We believe that our success comes from the strength and passion of our team members.
Leadership
FOUNDER & CEO
Robert Coppel
Rob Coppel is a dedicated and experienced professional with nearly 20 years of expertise in strengthening hospital partnerships, supporting donor families, and providing staff development within Family Services for OPOs across the country. As an expert Family Support Coach and trainer, Rob is committed to achieving and maintaining an authorization consent rate of over 75% and providing compassionate care to every individual and family he communicates with.
Rob's extensive knowledge of the organ and tissue donation process, combined with his strong skill set in caring for families in grief crises, has enabled him to successfully navigate complex family and hospital dynamics. He has a unique ability to provide ongoing support and information about a loved one's prognosis while also presenting the opportunity for organ, eye and tissue donation in a sensitive and compassionate way. Rob is bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish, making him a valuable resource for families with varying backgrounds and dynamics.
Furthermore, Rob is dedicated to resolving complex problems, discreetly managing confidential issues, and integrating educated decision-making with individual wishes and specifications of multiple family members. He promotes and facilitates community engagement amongst physicians, social workers, discharge planning staff, and referring agencies, while also delivering presentations and outreach within the donation and transplant community. His knowledge of current laws, regulations, and corporate policies further enhances his ability to serve OPOs and their communities.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, when Rob isn’t working he enjoys watching Dodger’s games and spending time with his family.
CO-FOUNDER & COO
Michelle Coppel
Michelle Coppel is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Health Education Specialist, and Public Health Professional with 20 years of experience in the nutrition and healthcare industry. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from Loma Linda University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Nutrition and Food from Point Loma Nazarene University.
In addition to her background in nutrition, Michelle previously served as a Donation Development Coordinator at OneLegacy. During her time at OneLegacy, she was responsible for hospital development and education surrounding organ and tissue donation. Michelle also played a key role in creating policies and procedures for individual hospitals relevant to organ and tissue recovery.
With both her background in nutrition and donation development, Michelle has gained extensive experience in compassionately communicating with clients, patients, and families, ultimately empowering them to make informed healthcare decisions.
Outside of her work, Michelle is also passionate about her role as a mom to both her children and fur babies, as well as trying new restaurants, and traveling the world.
Our Team
Kari Pawasarat, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Kari Pawasarat is an accomplished financial leader with over a decade of experience in financial operations, strategic planning, and cross-functional team management. She has held leadership roles across finance, pricing administration, and field operations, consistently aligning operational systems with executive strategy and organizational goals.
At Coppel Consulting, Kari directs financial strategy, ensuring a strong foundation as the company grows and advances its mission in the donation and transplant community. She brings sharp financial insight and a collaborative approach, with extensive experience in budgeting, forecasting, regulatory compliance, and enterprise-wide improvements that drive scalability and success.
Kari holds an MBA from Concordia University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Villanova University.
James Wallace, MSBS, MSHDA, CPTC
Vice President of Recruitment
OPTN Information Security Contact
James Wallace brings over a decade of clinical and operational experience in the organ procurement field to his role as Vice President of Recruitment at Coppel Consulting. With a background as a Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator, he leads national recruitment efforts focused on placing highly qualified clinical professionals in organ procurement organizations, transplant centers, and healthcare systems.
James holds master’s degrees in Biomedical Science and Healthcare Decision Analysis. He is an active member of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations and the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization. As Coppel Consulting’s Information Security Contact for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), he oversees internal coordination on data security and access standards across the national system.