John Risner
President
Larchmont, New York

John W. Risner was named President of the Children's Tumor Foundation on July 1, 2005.  Prior to assuming this role he had served as Executive Director from 2004-2005, and on the Foundation's Board of Directors and as Treasurer from 2002 - 2004.  Mr. Risner has been actively involved with the Foundation since 1994, Co-Chairing the Harvest Dinner and Golf Tournaments among other activities.

Linda Halliday Martin
Vice Chairperson
New Rochelle, New York

Linda Martin is a Partner in the Litigation Department of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York City, with extensive experience resolving commercial conflicts in a broad range of industries and practice areas for her Fortune 500 clients through litigation, arbitration, and negotiation. Her clients are global in scope, and she has represented and advised them in all stages of business dispute resolution, both within the United States and across international borders.

Ms. Martin has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Children's Tumor Foundation since 2007, and currently serves as Vice Chairperson and an Officer of the Board. She also chairs the Organizational Integrity and Legal Affairs Committee and serves on the Executive, Leadership Development, and Volunteer Relations Committees.

John McCarthy
Treasurer
Holmdel, New Jersey

John McCarthy works in the structured finance division of Standard & Poor's where he specializes in structured credit products. He has worked in products across the asset-backed securities, asset-backed commercial paper, collateralized debt obligations, and structured credit businesses since 2000. His primary area of focus is in credit derivatives, other derivative products, such as interest rate and currency swaps, and esoteric securitization products such as timeshare, shipping container, aircraft, stranded cost, catastrophe bond, agricultural commodity, and small business loan securitizations.

Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD
Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee
Birmingham, Alabama

Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, is one of the leading clinical experts and clinical researchers in the field of neurofibromatosis (NF) and has worked with the Foundation for over 25 years. He has served as Chair of the Foundation's Clinical Care Advisory Board and as Chair of the Foundation's Medical Policy Committee. He currently serves as Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation.

Aram Fuchs
Secretary
Irvington, New York

Mr. Fuchs has been the General Partner for Fertilemind Capital since he founded the company in 1999. 

He has been featured or quoted in leading publications such as "The Wall Street Journal," "Forbes," "The Financial Times," "NBC," and "Businessweek."

Suzanne Earle
Chairperson Emeritus
St. Petersburg, Florida

Suzanne Earle is Owner and Vice President of Earle and Associates, a family owned real estate appraisal and brokerage firm in St. Petersburg, Florida since 1981.

Ms. Earle has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Tumor Foundation since 2001, and currently serves as Chair Emeritus. She also chairs the Medical Liaison Committee and serves on the Executive and Leadership Development Committees. Past positions held with the Foundation include President, Florida Chapter 2001-2005; President, Chapter and Affiliate Council 2001-2005; Secretary, Board of Directors of the Children’s Tumor Foundation 2004-2006; and Chairperson, Board of Directors of the Children’s Tumor Foundation 2006-2010.

Daniel T. Altman
Jericho, New York

Daniel T. Altman is a Partner at Belkin Burden Wenig & Goldman, LLP, an approximately 50 attorney real estate boutique law firm located on Madison Avenue in New York City. As Chair of the firm’s Transactional Department, he is a leading practitioner of transactional real estate law and has extensive experience in leasing, conveyancing, financing and cooperative and condominium matters. Mr. Altman has drafted and negotiated store, office, retail, restaurant, triple net, ground, telecommunications and loft leases on behalf of both owners and tenants, covering hundreds of thousands of square feet of leased space in office buildings, malls, strip centers and residential and commercial buildings. Mr. Altman also

Dan Gilbert
Livonia, Michigan

Dan Gilbert is chairman and founder of Quicken Loans Inc., the nation’s largest online lender and a top-five retail home lender in the United States. Dan is also majority owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and operator of the Quicken Loans Arena (“The Q”) in Cleveland, Ohio.

Quicken Loans employs more than 4,500 people nationally and has ranked in the top 30 of FORTUNE Magazine’s "100 Best Companies to Work For" for the past eight years. The company was also named highest in customer satisfaction among all U.S. home loan lenders in a benchmark study by J.D. Power and Associates. Quicken Loans recently moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit, where Dan and the company are helping lead a revitalization of the city’s core.

