Our Team

Guiding caregivers to improve outcomes.

From our executives and advisors to our Care Advocates, the entire Carallel team brings lived experience, expertise, and passion to the work of supporting caregivers.

Meet our team

Shara Cohen, JDPresident & CEO

Shara has spent more than 20 years helping healthcare organizations think differently about how to involve and empower people more effectively in their care and health. She continues in that work as CEO of Carallel.

Before joining Carallel, Shara was senior vice president of client experience with Emmi Solutions for six years, helping it become a leader in patient engagement. When Emmi was acquired by Wolters Kluwer Health in 2016, she joined the global leader in medical information as vice president of customer experience.

Shara earned a JD from Fordham University School of Law in New York, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

 

Family and friends acting as caregivers are unsung heroes. The healthcare system depends on them as much as their loved ones do, and we need to do more to make the challenges and complexity of caregiving easier.

Hillary Ebach, JD, MBACo-Founder & COO

Hillary is a co-founder and COO of Carallel. Prior to founding Carallel, Hillary served in executive leadership positions in the media industry, most recently as general counsel of Journal Media Group, a publicly held owner of digital and print media properties.

Earlier in her career, she was a partner at Seyfarth Shaw, a national law firm, where she advised boards of directors and senior management in early stages of businesses.

Hillary earned a JD from Northwestern University School of Law, an MBA in finance and international business from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northwestern University. When she’s not at work, Hillary enjoys spending time with her husband Matt and their two kids, Spencer and Grace, and walking Warren the dog.

Having cared for my mom and dad in their final years, I know how emotional, time-consuming and confusing caregiving can be. That experience is why we founded Carallel.

Miraj Chokshi, MSChief Product Officer

As part of a family team of caregivers for his parents, Miraj has experienced firsthand the amount of stress that caregiving can create. That’s why he’s passionate about supporting caregivers and their loved ones through better caregiving products.

In his role as Chief Product Officer at Carallel, Miraj brings a wealth of experience in product design and development for healthcare companies including Wellable, Varsa Health, and Third Eye Health. His goal is to create best-in-category products that serve as welcomed solutions to the problems caregivers face everyday.

Miraj earned his MS in Biomedical Sciences from Tufts University. Having grown up in the food industry, he loves bringing friends and family together to try his latest and greatest recipes.

From my own family experience to those of millions of others, the universal truth is that caregivers are the unseen, vital resource that society needs to empower.

Glenn LearyChief Revenue Officer

As Carallel’s chief growth officer, Glenn’s goal is to demonstrate the value of caregiver support to health plans, employers, provider systems and other new and existing partners.

Glenn has a proven history of cultivating relationships and leading sales, client development and sales operations teams. Most recently, he served as vice president of sales for Pager and Onlife, two GuideWell venture group companies. He cites his first job out of college at a nursing homeas his most meaningful — the direct patient caregiving experiences he had there fueled the passion that eventually brought him to Carallel.

Glenn earned a bachelor’s degree in medical technology and chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

My whole life I have been curious and caring. I have been blessed to be drawn to the wisdom that the elderly can impart and teach us.

Paul StraussChief Information Officer

Paul serves as the chief technology officer of Carallel, where he oversees all technical aspects of Carallel’s digital products and services as well as day-to-day operations and maintenance.

Paul has decades of experience leading application development and design projects for high-profile enterprises, with particular interest in content management, digital asset management, application integration and subscription billing systems. He has held leadership roles with Playboy Enterprises, Digital Work and Platinum Technologies.

Paul earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Tulane University in New Orleans.

Caregiving is one of the most challenging aspects of life. If there’s even a small way that my experience can improve the quality of life for caregivers and their loved ones, that can be very rewarding.

Jena MoschellaDirector, Product and Service Delivery

Jena joined Carallel because she wants all caregivers to feel educated, empowered, supported and heard. She does just that as director of product and service delivery by providing Carallel’s Care Advocates with the right tools, processes, and technology to deliver personalized support to caregivers.

Jena has years of experience in operations and product management, most recently serving as senior product manager on the innovation team at Accolade, a company that delivers personalized healthcare.

Jena earned a bachelor’s degree in community health from Hofstra University. When she’s not at work, Jena can be found exploring local breweries or hiking with her husband, son, and their two rescue dogs.

