Patti Negri – Board President

Patti is an L.A. native, DES Daughter, and lives in the Hollywood Hills with her drummer husband, movie star dog and two very adorable yet quirky cats. Patti owns Brain Brew Entertainment, a theatrical production company that specializes in interactive shows, custom-created sketch comedy, murder mysteries and team-building events. She produces shows for clients as diverse as the Mirage Casino is Las Vegas to the corporate worlds of Microsoft and Mattel.

Patti volunteers as polling place inspector at every local and national election, is president of her neighborhood association and still finds time to take her dachshund Dora to Film and TV auditions and the occasional wiener dog race… Patti is honored and thrilled to be working with the TRULY AMAZING Board Members and Staff of DES Action.

 - Secretary - To Be Named

I am a DES Daughter, now living in Soho in New York City.  My husband David and I are the parents of three children, one girl by birth and two adopted children.  Due to changes in my reproductive tract caused by DES, our daughter Amy was born prematurely in 1985 at 32 weeks gestation.  She is multiply-handicapped as a result.  Amy's 3rd generation lawsuit was the first one filed in New York State.  

I became involved with DES Action when I testified before Congress on the issue of tort reform; I joined the Board of Directors shortly thereafter in 1994.  Professionally, I am a CPA and MBA, and I have worked in public accounting and magazine publishing.  

Currently, I am Vice President of Finance at Arch Insurance Group Inc., managing a group of 20.  I serve as Treasurer for DES Action; also, I am on the Board of Trustees at The Village Temple in Greenwich Village.  I am thrilled to work with the extraordinary group of people at DES Action, who represent the broad reaches of diethylstilbestrol.

Kim was born in May 1961, exposed to DES in utero when her mother threatened to miscarry. When the news of cervical cancer associated with DES broke in the 1970’s, Kim’s Mom informed her of her DES exposure. Kim was extra vigilant with her pregnancies, experiencing both infertility treatments and early labor; her children are now 21 and 15 years old. DES also affected her life through her involvement with DES Action. After being a member for several decades, she joined the Board in 2004. In addition to her volunteer duties with DES Action, Kim also serves on several other non-profit boards. When not volunteering her services, Kim earns a living as the Customer Relations Director of her local water utility.

Cheryl is a DES Daughter whose mother was given the drug to prevent miscarriage, and because her mother’s doctor told her it would provide her with a healthier baby. Born prematurely, Cheryl found out about her DES exposure while in law school. She currently practices real estate law at a large New York law firm and is committed to helping those exposed to DES through education and research. Of particular interest to her is continued examination of the consequences of DES exposure to third-generation DES Grandsons and Granddaughters. She worries that her own son and daughter will encounter health difficulties because their maternal grandmother was prescribed diethylstilbestrol while pregnant.

Born in Fargo, North Dakota, which proves conclusively that DES was given to pregnant women everywhere, Kari is a DES Daughter with one brother, who is also DES-exposed. Prior to assuming the job of Program Director in 2005, Kari was a volunteer for 25 years with DES Action, starting as a founding member of DES Action Minnesota in 1980. She served as President of DES Action USA from 1984 – 1989 and again from 1998 – 2001. Kari is the DES Action representative on the Steering Committee of the National Cancer Institute DES Follow-up Study and on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Public Interest Partners. She and her husband Milo dote on their three nieces and one nephew, all young adults now and some with spouses. It always has been a privilege for her to be part of this consumer organization of dedicated and inspiring individuals.