Boris Simkovich is the Chief Executive Officer of Light Knowledge Resources and Publisher of the Myeloma Beacon. Boris co-founded LKR in 2005 when the firm started developing its first web service, Zuula. Boris has a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Penn State and a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard. In his free time, Boris enjoys watching movies and reading.

Maike joined Light Knowledge Resources in May 2009 as an associate publisher. She is responsible for the development of the Beacon websites. Before joining LKR, Maike worked in consulting for many years. She holds a linguistics degree and degree in business from two German schools. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading and practicing and teaching yoga.

Julie joined Light Knowledge Resources in March of 2008 after graduating from Princeton University with her Ph.D. in Chemistry. Her dissertation research involved the development of small molecule chemotherapeutics. She also has a B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Moravian College. At LKR, Julie works on the development of the Beacon websites. With several family members who have battled cancer, she aspires to help patients through her work at The Beacon. Julie's interests include crafts, playing piano, and spending time with her family.

Jessica recently completed her Bachelor's degree in Chemistry at Princeton University. Her research focused on enzymatic activity characterization for binary-patterned de novo protein libraries. Presently, she is teaching chemistry and math at High School of the Future in the Philadelphia School District. Her interests include graphic design, cooking, music, reading, and sports.

Howard is a sophomore at Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he is studying molecular biology. He plans on attending medical school and becoming a physician after graduating from college. Howard has a wide range of academic interests, from biology and chemistry to history and religion. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing and watching basketball, and talking with friends. Howard joined The Myeloma Beacon team as a writer in February 2011.

Melissa Cobleigh completed her PhD in experimental pathology at Yale in the fall of 2011. She is currenly finishing up her work in the lab, researching a novel vaccine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus, while she searches for a job. Melissa is originally from Maine and before coming to Yale attended Smith College where she received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. She recently "caught the running bug" after completing her first half marathon and hopes to compete in a triathlon as soon as she brushes up on her swimming skills. Melissa joined The Myeloma Beacon in June 2010.

Virginia is currently a research assistant at the University of Chicago, where she studies brain development in children acquiring early language and reading skills. She recently received her B.A. in Biology from Cornell University and hopes to pursue a career in science journalism. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, photography, and teaching gymnastics. Virginia joined The Myeloma Beacon in November 2011.

Ali translates Myeloma Beacon news articles into Turkish. His mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009. Ali and his brother Kerem have been actively involved in the treatment of their mother and are passionate about making certain that all multiple myeloma patients in Turkey receive the best possible personalized treatment. Ali loves his work at a software company that caters to K-12 schools, long distance runs, scuba diving, and enjoys spending a lot if time with his wife and two daughters.

Deborah Dietzler writes a Myeloma Beacon column called “Big Sis In Burgundy” every other week. Her sister Deana was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 2011. A native of Queens, NY, who now resides in Athens, GA, Deborah is currently Executive Director of Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Peter Anderson, have a family of three dogs: Vegas, Riga, and Bula.

Lou Ganim writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon. Lou’s career has spanned more than four decades in the newspaper, government, and health care fields. He moved to a small town in New York’s Saratoga County that had only one traffic light more than thirty years ago, only to watch it explode in population around him. Now, he bemoans the traffic and misses the stars he used to see from his front porch that are now blocked by light pollution. Lou was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in May 2006, and his Beacon column is titled “Birds in Spring,” which takes its name from a line in the 1970s Judy Collins' song “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” (written by Sandy Denny), which goes like this: So come the storms of winter, and then the birds in spring again.

Arnold Goodman writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon. He is 52 and lives in Tampa, Florida. Arnie was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2006. He has been living with relapsed/refractory disease and has been treated with multiple drug regimens. He was a practicing Ear, Nose, and Throat physician in Tampa for 20 years before the demands of his disease forced retirement last year. Arnie is married to Merle and has two children, Sam, a 19-year-old freshman in college, and Dori, a 15-year-old freshman in high school. Arnie still tries to stay physically active and loves to swim, kayak, cycle, and read.

Kevin Jones writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January 2011 at the age of 52. Kevin lives in Michigan and works as an engineer in the aerospace industry. He enjoys biking, hockey, woodworking, walks in the woods, and family time. Kevin and his wife Karen have three grown children.

Pat writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April of 2007 at age 51. However, Pat initially experienced what is called a complete response (or temporary remission), achieved by using a combination of extensive radiation and chemotherapy. Although his multiple myeloma has returned, it is still under control—and it hasn't slowed him down! Pat has written a book about his experience called "Living with Multiple Myeloma," and Pat maintains two blogs, Living with Multiple Myeloma and Help with Cancer . Pat's wife, Pattie, is also a cancer survivor. She remains cancer free today. The Killingsworth's have dedicated their lives to helping other cancer patients and survivors learn to cope with their disease.

Stephen Kramer writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon. A native of Washington, D.C., Steve spent most of his career as a litigator and legal counselor for various New York City government agencies and commissioners. He retired in July 2010, six months after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Steve has lived in lower Manhattan since 1983, where he and his wife, a pediatric endocrinologist, brought up their three children. He is an avid swimmer, bicyclist, and reader.

Sean writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon titled "Sean's Burgundy Thread," based on the notion that all who are touched by multiple myeloma are connected together with an invisible 'burgundy thread.' For nearly thirty years, Sean has worked as a writer, entertainment producer, theatrical executive, and as a creative consultant in various industries. Diagnosed with Stage III Myeloma in November of 2008 at the age of 49, he chose to pursue an aggressive method of treatment. High-dose induction chemotherapy, tandem stem cell transplants, consolidation and extended maintenance chemotherapies have currently placed him in complete remission. Sean authors a blog, Myeloma Youreloma, through which he shares a positive, humorous, hopeful approach to battling the disease. A husband and father of two, some of Sean’s special areas of interest include international adoption, veteran’s issues, church, and raising dogs.

Pat Pendleton writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon. She is a mixed media artist and writer living in Buffalo, New York. During 2011, she self-published "The Cracked Cup" and "Box of Haiku." All her creative endeavors are linked at The Cracked Cup.

Sabine translates Myeloma Beacon news articles into German. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1999 at the age of 41. At the time, she had three young children (ages 3, 5, and 7) and was working as a part-time physician. She went through several therapies ending with an allogeneic transplantation in 2006. She has been in complete remission since then and decided to share her knowledge about myeloma with other myeloma patients: she translates medical articles into German and has set up a website where patients can find clinical trials for multiple myeloma in Germany. She dedicates the remainder of her time to her family and painting.