Meet Ed Westerman...

Ed is Princpal of Westerman Consulting, a consulting practice providing logistics and business operations services. He holds the prestigious position of longest standing FTC Board Member, having joined more than 20 years ago.  The value that he has brought to the organization is immeasurable, lending his expertise in logistics to help to shape the organization into the successful nonprofit that it is today. His dedication to FTC's mission is rooted in the fact that most of his family members have been touched by cancer.

We are honored to share Ed's journey in the following interview...

FTC: You have a profoundly personal history of cancer in your family. Could you share your story with us?
Ed: My family has been touched many times by cancer. I was 7 when my father died (as a result of being gassed in WW1), but really didn’t understand what cancer was. My mother, June, was diagnosed with breast cancer in her mid-forties and had a double mastectomy. Ten years later she was diagnosed with lung cancer and eventually lost her battle when the lung cancer returned. Neither had a family history of cancer. I was deeply affected by her diagnosis', treatment and loss. However, I didn’t really know how to articulate how I felt.  It wasn’t until my sister Suzie died of brain cancer and our son Micah was diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 23 (now cancer free) that I met Ellie Anbinder, Co-Founder of FTC, and saw an opportunity to do something to have an impact. My wife Arline is now a 6+ year breast cancer survivor (with no family history) and we are both very committed to the cause. 

FTC: You are FTC’s longest standing Board member. Could you please share a brief history of your background with the organization?
Ed: I met Ellie and her passion in telling me about her fledgling foundation along with my family history made it easy for me to say yes when she asked if I would join the Board. That was more than 20 year's ago and I have been involved ever since. In those 20 years, I have served as Board member, Inaugural Board Chair and, most recently, Interim Co-Chair, just prior to our current Chair.

FTC: How have you seen FTC change over the years? 
Ed: The organization has grown from its infancy into a strong viable charity raising hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to fund our Consortium researching the environmental causes of breast cancer and a path to prevention.

FTC: What are you most proud of in your years of service to FTC?
Ed:  At a time when it was needed it most, I helped the organization to become better organized and more business oriented as well as develop an active and involved Board.

FTC: You introduced us to Bill Schawbel of the Schawbel Group, our 2021 Find The Cause Celebration and Auction Honoree.  Tell us about your friendship and how you got him to become so involved with FTC.
Ed: I met Bill in 1985 when I went to work for his company.  Even after I left, we kept in touch over the years. When I started my consulting practice, he was the first to recommend a client and, several years later, became a client as well. Bill was my employer, my client, my mentor and, most of all, continues to this day to be my friend. When Bill saw my passion for FTC, he wanted to get involved. Initially, I asked him to become a donor, which he gladly did. Then, knowing Bill's wealth of knowledge about charitable organizations from his years of serving on nonprofit boards, I asked him to meet with us and get his input on the business and marketing side of fundraising. Ultimately, his valuable advice has helped the organization become what it is today.  His support on all levels continues to be critically important to our success and progress towards our ultimate goal – to Find The Cause and prevent breast and other cancers.

FTC: What would you like people to know most about the work of FTC?
Ed: Over the years, FTC has accomplished many things, all towards our ultimate goal of finding the cause.  Each year we have increased research funding to the Consortium who in turn then been able to leverage these funds to apply for and be awarded much larger federal and foundation grants.  FTC initiated an education platform that continues to educate the public on areas of concern in our environment.  And as Dr. David Sherr, Director of the Consortium, has said we are closer to finding the cause and creating a protocol for prevention than we have ever been.  It is within our reach in this lifetime!  

We would like to thank Ed for sharing his story with us!

If you would like to donate to research on cancer prevention, please click on the link below.