Our Team

Executive Officers

Dr. Mimi Wong, MD - Chairman: Dr. Mimi Wong is a Founding Board Member of Mending Faces and graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Creighton University Medical School and at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She completed her Anesthesiology Residency and Trauma Fellowship at the University of Colorado. Dr. Wong works in a private practice as an anesthesiologist for Physician Anesthesia Services where she also sits on the Board of Directors. In her spare time Dr. Wong enjoys being with her daughter, as well as skiing, hiking, and travel.

Dr. Jeff Swail, MD - Vice Chairman: Dr. Jeff Swail is originally from Winnipeg, Canada where he obtained his MD in 1989. He trained in general surgery at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and in plastic surgery at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has been in private practice in plastic surgery in Boulder, Co. for over 20 years and served as Chief of Surgery at Boulder Community Hospital from 2002-2004. Dr. Swail is a Founding Board Member of Mending Faces and has been going on cleft lip and palate missions to the Philippines for over 10 years. Prior to that he had experience on several surgical missions to Mexico. Dr. Swail enjoys the outdoor Colorado lifestyle with his wife and three children, participating in skiing, snowboarding, cycling, water-skiing and ice hockey among other pursuits. 

Monnie Biety, MBA - Treasurer/Secretary: Monnie has spent over 20 years working in developing countries as a microfinance consultant. This work has provided her insight into life in a developing country that few people that live in developed countries such as the U.S. have. She has first-hand experience living and working in low income communities and with people who struggle to provide basic necessities and health care for their families. Ms. Biety has been a Mending Faces mission team member since the founding of the organization. She has an M.B.A. with an emphasis in accounting and finance from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a B.A in Journalism from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Monnie lives in the foothills west of Golden and enjoys hiking, biking, running and skiing with her husband and spending time with her three dogs.

Board of Directors

Dr. Sami Lababidi, DO - Anesthesia:  Dr. Sami Lababidi has been an anesthesiologist with Mending Faces since it's inception in 2010. He is also a Founding Board Member and participates in the mission annually. Raised in Columbia, Missouri. Dr. Lababidi received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from University of Missouri, his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed his anesthesiology residency training at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. He moved to Boulder, Colorado in 2004 where he currently lives. Hobbies include fishing, camping, barbequing, traveling, and just about anything outdoors. He is married to Carrie Lababidi, fellow Founding Board Member, right hand in the OR on the mission, traveling companion, and so much more.

"Of the things I've done in my life to date, many of those which make me the most proud have to do with my participation in Mending Faces."

Dr. Chris Biety, DDS, MS - Dentistry: Dr. Chris Biety grew up in Whitefish Bay Wisconsin. He went to both undergrad and dental school at Creighton University, in Omaha, Nebraska. He received his Orthodontic Certificate and M.S. from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Biety has had his own Orthodontic practice in Broomfield, Colorado since 1985. He has been married to fellow Board Member Monnie Biety since 1981. His recreational interests include playing rugby with the Boulder Rugby Football Club, skiing, mountain biking, hiking and traveling abroad. He is a volunteer Wildland Firefighter with Coal Creek Canyon FPD. Dr. Biety has been on medical missions to the Philippines nine times in the past 10 years, seven of those have been with Mending Faces.

Carrie Lababidi, BA, RRT - Allied Health: Carrie has been involved with Mending Faces since the start of the organization. She enjpys travelling with the team each winter to the Philippines.                     

Goca Micic Weis: Goca is a graduate of Purdue University. She is a marketing executive with over 25 years experience on the corporate, agency, and production sides of business. She has helped launch products and build some of the most iconic global technology brands including Intel, Microsoft (Windows, Office, Xbox) and Pearson in education. She has been to El Salvador and the Dominican Republic with Mending Faces.

Kathy Snider: Kathy is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Mending Faces. She attends the Mending Faces Medical Missions in El Salvador, the Philippines and the Dominican Republic.

Anna Domingo, RN: Anna has a B.S. in Nursing. She has been a nurse for 28 years and currently works in the emergency department at SCL Health St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. She has participated in medical mission trips with Mending Faces since the inception of the organization. She first worked in the PACU then made her way into the OR. Anna grew up in the Philippines and has witnessed the struggles and poverty first-hand, thus her dedication to the Mending Faces mission.

