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DSDN Operations Team
The day-to-day DSDN work is led by two staff members (our Executive Director and Director of Family Support) and volunteer Directors. The Operations Team is on the front lines of support and guide more than 100 volunteers who serve our mission and vision.
Executive Leadership (Staff)
Melissa Shutwell, Executive Director
Melissa brings over 20 years of leadership experience across the corporate, nonprofit, and small business sectors. She spent 15 years at Deere & Company, a global Fortune 100 company, where she held progressive roles in marketing, IT, customer experience, and strategic planning. That experience shaped her approach to data-informed strategy, scalable systems, and cross-functional team alignment—skills she now applies in her role as Executive Director of DSDN. Melissa has also led multimillion-dollar operations in small business and built inclusive, family-focused programming in her community. Her passion for DSDN’s mission is deeply personal, rooted in her journey as mom to Augie, who has Down syndrome. She leads with a strong focus on connection, sustainability, and impact for new and expectant families. Melissa lives in Sun Prairie, WI, with her husband Nick and their three kids.
Shannon Prausa, Family Support Director
Shannon is the Family Support Director for DSDN, a role she began in August 2024 after six years of dedicated volunteer work on the online support team and two years as the organization’s Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Director. Shannon also co-leads the Down Syndrome Collaborative (DSC), where she helps empower local organizations to better support new and expectant parents. Before entering the Down syndrome advocacy space, Shannon built a successful career as a Radiation Therapist, specializing in imaging and data evaluation to improve cancer treatment outcomes. She and her husband, Rick, live in Michigan and are proud parents to two children: an eight-year-old son who’s rockin’ an extra chromosome and a five-year-old daughter.
Community & Support Directors (Volunteer)
Brandy Coleman, Access & Community Engagement
With over 25 years of experience in social work—and the real-world training that comes from being a mother of seven—Brandy is a passionate and tireless advocate for BIPOC women. She supports families through parenting education, birth support, and breastfeeding advocacy, blending professional expertise with lived experience (and probably a lot of caffeine). Brandy's mission took on a deeper urgency when her fifth child, Bellamy, was born with Down syndrome. Navigating the system as a BIPOC mother of a disabled child revealed just how many support gaps still exist. That moment didn’t just inspire her—it launched a full-on campaign to transform the way support is delivered to families like hers. Since joining DSDN in 2020, Brandy has been instrumental in expanding access to culturally responsive resources, building stronger community connections, and ensuring that DSDN’s training and staff better reflect the diverse families they serve. Her advocacy also extends nationally through her roles with NDSC’s Conference Diversity Committee and the African American Conference on Disability.
Dan Szostek, Online Support
Dan has been a volunteer with DSDN since October 2020. Dan has served as the Lead Dad Moderator since June 2021 where he worked along with his fellow "Dadmins" providing online worldwide support for dads of children with Down syndrome. He has organized monthly virtual "Dad Chats" and started and maintained the "New Dad Welcome Gift" project. Dan has also participated in 3 DSDN Rockin' Dad Retreats. Currently, Dan is a stay-at-home dad but has previous experience as a pharmaceutical sales representative. He and his wife Vicki and their two girls, rockin' kiddo Abby (6) and Julianne (2) live just outside of Philadelphia, PA. Dan and Vicki are also actively involved with the Montgomery County Down Syndrome Interest Group (MCDSIG) where they serve on the Communications Committee.
Elizabeth Vance, Online Support
Elizabeth and her husband have three children. Their oldest son is in college, pursuing a degree in aviation; their middle son is entering high school this year; and their Rockin’ kiddo, Emily, is headed to 5th grade. Elizabeth’s husband works in the music and live entertainment industry, while Elizabeth is a middle school science teacher and also works part-time in their church’s children’s ministry. These days, much of her free time is spent chauffeuring their two youngest kids to various extracurricular activities.
Navara Cannon, Rockin' Family Fund (RFF)
Navara is a dedicated wife and mother of two, a 12 year old son and an extra chromie 4 year old daughter. She has spent over a decade making a difference in the nonprofit sector. Through her work, she has advocated and supported causes close to her heart and facilitates opportunities for corporate and community groups to make an impact. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys immersing herself in books, indulging in cozy gaming sessions, and expressing her creativity through coloring. She also has a passion for growing herbs, crafting her own teas, and finding peace in the simple joys of life.
Retreat Directors (Volunteer)
Ashlee Moehring, Event Director
Ashlee is the Event Director for DSDN’s Rockin’ Retreats, where she leads the process of securing and contracting venues and manages hotel partnerships to ensure seamless, welcoming experiences for hundreds of parents each year. Outside of DSDN, she serves as Head of Events at Marketing AI Institute, overseeing the strategy and execution of the Institute’s events. She’s also a proud Rockin’ Mom to Caleb and brings that personal connection to her work, helping design retreats that feel thoughtful, meaningful, and supportive to the parents who attend.
Brandicus Coleman, Rockin' Dad Retreat
Brandicus joined the DSDN retreat team in 2024. Professionally, he is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist at Northwest Medical Center in Tucson, AZ. He holds degrees in Exercise Science and Health & Human Performance and has worked in wellness-focused roles, including at Pritikin Longevity Center. Brandicus supports his local Down syndrome association (SANDS) and advocates for DSDN’s Black Families Group. His advocacy is inspired by his daughter Bellamy, who has Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect. He and his wife Brandy have seven children and are active members of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Brandicus also serves in the Tucson-Sierra Vista Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Jordan Heberlein, Rockin' Dad Retreat
Jordan is a dedicated dad to Brooklynn, Brylee, and Isaac. Inspired by Brooklynn’s prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis in 2016, he began advocating for families like his and has helped plan the Rockin’ Dad Retreats since 2021. Based in northern California, Jordan and his wife Caitlin lead Challenger Baseball, a league for athletes with disabilities across 13 cities. He also serves as Family and Community Engagement Supervisor at the Shasta County Office of Education, where he launched the Family Wellness program—now expanded and recognized by the State of California. Passionate about equity and connection, Jordan strives to unite families through shared experiences. In his free time, he enjoys baseball and time with his family.
