Board Members

Diann M. Ackard

Diann M. Ackard, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment and research of mood and anxiety disturbances, eating disorders and body image disturbances, and the sequelae of traumatic experiences. In addition to her private practice, Diann holds positions as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN and as Research Scientist at the Park Nicollet Melrose Institute, St Louis Park, MN, has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, and frequently speaks at international meetings and conferences..

Rachel Barchie

Rachel Barchie is an associate with the law firm Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP, where she handles litigation in a variety of subject areas, including employment; entertainment; intellectual property; real estate; and general business litigation. Rachel is a regular contributor to Greenberg Glusker’s entertainment law blog,Law Law Land, and in Spring 2010 co-taught a “Deposition Strategies and Techniques” course at USC Gould School of Law. In September 2008, she was honored by the State Bar of California with the “Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award” for her work representing a transgender, HIV-positive asylum seeker from Mexico. Rachel’s involvement with Break the Cycle began in the summer of 2003, when she was a law intern in BTC’s Los Angeles office. Rachel subsequently helped start the Break the Cycle Young Professionals group. Rachel is a fluent Spanish speaker and relishes any opportunity to use the language. She received her B.A. from Scripps College and her J.D. from UCLA School of Law.

Lisa Bonner

Lisa Bonner is the founder of Bonner Law, PC, a boutique entertainment law firm with offices in New York City and Los Angeles. Ms. Bonner advises large media companies, film distribution companies, music, television, film producers, artists, writers, magazine publications and authors. Prior to attending law school, Lisa enjoyed a successful career in the banking and finance industries, as an analyst for Lehman Brothers in New York and later as an associate at M.R. Beal and Company. Most recently, Lisa worked as a partner at the law firm of Dreier LLP. Lisa has been a live legal correspondent for Fox News and CNBC and is the Executive Director of Black Women in Entertainment Law Foundation. She received her BA from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her JD from New York University School of Law.

Joanne E. Caruso

Joanne E. Caruso, is a graduate of Boston College and Boston College Law School.   She is Vice President & Director, Global Litigation for Jacobs Engineering Group, headquartered in Pasadena, CA.  Prior to that and for over 15 years she was a partner in two international law firms. In 2006, Joanne was named one of the top 100 attorneys in California, has been recognized by the Super Lawyers publication as one of the Top 50 women lawyers in Southern California and was repeatedly listed in the Daily Journal as one of California’s Top 75 Women Litigators.  In 2010, Joanne was named by  California Diversity Magazine as one of 2010’s “Most Powerful and Influential Women in California.”  In addition to her work for Break The Cycle, she serves as the Vice Chair of California’s Access to Justice Commission and is on the Board of Directors of the Constitutional Rights Foundation and her local chapter of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, an organization dedicated to serving the poor.

Mike Catalano

Mike Catalano is Executive Vice President, and Branch Manager of international commercial real estate firm Studley’s West Los Angeles office. Having represented some of Southern California’s largest organizations in their commercial real estate dealings, he has earned a reputation as a superior tenant representative. Mike is frequently quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Business Journal, and the Commercial Property News. He is also a requested speaker by industry groups to address commercial real estate trends and issues. Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with an emphasis in business administration from the University of California at Los Angeles. Mike began working with Break the Cycle in 2005, teaching Break the Cycle’s Domestic Violence 101 class in high schools throughout Los Angeles County. Mike has been married since 1997, and is the father of five children. Mike’s interests include photography, astronomy, travel, running, classic automobiles, and ice hockey.

Joneigh S. Khaldun

Joneigh S. Khaldun, MD is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of the Center for Injury Prevention and Control at George Washington University. A board- certified practicing emergency physician, she has experience in violence and injury research, program and policy development, and local and national advocacy. She completed her residency training at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, NY, where she was also chief resident. Dr. Khaldun was part of the advisory committee that guided the development of ” The Facts Hurt: A State-by State Injury Prevention Policy Report”, published by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Recently, she worked in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of Health Reform, where she helped implement several provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the new federal health reform law. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her leadership and commitment to service and education. Dr. Khaldun received her BS from the University of Michigan and MD from the Perelmen School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Suzanne M. Morris

Suzanne Morris is the Vice President of Operations at Deluxe Media Creative Services where she serves as the managing director of the Atlanta post-production studio.  Formerly the Vice President of West Coast Media and Production Operations at Home Box Office (HBO), Suzanne also worked at J.H. Whitney, a private equity firm which handles media and telecommunications investing, and at the prestigious firm of JP Morgan, where her focus was on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. Suzanne has been a supporter of various professional and community organizations, including serving on the board for the New York City Chapter of Women in Cable and Telecommunications and on the junior board for A Better Chance, a non-profit organization that identifies high potential youth and places them in prestigious boarding schools. Ms. Morris is a Summa cum Laude graduate of Howard University School of Communications and holds a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Christine (Chris) Murphy

Chris Murphy CPA, PMP, MBA is a Director of Specialty Sales Support at WellPoint, the nation’s leading health benefits company. In her 16 years with Wellpoint Chris has worked in the the areas of finance, mergers and acquisitions, integration, strategic projects, operations, operational accounting, business process improvement and project management. In addition, she had the privilege of being a Chief of Staff to a President of the Blue Cr
oss of California Plan. She received her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Management Information Systems from California State University, Northridge and a Masters in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Project Management Professional, and holds a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine Law. Prior to joining WellPoint Chris was a Financial Statement Auditor for BDO Seidman, the fifth largest international accounting and consulting firm.