Making Health Happen

Ryan Okita

Ryan Okita was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Cal State Long Beach. Ryan has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit industry. He developed a strong sense of devotion to the non-profit sector starting as a case worker at Community SeniorServe, Orange County’s largest Senior Service Provider. Ryan worked his way up from that position to the Assistant Director position, spending seven years with the organization. This experience gave him a deep appreciation for how non-profits seek to improve the quality of life for people in need. For 6 years Ryan worked as the Senior Business Development Director for the American Heart Association at the Los Angeles Headquarters. He had fundraising goals of 1.5 million dollars and over 10,000 participants for his largest event the Heart Walk.  Currently, Ryan is the Senior Director, Program Management for the American Cancer Society.  Ryan leads the delivery of cancer control programs and services for the West Region. Along with working in the non-profit industry, Ryan spends free time volunteering for non-profit organizations assisting with organization leadership, strategic planning and fundraising. In addition, with his experience, Ryan brings with him a lifelong connection to his community.

Christine Geneus-Hill

Christine Geneus-Hill is the Senior Program Manager of Cancer Control at American Cancer Society linking patients to ACS lifesaving patient programs. A native of Brooklyn NY and first-generation child of Haitian Immigrants she received her Hospitality Management degree from Historic HBCU Tuskegee University. With over 20 years of experience in customer service she was able to work her way up from Hotel Night Auditor, F&B and Sales coordinator to Sales Manager. Christine later moved to Washington with her husband after accepting a role as the Corporate Sales Manager, shortly after she became the mother of her now 5 year old daughter, Peace. After returning from maternity leave, Christine returned to work opening the newly renovated Delta by Marriot Seattle Everett where she instantly built relations with the community to acquire new accounts, including the American Cancer Society. Drawn by ACS' mission, Christine left the hospitality and entered the non-profit industry in hopes of being of service and raising funds for people in need. She is heavily involved in all things Health Equity at the organization as a member of all cultural employment engagement groups at ACS. She currently sits as the Co-Lead for African American Employee Engagement Group at ACS. She has done many presentations on the importance of health equity within the organization and outside of ACS. Christine enjoys spending her free time on a yoga mat, traveling with family, exploring new cultures, and volunteering for communities of need.