about us

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Ben is tag4life's CEO, President, Treasurer, and a member of the Board of Directors. He specializes in creatively applying human-centered design- and systems-thinking approaches to the art of business.  A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Ben earned a J.D. with an emphasis in taxation from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a M.B.A. in Marketing and B.A. in Biology from the University of Colorado at Denver.  He lives in Denver with his wife Yael.

Ben was diagnosed with PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis), a genetic bile duct disease, in 2007, and underwent two liver transplants in 2021 and 2022. He wears a platinum-style necklace ID made by MedicAlert and loves to travel with it all over the world.

Kristi is tag4life’s Director of Human Resources, Secretary, and serves on the Board of Directors.  For most of her professional life, Kristi has been involved with the horticulture industry in various forms. She was the Director of Grounds and Custodial at Western New Mexico University, and helped to design and implement what is now the gateway to the university.

Before becoming ill, she had started up a landscape design business, working closely with other local contractors to keep the plants as close to native as possible. From the growing grounds to production and plant design, she has worked with both big box stores and smaller nurseries, and has owned a nursery and garden center with her husband Rick in Silver City NM, where they live with their two dogs and one chicken.

Kristi was diagnosed with end stage liver disease in March of 2022, and was close to death when they made it to the Mayo Clinic campus in Phoenix that May. Her wait time was fairly short, even though she has a rare blood type, and she received her liver transplant in July of 2022. She wears a beaded bracelet from MyID that has a QR code engraved on an anodized aluminum block.  This medical alert bracelet will be what allows others to help when she can’t help herself.

Aka is a transformational leader with more than 15 years of experience spearheading social impact initiatives, fostering staff and community engagement, and cultivating dynamic partnerships.

As tag4life’s Chief Problem Solver, Aka brings an M.A. in International Development and an M.B.A. to the table, while providing strengths in inclusive organizational design, program development, and leading and developing diverse and dynamic teams, while managing resources through implementation. As a leader, he aims to be a learner, a listener, and an ally. He leverages his self-awareness and creative problem-solving to overcome any challenge.

Aka is a Social & Economic Justice Entrepreneur, a BIPOC: LGBTQ+ Ally, a Dad to Mazie and Ayden, a Himalayan Buddhist Legacy Holder, and an Equity Economist (whew!) whose primary role at the company is to bring passion and focus toward leading organizational strategy for inclusivity and scale.

Victoria is the Director of Marketing and a dedicated advocate for tag4life. Her personal journey has been shaped by the challenges of managing Wilson’s disease, a rare genetic disorder that she was diagnosed with at five years old. This diagnosis ignited her passion for medicine and a deep commitment to helping others facing similar circumstances.

Her diverse background in healthcare and research includes stints as a Patient Clinical Support Coordinator providing vital services to high-risk families, and as a Research Technician conducting interviews and contribution to behavioral research. Throughout her life, given her own experience as a patient and health care professional, she has navigated the complexities of her own health journey with determination and resilience.

When her own liver eventually failed in June of 2022, Victoria received her lifesaving liver transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. Since that time, her life has vastly improved and she is finally able to live normally for the first time ever! She now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her family, and is really just happy to be alive. By combining her first-hand experience, dedication to patient advocacy, and unwavering passion for medicine, she aims to contribute meaningfully to the mission of tag4life and positively impact the lives of those in need.

Chris is tag4life’s VP of Strategic Partnerships and a Member of the Board of Directors. He has a unique techno-commercial background that was enriched by 12 years of international assignments and a proven track record of delivering leading technologies and practical solutions to the energy sector. Chris founded and co-founded two privately held companies, where he partners with technology providers to help accelerate innovation to commercial application. He is passionate about developing partnerships to help grow tag4life’s reach across medically vulnerable communities.

Prior to these entrepreneurial ventures, he held a variety of senior leadership positions with SLB including Technology Center Director and Global Business Development Manager. His experiences provide a valuable perspective on how to leverage products and services to maximize value for both internal and external parties.

Having earned a Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan, Chris holds more than 30 patents, almost 40 publications, and over 40 invited presentations at professional events. He lives in Denver, Colorado, and enjoys skiing with his fearless little kids.