Ryan Galloway, MBA
Ryan Galloway is a seasoned business leader with more than 20 years of experience across the finance, healthcare, and technology sectors, spanning both public and private environments. He has held roles with leading organizations including Ernst & Young, the Office of Management and Budget, and Microsoft, as well as private equity–backed, high-growth companies. Ryan was introduced to Taste for Life (TFL) by his mentor, Cecil Flamer, and has dedicated over five years of service as a committee member. In addition to his work with TFL, he has served on the boards of the National Association of Black Accountants and the Baltimore Curriculum Project.
Ryan now serves as Co-Chair of TFL, driven by a deeply personal mission to honor and support family and friends impacted by cancer, especially his mother, Doretha Galloway, who passed away in 2008. His leadership reflects both professional excellence and a strong commitment to service, community, and legacy.
Kathleen Taylor
Kathleen Taylor is a seasoned sales professional with over 35 years of expertise in the Baltimore Metropolitan sales scene. Kathleen serves as the Senior Integrated Marketing Manager at Urban One in Baltimore, MD. In this role, she has honed her skills as a government strategy consultant, focusing on expanding the company’s business portfolio. Kathleen excels in creating promotional partnerships and ensuring the maintenance of core business operations.
Kathleen has a teenage daughter, is very active in the community volunteering at church for SARC in Harford County and on this committee.
Cecil Flamer, Ambassador
Prior to 2009 I was only a financial contributor to the American Cancer Society. As a tribute to my late sister, who succumbed to breast cancer in February, 2009, I wanted to get more involved and I found TFL in April, 2009. I invited my two best friends to be my guest for the day and encouraged them to join me in spending freely to support the cause. It has been my honor and privilege to have participated in the growth of TFL in Baltimore since 2012. We now welcome and thank over 500 of my best friends, business associates and supporters of the fight against cancer to annually enjoy this experience. A voter sante et bon apetit!
Jesse J. Bennett, JR.
I attended my first TFL in 2012 at the Lyric Theater, after I had recovered from a radical prostatectomy (a complete prostate removal surgery in 2010) after an invitation from my classmate, Cecil Flamer, Morgan State University, Class of 1969. At the end of that first Lyric TFL, I joined the planning committee for 2013! I have continued my committee membership/involvement since then. I experienced a second round of prostate cancer with radiation treatment in 2021!
I have had multiple opportunities to represent ACS at events in Baltimore and Washington D.C. as a spokesperson describing my journey. Currently, I am a two-time prostate cancer survivor and am under active surveillance for any recurrence of prostate cancer.
I support ACS Taste For Life because as a multiple survivor, I continue to spread the word that ALL men and women need to know; although there is not currently a cure for this disease, EVERYONE can help spread the word how important early detection is the key to living! KNOW YOUR SCORE by getting regular testing BEFORE symptoms appear. Women preach to the men in your life, remind them to have regular PSA blood tests, and create a baseline to monitor when changes occur.
Thank you for supporting 2026 TASTE FOR (LIVING) LIFE!
Rita Roane Blackwell
Rita Roane Blackwell (That Wine Girl) is the Regional Sales Manager for Cape Classics Wine in the MidAtlantic Region, USA. Cape Classics is a portfolio of diverse South African and French Wines.
Rita’s wine career began in 2006 after earning her Certificate of Wine Studies at the French Culinary Institute in New York City and later from The Culinary Institute of America in Napa, California. Rita previously ran her own wine tasting company, Wine Express Tastings, and has been the Private Client Manager at Penfolds Wines and the Portfolio Specialist representing the Moët Hennessy portfolio of wines, champagnes, and spirits. Rita was the professor of wine studies at Prince George’s Community College Culinary Department in Maryland, USA.
Rita is convinced that wine should be presented in a way that is fun and accessible to all. For Rita, wine is as multidimensional as food and evokes a spirit in people that is undeniable. Her mission is to bring a fresh, modern, non-typical approach to how people experience the world of wine. Rita consistently explores the world of wine through travel and continued studies.
Delores Blake
My main job is to record land record documents and Swear Governor appointed positions in. Before working at the courthouse, I worked in financial institutions for over 35 years. My Passions are assisting others to bring out their full potential, volunteering with non-profits such as Urban Financial Services Coalition and American Cancer Society. I get great pleasure in achieving goals that are placed in front of me. I am one who sometimes may not fit in but will definitely stand out.
