Board of Directors
Jake Forbes, President
Jake Forbes is the eldest nephew of Amy. He co-founded Valor Together in 2024 and serves as President of the organization. Jake is a Senior Analyst in Medicare Retention at CVS Health in the General Management Development Program. He previously worked in health policy consulting at Healthsperien and headed policy initiatives at ActNow for Mental Health, a non-profit focused on increasing access to counseling services for young adults. As an undergraduate student, Jake researched policy solutions for Long COVID and the effects of MLTSS implementation on nursing home quality of care. Additionally, he has 10 years of experience in journalism, including a tenure as Managing Editor of his college newspaper, The Flat Hat.
To honor his Aunt Amy’s legacy, Jake is determined to make the health care system more accessible, affordable, and equitable for all, and bring positive change to the mental health landscape in the Greater Boston area.
Jake holds a Bachelor’s of Arts from The College of William & Mary.
Zoë Forbes, Treasurer
Zoë Meselson Forbes is the older sister of Amy. Zoë and her husband Brian own Fleuri, a floral and home decor boutique in Wellesley, MA. She serves as Treasurer of Valor Together. Zoë is the mother of Jake, Lucy, and Jesse Forbes, as well as dogs Dusty and Roxy.
Zoë holds a BA from Georgetown University and a JD from Northeastern University School of Law.
Deborah Gordon, Vice President
Deb Gordon is Co-Founder and CEO of Umbra Health Advocacy and Co-Director of the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates. Deb previously served as CEO of a health technology company and Chief Marketing Officer of a nationally ranked Medicaid health plan. Deb is an Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellow, an Eisenhower Fellow, and a former Boston Business Journal 40-under-40 honoree. Deb is the author of The Health Care Consumer’s Manifesto, based on her research as a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. Her work has appeared in JAMA Network Open, the Journal of Participatory Medicine, Harvard Business Review blog, and USA Today and she is a contributor at Forbes.com and HealthyWomen.
Deb’s friendship with Amy started in early childhood; those early, deep ties left an indelible mark. She serves as Vice President of Valor Together.
Deb earned a BA in bioethics from Brown University and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.
Susie Margolin, Secretary
Susie Margolin is a writer, mother, and gardener who strives to create spaces where people can express themselves with confidence and creativity. As a writer, she helps business leaders and academics achieve strategic priorities through thought-leadership content.
Susie’s career launched at the nexus of social impact and education where she founded a youth leadership program on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, served as an AmeriCorps member with City Year, and was a teaching fellow at Phillips Academy. She later worked and lived in Southeast Asia for a decade, where she launched businesses and brands in Afghanistan, Vietnam, and Singapore.
A mother of a tween and teen, Susie is a fierce advocate for mental health support for neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ youth.
Susie met Amy through Zoe, one of her dearest friends since middle school. A passionate gardener, she grows flowers inspired by Amy’s generosity and spirit. She serves as Valor Together’s Secretary.
Susie holds degrees from Harvard University (BA, MPA) and Northwestern University (MBA).