Board of Directors
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Who We Are
We are a passionate group of people who are dedicated to building TheLionheart.Community. Our mission is to provide resources for the paralyzed community to improve quality of life. We are a 100% volunteer based board. A majority of the board lives with paralysis and is rich in experience and understanding of needs. If you are interested in joining and contributing to the TLC board please send an email to board@thelionheart.community.

Pat Blair
Director
Pat is a healthcare executive with extensive rehabilitation service line experience. He’s been working with Sutter Health over since the early 1990's. He is currently serving as the Sutter Valley Hospital's Rehabilitation Services Executive and is the Sutter Rehabilitation Institute Administrator. Pat is a licensed occupational therapist with a graduate degree in public administration. He previously served on the Easter Seals of Superior California Board of Directors. Pat enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors.

Misty Marez
Secretary
In 2002 Misty was headed to UC Santa Cruz for a degree in Marine Biology, ready to spend her life at sea. A car accident changed her life plan, a week before her high school graduation. The accident left Misty completely paralyzed at C 1-2. Sustaining the highest injury to the spine, she is not able to breath on her own and uses a ventilator. She feels fortunate to have a mom that would not give up and sent her to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Her mom stayed by her side as she went through many surgeries and complications, and has continued to be there for her. Misty has accomplished many many things since the injury. She earned her BS in biology from Stanislaus State. She is a certified peer mentor with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. She keeps busy mentoring others with SCI's, including the newly injured. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, going to concerts, festivals, and doing anything outdoors. She has learned that SCI life can be difficult, but with friends, family, and others in the SCI community she always feels supported. She is eager and honored to serve The Lionheart Community as the Secretary and also as the Modesto area liaison.

Adora Matthews, MD, FAAPMR
Director
Dr. Adora Matthews has extensive experience in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). She currently serves as the Medical Director of Sutter Rehabilitation Institute, she is also the Medical Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Sutter Roseville Medical Center and the Medical Director for Neurorehabilitation Services at Sutter Medical Center Sacramento. Dr. Matthews is board certified in both spinal cord injury medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. She is the only doctor north of San Jose who specializes in SCI/D. The community is lucky to have her in the Greater Sacramento Area and serving on the TLC board. Dr Matthews’ hobbies include cooking and gardening, and she is an avid Barbie fan.

Michelle O'Brien
CFO / Treasurer
Michelle earned her Business Administration / Accounting degree from California State University, Fresno. Michelle has worked for Ernst & Young, LLP as a Financial Auditor, The California State Department of Justice as an Investigative Auditor with the Charitable Trusts Division and Brittania Pacific Properties as a GAAP Accountant. Since 2018 Michelle has been balancing her accounting career as an independent contractor specializing in the non-profit sector and her newest adventure as a flight attendant. Michelle was personally affected by SCI in 2000 when her brother was injured in a car accident, resulting in a C-3, C-4 injury. When she isn't crunching numbers or flying the friendly skies, Michelle can be found on the sideline of a Rugy Pitch cheering on her 3 daughters and their coach, her husband Mike.

Charlene Vine
CEO / Founder
Charlene (Char) has a background in marketing and design. She graduated Art Institute of Philadelphia with a degree in visual communications and also earned a web design degree from American River College. In 2000 Char sustained her spinal cord injury from breaking her T 11 vertebra in a snowboarding fall. She leads a healthy and active lifestyle and likes physical challenges that push limits. You will often see her biking or hiking around. She has had a passion for helping others and has been supporting the paralyzed community since her injury in a variety of ways. She is a certified peer mentor with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Sutter Medical Center and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. She has been able to take all her life experience and put it behind creating TheLionheart.Community. If you want to learn more about her journey check out her website or social media.