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Board Of Directors
Patty Brisben
President
Patty Brisben is the CEO and founder of Pure Romance Inc., the nation’s fastest-growing in-home direct sales company specializing in relationship enhancement products and intimacy education. In 1983, motivated by a desire to spend more time with her family, Patty got involved with an in-home party business, selling relationship enhancement products and educating women on opening the lines of communication with their partner to improve intimacy. Her experience at that company would ultimately serve as the foundation of Pure Romance.
In the early ’90s, Patty recognized a strong demand for these services. She had no formal business training and no office, but had a group of 55 distributors who needed product and support. In 1993, Patty recognized the overwhelming demand in the marketplace, and subsequently created the company that would become Pure Romance. Since that time, Pure Romance has become a full-fledged education and retail force, with over 40,000 Consultants nationwide.
Patty’s passion and commitment to empowering women to pursue safe and healthy relationships has pushed Pure Romance to also become a resource and champion of sexual health awareness. Under her direction, Pure Romance has taken several proactive steps to raise the level of education on these issues, including:
The Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health
Serving to enhance women’s sexual health and well-being through research and education.
The Naked Truth
Educating college students on the importance of safe sex, sexual health, and relationship maintenance.
Sensuality, Sexuality, Survival
Helping women recapture their sensual and sexual selves following cancer diagnosis or treatment.
Drawing from extensive research in the industry and with her engaging personality, Patty has become a noted expert in the fields of intimacy and relationships. Her work has put her in the national spotlight, with appearances on ABC’s, “The View,” CNN, VH1, and numerous profiles in leading business publications, including Forbes and Entrepreneur.
Patty is warm, compassionate, and whip-smart, and women of all ages and backgrounds feel comfortable with her because she offers a safe and fun environment for women to explore their sexuality.
Amy Isenogle
Vice President
Amy Isenogle is the Executive Director for Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Cincinnati. Amy also served as the previous Executive Director for the Patty Brisben Foundation and is committed to furthering research and education initiatives specifically for women.
Amy is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College of Business Administration. Her degree is in Marketing and Non-Profit Management. She is married to Chad and has two children, Evan and Emma.
Justine O'Brien-Holmes
Treasurer
Ms. O'Brien-Holmes is the Vice President of Wealth Management at PNC Bank in Cincinnati.
Justine has long been an active participant in many women's charities, most recently serving on the Board of Directors and as Past President of Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Greater Cincinnati Affiliate.
Jessica Johnston
Secretary
Jessica serves as the Executive Director and Secretary of the Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health. Jessica manages all aspects of the Patty Brisben Foundation, including: fundraising and event planning, marketing and communication, legal compliance, bookkeeping, grant review, Board Meeting preparation and execution, and intern and volunteer management. She is committed to raising funds for and awareness of the Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health.
Susan Colvin
Director
Although born in Pasco, Washington, Susan – having moved to California at the age of two – considers herself a Californian. Having graduated at the top of her class from High school, Susan went on to earn three College Degrees: a B.A. from the University of Mexico (Speech Major and a Political Science Minor), an M.P.A. from the same university as well as an M.B.A. from Central Michigan University. Having lived a life where education was paramount, Susan’s career path after her completion of college appeared to be “a natural.” She began teaching – first G.E.D. courses at various Military bases, then she was an Associate Professor & Director of Student Affairs at Hawaii Pacific College, as well as an Associate Professor at Golden Gate University.
When beginning in the adult toy and novelty industry in 1993, Susan was faced with a male-dominated/men’s club mentality. However, with a strong work ethic and a commitment to be #1, she never took ‘no,’ for an answer. The question still looms, though, ‘How does a woman come to run the world’s most successful adult toy company?’ “The ‘adult’ aspect doesn’t really come into play…it’s a matter of supply and demand,” she explains. “The adult industry is responsible for generating substantial revenues. We have simply utilized mainstream business and management techniques in identifying our share of the marketplace and moved forward.” So far forward, in fact, that California Exotic Novelties is the World’s #1 Adult Toy & Novelty company.
Margery Gass, M.D.
Director
Dr. Margery Gass is Executive Director of the North American Menopause Society, based in Cleveland, Ohio. She most recently served as Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Cincinnati, where she was Director of the University Hospital Menopause and Osteoporosis Center. She has focused her professional career on the health of midlife and menopausal women.
In addition to direct patient care, Dr. Gass has been involved in clinical research in three areas of particular importance to midlife women – menopause, osteoporosis, and female sexual health. Dr. Gass is principal investigator for the Women’s Health Initiative, a 15-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) study of the health of women 50-79. Dr. Gass served as co-investigator for the STAR Trial comparing Tamoxifen and Raloxifene for prevention of breast cancer.
Dr. Gass serves on the NIH National Advisory Council for the Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She was selected for the Distinguished Alumnae Award by the Women’s Studies Program at the University of Cincinnati. DePauw University selected her for the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement.
Dr. Gass was president of the North American Menopause Society 2002-2003 and served on the Board of Trustees for six years. She has spoken at the Amsterdam biannual menopause meeting, the International Menopause Society triennial meeting in Buenos Aires, and the Japan Menopause Society meeting in Tokyo.
