Senior Leadership

A highly regarded litigator and program manager, Kevin Díaz comes to the organization from his previous role as legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oregon. Born in Perú and raised in Oregon, Díaz has spent his entire career in public interest law.

Barbara Coombs Lee is president emerita/senior adviser of Compassion & Choices, the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization working to improve care and expand choice at the end of life. Previously, she had a 25-year career as a nurse and physician assistant, during which she often cared for terminally ill patients.

Brandi Alexander is the Chief Engagement Officer for Compassion & Choices, and she has been with the organization for nearly 20 years. Her dedication to educating people about having autonomy over all aspects of life, including at the end of life, has been a driving force in her career. At Compassion & Choices, she is responsible for outreach to the following communities: Clinicians, African Americans, Latino, Faith Leaders, People with Disabilities, LGBTQ+ and Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.

Elizabeth Armijo is a long-time health promotion advocate and community organizer in New Mexico. She has worked extensively within diverse communities, collaborating with populations who experience disparities and injustices. As a mentor, an employer, and an advocate, she has promoted inclusiveness and cultural awareness in all her initiatives. Her career and life passion have been rooted in promoting access to quality health care, women’s empowerment and racial justice.

Trish Bernstein joined Compassion & Choices in 2013. She began as the director of family and client services and was soon promoted to chief operating officer. Trish oversees human resources, information technology, the End of Life Consultation department, facility management and the administrative functions of Compassion & Choices’ board of directors.

Michael Cavaiola is a marketing and communications executive with decades of experience in the nonprofit, government and corporate sectors. Michael leads Compassion & Choices’ strategic communications, media relations, design and video production efforts. Prior to joining Compassion & Choices in 2020, Michael headed up the public information office for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the nation. He also worked as a state government relations professional, on Capitol Hill and as a TV producer and journalist for C-SPAN and Discovery Channel.

Jessica Empeño is a medical social worker with over 23 years’ experience as a clinician, leader, educator and advocate specializing in end-of-life care, dementia, caregiver support, program development and leadership. Jessica has a Masters of Social Work degree from San Diego State University and certificates in Health Law & Policy, Dementia Positive Approach to Care, Human Services Management and Interdisciplinary Palliative Care.

Crystal Huish, Compassion & Choices’ Chief Financial Officer, has been working with nonprofit organizations since she first started at C&C in 2002.

Berly Laycox is the National Director of Digital Strategy for Compassion & Choices. In this role, she provides direction for our digital advocacy and fundraising efforts. Berly comes to Compassion & Choices with over 14 years of experience in marketing and communications and a passion for listening to people and data.

Mickey MacIntyre has served Compassion & Choices and the end-of-life choice and care movement since 2005. As a consultant, development director, chief program officer or chief strategy officer, Mickey supported C&C’s trajectory to being the leader in its class as a national policy, advocacy, and education game changer.

Charmaine Manansala is the Chief Advocacy Officer at Compassion & Choices. Charmaine is in charge of the federal and state teams to authorize, ensure access, and protect the full range of end-of-life options. Charmaine oversees the federal team that puts together C&C’s priorities in the nation’s capital. She was instrumental in California’s successful campaign to authorize medical aid in dying in the nation’s most populous state.

Bernadette Nunley leads the Compassion & Choices Policy Team. Together with staff across the organization, the team develops federal and state policies to authorize, ensure access to, protect, and improve the quality of end-of-life care and the full range of end-of-life options.

Jonathan Patterson is the Chief People & Culture Officer at Compassion & Choices. He previously served as the Staff Attorney, where he provided consultation for a wide variety of legal matters, including the issues of unwanted medical treatment, medical aid in dying, and end-of-life decision making. He is a frequent national speaker on available end-of-life options and empowering consumers to make healthcare decisions in line with their values.

Kimberly Taccini has two decades of success managing program operations and communications campaigns for foundations, nonprofits and government agencies. She has applied her expertise in project management and communications to advance public health goals ranging from improving hearing health to covering the uninsured.