- Nancy Ferro"Mama Lou"Nancy Ferro"Mama Lou"
Nancy has over 30 year’s experience as an event planner, marketing director, volunteer coordinator, and small business owner. Her story with cancer began in August 2007, when her oldest son, Michael was diagnosed with Stage I Testicular Cancer. As a mother, she spent her life wanting the best for her children and dreaming that they would be whatever they wanted to be when they grew up. Of course there are the expected bumps and bruises along the way, but never did she imagine what it would be like to fight for her son’s life. In August 2007, Michael felt a lump and at first ignored it. Eventually he agreed to an ultrasound and as he walked out into the waiting room following the procedure it was as if time stood still. Michael’s words “I have cancer and we are not going to cry about it” were words she would never forget. The following two months included two major surgeries and a good prognosis for his future.
During the process there was little thought about the after effects of cancer; in the moment it was simply a matter of survival. As life moved beyond the treatments it became very clear to Nancy that there were very few resources available for support and encouragement of cancer survivors. So, the dream began to provide a resource for individuals like her son who desperately needed an opportunity to embrace life once again. Nancy lives in Arvada, Colorado with her husband Mark. Nancy enjoys the mountains, traveling, horseback riding and her 3 dogs. Michael and his brother and sister live in Colorado as well.
- Amy Wilhelm"Tex"Amy Wilhelm"Tex"
Amy talked her husband Mark into purchasing the 7W Guest Ranch and lodge back in 2002. This purchase allowed her to continue her service work by donating this property to many charities helping them achieve their mission. Epic has been the main beneficiary as being the home from the start to the cancer camps. Her continuous drive to make the world a better place takes most of her time along with her dedication to her family. Amy is mother to her three step children, wife to her husband Mark and has a love for animals. Along with her philanthropic activities, she stays very busy donating her time and money. While spending the winters in South Florida, you will find her most days volunteering at Hospice by the Sea.
Amy’s love to travel keeps her busy and never long in one place. She spends her summers in the Vail Valley. Her winters in South Florida along with visiting family and friends across the country. Amy and Mark can be found most days either hiking, biking, running or doing something active outdoors.Amy Wilhelm was born and raised in Texas. Amy’s ambition was to become a nurse and she worked many different jobs in the Hospital following her desire. Her career as a nurse was derailed when she met Mark her husband and they started working together creating and growing their Logistics business. Amy held many and all jobs at Amware along with starting and running a Trucking company in Dallas servicing a national retailer as their dedicated private fleet.
- Karl White"Moose"Karl White"Moose"
Karl initially found Epic as a Lymphoma survivor when he was looking for ways to give back to the cancer community. After attending a camp in Summer 2016, Karl believed so strongly in the support he received there and Epic’s mission that he jumped at the opportunity to join the board. Karl is very excited about Epic’s future.
Karl has 10 years of Analytic experience and a BA in Math and a MBA in Finance, both from the University of Colorado. Currently he is a Senior Data Analyst at Kaiser Permanente. Karl also has 15 years of board member and Treasure experience at a Denver based Credit Union that specializes in serving the financially under served. In addition, Karl has 15 years of Sales and Management experience.Karl is a Colorado native, but is well traveled. He has been to all 50 states and all 7 continents. He enjoys golf, dinning out, live music and gardening. He and his wife Jolene also love hanging out with and walking their dog Turk.
- Colin Ferro"Wingman"Colin Ferro"Wingman"Colin arrived in Denver, CO in 2004 to attend Regis University for college. During his time at Regis Colin was very involved with a retreat called Kairos. Kairos was very impactful in his life and he wanted to continue to share that with his peers throughout his collegiate experience. During college Colin’s brother was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After being the emotional support and caregiver for Michael during the last two years at Regis University Colin gained more and more affection for the cancer community and wanting to support all survivors however he could.Working at the corporate office for the Red Robin Restaurant Group Colin was in search to find a career full of passion and purpose much like his time in college with Kairos. In 2013 Colin came to work for Epic Experience part time, 6 months later he was full time. Since that time his passion for the organization and the entire cancer community has grown year after year. Colin is passionate about the outdoors and the cancer community, Epic Experience has helped him embrace both of them. He is always excited to share his enthusiasm of Epic Experience with whoever will take the time to listen.
- Deron Shields""Deron Shields""
Deron is a bladder cancer survivor and is always looking to give back to the community having been a member of Imerman Angels for the past 7 years and now on the Board of Directors for Epic Experience since February 2018.
Deron and his wife reside in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoy traveling to Denver to visit two of their daughters who live in Denver while two others live in the Los Angeles area and their son lives in San Francisco.
A graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas’s school of Hospitality Management and finishing up an MBA at Strayer University’s Jack Welch Management Institute, Deron brings a wide variety of experience to the board and most recently, after 12 years of working at an international Bio-Tech company, started his own hotel management company.
In his free time, he and his wife travel the world switching off between adventure vacations such as hiking Machu Picchu and sitting on a beach in Maui. When not traveling and working Deron coaches middle school and high school soccer and is a nationally certified coach and referee.
- Louis Chinn"Stud"Louis Chinn"Stud"
Louis is a native Northern Californian and the lucky "winner" of one of the rarest cancers in the world, thymic carcinoma - an aggressive cancer of the thymus gland. Ironically, most of his professional career has been in the business of oncology, partnering with cancer clinics around the country for over 20 years. Indeed, cancer does not discriminate.
He enjoys photography, golf, cycling, working out and traveling around the world.
Finding Epic Experience was truly a blessing for Louis! Spending an active week in the beautiful Colorado mountains with other cancer thrivers, and soon-to-be lifelong friends, while learning how not to be defined by our cancers, has allowed him to lead a positive and active lifestyle. As a member of the Board of Directors, he looks forward to giving back and helping Epic Experience to continue to show others, like him, how to live beyond cancer.
- Sabine Schwab"Bee"Sabine Schwab"Bee"
Sabine attended an Epic Experience camp in May 2016. It was her first time in the beautiful state of Colorado – and she "absolutely fell in love” with the 7W Ranch. She has been back at the ranch as a volunteer every year since.
Upon her return home, Sabine wanted to give back to Epic. She joined the Epic Experience Alumni Team as Camper Outreach Specialist to support Epic in all things "Alumni Relations". She is heading up the team since 2017.
Sabine emigrated from Germany in 2010. She has a PhD in Economics and Social Sciences, and has worked in both - nonprofit and corporate companies.
Sabine is a primary brain tumor survivor of four years, mother to a 4-year old girl, avid yogi and rock climber. She loves traveling, cooking and photography as much as volunteering for Epic. Being a strong believer in the healing power of nature and togetherness, Sabine aims to connect other cancer survivors to live up to the quote:
“When “I” is replaced by “We”, Illness becomes Wellness!” (Malcolm X).
- Paul Maroni"Doogie"Paul Maroni"Doogie"
Board Member Emeritus
Dr Paul Maroni was unanimously elected to the Board of Director Emeritus for his founding support of Epic Experience. He has been an urologic and surgical oncologist at the University of Colorado Hospital since 2007. He tries to spend as much time as possible with his wife Nikki and children Samantha and AJ. He is an avid runner, occasional biker, and poor fisherman that believes family and relationships make life worthwhile. He is interested in helping survivors/caregivers overcome the frightening experience of “having cancer” and emerge as stronger, healthier individuals – a core goal of the EPIC experience. He brings organizational, educational, and medical experience to the board of directors.