Cancer Journeys Foundation Board of Directors

Robert Warren Hess
Founder / CEO / Board Member

picture of Cancer Journeys Foundation President Robert Warren Hess

In addition to his work with the Cancer Journeys Foundation, Robert Hess is the Founder and CEO of the Success Factory, a Manhattan Beach, California executive and early stage company coaching firm. Prior to founding the Success Factory in March 2015, he was the Founder and CEO of TSG, Inc., a performance management and information technology solutions firm from 2000 until it’s sale in 2015 . His post-US Army career prior to founding TSG, Inc. includes Vice President of Business Development in the Washington, DC office of Aerospatiale, Inc., and Director of Strategic Planning and Partner Relations at the Center for Digital Innovation, University of California Los Angeles. Robert is a Senior Fellow at The Center for the Digital Future, Annenberg School of Communications, University of Southern California. He was twice recognized by the Los Angeles Times Health Leadership Awards for his work in prostate cancer awareness and in 2015 he was selected as one of Amgen Corporation’s Breakaway From Cancer National Champions. He is an author and avid sportsman. You can read his full bio on LinkedIn at RobertWarrenHess.

H. Melissa Lanfre
Founder / Chief Financial Officer / Board Member

Cancer Journeys Founder Melissa Lanfre

Melissa is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Farmers & Merchants Bank in Long Beach, California. Always very active in the community, Melissa also serves on the board of directors of EngAge, a non-profit organization that develops and delivers innovative on-site programs designed to improve the quality of life of thousands of residents of affordable senior housing. EngAge’s goal is improved health and prolonged independence, delaying the need to move to more expensive and restrictive levels of care, providing substantial savings to state and federal tax-payer-supported funding programs, as well as to seniors’ families. Melissa was a finalist in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2007 “Women Who Make A Difference” program.

G. Scott Peterson
Founding Board Member

photograph of Cancer Journeys Foundation board member G. Scott Peterson

Scott currently is Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Community Bank in Pasadena, California. Prior to Community Bank, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the National Bank of California, based in Santa Monica, California. His earlier career includes service with the FDIC as a Bank Examiner, head of his own bank consulting firm and, prior to the National Bank of California, Chief Credit Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Member of the Board of Directors of Merchants Bank of California. He graduated with University Honors from Northern Illinois University with a B.S. in Finance and holds a certificate from the London Business School. An accomplished amateur athlete, Scott recently has added track bicycling to his list of accomplishments.

Steven N. Kurtz
Founding Board Member

picture of Steven Kurtz Cancer Journeys Foundation board member

Steve is a Partner at Levinson Arshonsky & Kurtz LLC, and practices in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial litigation, secured transactions, workouts and business law. He has also served as an expert witness in matters pertaining to bankruptcy and UCC issues. Mr. Kurtz represents numerous factors, asset-based lenders, and banks on a national level. In addition, he serves as outside general counsel for several commercial finance lenders and entrepreneurial companies. He also is a director at City of Hope.