Our Team
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 and leads the development and flight department teams at Miracle Flights. He spent the last 12 years gaining valuable leadership experience in the corporate, start-up, and nonprofit sectors. Before Miracle Flights he was Senior Campaign Manager for Light The Night at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He earned his BA in English Literature from the University of Virginia in 2006. He is a Las Vegas local, and when not at work he can be found walking his dog or at spending some valuable time with his family.
Vanessa Moreno is the Director of Operations at Miracle Flights overseeing internal operations of the organization, including Flight Operations and Outreach & Development. She joined Miracle Flights in 2006 and has played a key role in the transition and growth of Miracle Flights. Always looking for professional advancement she has been certified in Nonprofit Management and Human Resources from UNLV. She enjoys spending time with her family, the outdoors, and all things pop culture (ask her about any of the Real Housewives).
Kathy Roller is the Director of Events at Miracle Flights, working with community supporters to increase awareness and develop long lasting relationships that help expand and continue the mission of Miracle Flights. She has a B.S. in Business and Finance and previous work and volunteer experience with multiple non-profits. Having three boys, she is an experienced juggler, master of negotiations and chief cereal pourer at all breakfast meetings.
Rebecca Boyce has been the Director of Flight Operations since 2006, overseeing all flight department functions. She is responsible for all aspects of the flight department, including personal contact with families, researching and booking flights, changing flights to meet family/physician needs, maintaining the flight database, and development of existing and new programs. She also works directly with the airlines that provide support to Miracle Flights through donated tickets.
Jessica Cardenas is a Flight Specialist, assisting in all aspects of the Flight Operations department including reviewing flight request applications, direct outreach with families, researching and booking flights, compiling and standardizing children’s stories, and more. Born in California, she considers herself a Nevadan having moved to the area at age 4. Jessica’s bubbly personality lights up the office and is on full display when watching her two daughters play soccer (she also played at her high school). A lover of good food, one of her favorite past times is cooking fry bread…and finishing it off with powdered sugar before finishing it off with the family.
Cassandra Castanino is the Events Coordinator at Miracle Flights, working with community supporters to increase awareness and develop long lasting relationships that help expand and continue the mission of Miracle Flights. She has an Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts. Coming from a culinary driven background she has 20 plus years of experience in event coordinating and planning. She enjoys traveling with her husband and taking her two huskies for long walks.
Dona Krystosek is the Family Advocate. She joined Miracle Flights in November 2016. Dona served six years active duty in the United States Air Force. After being honorably discharged, she went on to finish her nursing degree. Her nursing career consisted of providing specialized care to newborns in the nursery until the birth of her son. Dona knows firsthand the feeling of HOPE she felt when she found Miracle Flights during a 2 am internet search trying to find a way to get her son to the out-of-state medical care he needed. She still tears up at the joy she felt when she found Miracle Flights. She joins the team with eagerness and excitement to help other families find their way. Although Dona is a registered nurse by trade, she is a writer and researcher at heart. She has learned a lot over the past 10 years as the mom to a special needs child. She loves to help other children get to the out-of-state medical care they need to live longer healthier lives. Dona enjoys traveling, fishing, boating and just hanging out with her family. She lives in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Carpenter worked in the nonprofit, tribal, state, and federal sectors during her grant tenure. Carpenter was appointed by Congress to serve on three Department of Defense Task Forces and has served on several state and federal-level committees to inform policy changes.
Carpenter is a national trainer for the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center and on federal grants management. She considers her greatest achievement to be her children that she shares with her husband of 32 years.
At Miracle Flights, Nicole leverages her skills as a graphic artist, illustrator, photographer, videographer, and video producer, fulfilling a versatile role in media design.
An award-winning designer, Nicole holds a degree in graphic design from Platt College (Newport Beach, CA) and a degree in radio and TV communications from Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, CA).
Outside of work, Nicole relishes the beauty of nature. She enjoys hiking Mt. Charleston, skiing at Lee Canyon, exploring the great outdoors of Nevada and occasionally ice skating.
