Meet The Team
Jackie Mancinelli
Founder, President
Jackie Mancinelli is the President and Senior Advocate of Start Healing Together. She is a high school English teacher in New Jersey. She and her husband suffered a missed miscarriage in 2014 and then lost their son, Richard, in 2016 after an emergency delivery. They now have two "rainbow" daughters. Part of Jackie's grieving process focuses on finding a way to honor her son in a way that helps other loss families. She hopes to support other educators like herself while helping to break the stigmas surrounding loss and infertility. Additionally, Jackie is the New Jersey Ambassador for Count the Kicks, a non-profit focused on ending preventable stillbirth by educating healthcare providers and expecting parents about accurate kick counting.
George Kemery
Vice President
George Kemery is the V.P. and Senior Advocate of Start Healing Together. He is a lifelong teacher of English, Creative Writing, Debate and Journalism. His extensive background in non-profit board development, government relations and advocacy makes him a perfect fit for our initiatives at Start Healing Together. George is a rainbow pregnancy after his mother lost his sister, Stacy, who was born still. George has helped several friends and family cope with the stresses and stigmas of pregnancy loss, infertility and adoption both at home and at work. George’s work with Start Healing Together amplifies his passion to inform, connect and advocate for those struggling with these issues. His work through the nonprofit’s mission only complements Jackie’s inspiring story, her dedication and her drive to promote Start Healing Together to be accessible for anyone who may need it for themselves, their friends, or their family.
Board of Directors:
Jordann Hardin
Jordann is a third grade teacher in Oklahoma, the Vice President of her local’s teacher union, and the mom of a sweet baby girl born in January of 2024. In May of 2022, she and her husband found out they were pregnant for the first time after years of infertility and infertility treatments. In June of 2022, she miscarried at 9 weeks pregnant. Just days after this, she met Jackie and learned of Start Healing Together. Start Healing Together helped her bring contract language back to her local, guaranteeing the ability to use bereavement leave after a pregnancy loss. This language has now spread through multiple other locals across the state of Oklahoma. Being part of Start Healing Together has helped her heal and has helped show her that there is power and purpose in sharing her story.
Rebecca Howell
Rebecca Howell is a Postpartum Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor that supports postpartum families. She also has experience assisting families after a pregnancy loss. She truly considers this work a calling and loves every family she serves deeply. She became a doula in 2014 when her niece was born and she observed firsthand the challenges of infant feeding and adapting to new life in the postpartum home. Within 6 months she quit her job as a Marketing Director and embarked on this new career caring for others.
Terry Kruger
Terry Kruger is a retired special education teacher. She has a Master in The Art of Teaching Degree from Marygrove College. She also has a Master of Arts School Counseling Degree from Seton Hall University. She is a mother to two daughters and grandmother to two grandsons. She is honored to be a part of Start Healing Together.
Elizabeth O’Donnell
Liz is a former elementary school teacher who now focuses on perinatal bereavement and stillbirth prevention advocacy full time. Liz's daughter, Aaliyah, was born still on 12/1/20 and since then she has started her own nonprofit Aaliyah in Action, and is a founding Director of PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy. Through both organizations Liz has supported countless families who have experienced the pain of pregnancy or infant loss. Additionally, Liz has been a strong and vocal supporter of paid family leave after loss, having a hand in DC's amendments and additions to their policies, as well as helping mothers in other states take a stand in amending their own state leave policies. Liz is a two time graduate of George Washington University and has recently decided to go back for masters number two, this time in public health to further her efforts in maternal-infant health. Since the death of Aaliyah Liz has realized her job as a mother is to establish a lasting legacy for her daughter; her dedication to the development and growth of both Aaliyah in Action and PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy is evident in both organizations accomplishments in under three years.
Alli Baker
Alli Baker is a high school and college educator who teaches English, sociology, and gender studies. She is also a queer IVF loss mom. Alli and her wife lost their daughter Charlie to miscarriage and their son Hudson to a lethal genetic condition. Alli was five months pregnant at the time of Hudson's death, and news of her pregnancy had already been shared with her colleagues and students. Start Healing Together helped her navigate medical and bereavement leave as well as her return to work, including working directly with her union, administration, and school counseling team. In addition to teaching, Alli writes about IVF and grief for Pregnancy After Loss Support. She lives in Southern California with her wife and three cats.
Taylor Hughes
Taylor Hughes is an artist and high school art teacher. Although not a founding member of Start Healing Together, Taylor was able to witness George and Jackie start this non-profit from the beginning and when a position opened up on the board, she knew she needed to get involved. Taylor is passionate about advocating for anyone who wants a family by working to ensure family-building efforts are protected in the workplace.
Rich Mancinelli
Rich Mancinelli is a concert promoter with BRE Presents, and husband to Jackie Mancinelli. He's learned more about childbirth and loss than he ever expected after he and his wife experienced a miscarriage in 2014 and the loss of their son, Richard, shortly after in 2016. He and Jackie have since been blessed with two rainbow daughters. Rich is proud to support the work Start Healing Together is doing to educate and advocate for parents across the country.