We are here for you!

At Wellness Place, we provide compassionate support and FREE resources to individuals, their families, and caregivers through their cancer journey, from diagnosis to survivorship. We aspire to support every cancer warrior residing in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan County regardless of age or income.

Staff

About the Wellness Place

Marissa Collins (she/her/ella)

Executive Director

Meet Marissa, a Wenatchee native with a passion for community, cancer, and the arts. With degrees from WVC and WSU, her rich background in nonprofits include a long tenure at the Numerica Performing Arts Center as both Marketing Director and Development Director, and at 501 Consultants. Marissa also serves on the NCW Arts Alliance Board, Young Professionals of NCW, First United Methodist Church Council, and WVC Graphic Design Advisory Committee.

Marissa's personal, aggressive battle with breast cancer as a young adult fuels her dedication to our cause. She enjoys theater (both on stage and in the audience), reading, and traveling with her husband. Marissa is not just a leader; she's a friend who understands firsthand the impact of our services.

Cassondra Adame Madrid (she/her/ella)

Support Assistant

Meet Cassondra, who has had the privilege of being part of the team since January 2024. Cassondra has always been drawn to helping people. At Wellness Place, she has found her calling in working with cancer patients. Every day, she's inspired by their strength and resilience, and is deeply committed to providing them with the support and care they deserve. One thing she loves about Wellness Place is being able to ensure these cancer patients know that they don't have to fight alone! That we are here for them.

Outside of work, Cassondra is surrounded by her wonderful family, whose love and laughter enriches her life in countless ways. They're her biggest supporters and the reason she strives to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Board of Directors

Casey Vogt, President

Casey began her tenure as a Wellness Place board member in May 2020. As the Student Services Coordinator for Confluence Health and an Advisory Committee member for various healthcare programs at Wenatchee Valley College, she brings a unique healthcare perspective to the board.

Like many of us, Casey has had several close friends and family members affected by cancer and wants to ensure that those with limited resources are able to fight with a helping hand. Casey was raised in Wenatchee, she pursued a career in Exercise Science before returning to work for Confluence Health and raise a family with her husband, Jesson, and their two children, Elsa and Monte.

Mike Lundstrom, Vice President & Treasurer

Mike brings extensive nonprofit experience and a personal connection to cancer to the Board. He moved to Valley with his family. Mike, currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Cashmere Valley Bank, lost his grandmother to cancer at 13 and has seen friends and family face similar battles. Before moving to NCW, he volunteered as a board member for Child Start and Mentis Finance Committee in Napa, CA. His Finance and Audit expertise, along with HR supervision skills, will greatly benefit Wellness Place.

"I believe services provided by Wellness Place are essential to our community and I would like to assist any way I can."

Jayne Van Brunt, Secretary

Jayne was born and raised in Okanogan and then moved to Seattle to attend nursing school, where she remained to work at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and raise her two children. In 2016, Jayne returned to the area to be closer to family and worked for Confluence Health in Winthrop, Omak, Moses Lake, and Wenatchee. Following a long career in Oncology and having lost both parents to cancer, her passion continues to center around quality of living in the present and support of families throughout their cancer experience.

“Wellness Place offers far-reaching support to patients and their families during a difficult period in their lives. Having personally and professionally experienced the hardships of accessing cancer treatment and support, I am committed to spreading the word to the smaller communities that could benefit from these programs available through Wellness Place.”

Anne Brooks

Anne is a volunteer and community advocate that first became involved with Wellness Place in 2005 as a cancer survivor and joined the board in 2017, representing the Chelan area. Diagnosed with breast cancer, she walked her journey alongside her sister-in-law, who unfortunately lost her battle. Anne remains an active supporter of Wellness Place and facilitates a Breast Cancer Support Group in Chelan, WA.

"My husband and I met at Mt. Rainier National Park as rangers. When he retired in 2000, we moved to Chelan, his hometown, with our two sons. I love being involved in such a vital community asset!"

Dr. Lexie Graham, MD

Dr. Graham, an Internal Medicine Physician at Confluence Health, was born and raised in Moses Lake, WA. After eleven years of schooling and training, she recently returned to Wenatchee and joined the Board in November 2019. Personally and professionally impacted by cancer, having lost three grandparents and many friends to the disease, she supports patients through their cancer journeys.

"I am constantly inspired by their strength, grace, and hope, and I am grateful to be part of an organization like Wellness Place that provides essential support and resources."

Sharon Jurgens

Sharon joined the Board in May 2020. She brings experience as a Retired Contact Center Specialist at Confluence Health and fundraising for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and CHOC Walk at Disneyland to the Wellness Place Board. Sharon has a personal connection to the pediatric cancer community, having lost her grandson Carter to leukemia at age 6 and her husband Dennis is currently in complete remission from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma he is also a survivor of prostate cancer. Sharons heart desires is that we will find a cure for cancer.

"As Carter's grandma, I was initiated into the all-consuming cancer community. I am honored to serve as a WP Board Member, honoring my sweet grandson."

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Dr. Chandra Villano

Dr. Villano, a Naturopathic Physician and educator, has been involved with Wellness Place since 2009 and joined the Board in May 2019. She is also a co-founder, past board member, and ongoing teaching faculty of the EASE Cancer Foundation. Dr. Villano is passionate about integrative education and empowering & lightening the burden of those affected by cancer.

Having lost numerous family/loved ones to cancer, and with several family survivors, Dr. Villano's world has been affected by cancer. She and her husband Brian live in East Wenatchee, where she has had her private practice since 2004. Her gratitude extends to the four county generosity that underpins the support group and services from Wellness Place.

Past Board Members

Linette Gahringer
Megan Kovanen
Dr. Thomas Halgren, MD
Patrick Aylward
Callie Klein

Maggie Kaminoff
Mary Gunkel
Melissa Knott
Dr. David Weber, MD
Justin Harris, DPT

Pam Brulotte
Kendra Wilson
Marissa Collins
Stephen Lewis

Dr. Carl Kjobech, Founder

1937-2023

Born in Salt Lake City and raised in Chelan as the oldest of six children, Carl Kjobech was valedictorian and student body president at Chelan High School. He attended the University of Washington then earned his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago as a member of the AOA Medical Honor Society. Carl then went on to an internship and residency at UW in Internal Medicine and Hematology, after which he served as a Navy Lt. Commander. He practiced for 33 years at Wenatchee Valley Clinic, where he founded, developed, and later retired from the Oncology Department.

In 1959, Carl married Helen Nichols with whom he has two sons. The outdoors was where he loved to spend his free time, including an annual backcountry skiing trip to Canada for over 30 years and bicycling trips throughout the northwest in his retirement.

In 2003, Carl established Wellness Place with the mission of providing needed information, care, and support to Central Washington’s cancer patients. He continued to spend many years as President of the Board. Twenty years later, on Friday, April 21, 2023, Carl passed away after a long, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

"In 1999, I moved from the Physician's seat to the patient's chair when I was told I had prostate cancer. Because of my professional and personal experience with cancer, I see how the patient's needs at the time of diagnosis and thereafter go beyond formal medical support. These needs can best be met by a nonprofit organization. We provide information and compassionate support for the patients diagnoses each year in our area."