I come from a family of helpers and caregivers. I want them, and the millions of caregivers in this country, to know they are making a difference, they are not alone, and they deserve support too.

Jennifer Piscitello, CDPDirector, Care Advocate Team

Jennifer comes to Carallel after working in sales, marketing, and planning roles for multiple Independent, Assisted Living, and Memory Care Communities. Along with serving these populations in a professional role, she has personal experience as a caregiver for several family members and close friends.

In her role as a Care Advocate at Carallel, Jennifer focuses on providing caregivers with the tools, education, and guidance they need to navigate the caregiver journey. This includes providing support for Carallel’s digital platform.

Jennifer earned BA from Iowa State University and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, yoga, tennis, biking, and scrapbooking.

I'm passionate about supporting family caregivers because it's a tough role. I have compassion, empathy, knowledge and resources that can help them and the loved one they are caring for.

Perry MimmsProgram Manager and Care Advocate

I know as a family caregiver how hard it can be bearing witness to those you love and value declining over time. I like being there for people when they need it.

Lesia Stuart, RNDirector, Clinical Affairs

Lesia is Carallel’s director of clinical affairs, supporting the operational aspects of the Care Advocates and monitoring the quality and compliance programs.

Lesia started her career practicing as a registered nurse before directing care management efforts for commercial, Medicare Advantage, marketplace and Medicaid plans at Cigna and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Tennessee.

Lesia earned a registered nursing diploma from Erlanger School of Nursing and a bachelor’s in health science administration from St. Francis College. When she’s not at work, she enjoys working in her garden and attending concerts.

I am passionate about supporting caregivers because I am one, caring for my father since his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2018. I’m thrilled to now help caregivers on a larger scale nationwide.

Luke McLeeseDirector, Customer Success

Luke serves as Carallel’s director of customer success, where he is responsible for strengthening relationships with customers and bridging the gap between customer needs, their goals, and Carallel’s solutions.

Having spent years with Emmi Solutions and Wolters Kluwer Health in various customer success roles, Luke is no stranger to creating delighted customers and driving tangible business value for them. He is also no stranger to the challenges of caregiving — which is why he joined Carallel.

Luke earned a bachelor’s degree in informatics from Indiana University-Bloomington. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, cheering on Chicago sports teams, and exploring the city with his fiancé and their dog, Roscoe.

Every person is likely to experience being a family caregiver, needing a family caregiver, or both at some point in their lives. No matter what the situation, it’s an isolating and overwhelming experience. That is why I am dedicated to doing my part in improving the experience and making it a tiny bit easier for those involved.

Matt PerrinDirector, Caregiver Engagement

Matt is a family caregiver for his mother who is living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Challenges he encountered while trying to find the right care led him to start Ro & Steve, a senior care review website built for consumers.

At Carallel, Matt drives the digital content development and distribution strategy. His focus is on supporting caregivers by providing the practical, relatable, and informative perspective people need — wherever they may be in their journey of caring for a loved one. 

Matt earned his BA in Psychology from Denison University. Ever a fan of skiing, he lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three daughters. 

Caregiving has been such an isolating experience. I wish I’d had more resources and help early on. So I've made it my life's work to help as many fellow caregivers as I can.

Get to know our Care Advocates

We asked a few of our Care Advocates why they are passionate about supporting caregivers.

Meet our board & advisors

John Banta, MBACo-Founder & Executive Chairman

John is the Co-Founder of Carallel and serves as the company’s Executive Chairman. He also serves as the President & Managing Director of BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners, the $900 million corporate venture fund complex supporting innovation for the 35 companies that comprise the BCBS system, which is sponsored by the BlueCross BlueShield Association.

Previously, John was the CEO and Managing Director of IllinoisVentures, the seed and early-stage technology venture investment firm focused on starting and building globally competitive businesses derived from Midwest universities and labs.

John earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business with high honors and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois College of Commerce. He serves on numerous corporate Boards, the Caregiver Action Network Leadership Council, the National Alliance for the Social Determinants of Health, and has been named to the Global Corporate Venture Powerlist 100 since its inception.

 

 

Neither Blue Cross Blue Shield Association nor BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners L.P. are affiliated with Carallel or its operations.

I have a passion for building great companies that advance the cause of human well-being. Our own family's experience made it clear that the caregiving plays a key role in determining the quality of health outcomes for loved ones. It's a privilege to have a hand in supporting caregivers across the country with their journeys.

