The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Rhode Island Chapter
(401) 943-8888
Fax: (401) 943-1377

Staff

Bill Koconis, Executive Director
Gloria Anderson, Office Manager and Funds Receivable Coordinator
Allison Brouillette, Campaign Director                                                                                  Meghan Downing, Campaign Manager 
 

 

Running Coaches

Jim Doyle, Head Coach
Jim has been the head running coach for the Rhode Island Chapter since 1993. During the past sixteen years, Jim has helped more than 2,000 Team In Training^® (TNT) participants successfully complete a marathon. Most were first-time marathoners and many had very little running experience.

He has successfully completed nine marathons and has a personal record of 2:44.  He has served as the head cross country and track coach at Bishop Hendricken High School since 1984.  Along with coaching many all-star athletes, Jim's teams have won over 42 state championships, three New England championships and one national title. Jim is a past recipient of the Word's Unlimited Award for Rhode Island's most outstanding high school coach and was selected as the 2003 and 2008 Coach of the Year by the Rhode Island Track & Field Foundation.

You can reach Jim at (401) 578-2955.

 

Alan Barrington,  Assistant Coach
Alan has been involved with Team In Training for more than 8 years.  He started as a participant, then a Team Captain and has now been Assistant Running Coach for 6 years.  Alan has completed nine marathons, including the Ottawa,   Marine Corps and WALT DISNEY WORLD^® Half Marathon.  His personal best is three hours, 45 minutes.

You can reach Alan at dabarrington@cox.net

 

Walking Coaches

Michael Hoffer, Head Coach
Michael has been the head walking coach since 1996. He has completed 56 marathons, including the Mayor's Midnight Sun, Marine Corps, Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll, Toronto, Bermuda and Ocean State marathons.

Locally, Mike has achieved first place in more than 80 races. Nationally, Mike placed first in the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon with a time of 5 hours, 10 minutes and 55 seconds.  Each TNT participant coached by Mike has completed a marathon.  He has a 100% completion rate.

Coach Hoffer has personally raised more than $103,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

You can reach Mike at Hofferdlhmgh@aol.com. 

 

Elizabeth Cushing, Assistant Coach
Under the guidance of Head Coach Mike Hoffer, Betty completed her first marathon at WALT DISNEY WORLD in 2001.  The 2001 Cape Cod Marathon was Betty's first TNT event as an assistant walking coach.  She also participated in and coached a team of walkers in the 2002 WALT DISNEY WORLD Marathon.  To date, 100 percent of Betty's walkers have completed their marathons.

You can reach Betty at bettycushing1020@yahoo.com.  

 

Bob Dagesse, Assistant Coach
Bob came to Team In Training to complete his daughter's dream of completing the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska.  With great coaching from Coach Hoffer, the marathon's finish line was not the end but rather the beginning of a quest to find the nicest course with the best time, be it a personal best or fun with his teammates.  Highlights include, second place walker in the Maine Marathon in 2007 and the Smutty Nose Half Marathon in 2008.  Bob also placed as the first male walker in the 2008 Blessing of the Fleet 10 miler.

You can reach Bob at dagbob@aol.com.

  

Cycling Coaches

Jim Lilley, Head Coach 
Jim has been involved with the program for seven years.  First as a participant, then as a Team Captain.  He has been assistant cycling coach for America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride and head coach for the Seacoast Century Team in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Jim has run numerous road races over a 20-year period from 5Ks to ½ marathons participated in triathlon and duathlon events. Jim has been an AFAA certified aerobics instructor and is currently a certified personal trainer and a spinning instructor at Newport Athletic Club where he has been an instructor for over 8 years. He also holds a Star 3 Spinning certification.

You may reach Jim at jimlil25@cox.net 

 

Jeff Bowie, Assistant Coach 
Jeff has been a part of Team In Training since 2004 when he participated in     the Palm Beach CycleFest.  Since that time Jeff has completed 7 century rides with Team In Training, including Cyclefest, 4 America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride's and 2 Seacoast Century Rides.  

Jeff is the Director of Product Development for a new start up company here in Rhode Island.  The company, G-Form, develops and manufactures cycle accessories.

You may reach Jeff at jb1pb1@cox.net 

Triathlon Coaches

Karen LaTona, Fall Season Head Coach

Triathlon Coach, Karen LaTona, most recently coached the Rhode Island team to successfully complete the Nation's Triathlon in Washing DC.  Karen started her relationship with the Society as a Team in Training participant and is familiar with all of the challenges a participant might face.

Karen was an all state runner in high school and skipped her high school graduation to participate in the New England Championship Track & Field competition.  After marrying husband john, she was quickly converted to cycling.  Although never a competitive swimmer, she has never been far from the pool, having grown up around the Springfield College Pool, where her father was an All American Swimmer.  Obviously, because of her strong interest in all three sports, Triathlon was a natural fit.

Karen has participated in numerous races, both triathlons and road races.  Her biggest achievement to date was her completion of the Ironman 70.3 in Providence, RI in July 2008.  She also finished second in her age group in the Westchester Triathlon in 2007.

Karen indicates that as rewarding as personal accomplishments are, there is nothing like coaching participants to the finish line in their first event.

You can reach Karen at leodot1@verizon.net

 

Paulo Guilhardi, Summer Season Coach

Paulo Guilhardi is a research professor in the Department of Psychology at Brown University.  He has completed 5 marathons, including the Marine Corps Marathon with Team In Training.  He has also completed the Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon where he set his personal record of 3:01:58. 

Over the past 3 years, Paulo has become passionate about the sport of triathlon and has competed in events of variable distances, including the Nautica New York City Triathlon, Firmman 1/2 Iron Rhode Island, and Firmman 1/2 Iron Massachusetts, where he placed second overall. 

In July of 2008, Paulo completed the Ironman Lake Placid (a full Ironman event) and finished in 10:37:24.  This was a great improvement from his previous Ironman Switzerland time!

You can reach Paulo at Paulo_Guilhardi@brown.edu

 

Lauren Wier, Summer Season Coach

Lauren is completing her Master of Public Health degree at Brown University and also works at the Rhode Island Department of Health.  Lauren became involved in endurance sports when she ran her first marathon at Disney World with Team In Training in 2004.  Since then she has continued running marathons and has competed in many triathlons.

Lauren completed the Nautica New York City Triathlon in 2:33:03 in 2007 and recently finished as the 4th overall female in the Firmman 1/2 Iron Massachusetts.  She completed her first Ironman in Switzerland in 2006 and raced the Ironman Lake Placid in July 2008. 

Lauren is looking forward to sharing what she has learned about triathlon and is excited to help each participant work towards his or her goals, whether that is to reach the finish line or improve upon previous accomplishments.

You can reach Lauren at Lauren.wier@gmail.com