BIO ~ Crystal Jackson
Co-Chair of the Arizona Sickle Cell Committee and Chair of the Extended Sickle Cell Committee.
I was Raised in/Phoenix Arizona. Attended South Mountain High School and then attending Mesa Community College before leaving to attend the University of North Carolina where I started my Red Cross career.
With 18 years of dedicated service to the American Red Cross, Crystal Jackson has made a lasting impact through her commitment to community engagement, donor diversity, and youth empowerment. She began her Red Cross journey in Charlotte, North Carolina, and for the past eight years has served as an Account Manager in Phoenix Arizona.
Crystal has been a passionate advocate for sickle cell awareness, volunteering her time over the last four years to educate communities across Arizona about the importance of diversifying the blood donor pool. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Arizona Sickle Cell Committee and Chair of the Extended Sickle Cell Committee.
In recognition of her tireless efforts, she was recently honored as the Sickle Cell Champion of Arizona—a title that reflects the leadership role she’s long embraced. Crystal is also a proud wife and mother of five. Her 16-year-old daughter is following in her footsteps as a Red Cross volunteer and has already hosted three of her own blood drives. A strong believer in the power of youth engagement, Crystal is passionate about involving young people in the mission of the Red Cross, recognizing them as the future of the organization and the donor community.
Email address: Crystal.Jackson2@redcross.org
Phone Number: 480-267-5483
New Mexico Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossNewMexico
Arizona Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossArizona/
Handle: @redcrossarizona
BIO ~ Akilah Gilbert
Community Health Worker at the Sickle Cell Foundation of Arizona
A Colorado native who has been in Arizona for 24 years. For the past 3.5 years, she has worked as a Community Health Worker at the Sickle Cell Foundation of Arizona. Her favorite part of the job is connecting with the pediatric population at Diamond Children’s Hospital in Tucson. And it is a special connection because she is also an adult living with Sickle Cell Disease.
Akilah Gilbert is a Community Health Worker for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Arizona. Her goal as a Community Health Worker is to show families that life with SCD can be filled with joy & hope.
She wants them to believe that despite having SCD, you can still chase your dreams and have a successful and fulfilling life. The journey is rough but well worth the struggle when you have help along the way. Akilah is glad to be a part of her patients’ support system. She feels that each patient she helps becomes part of her family.
Phone Number: 520.527.8988
Email address: akilah.gilbert@scfaz.orgatient
Your Host: Kelly Ellsberry
Executive Lab Director; Education Coordinator
I was Born in Detroit. I attended Bethune Cookman College for a BS in Marketing but left due to marriage and children and entered the Healthcare field in 2008. I received Initial Lab Training in 2009 at UofA University Medical Center. My first business was a Real Estate Investment company in 2002 at 22 years of age.
Started Berry Best Mobile Lab Services, LLC (BBMLS) in mid 2016 as a small mobile lab company (contracting) then Launched Berry Best Phlebotomy Training, LLC (BBPTLLC) in 2019.
Expanded BBMLS into a Nationally Recognized Independent Clinical Lab in 2022. I am the Current Owner and Executive Lab Director of BBMLS, a Nationally Recognized Independent Clinical Lab, licensed by Center for Medicare Services (CMS) and COLA Accredited that operates primarily in a mobile capacity.
Current Owner and Education Coordinator of Berry Best Phlebotomy Training, LLC, a biolaboratory training academy that trains and preps graduates for national certification.
Company Phone: (954) 822-4722
Email: kells@bbmlsllc.com
Company Website: www.berrybestlabtechtraining.com
Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berrybestphlebotomy/
Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BERRYBESTPTLLC/
Company Messenger: https://www.berrybestlabtechtraining.com/contact-1