Susan Bryant
Susan is a VP of Employee Benefits where she works with stakeholders to develop an understanding of both immediate pain points and long-term strategy goals for benefit programs. She enjoys building a depth of understanding by using myriad mental models to develop a strategy for customers. The focus is on business development and deepening client relationships. Using background knowledge in multiples sides of the insurance transaction, Susan is able to view challenges with several lenses.
Danielle Ellington
Danielle Ellington is currently a Training Coordinator for the University of Maryland, School of Medicine Training Center. She assists to bring education to other professionals in the psychiatry field. In her spare time, she loves spending quality time with her husband, William of 16 years, and her two boys Derek and Isaiah. When she is not spending quality time with family, you can find her working in her photography studio, ” I Am What I Am Images”, where she shows women their true beauty. She got in involved with the American Cancer Society to give back. It was a special place in her heart. She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in March 2016. After recovering from having a full mastectomy, she promises herself that she will always give back!
Molly Halbert
Molly Halbert is a community leader, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate in the fight against cancer. As a former downtown York, PA business owner, she proudly supported local events and initiatives that strengthened the community she calls home. A proud mother of two, Molly’s leadership and heart for service earned her recognition as an American Heart Association Go Red for Women® Woman of Impact winner. She now works with Exact Sciences, advancing efforts to detect cancer earlier and save lives.
A devoted Hallmark enthusiast who believes every great story deserves a hopeful ending, Molly looks forward to raising a glass, rallying support, and proving that purpose pairs perfectly with brunch.
Hassanatu Kamara
I am a third year pre-med student at Towson University, majoring in Biology with a minor in Public Health. My path into medicine has been shaped by personal experience, especially the loss of my mother to cancer. That experience changed the way I understand healthcare and led me to develop a strong interest in oncology and the kind of provider I hope to become. Through both my academic journey and my experiences working closely with patients, I’ve learned that care goes beyond treatment. It’s also about how people are supported, understood, and treated during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. These experiences have pushed me to be more intentional about how I show up for others and the kind of impact I want to have. I chose to be part of the American Cancer Society’s Taste for Life event because this cause is deeply personal to me. It represents those we’ve lost, those still fighting, and those who didn’t get the chance they deserved. For me, this is about more than just being involved, it’s about honoring those experiences and being part of something that brings people together to make a difference. I’m excited to be among others who are committed to this same cause.
Curtis McMeekin
Curtis comes to ACS Northeast Region’s Taste for Life fundraiser with a wealth of knowledge and experience gained having served in several managerial capacities for non-profit organizations, as well as knowledge and experience gained during his tenure in management positions with Baltimore City’s Department of Housing and Community Development and the Baltimore City’s Law Department. In the past, Mr. McMeekin has been a staunch supporter of ACS Taste for Life fundraiser and recently has decided to lend his skills, knowledge and energy to this effort as a volunteer. ACS is glad to have Curtis join this effort.
Cindy Plackmeyer
Coming from the marketing side of the building industry has allowed me to think through every initiative as a ‘what’s in it for me?’ approach. Understanding motivation for joining and supporting organizations is key to both driving new attendees and to finding new sponsors. I hope that this marketing experience will enable me to be a valuable member of the Taste For Life committee.
Vicki Schassler
Member of the Taste for Life Committee 12 years!
Vicki has over 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry that includes fifteen years in associate relations with Marriott international and twenty years as the owner/operator of Spirits of Mt Vernon wine shop & bar. She currently works as the Director of Community Engagement for Guilford Hall Brewery.
Michele Vitolo
Throughout my career as a cancer researcher, I have met too many people afflicted with cancer and have lost friends and relatives to the disease. I am dedicated to improving the lives of people with cancer, and to one day, contribute to finding a cure. I choose to volunteer for The American Cancer Society because it is an amazing organization with a variety of programs to aid cancer patients and their families, as well as lending a massive amount of support to cancer research. I am very happy to have joined the ACS Taste for Life Committee and to work with the wonderful people within the organization, all with the common goal of defeating cancer.