Amy Kennedy Romero, PA-C: Amy is an Orthopedic Trauma Physician Assistant for the Orthopedic and Spine Center of the Rockies in Northern Colorado. She received her BA from Colorado College and her graduate degree from Red Rocks Community College/St. Francis University. She has been traveling to the Philippines on medical missions for 21 years and is proud to have been a part of Mending Faces since its start.  

“I am grateful for all of the relationships forged though each and every mission and for the opportunity to serve the wonderful people of the Philippines.”

ASSOCIATE BOARD

Kate Pickett, DNP, MPH, RN: Kate has over 15 years of experience as a registered nurse. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master in Public Health, and B.S. in Nursing from the University of Colorado. She has been volunteering as a registered nurse on medical missions with Mending Faces since 2013. With a passion for global health, she hopes to continue to make a difference in the lives of the children and families affected by cleft lip/palate through her work with Mending Faces.

Allie Johnson: Allie grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and earned her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from Truman State University. She started her career as an early childhood Speech-Language Pathologist for a school district in Kansas before working for a couple of years at a pediatric medical rehabilitation facility. Allie now resides in the front range with her husband and runs a speech therapy private practice, Allie Johnson Speech Therapy, LLC, where she continues to address speech and language disorders in the pediatric population. In her free time, Allie enjoys going on hikes with her husband and dog, rock climbing, and trying out local coffee shops.

ADVISORY BOARD

Jay LaVigne, Esq. : Jay is a Founding Board Member of Mending Faces. After graduating with a law degree from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, he was admitted to the Bar in 1986. From 1992 to 1998 he worked on a large international trade secret and copyright case. In 1998 Jay formed i-Legal where he currently works with his wife Donna. In his free time Jay enjoys spending time with his daughter, grandson, and wife. He also enjoys traveling to the Philippines as often as he can where he served in the Peace Corps, met his wife Donna.

Donna LaVigne: Donna is a Founding Board Member of Mending Faces. She grew up in the Philippines, which gives her the unique ability to understand the needs of our patients. She is active in the Filipino community in Colorado and serves on the Board of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and as an Advisor of the Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership. Donna holds a B.S.in Civil Engineering from Aklan College, in the Philippines. She currently works with her husband, Jay, at i-Legal. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family (and grandson) and visiting the Philippines.

Cathy McNamara: Cathy has traveled to the Philippines with Mending Face on three medical missions. She was asked to join the board in 2013 because of her attraction to leading the outreach activities in and outside of the hospital. She has worked in marketing and sales all of her life and loves to brainstorm new and creative ideas on how to promote Mending Faces and create awareness through events, social media, and fundraising. She enjoys volunteering for Mending Faces and advancing the cause of cleft lip and palate repair, and relishes the people she has met on the Missions. Cathy has lived in Denver for 20 years with her family, but was raised in Hawaii, and feels very much at home in the Asian culture. She studied International Affairs and Mandarin in college, which inspired her to live and travel extensively throughout Asia.

Dan Wennogle, Esq. : Dan is a litigation attorney, focusing on litigation involving construction, liens, property rights including easements and rights of way, and unmanned aircraft systems (drones). Dan was born with a cleft lip and knows first-hand the impact and importance of corrective surgery. He lives in Denver with his wife and two young daughters and enjoys biking in his spare time.

STAFF

Maya Brook, Executive Director: Maya has a background in journalism, public relations, and non-profit fundraising. She received a B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After graduating she spent time in Australia, New York, and California, before moving back to her native Colorado. She has worked for media outlets including the Associated Press, for marketing and public relations agencies, and for non-profit organizations that have served children around the world. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, three sons, and her dog, as well as travelling (including on Mending Faces Medical Missions.)

LOCAL LIAISONS

Mabel Palomar, Philippines

Jonathan Macabales, Philippines

Noemy Escobar, El Salvador 

Pastor Luis Aguillon, El Salvador

Michael Cipoletti, Dominican Republic

Pedro Raylin Mercedes, Dominican Republic

Nahirobi Peguero, Dominican Republic

PhotographerS

Rhonda Diltz and Svein Kornerud