MDF Board of Directors
The MDF Board of Directors is comprised of individuals either with myotonic dystrophy or living with loved ones who have the disorder. Our families represent many manifestations and varying degrees of severity of the disease, including type-1 (DM1): the congenital, childhood-onset and adult-onset; and type 2 (DM2). We are working closely with the medical community through our medical and scientific advisory committee in the belief that we can encourage them and offer insight into the subtleties of the disease. We will also recommend topics and provide funding for research by the medical and scientific community.
Lisa Harvey Vittek, Managing Director & Board Member
Lisa Harvey Vittek is an energetic, former collegiate athlete who was born and reared in Tokyo, Japan. In 2000, Lisa received her International MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management and went to work for eBay, Inc. where she was a Senior Product Manager. Lisa left eBay in May 2008 to help launch the MDF including their comprehensive medical website. Lisa has been on the Board of Directors of the MDF since January 2007. In March 2010, Lisa joined the advisory committee of the University of California Davis, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, funded through the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Lisa, her husband, Jeff, and daughter, Kayla live in Rocklin, California near Sacramento. Kayla was born in July of 2005 with the severe congenital form of the disease. Kayla's birth was the catalyst for Lisa's involvement in and dedication to help in the effort to find a cure for this disease. Personal blog: cureforkayla.com. Contact: lisa.vittek@myotonic.org
Jeremy Kelly, Chairman
Jeremy Kelly, Chairman, came to the states from England for college and now lives in Mill Valley, California with his American wife, Erica, and two young sons, Jack and Ben, both of whom have childhood-onset myotonic dystrophy. Like many individuals, Erica – with the mild form - might never have known she has this disorder had her children not been more affected than she. After an 18 year career at JPMorgan, Jeremy recently joined the management team of Provident Funding. As of May 2007, he started a one-man fundraising effort by seeking pledges for his daily bike commute - 32 miles round trip – with the goal of reaching 5,000 miles in one year. His idea has proven successful with over $150,000 raised! He's also spearheaded securing $450,000 to create a solid financial foundation for MDF for the next three years. In attendance at IDMC-5 in Quebec, he is also a founding member and served as the Treasurer from 2006 to 2009. Contact: jeremy.kelly@myotonic.org
John Brekka, Vice-Chairman
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John Brekka, Vice-Chairman, another founding member who attended IDMC-5, lives in Coral Springs, Florida with his wife, Flo. He is the managing partner of the law firm Quintairos, Prieto, Wood and Boyer in Fort Lauderdale. As an individual living with myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2), he has been active on the DM2 Yahoo Board organized for those living with this form of myotonic dystrophy. He was also instrumental in starting a support group with the MDA in South Florida in 2006. John served as Secretary from 2006 to 2009. Contact: john.brekka@myotonic.org
John Fitzpatrick, Board Member
John Fitzpatrick, a former school board member, chamber of commerce executive, middle school teacher and coach, serves as the Executive Director of the Texas High School Project (THSP). A unique public-private initiative, THSP is dedicated to all Texas students graduating high school college ready, career ready and life ready. John brings a wealth of non-profit board service experience to the MDF and is pleased to be a part of our exciting future. He has long been involved in the educational and political arenas, including a four-year stint on Capitol Hill where he worked on education and workforce development policies for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. John lives in Austin, Texas with his family. Contact: john.fitzpatrick@myotonic.org
Alice Gunderson, Board Member
Alice Gunderson, along with her husband, Ed, in the late ‘90’s founded the Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness and Assistance Support Group in the Los Angeles area where they live. Together they have done incredible work to help families with myotonic dystrophy cope with their progressive, multi-systemic disease by organizing monthly, pot-luck, support group meetings with relevant speakers; organizing an annual conference and fundraising evening, an annual golf tournament; a physician education evening offering Continuing Education Units (CEU’s), publishing a newsletter several times a year, hosting a chat room on the MDA web site, and …..Ed was an optician until classical adult onset myotonic dystrophy progressed to a point where he could no longer work. Alice continues in her career as a personnel agent for middle managers in the fashion industry. Contact: alice.gunderson@myotonic.org
Todd Stone, Board Member
Todd Stone is a defense attorney with Stone and Cardwell in Richmond, Virginia. His two young sons, Elliott and Nicholas, were recently diagnosed with childhood-onset myotonic dystrophy ; only after their diagnosis was his asymptomatic wife, Edibell, diagnosed. Very shortly after their diagnosis they met Dr. Mani Mahadevan, a pathologist and myotonic dystrophy researcher at the University of Virginia. After meeting with him, they immediately began organizing social fundraising events among friends in order to raise money to support Dr. Mahadevan’s research; they have asked close friends to do likewise with their friends. Their efforts are proving to be quite successful. Contact: todd.stone@myotonic.org
Don MacKenzie, Board Member
Don MacKenzie grew up in a large family in western Canada. He received formal training in engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. Over time his interests have grown from oil and gas into other industries. At present he is involved with a small private Canadian foundation in the orphan disease and medical research field. Don and his wife Karen enjoy living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with their four teenage children. Contact: don.mackenzie@myotonic.org