Madeleine “Mady” Gordon
Director
Mady Gordon is best-known in the Greater Cincinnati area for her community activism, fundraising and giving the “Gift of Life.” A Secondary Educator in Advanced Placement English and a Residential Real Estate Agent specializing in river views, Mady found her true passion in life in 1995 through the creation of her 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, the Madeleine Gordon Gift of Life Foundation. The only program of its kind in the US, the Madeleine Gordon Gift of Life Foundation assists couples with infertility problems defray the costs of in-vitro fertilization, the cost of which is typically not covered by health insurance. More than 41 babies have been born as the result of Mady’s “Gift of Life,” in partnership with the Christ Hospital and under the auspices of the University of Cincinnati Medical School.
Mady was honored as the Woman of the Year in 2006 and currently holds positions on the Board of Directors for The Opera Guild and Lighthouse Youth Services, in addition to the Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health:
Jennifer Manders, M.D., FACS
Director
Dr. Manders is a Board Certified General Surgeon and Fellowship Trained Breast Surgeon who sees patients with benign or malignant diseases of the breast, a family history of breast cancer, or other high risk factors. She also places vascular access devices for chemotherapy.
Dr. Manders has an avid interest in research and will help direct breast cancer clinical trials at The Christ Hospital, where she is medical director of oncoplastic surgery.
Dr. Manders collaborates with basic science researchers at the University of Cincinnati in breast cancer studies. In addition, she began and continues to organize a support group for young women with breast cancer which meets every other month at The Wellness Community in Blue Ash.
Dr. Manders was named part of the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2007 class of 40 under Forty and has also been named as a Best Doctor in America by Best Doctors in America Database, 2007-2008, as well as a Top Doctor by Cincinnati Magazine in April 2007. The author of several journal articles, book chapters and posters, Dr. Manders and gives numerous talks each year.
Dr. Manders and her husband Ernie are the proud parents of young twins, daughter Saffron and son Ernie and welcomed another new baby in the fall of 2009.
Sue Ann Peck
Sue Ann Peck
Sue Ann is the owner of Peck Consulting Services, LLC, which specializes in financial software programs with a concentration in online banking and bill payment. She has broad experience with executives and staffs of major financial institutions and their customers. Her job consists of teaching individuals and small business personnel to enter and maintain accounting records to easily create reports for financial statements, balance sheets, and tax-related data.
Sue Ann is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, has been married for more than 20 years and has two sons: Chris who is currently attending Purdue University and Stephen, who attends Miami University. Sue Ann served three terms as the Treasurer of the Patty Brisben Foundation.
Mary South, M.D.
Mary South, M.D.
Dr. South serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. South practices with UC Physicians, the practice group for clinical faculty members at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Her specialty is in the areas of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery.
Mary earned her BA in Chemistry from the College of Wooster and her M.D. from Case Western Reserve University. She went on to the University of North Carolina as Resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology and completed a Fellowship in Urogynecology at Duke University Medical Center.
Dr. South lives with her husband Andrew South, a Neonatologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and two children James and Mia in Hyde Park, Ohio. She most enjoys time with her family which includes hiking and spending time outdoors.
Terri Tassie
Terri Tassie
Terri Tassie is a self-made success in business and in life. Her continuing commitment to hard work, dedication, and integrity has been the common thread in virtually every facet of her personal and professional career. After researching numerous opportunities once she decided to go into business for herself, and she became a Pure Romance Consultant in 2000. Pure Romance Parties by Terri became a successful business, earning her numerous awards as she rose as high as the number two consultant in the country. Her awards include many for gross sales, most improvement in sales, and recruiting.
Terri became a Market Trainer for the company and achieved the Advisory Board for five consecutive years. Her career work brought her its highest honor in 2006, when she was named to the Executive Board of Directors for Pure Romance, Inc.
Terri is honored to have served as the President of the Patty Brisben Foundation for three consecutive terms. Terri strives to continue to be an inspiration as a business woman, a leader, an administrator, as a role model to other women, and her three children.
Michael Thomas, M.D.
Director
Dr. Michael A. Thomas is a Professor and the Division and Fellowship Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, which is part of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center. Dr. Thomas also serves as the Director of Reproductive Medicine Research, a clinical trial unit dedicated to women’s health issues (www.researchforwomen.com). He has served on the faculty at the University of Cincinnati since 1990 and was medical director of Planned Parenthood® of Cincinnati from 1997-1998. An Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) member since 1991, Michael has served on the faculty for several ARHP educational programs, been a presenter at ARHP’s annual meeting and been clinical advisor for the ARHP brochures on bone health and postpartum medical issues.
Michael received his undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Radio-TV-Film from Northwestern University in 1980. He attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine, earning his MD. Dr. Thomas completed his residency at Wayne State University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as a reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Division in 1990.
Michael is a member on a number of professional societies and has serves on the medical board of Planned Parenthood of Cincinnati and past Chair of the Contraceptive Special Interest Group of American Society of Reproductive Medicine. He is also a member of the National Institute of Health’s Contraceptive Clinical Trials Network, which is a multicenter group of contraceptive researchers who formulate and test different type of contraceptive agents. Michael has served as an ARHP board member since January 2005, and is an advisor and faculty member on several ARHP education programs and publications.
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