Executive Director

Karan Garrison is the Executive Director of This Little Light, a non-profit organization she feels passionately about. Karan's commitment to the organization's mission stems from her own experiences with Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer and caring for several family members with health issues. With over three decades of professional experience, Karan brings extensive leadership skills to her role.

She has a background in operations management, fundraising, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Her expertise in relationship building, financial oversight, and customer service ensures This Little Light continues to provide a trusted and valuable resource for the community, donors, and partners. Karan also serves on the Patient Advocate Advisory Board for The Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance.

As Executive Director, Karan ensures programmatic excellence, effective program evaluation, strong fiscal management and administration, successful fundraising initiatives, and proper systems and procedures. She sets timelines and allocates resources needed to achieve the non-profit's operational, financial, and strategic objectives. Her goal is for This Little Light to have the greatest positive impact possible.

Outside of work, Karan enjoys spending time with her husband (college sweetheart) and three adult children. Having their granddaughter over for sleepovers is always a highlight and the best one-on-one time a Noni and Popi can have!

Director of Marketing and Development

Joanne is the Director of Marketing and Development at This Little Light. Through marketing strategies and outreach, Joanne works to increase awareness of the organization's programs and services so we can help as many people as possible impacted by breast cancer. Her passion also extends to raising awareness of mental health issues.

With over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing and business management, Joanne excels at cultivating sales and executing successful marketing strategies. She received her degree in Sales and Sales Management from Southwest Missouri State University.

Outside of work, Joanne finds joy spending time with her husband Mark of 30 years and their two sons Zachary and Cole. She hopes that through her work, all those suffering physically or mentally will one day find comfort, courage, and joy.

Board Member

Angie Austin Gaskill is a problem solver, advocate, and champion for causes she believes in. As a breast cancer survivor, Angie is passionate about supporting other cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Originally from Brookfield, Missouri, Angie enjoyed a career in marketing and communications in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Midwest for more than two decades. She traveled the world for her clients, elevating brands and developing impactful campaigns for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 50 companies. A proud Mizzou graduate, Angie was named one of Ingram’s Magazine’s Forty Under 40 in 2011.

Since her breast cancer treatment, Angie embarked on a successful real estate career. Her journey has given Angie a new purpose - to use her communication skills, experience, and empathy to help and inspire other cancer patients and survivors. Angie now dedicates her time and energy to advocating for those facing similar battles, serving as an advisor, cheerleader, and champion for causes close to her heart.

Angie's values and work ethic are shaped by her family and faith, and she loves living close to her clan— really close. Angie lives within 10 minutes of her parents, sister & brother-in-law, brother & sister-in-law, aunt, nieces, and nephews. She is most joyful when surrounded by her husband, Mike, two daughters, and two “bonus” kids.

Board Member

Maddie is an associate at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in Kansas City. Maddie graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law where she devoted much of her time to advocating for veterans and their caretakers to receive benefits they were entitled to but previously denied. As a Kansas City native, Maddie knew she wanted to come back to Kansas City and make an impact on the community she grew up in. 

Maddie has experienced how cancer can impact patients, caretakers and families and is looking forward to using her abilities to help This Little Light make an impact in the community.

Board Member

Mary is a Major Case Specialist at Travelers Insurance Company, handling catastrophic/complex claims for construction clients in a multi-state territory. She has been in the insurance industry for over 40 years and has experience helping clients navigate legal and risk management challenges in the area of construction, medical malpractice, and public sector liability. She obtained her AIC and CPCU professional designations. Mary was named “Insurance Woman of the Year” by National Insurance Women of America. In addition to handling claims, she has provided corporate claim training to her company. She also teaches nationally recognized certification classes for the Associates in Claim Program. Mary attended the University of Missouri, Columbia, where she graduated with honors and obtained a double major in Education and Journalism. She has taught high school English and continues to help young people prepare for interviews and resume writing. She is an avid supporter of empowering women in the workplace and daily life. She supports the community through her work with Kansas City Scholars, Donors Choose, and Hope House. She appreciates the challenges of being a caregiver as her aging mother chose to remain in her home until her death, where Mary and her dad became 24/7 caregivers. She also has been involved with hospice through her church. Mary’s post-corporate goal involves giving back to others and supporting women in any way possible. When not working, Mary loves to travel the world and is a motorcycle enthusiast.

Board Member

Theresa is the vice president of Baty Otto Coronado Scheer, a prestigious law firm where she serves on the executive committee. She has built a successful career defending complex catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, truck accident, and defective product cases resulting in large financial exposure for the firm's clients. Theresa's wealth of experience as a civil litigation attorney and knowledge of employment discrimination law makes her a trusted advisor for clients.

Theresa obtained her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School, graduating with honors as a Thomas J. White Scholar. As a student, she served as the copy editor of the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy. She graduated magna cum laude from Rockhurst College prior to attending law school.

For over two decades, Theresa has maintained the highest peer review rating of "AV" by Martindale Hubbell, demonstrating her skill, legal knowledge, communication ability, and ethical standards. Clients value Theresa for her diligent advocacy, strategic insight, and successful representation in high-stakes cases.

Theresa’s commitment to This Little Light is personal: as a breast cancer survivor who lost her mother and sister to the disease, she is passionate about supporting others on their cancer journeys.

Board Member

Dr. Cristyn Watkins is a visionary family physician and wellness expert focused on advanced medical aesthetics and regenerative medicine. After struggling with her own chronic health issues and limited answers from traditional medicine, Cristyn founded aNu Aesthetics in 2011 to bring an integrated, personalized approach to health and wellness. She blends traditional and alternative options to find the root of the problem and develops a comprehensive plan for each patient.

As she searched for more advanced treatment options, Cristyn completed regenerative medicine training and added treatments like PRP, IV therapy and biologics to her practice. She focuses her research on these progressive therapies and trains other practitioners. Previously, Cristyn co-owned Regenerative Treatment Centers of Kansas and now oversees three aNu locations. She is fervent in her search for the next breakthrough anti-aging and regenerative treatments, always learning and researching progressive options.

As a true advocate for our mission, Cristyn has been involved with This Little Light since its inception and hosts our annual wellness retreat for breast cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Dr. Watkins enjoys her family time too with her husband and three young children. The joy she receives from them keeps everything balanced.

Board Member

Dr. Allison Zupon is a dedicated breast radiologist and advocate for cancer patients. Her mission is to find breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage, giving women the best chance for survival. After graduating from medical school and completing her radiology training, Allison co-founded Imaging for Women, an independent breast imaging center focused on early detection and diagnosis. She has lectured across the country on the value of supplemental screening to find breast cancers often missed on mammograms alone.

Allison’s passion for women's health and breast cancer awareness began in college and continues today through her work. For Allison, partnering with patients to detect breast cancer early is her highest priority, giving women more treatment options and a better quality of life. She is committed to empowering and supporting cancer survivors and their families every step of the journey.

When not working, Dr. Zupon loves spending time with her husband and two young children. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and reading.