dollars as the multi-year chair of the Clark County School Growth Committee.
In addition, Brown was a founding member of Service 1st Bank of Nevada, valued in 2010 around $210 million. Brown currently serves as a member of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee.
Robert Sanchez is the Vice President of Operations at Miracle Flights, where he oversees the development and flight department teams. Over the past 12 years, he has gained invaluable leadership experience across corporate, startup, and nonprofit sectors. Before joining Miracle Flights, he was the Senior Campaign Manager for Light the Night at The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Virginia in 2006. A native of Las Vegas, he enjoys walking his dog and spending quality time with his family when he is not working.
Dr. John Rinaldo, the Vice President of Development at Miracle Flights, brings over 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience. Before this role, he served as the Director of Business Partnerships at Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School in North Las Vegas. A proud member of the Class of 2024 Leadership Las Vegas program through the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, John represents the “White Tigers.”
Throughout his esteemed career, John has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership across various areas, including program management, event planning, community partnerships, fundraising, and executive leadership. His unwavering dedication to building impactful relationships and driving significant change has been a hallmark of his work.
John holds a doctorate in organizational and leadership development, further affirming his expertise in the field. He is happily married and a devoted father of three.
Kathy has been a dedicated advocate in the nonprofit sector for over a decade, using her expertise and passion to uplift families in need. For over seven years, she has played a vital role at Miracle Flights, a national charity that provides free flights to critically ill children who need access to life-changing medical care. Her work has impacted countless families, offering them hope and essential support during their most challenging times.
Her connection to Miracle Flights is profoundly personal. Kathy’s youngest son, Isaac, had special medical needs, and through his journey, she gained firsthand insight into the struggles families face when seeking care. This experience fuels her unwavering commitment to helping other parents navigate similar challenges, ensuring that no family has to worry about how they’ll reach the medical care their child urgently requires.
Holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance, focused on Investing and Banking, Kathy has leveraged her strategic mindset to transform nonprofit fundraising and community engagement. She graduated from Leadership Las Vegas Advance in 2019 and earned a Certificate in Healthcare Leadership from Duke University in 2021. She is furthering her leadership development by participating in the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, which deepens her understanding of how to make a lasting impact in Southern Nevada.
Kathy is a true innovator, having expanded Miracle Flights’ events department from a single annual fundraiser to over 40 events yearly. Her notable initiatives include SOARée, a premier hangar event that raised over $260,000 in its inaugural year; Smiles with Miles, a virtual kids’ club that brings joy to children nationwide through a partnership with Ryan Seacrest Studios; and Carnival in the Clouds, which attracted more than 7,000 attendees in its first year. These events raise critical funds and unite communities to celebrate and support Miracle Flights’ mission.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Kathy has served on the United Cerebral Palsy of Northern Nevada board and actively contributes to her church, exemplifying a deep commitment to service. Her personal and professional journey has shaped her into a compassionate leader, an advocate for families, and a driving force in the nonprofit sector.
Kathy’s life work is grounded in helping others, fostering connections, and bringing hope to families in need. She continues to make a lasting difference in the community through innovation, dedication, and a heart for service.
Vanessa Moreno is the Director of Operations at Miracle Flights, where she oversees the organization’s internal operations, including flight operations, outreach, and development. She joined Miracle Flights in 2006 and has been instrumental in its transition and growth. Always seeking professional advancement, she has earned certifications in nonprofit management and human resources from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and engaging with pop culture (just ask her about any of the Real Housewives).
Rebecca Boyce has served as the Director of Flight Operations since 2006, overseeing all functions of the flight department. She is responsible for various aspects of the flight department, including personal contact with families, researching and booking flights, changing flights to accommodate family and physician needs, maintaining the flight database, and implementing existing and new programs. Additionally, she works directly with the airlines that support Miracle Flights through donated tickets.
Jessica Cardenas is a flight specialist who assists in all areas of flight operations. Her responsibilities include reviewing flight request applications, conducting outreach with families, researching and booking flights, and compiling and standardizing children’s stories, among other tasks. Born in California, she considers herself a Nevadan after moving to the area at the age of four. Jessica’s bubbly and optimistic personality brightens the office and shines through when she watches her two daughters play soccer (a sport she also played in high school). A foodie at heart, one of her favorite pastimes is cooking fried bread topped with powdered sugar, which she enjoys sharing with her family. When she’s not busy with work, she can often be found on spontaneous road trips, relaxing at the beach, or hunting for the perfect cup of coffee.
Cassandra Castanino is the Events Coordinator at Miracle Flights, where she collaborates with community supporters to raise awareness and build lasting relationships that help further the mission of Miracle Flights. She holds an Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts. With over 20 years of experience in event coordination and planning, she comes from a culinary-focused background. She enjoys traveling with her husband and taking her two huskies on long walks in her free time.
Dona Krystosek, RN, is the Family Advocate at Miracle Flights, joining the organization in November 2016. She served six years of active duty in the United States Air Force and completed her nursing degree after an honorable discharge. Her nursing career involved providing specialized care to newborns in the nursery until the birth of her son. Dona knows the hope she felt when she discovered Miracle Flights during a 2 A.M. internet search, desperately seeking a way to get her son the out-of-state medical care he needed. The joy she experienced upon finding Miracle Flights still brings tears to her eyes. She joins the team with eagerness and excitement to assist other families in navigating similar challenges. While Dona is a registered nurse by profession, she is also a writer and researcher. Over the past 18 years, as a mother to a special needs child, she has gained extensive knowledge and experience. She is passionate about helping other children access the out-of-state medical care they need to live longer, healthier lives. In her free time, Dona enjoys traveling, photography, boating, and spending time with her family. She resides in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
