Member and Community Relations Update

Welcoming New Faces to the MCR Team

by Heidi Lane, Senior VP of Administration & Operations

We’re pleased to announce our MCR team is growing! Ashley Castello and Jazzmine Brown will be joining us on September 1st, followed by Kelly Waters on September 15th. These new additions reflect both expansion and transition within the team—one new position, one to succeed Jeff Amond, who recently left the Alliance, and one to follow Mark Plencner, who will be retiring in January of 2026.

As we welcome our new colleagues, we want to take a moment to express our deep appreciation for Jeff and Mark. Jeff’s work and commitment to the Alliance are sincerely appreciated. Jeff began his career in hemophilia in 2004 as the Psychosocial Specialist for the American Red Cross Badger Center for Bleeding Disorders, later transitioning to the University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics in 2005. For nearly two decades, he served as the program’s Clinical Social Worker, while also managing key aspects of their 340B Program, including insurance and reimbursement operations. His deep expertise in payer relations, prior authorizations, and patient advocacy has been invaluable to the bleeding disorders community. Mark’s upcoming retirement marks the close of a remarkable chapter of dedication to the bleeding disorders community, and his contributions have left a lasting legacy. Before joining the Hemophilia Alliance in 2017, Mark spent 21 years as pharmacy manager at the Roger Maris Cancer Center/North Dakota Hemostasis and Thrombosis Treatment Center, where he developed the institution’s first 340B program. He also served in key leadership roles, including President of the Hemophilia Alliance GPO and Board Chair of both the Alliance and The Alliance Pharmacy. We are grateful for Mark’s years of service and wish him all the best as he prepares for retirement.

With gratitude for Jeff and Mark’s contributions, we now turn to the future and introduce three outstanding new members of the MCR team.

Ashley Castello

Ashley has been involved with the hemophilia community since 2016 when her youngest son was diagnosed with Severe Hemophilia A at birth. She became involved in the local chapter, eventually becoming the Executive Director of the Louisiana Hemophilia Foundation (LHF) in 2021. As Executive Director of LHF, Ashley was dedicated to continuously evolving and improving the organization and ensuring that the bleeding disorders community had a thriving chapter with many opportunities for education and fellowship.

In 2024, she accepted a position as Patient Liaison at Optum Pharmacy, communicating with patients about their care needs and interacting with the community at chapter events in a six-state territory. Prior to her work in hemophilia, Ashley served as an educator in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for sixteen years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Counseling, both from Louisiana State University.

Ashley resides in her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her husband of 18 years – Casey, their two sons – Leo and Max, two dogs – Nova and Biscuit, and three ducks – Rosie, Mellow, and Nibbles.

Jazzmine Brown

Jazzmine began her career with the bleeding disorder community in 2019 at Hemophilia of Georgia. She spent many years as an Outreach Social Worker prior to shifting focus in 2024 to revenue cycle and payer relations as a Payer Relations Account Manager. Jazzmine has a history of maximizing 340B programming to navigate complex care and access to medication issues both clinically in the homes of individuals and their families, as well as operationally with focus on program development, revenue growth, and contract management. Jazzmine consistently seeks opportunities to marry her passions by prioritizing and advocating for the needs of bleeding disorder patients while balancing organizational demands.

Jazzmine first attended Georgia State University as an undergraduate, continuing to The University of Alabama for completion of her master’s in social work in 2019, then followed by a master’s in business administration in 2023 from Capella University. Jazzmine maintains her clinical license in social work and is a Certified Patient Account Representative.

Jazzmine lives in Atlanta with her husband (Branden) and her sweet pup (Ahsoka). Outside of work, Jazzmine loves being an aunt, taking Pilates classes, attending concerts, and lunching with friends and family whenever possible.

Kelly Waters

For 30 years, Kelly has dedicated her career to healthcare and nonprofit leadership, with a passion for improving lives and strengthening communities. From 2006 to 2025, she served as Executive Director of the Virginia Hemophilia Foundation, guiding strategic growth, fundraising, community outreach, and advocacy. Her earlier work in oncology social work, palliative care, and statewide quality improvement gave her a deep understanding of patient care, program development, and stakeholder collaboration.

Kelly earned her Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from James Madison University, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. She and her husband live in Richmond, VA, where they enjoy playing fetch with their dog, cheering on their high school senior on the basketball court, and hearing about the adventures of their older son, who serves in the U.S. Air Force.

We look forward to the exciting contributions ahead and remain grateful for the lasting impact of those who helped shape our team.