Todd Johnson, MBABoard Member

Todd is a partner with FCA Venture Partners, a venture capital firm focused on investing in innovative early-stage healthcare technology companies.  Prior to his involvement with FCA, Todd served on the leadership team of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, overseeing entrepreneurial initiatives for the University. Prior to his position with Wake Forest University, Todd spent several years in various leadership roles with early-stage healthcare companies.

Todd serves on the Board of Directors of the following FCA portfolio companies:  Javara, OhMD, Impiricus, Payground and Carallel. Todd also serves on the Board of Directors of Momtech Inc. (early-stage technology company focused on moms) and Winston Starts (non-profit start-up incubator).

Todd received a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Wake Forest University.

I am a caregiver for my mom and have experienced up close the extreme difficulty of trying to fill a role that I have no training to do and no one to turn to for help.  It is at times an unsettling and frightening position to be in.  Carallel's mission and impact immediately resonated with me because I am living the challenge of being a caregiver myself. 

Emma CartmellBoard Member

Emma brings over 20 years of healthcare executive and investment experience to her efforts with Carallel, where she advises on growth and partnership strategy. In this role, she partners with our executive team to guide corporate strategy.

As founding partner of Cartmell Ventures, Emma advises and invests in high impact health IT solutions that meet her mission to drive down cost and improve healthcare outcomes for all. She has an enviable track record of operational success having served as chief operating officer at NantHealth and vice president of Healthcare Advanced Programs at SAIC as well as numerous industry honors.

Emma earned her master’s degree from Kings College and bachelor’s degree from the University of Brighton. She enjoys spending time outside and picks the beach over the mountains.

I know firsthand how difficult and stressful caregiving can be, particularly if you live far away. You have to make decisions that you are ill-equipped to make and the internet is full of conflicting information. I want to ensure caregivers are confident in their decisions and the care they provide.

Alan Spiro, MD, MBAChief Medical Advisor

Alan brings more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience to Carallel, where he serves as chief medical advisor. In this role, Alan helps guide product design, employee education and corporate strategy.

Before joining Carallel, Alan was senior vice president for strategy and analytics and chief medical officer for Blue Health Intelligence, which developed data science solutions based on data shared by Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans across the country. He has also previously served as chief medical officer at Medica, a health services company, and co-founded Accolade, an on-demand healthcare concierge for employers, health plans and health systems.

Alan earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and his MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He enjoys spending time with his family when he is not at work.

I believe families are central to life and in healthcare. My experience caring for my mother when she was living and dying with breast cancer fueled my desire to support other family caregivers.

Roy Beveridge, MDStrategy Advisor

Roy advises Carallel on commercialization strategy and our quality-focused programs.

He is part of Avalere’s Commercialization and Regulatory Strategies team as a senior advisor. He is a medical oncologist who has been in practice for more than 20 years. He most recently served as Humana’s Chief Medical Officer where he led clinical policy, population health and clinical quality initiatives. Dr. Beveridge has held similar roles for US Oncology and McKesson specialty.

Much of his recent work has focused on social determinants of health and improving the health of underserved populations. He has also published more than 200 papers.

Kathleen Stillo, MBACare Delivery Advisor

Kathy has spent 10+ years leading complex care teams at the intersection of medical and social care. She has served in Co-Founder, COO and VP roles within large payer and provider innovation teams, including at UnitedHealthcare, Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ, and the NJ COVID Recovery Hotel. Her work blends a deep understanding of care delivery, social determinants of health, data-driven patient segmentation, and a care philosophy that is trauma-informed and oriented toward supporting patients and their caregivers on their journey to stabilization and wellbeing.

Kathy continues this work advising Carallel on our Care Model, helping design and execution of health and social care programs to support caregivers.

Kathy is a member of Princeton, New Jersey’s Board of Health and serves on the Camden Coalition’s National Advisory board. She earned her MBA from Columbia Business School and her BA from Bowdoin College.

Caregiving for my mother, who has dementia, has been a bewildering experience. At Carallel, we are building a modern, nationwide, real- time coaching service to help caregivers like me manage the hard work of stabilizing their loved ones. Without support, these experiences can become the tipping points for medical, employment, financial, and social downward spirals for patients and their families.

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