Ben Hughes, Rockin' Dad Retreat
Ben became a Rockin’ Dad in 2016 when his daughter Elliott was born. He joined the DSDN Board in 2020 and began serving as a retreat director in 2022, helping lead the 2023 retreat in St. Louis, 2024 in Nashville, and 2025 in San Diego. Passionate about supporting and connecting dads, Ben hopes every retreat attendee leaves feeling renewed and less alone, with a strong network to lean on. He’s also active in his local dads group in Grand Rapids, MI. Professionally, Ben has spent 15 years in customer success and currently leads a team of Customer Success Managers at General Motors.
Amanda Brunning, Rockin' Mom Retreat
Amanda lives in Colorado with her husband, Matt, their son, Caleb (9), who has Down syndrome, and their dog, Whitiker. She is an Early Childhood Special Education teacher who is passionate about supporting young children and their families. Outside of work, Amanda loves spending time outdoors, enjoying all that Colorado has to offer, making memories at Disney, and being with friends and family.
Partnerships & Outreach Directors (Volunteer)
Mahala Turner, Local Partnerships
Mahala is mom to Beau, Luke, and Della Rose; Beau happens to have Down syndrome. Mahala’s family lives in Wake Forest, NC and enjoys visiting family in her home state of Alabama. Mahala is a dedicated advocate and educator with over 15 years of experience supporting children with special health care needs and disabilities. Currently serving as a Family Liaison Specialist with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, she leads family engagement initiatives and advises on best practices in family-centered care. Her previous work with a local nonprofit includes facilitating programs at the North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance providing education, resources and support to the local Down syndrome community, specifically new and expectant parents. Mahala has also taught Child Development as an adjunct instructor for a community college as well as special education in public school settings. She holds degrees in Collaborative Education and Early Childhood Education, along with a certification in School Psychometry.
Hannah Pascucci, Medical Outreach
Hannah has led medical outreach for DSDN for the last 8 years, working with national organizations such as DSMIG, ACOG, AAP, ACMG and NANN regarding the parental experience of a Down syndrome diagnosis. Outside of her role at DSDN, Hannah works as an inpatient nurse practitioner in the Pediatric Cardiac Care Center in Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of Rochester. She lives in western New York with her family, including her husband Aaron, son Caden and daughter Juliana who has Down syndrome. When not working or volunteering with DSDN, Hannah loves to enjoy a good book, swim with her kids and try new recipes.
Operations & Marketing Directors (Volunteer)
Trish Robinson, Executive Assistant
Trish has been a part of the DSDN family since 2019, shortly after the birth of her rockin’ son Joseph in December 2018 — a joyful and unexpected addition to her empty nest. After experiencing a less-than-positive diagnosis journey, she immediately connected with DSDN’s mission of support and community. Trish has served in various roles, including Moderator and Social Media Director, and now serves as Executive Assistant and Auction/Raffle Coordinator for the annual Rockin’ Mom™ Retreat.
Heather Imbriale, Grants
A passionate advocate for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, Heather is also a mother of four. Her second child, Jade, was born in 2017 with Down syndrome, inspiring her deep commitment to supporting families receiving a new diagnosis. After graduating from the Coast Guard Academy, Heather spent 12 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving and mentoring the next generation of officers. Now, drawing on her strong background in fundraising, she leads impactful efforts for DSDN. Through both personal and professional initiatives, Heather continues to champion resources, community, and support for families navigating a Down syndrome diagnosis.
Rafia Munir, Marketing
Rafia is a volunteer Marketing Director with DSDN and a grateful member of the community it serves. She is the proud mother of Eman, a spirited 15-year-old with Down syndrome, who inspires her every day. With a background in marketing and a heart for connection, Rafia supports DSDN’s outreach by helping tell its story, grow awareness, and reach more families facing a new diagnosis. Her goal is simple: to make sure no parent ever feels alone and to help them find hope and community—just as she did.
Jen Jacob, Peer to Peer Fundraising
Jen Jacob is the co-founder and former Executive Director of DSDN. Jen is also the co-author of "The Parent's Guide to Down Syndrome: Advice, Information, Inspiration, and Support for Raising Your Child from Diagnosis through Adulthood" and the author of "Unexpected, Stories of a Down syndrome diagnosis.” Jen lives in Iowa with her husband and four children; her youngest son, Owen, has Down syndrome. A licensed educator and professional development leader, she is currently homeschooling her youngest two sons and guiding her two college-age children.
Dr. Cassandra Drake, Research and Strategy Coordinator
Dr. Cassandra Drake is an Assistant Professor of Liberal Studies at California State University, Stanislaus. Within her work as an educator, she seeks to advocate against racism, sexism, classism, ableism, nationalism, homophobia, xenophobia and religious discrimination. When not teaching future teachers, she is an educational researcher with research interests based on educators addressing the social/academic advancement and learner rights of K–12 public school students from ethnically, culturally, linguistically and socioeconomically diverse communities. Dr. Drake is also momma to a little boy with Down syndrome, Charlie, who was born in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Her family is binational, bicultural and bilingual.
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