Board of Directors

Deanna Savage thrives in an ever evolving world. After graduating high school, she experienced military training as a mechanic versus a traditional college education, traveled the southwest of the US gaining business experience in HUD loans, CART production and racing, IT administration and bank card processing. Deanna returned home in 2000 after the passing of both her birth mother from breast cancer and a dear friend to secondary breast cancer, then running a custom faux paint business before choosing a career in wine distribution.

In 2014, Deanna was diagnosed with stage I invasive DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ). She found immense support from family, friends, neighbors, coworkers & strangers throughout the processes of chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomy and rehabilitation. This incredible support & kindness inspired the creation of Savage Support Corp. Deanna’s happiness comes from her nieces and nephews, travel, live music, theater and spontaneity. Her superpower is to rise from the ashes and drink cool lemonade from a lemon tree.

Mark is a longtime sales and management professional in the wine business. He met Deanna Savage in 2010 in that capacity. By 2014, when Deanna was diagnosed with breast cancer, they were both working at the same Milwaukee-based wine distributor. Upon her return to work, Deanna approached Mark with the idea of starting up a nonprofit focused on practical aid to breast cancer patients. He gladly accepted a position on the board of Savage Support Corp as one of its Founding Members. Mark holds a degree from Marquette University and an MFA from U.C. San Diego. He makes claim to two super powers: acquiring Champagne under favorable circumstances and maintaining a lively and productive professional relationship with one Deanna Savage. Besides community service and wine, Mark’s interests include travel, learning about other cultures, cooking, collecting old stuff and spending time with his amazing and creative children, Harrison and Clairyssa.

Our newest board member and Secretary is Sam Aiona. Sam is something of a “Jill of all trades.” Growing up in the small town of Franksville, WI, one would almost think that her childhood was make believe. Sam’s family has been in the carnival business since the 1970’s. She spent most of her life working carnivals with them. The rides are gone now, but the children’s carnival games still exist. Little did she know, this unique experience of dealing with people would prove invaluable for the things that were to come.

After high school, she started a journey that she couldn’t have dreamed of. They say that knowledge is power and Sam wanted to learn it all. She spent 10 years learning the distribution business. In 2014, she started working for a wine distributor.

With numerous years in accounting and customer service positions, Sam found herself wanting more. In 2015, she met Deanna and Mark. The subject of Savage Support came up. Sam asked: “How can I help?” and she has been a solid Savage Support volunteer ever since.

In addition to all of this, Sam is a freelance model. This has fostered a greater appreciation for visual art. She also enjoys softball and karaoke. Her superpower is being dependable.

Outreach & Communications Director

Amanda, a 19 year beauty industry veteran and Alverno College graduate, is honored to be a part of Savage Support as she not only loves, respects, and adores Deanna whom she’s known for over 10 years, but she stands strong with our mission and is grateful to be a proud promoter and supporter of our promise, passion, and purpose.
Her mother, Cindy, was Savage Support’s first beneficiary and Amanda couldn’t be more thankful for the service, support, and love Savage Support provided her mother with throughout her 3.5 year battle.
In honor of Cindy and Amanda’s heartfelt desire to provide more people who are faced with this horrendous disease the support they deserve, she joined the board in March 2019. She is extremely excited to see all that Savage Support can accomplish and the beautiful lives we are able to touch as we move forward.

In addition to her passion for people, that “laugh so hard and loud you involuntarily throw your head back” thing is her M.O.

You can hear her uproarious, soulful cackle from a mile away and she makes no apologies for that. You’ll find her like this, more often than not, even on some of the hardest of days.

She believes this to be her Super Power – her ability to find joy in the darkest of moments – and to radiate it from her soul through honest, real, unabashed laughter. She brings this laughter along with her heart, soul, and sincere desire to help those battling breast cancer to the board of Savage Support.

Erin Doren is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, specializing in breast cancer reconstruction and microsurgery. After completing her plastic surgery training and a cancer fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she moved to Milwaukee in 2016. She has always had a passion and interest in caring for patients with breast cancer and performing breast reconstruction. In addition to being a clinician, Erin conducts research which includes studies investigating outcomes after breast reconstruction focusing on psychological well-being, quality-of-life and body image. After meeting Deanna in 2016, she joined Savage Support with the goal to assist breast cancer patients and their families outside of the hospital. Erin lives in Mequon with her husband and daughters, enjoys time on the lakefront and eating cheese curds.