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Please click on any staff member's name below to read their profile:
Stephen E. Bajardi, Executive Director Stephen E. Bajardi, IRSF Executive Director, delivers the ideal combination of experience, leadership, strategic thinking, and fundraising acumen that drives the organization towards unprecedented forward progress. Steve has a strong background in the nonprofit world where he has worked at an executive level for the National Kidney Foundation, National Hemophilia Foundation, Huntington’s Disease Society of America, March of Dimes, Princess Grace Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Steve is currently a Board Member of the National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD).  Dr. Antony Horton, Chief Scientific OfficerDr. Horton gained his Doctoral degree at St. Andrews University inScotland U.K., where he was trained in the areas of neuroanatomy,developmental neurobiology and neuronal cell survival. Followingthis, he conducted 4 years of post-doctoral research onneurodegenerative diseases at the Rockefeller University in New York.Dr. Horton has published on aspects of neurodegeneration and neuronalcell survival in a number of research papers and journal articles.Prior to joining IRSF, Dr. Horton gained valuable experience inresearch management spending 5 years at the Juvenile Diabetes ResearchFoundation where as a Program Director, he led a small team thathelped set the translational research agenda on DiabeticComplications. In addition, Dr. Horton spent two years at theAlzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation where he worked in a VenturePhilanthropy setting on the development of drugs for Alzheimer'sdisease and related dementias. "As the Chief Scientific Officer for IRSF, I am committed to helpingtranslate basic research discoveries into the development oftherapeutics to prevent, treat or reverse Rett Syndrome. Funding thevery best research, combined with family support and awareness willprovide much needed hope for those living with Rett Syndrome."  Jane Lane, RN, BSN - Family Program ManagerIRSF is pleased to announce the appointment of Jane Lane, RN, BSN to the IRSF team as Family Support Program Manager in January of 2009. Jane, under the tutelage of Alan Percy, MD has more than sixteen years experience as a research coordinator and manager in child neurology and the Civitan International Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, specifically related to the study of epilepsy in neonates and movement disorders including Tourette syndrome, Huntington disease, and Rett syndrome. Jane received a BS in Microbiology from Mississippi University for Women and a BS in Nursing from the University of Alabama. During the past six years she has worked exclusively with Rett syndrome, serving as Project Manager for the Angelman, Rett, and Prader-Willi syndromes consortium of the Rare Disease Clinical Research Network. The Natural History study of Rett syndrome and MECP2 mutations alone has enrolled nearly 700 females and males with the disorder. She has co-authored over 25 publications, many pertaining to Rett syndrome. Jane serves as a member of the RettSearch Study Group, an international collaboration related to the organization of clinical trials for Rett syndrome and acts as a consultant to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation for medical issues. She serves on the board of the Southeastern Rett Syndrome Alliance as a professional advisor. Ms. Lane has spoken numerous times on the topic of medical issues in Rett syndrome and on issues related to the maturing woman with Rett syndrome. As such, she has broad experience with respect to the medical issues associated with this disorder. IRSF is honored to bring Jane’s extensive knowledge, compassionate care, and optimistic attitude to families as part of our mission of serving Rett families throughout the world.  Jennifer Endres, Family Resource ManagerIn her role as Family Resource Manager, Jennifer acts as a liaison between the Foundation and families affected by Rett syndrome providing prompt information, support and assistance. Jennifer obtained her masters degree in Education. Formerly a 1st grade and special needs teacher, she uses her background of working with parents and children in her position as Family Resource Manager. Jennifer and her husband, Justin, became involved with raising funds for Rett syndrome research immediately after they learned of the diagnosis of their daughter, Jillian. Jillian, born in 2003, was diagnosed at the age of 17 months. The Endres family holds their annual Cape Cod Strollathon each spring. With the help of other family members and friends, they have been able to raise $500,000 in four short years. “Becoming involved with the Foundation has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my life. I truly enjoy helping families on their journey with Rett syndrome. Since I walk the road everyday, I understand with compassion how the families are feeling. Helping a family past their anguish and despair and allowing them to see the hope and light is what makes my job so gratifying.”  Jenni Grammer, Special Events Program ManagerJenni Grammer joined the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation as an intern during the summer of 2003. She continued working with the Foundation during summer and holiday breaks until graduating from Kent State University in December of 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies. While attending KSU she worked for the university’s Foundation and Development Office where she gained additional fundraising experience. She also interned with the Alzheimer’s Association of Akron, OH. Jenni re-joined RSRF on a fulltime basis in April of 2007. Her main responsibilities include giving families support as they plan and execute fundraising and special events. Jenni is on the road during Strollathon season assisting event chairs with “day of” activities and responsibilities. She is also the “go-to” person for the Auction Pay software used in conjunction with IRSF’s larger corporate events and handles registration and Auction Check-in and Check-out at these events. Day to day responsibilities for Jenni include: talking to families about hosting events, assisting event chairs with planning of events, working with vendors and printers to ensure all event materials are ready on time, designing mailings for donors and planning the Cincinnati Strollathon which has raised $1.2 Million in just 6 years. Jenni enjoys meeting and working with our families and has a passion for the foundation’s mission to find a cure for Rett syndrome. “I love what I do! My favorite part is meeting the girls and their families. They