Meet the Team
Project Koru Staff
Beth “Vi” Peck
Executive Director (she/her/hers)
Beth “Vi” Peck shows her "vivacious" personality as well as her extensive background in non-profit management and leadership in everything she does. She has experienced the transformational work Project Koru provides to young adult cancer survivors firsthand, because she is one. Beth attended Camp Koru in the Fall of 2016 after a battle with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer, and attributes the woman, mother, and professional she is today to her Project Koru experience. Beth brings a diverse skill set collected over a 15-year career in nonprofit work and all levels of fundraising, as well as a deep level of love and respect from the entire Project Koru community.
Beth’s home base is East Lansing, Michigan where she raises her three (equally!) vivacious kids. She is a book junkie, water baby, and her wanderlust has brought her all over the world. Reach out and say hi at beth@projectkoru.org.
Jesse “Bull” Eriksen
Program & Development Coordinator (he/him/his)
Jesse “Bull” is a part of the Project Koru team as a result of the combination of two seemingly separate aspects of his life coming together. The first is his professional background in outdoor mental health program and operations management. Jesse helped foster the connective and empowering experiences that come from small groups of people spending time together in the natural world. The second is his own survivorship journey after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. After coming to camp as a participant with Project Koru, it all clicked that this is where Jesse can use all of who he is professionally and personally to drive Project Koru’s mission forward.
Jesse’s home is the desert southwest of southern Utah. It is here that Jesse spends most of his free time outside hiking and climbing with his loved ones. He is here to help, so reach out to connect! jesse@projectkoru.org
Board of Directors
Angie “Elele” Fields
Board Chair
Angie Fields is honored to serve on the board of directors after spending 10+ years kiteboarding and being a part of PK’s Kiteboard 4 Cancer fundraising event in Hood River, Oregon, her second home. Project Koru’s mission became even more important to her after she faced her own battle with cancer in 2015. The journey was long and incredibly painful, but the perspective she gained at the end was one she is eternally grateful for. That, along with the opportunities and doors that cancer opened for her, proves that the pain was worth the challenge.
She is the chef and proprietress of Coco Sherrie’ Chocolate Company and enjoys kiting, skiing, cycling, and hiking when she isn’t making chocolate. She and her husband, Jack, spent free time traveling to spend time with their young adult kids in both San Diego and Austin, who both grew up volunteering for Kiteboard 4 Cancer.
Her business acumen and positive attitude continue to be a driving force in Project Koru’s growth, and her goal is to make the dream of attending a PK survivorship program a reality for EVERYONE who wishes to attend.
Lea “Astro” Anzules
Board Secretary (she/her/hers)
Lea "Astro" is a proud New Yorker, born and raised in the city's vibrant heart, where she continues to call home. Her journey with Project Koru began in 2018, and she has since played various roles, including serving on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and participating in the inaugural cohort of the Farman Fellows Leadership program.
Beyond her commitments to Project Koru, Astro has a passion for travel, organizing group outings, and embarking on adventures throughout the city, often accompanied by her puppy, Loki. Professionally, she also contributes her expertise to Columbia University, where she manages Special Projects for the President's Office.
Astro's driving force is her commitment to balancing financial sustainability and social impact within organizations, reflecting her dedication to making a positive difference in the world.
Coleen “Phoenix” Schoch
Board Member (she/her/hers)
Coleen "Phoenix" Schoch joined the Project Koru Board in 2024. She is a two-time breast cancer survivor who has been involved with Project Koru since 2022.
Coleen currently lives in the mountains of Colorado with her family and maintains a law practice in Washington, D.C. She is thrilled to bring her legal background and experience growing non-profit organizations to this amazing organization.
Jessica “North” Gripentrop
Board Treasurer & Medical Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Jessica is a Michigan native who currently lives in Austin, TX. She is a Registered Nurse who has enjoyed seeing the world through Travel Nursing for the past 6 years. At 19 years old, Jessica was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. She went on to attend Camp Koru in the Fall of 2019. Becoming apart of the PK Ohana was the community she had been searching for! Her camp experience inspired her to join Project Koru’s first Farmen Fellows Leadership Cohort in 2021. Since completing her training, North has been the Camp Nurse at multiple Maui camps, and has recently grown into leading camps as Camp Manager. In January 2023, North joined the Board of Directors. Her healthcare experience offers valuable insight into giving survivors an empowering camp experience where they can flourish.
Medical Director
Garret “Bear” Zallen, MD
(he/him)
Garret has been a practicing pediatric and adult surgeon for over twenty years. Growing up in Colorado and graduating medical school from the University of Colorado gave him a love for the outdoors. After moving to Oregon and taking up kiteboarding, he became one of the founders of Kiteboarding 4 Cancer and eventually Project Koru. He has volunteered at dozens of Project Koru survivorship programs and worked with AYA cancer survivors for over 10 years. Having worked so many PK programs helps him make sure that each participant is prepared and ready for their experience. "Our job as the medical staff is to make sure that, to the best of our ability, everyone has a fun and safe time."
Legacy Board
At Project Koru, Legacy board member status is bestowed upon individuals who have touched the lives of survivors through their guidance, mentorship and connection, while contributing immense positive impact on the direction and growth of the organization.
Xan “Hulk” Harwood-Karlik
Xan "Hulk" Harwood-Karlik attended Camp Koru 22 as a camper, and came back to camp several times as a cancer survivor leader. Despite battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Xan learned how to kiteboard so he could participate in Project Koru's annual fundraising event, Kiteboard 4 Cancer. Xan helped raise over $100,000 through Kiteboard 4 Cancer. He was always there when his fellow Ohana needed support, and his memory will live on at Project Koru.
Jessica “1%” Aube
Jessica "1%" Aube attended camp 17 as a camper and went on to staff many camps after that. One of the most beloved camp counselors, 1% always knew how to make every participant feel welcomed and comfortable. Her insatiable laugh brightened up every camp she attended.
Proud to be survivor-led.
Our community would be nothing without the survivor leaders who help us run camps, create and run virtual programs, and make waves across our organization
They deserve just as much recognition. Go check them out!
Careers
Are you passionate about making waves in the cancer community? Come join our team!
Volunteer Opportunities
We accept applications for board members and advisors on a rolling basis. You can find the application forms on our volunteer page.
Job Postings
There are no formal job opportunities currently available at Project Koru; however, if there are, you will find them posted on this page!
