Our Board
Meet the outstanding volunteers who serve on our Board of Directors and lead our Chapter:
 Lindsey Monroe - Vice Chair and Acting Board Chair Lindsey Monroe is a meteorologist at WTHR Channel 13 in Indianapolis. She also served as a morning show meteorologist in Memphis, Tennessee after spending four years forecasting the weather at WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Indiana working as chief meteorologist on the morning show. Lindsey is from Cambridge City, Indiana and is a graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and Climatology with a minor in Telecommunications. She earned her first Emmy award in 2019 for severe weather coverage at Channel 13. Lindsey became interested in weather by growing up in a drag racing family. She learned early on how to interpret weather instruments and implement the atmospheric conditions into how the car would run. It’s the way the weather has an impact on everything around us that she finds fascinating. When not forecasting the weather, Lindsey enjoys golf, gardening, and participating in volunteer and community service efforts. She has been a proud supporter of the Lupus Foundation of America ever since she was diagnosed with lupus in 2004. |
 Scott Baumruck - TreasurerScott Baumruck brings to the LFA, Indiana Board an extensive background in nonprofit management, having served in program development and leadership positions with the National Sporting Goods Association, the Illinois and United States Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana Funeral Directors Association, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Indiana, the Indiana Youth Institute, the National Private Duty Association and the Paper Industry Management Association, where he served the international organization as Executive Vice President for nine years. Scott currently serves as Executive Vice President of the Professional Insurance Agents of Indiana Inc. He earned the “Certified Association Executive” designation in May, 2002. Scott is married and has four children and six grandchildren. |
 Robin Miner - Board Chair Emeritus After a career focused on process improvement working for Eli Lilly and Company and Dow Agrosciences, Robin Miner retired to work with not-for-profits to streamline their processes and help people achieve their full potential by assisting non-profit organizations achieve their mission. She has done projects with the Julian Center, Gleaners Food Bank, Wheeler Mission, Shepherd Community Center and others. Robin has degrees in statistics and computer science, industrial engineering, and business. Robin is married and has two adult children. |
 Michelle Polanco - Interim SecretaryCurrently the Outreach and Education Specialist at the Indiana Latino Institute, Michelle-Marie Polanco holds a BA in International Affairs with a concentration in Contemporary Cultures and Societies from the George Washington University. Prior to attending college in Washington, DC, Ms. Polanco earned her international baccalaureate from the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, UK. Having experienced up close the effects of autoimmune conditions, Ms. Polanco sought the opportunity to participate in programs of advocacy, awareness, and education benefitting those who struggle with lupus and similar autoimmune diseases. Given that lupus affects a large segment of the Latino population, Ms. Polanco especially hopes to make a difference in her community. |
 Crystal BradleyCrystal Bradley has been in her fight against lupus since 2006. She is currently the Development Event Planner at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Prior to that she was employed with the Kroger Company Central Division office as a marketing assistant, coordinating store grand openings, plans and executing large-scale company meetings and events, and handling major sponsorships. Having been involved with our Chapter for several years as a support group member, volunteer, and Walk to End Lupus Now planning committee member, Crystal has seen the Chapter grow and evolve, making an impact on the community. She believes it’s important as a lupus patient to help other patients, be a part of the continued growth, increase financial contributions and build ongoing successful relationships. She is excited to bring her skills and knowledge to help spread awareness about the disease she fights daily. |
 Kristy CarterKristy Carter has been on both sides of the lupus fight. First, being a long-time caregiver for her mother whose fight with lupus began in her early twenties. Then at the age of 35, Kristy was diagnosed with SLE. This drove her to be a volunteer for the Lupus Foundation as a support group facilitator, walk committee member and an overall advocate for lupus awareness. Besides being an active member and advocate for the LFA, she volunteers with several literacy groups, women empowerment groups, and professional real estate groups. Kristy is the Executive Vice President, Asset Management at KennMar. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing KennMar’s commercial real estate portfolio and the team responsible for providing asset/property management services, compliance, and property operations. Kristy has over 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. |
 Tawanna DanzieTawanna is a graduate of Indiana University/Purdue University. She has worked in healthcare over the last 19 years and is currently employed with Managed Health Services (MHS). At MHS she holds the title of Provider Partnership Associate. As a healthcare professional, she is excited about enlightening the community on lupus and providing educational resources for the underserved population. She plans to join communities where she can use her existing public relations and healthcare experience to bring in new ideas. Tawanna is married and has one daughter who attends St John’s University in New York. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling. |
 Karen DenoKaren Deno is a former LFA, Indiana Chapter Board member and chair, retiring in 2016. Karen also served as a support group facilitator for our Chapter and was a long-time Walk to End Lupus Now planning committee member. She serves on the planning committee for the annual 'In the Loop - Healthy Living with Lupus' educational symposium. Since her daughter was diagnosed with lupus in 2007 at the age of 17, Karen has worked hard to understand the disease and how it affects the patient. Since it is unpredictable and there isn’t a cure, Karen continues her journey for her and all those affected by lupus. Karen is a realtor for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Hancock County and in 2017 received the Berkshire Hathaway Indiana Community Service Award. We are excited to have Karen returning as a Board member and look forward to her continued involvement with our Chapter. |
 Allyson EmleyAllyson is an attorney practicing corporate litigation in Indianapolis. She obtained an undergraduate degree from Butler University, and a law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Allyson has served on the event committee for LFA’s A Tasteful Affair for the past three years and is excited to become further involved with the LFA community by joining the Board of Directors in 2018. |
 Audrey GraserAudrey has a wide variety of experiences in nonprofits and higher education. She currently works in chapter management for Alpha Gamma Delta Women's Fraternity but has previously worked in a variety of positions at colleges and universities. Audrey's mother has had lupus Audrey's entire life, so she has slowly been expanding her knowledge and interest in advocating for lupus and is excited to continue that work on the Board. Audrey is a graduate of the University of Oregon and Florida State University but has been living in Indianapolis since 2019, now with her fiancé and rescue dog. |
 Rhoda PimptonRhoda currently works for LabCorp Drug Development in the project management department where they manage clinical drug trials for many of the major and smaller pharmaceutical companies. She has been in this industry for the past 10 years. Rhoda is currently engaged to her fiancé James and has 2 kids (a 21-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter) plus two bonus daughters (18- and 7-year-old daughters). Rhoda is actively involved with one of the local chapters of her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. as well as involved with the local chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. She holds the office of financial secretary for both chapters. Rhoda was diagnosed with lupus in January 2011. She then became involved with the Indiana Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America in 2016 by way of her rheumatologist at the time. She has participated in walks as a single walker, has had teams with her family and also got her sorority chapter to create a team as well. Rhoda loves being a resource to others about her experiences over the past 11 years as someone living and thriving with lupus. |
 Bernetta "B" SmileyB is a wellness planner who assists with balance threw the routes of mindful thinking, intentional behavior and planning to choose to be better today than we were yesterday. She promotes self help and healing from within and encourages all good things to be learned, shared and then repeated often. She believes in a better tomorrow just by trying all we can today. B believes in community service and that we all can do something. Her motto is Each One Teach One and she lives her life with the intention of bringing us all closer together. Her goals on joining the LFA-IN Board are to bring awareness to the cruel acts of lupus and fight for more research and funding to better the lives of lupus warriors. |