are just so full of life! The most important thing I think for all of us to remember is that we are fighting for the same cause, and even though it’s larger than us, we are making a difference – every day. And that’s what makes this less of a job and more of a passion.” Mary Joyce Griffin, Administrative Officer Mary Joyce Griffin joined the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation in August of 2000 and has been a champion of the Foundation's mission ever since. MJ, as she is known in the office, is responsible for the daily administrative activities of the organization. MJ’s responsibilities are numerous including maintaining our database, processing donations, and accounts payable, as well as providing administrative and accounting support for our special events, annual scientific symposium and grant process. Mary Joyce has been married to her husband Garry for 35 years and has two adult children. She came to the Foundation from the Cincinnati Public School system. MJ has had an opportunity to meet many children affected with Rett syndrome and is personally committed to helping IRSF eradicate Rett syndrome.  Paige NuesDirector of Family Support Connection to RTT: Daughter, Katie (8) Paige Nues, Director of Family Support, IRSF, dedicates her time to providing a safety net of accurate information, emotional support, and connections for the families, caregivers, and support teams of children with Rett syndrome. She seeks to educate families, caregivers, health providers and educators about the medical, educational, legal, financial, and social supports and research discoveries necessary to successfully care for an affected individual with Rett syndrome at various stages of her life. Paige has served on the Board of Directors, as a Regional Representative, and is parent founder of Katie’s Clinic for Rett Syndrome at Oakland Children’s Hospital. She enjoyed a successful career in sales, marketing, and business development with Fortune 500 companies prior to her daughter Katie’s diagnosis of Rett syndrome in 2003. She and her husband Jesse live in California, proud parents of three extraordinary girls. “Where you put your efforts is where you get results.” It takes a team of caring family and friends, educated physicians, trained therapists, willing educators, and an open-minded supportive community to raise a child with Rett syndrome to reach her greatest potential. We will discover real treatments that will lead to a reversal of symptoms, but finding these treatments will take funding, time, and brilliant scientific minds. It is greatly through IRSF’s efforts, dedication and careful stewardship of donations that we have the funding and people-power to achieve the results we all want. As IRSF’s Director of Family Support, I commit all of my efforts into strengthening that safety net of support and information that gives families the direction, strength and connections they need to care and advocate for their child with Rett syndrome today. Our girls deserve this, and so do our families that support them.  Cara Leighton, Administrative AssistantCara Leighton graduated from Kent State University in the spring of 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and moved to Cincinnati that summer. She worked as a temp with IRSF for several months before joining the staff permanently in October. Cara’s primary responsibilities include maintaining the database, making bank deposits, entering and acknowledging gifts and of course “other duties as assigned”. From an early age Cara’s compassion fueled her passion for helping people with medical conditions and disorders. After a close family member’s successful bout with cancer, she decided this was an area where she could make a difference. While attending high school in Akron, OH, Cara began her nonprofit career by helping raise money for the American Cancer Society and participating in Relay for Life. Cara is thrilled to be working for IRSF during this exciting transition.  Lisa Hayden, Family Support CoordinatorLisa Hayden joined the International Rett Syndrome Foundation just after graduating from Miami University in May of 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Strategic Communications as well as a Thematic Sequence in Management. Lisa interned as Assistant Event Coordinator for a country club in Cincinnati and has plenty of work experience under her belt. Lisa brings a host of talents and a bubbly, caring, compassionate personality to the Foundation. Lisa excels at accomplishing the tasks she sets out to do with energy, enthusiasm, and excellence. As Family Support coordinator, Lisa is committed to IRSF’s mission of caring and supporting families through helping with the everyday workings of IRSF Family Support programs and services. Lisa is involved with clinics, conference planning, the Partner Program, Phantom Tea, the Care and Cure Café, supporting our many volunteers, online communities, assisting our many various events, and coordinating informational materials. "'This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving something I have traded for it. I want it to be a gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.' – I love being able to make a difference every day through what I do. Though I am not directly related to an individual with Rett syndrome, I have become very connected to these girls. I am passionate about helping people and our girls need all the support we can give them. I am blessed to be a part of this team." You can get in touch with Lisa via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling the Cincinnati office at 513-874-3020  Jim Keller, Grants and Research ManagerIn November 2008 Jim began working closely with the IRSF’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Antony Horton as the Foundation’s Grants and Research Manager. He brings four years of experience in Grants Administration along with a can-do attitude and a hefty dose of charm to this role in the Foundation’s New York office. Most recently he held the position of Grants Manager for the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation where he managed a diverse portfolio comprised of academic, industry and conference grants. Prior to his work with the ADDF he held a similar position at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF.) Jim is responsible for overseeing the IRSF’s grant program and works closely with applicants, funded investigators and members of the IRSF’s Scientific Review and Scientific Advisory Boards. One of his first tasks was to implement a new streamlined grant submission process that enables investigators to apply more efficiently to our existing and future grants initiatives.
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