John Catsimatidis
New York, New York

John Catsimatidis is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Red Apple Group. The Red Apple Group has holdings in oil refining, retail petroleum products, convenience stores, supermarkets, real estate, and aviation.

Mr. Catsimatidis grew up in New York City. While studying engineering at the Bronx campus of New York University, Mr. Catsimatidis opened a small supermarket in 1968 on Manhattan’s Upper Westside. This supermarket evolved into Manhattan's largest, high quality supermarket chain, Gristedes’ Supermarkets. Mr. Catsimatidis took over this 114-year-old company, transforming it

Matthew Hay
Munster, Indiana

Matt is a married father of three who works in sales and marketing at News America Marketing, a single source marketing solutions company owned by News Corporation. He was diagnosed with NF2 during his sophomore year at Indiana University. As a result, over the last 15 years, Matt has dealt with deafness, facial paralysis, vision problems, and balance issues, as well as long recoveries from a spinal surgery, two brain surgeries, and six eye surgeries.

Rachel B. Tiven
New York, New York

Rachel B. Tiven is the Executive Director of Immigration Equality, a national non-profit organization fighting for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive immigrants and their families, and winning asylum in the U.S. for those fleeing persecution due to sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. Under her leadership, Immigration Equality has tripled its staff and budget, quadrupled client services, created the Immigration Equality Action Fund, its lobbying arm, and opened an office in Washington, D.C. Ms. Tiven

Richard Horvitz
Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Richard Horvitz is Chairman of Moreland Management Company, a closely-held private family investment office. An attorney by training, Mr. Horvitz worked at Baker & Hostetler's Cleveland office before joining his family's operating businesses which were later sold in 1987.

He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Children's Tumor Foundation since 1996 and is currently an Honorary Director.

Tracy Galloway
Lake Norman, North Carolina

Tracy Galloway graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1987 with a dual major in Finance and Statistics. Her career has involved marketing support for engineering firms, financial institutions, and Galloway Promotions, Inc., her husband, Mark’s, family company.

In 1997, the Galloway’s sold Smilemakers Inc., another family firm, and moved to Lake Norman, North Carolina where they reside with their two children, Mitchell (21), a cadet at Virginia Tech University and McKinnon (19), who attends the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. During this time, Tracy became very involved with several charitable organizations. She spent most of her time at her children’s school, Cannon School, where she served on several committees including fundraising and capital campaigns.

Carolyn E. Setlow
Washington, CT

Carolyn E. Setlow is an experienced business executive, market researcher, life and executive coach and not-for-profit volunteer. Until recently, she served as Executive Vice President of GfK Custom Research North America, a member of the GfK Group, one the five largest market research organizations in the world. She served previously in a senior executive role at the company’s predecessor firms, NOP World, RoperASW and Roper Starch Worldwide. In addition, she maintains a small private executive and life coaching practice and is also actively involved as a trustee of several not-for-profit organizations.

John Golfinos, MD
New York, New York

John George Golfinos was born in New York, NY on July 2, 1962 of parents who had emigrated from Greece. His father was a cardiologist. John went to the Trinity School on the Upper West Side, which his children attend and where he now serves as a trustee. In high school, he was a National Merit Scholar and received awards in competitions in Latin translation as well as co-captaining the soccer and lacrosse teams. He went to Princeton University, majored in biology and played four years of rugby, serving as an officer in his final year. He continued to play rugby throughout medical school at Columbia. The team reached the national championship for graduate schools in his second year and there lost to Georgia Chiropractic College. With the encouragement of Dr. Bennett Stein, he accepted a residency position at the Barrow Neurological Institute under Robert Spetzler and completed his training in 1995. This included a year learning molecular biology in the glioma laboratories of Adrienne Scheck and Joan Shapiro.

Laura Perfetti
Glen Cove, New York

Laura Perfetti has been teaching fourth grade for the Syosset Central School District for 14 years. Previously she taught second grade for two years in Bushwick, Brooklyn, as well as first, second and fourth grade at other schools. In addition, she implemented and is the chairperson of P.R.I.D.E., an elementary school character education program. Mrs. Perfetti won the 2012 Jenkins Award in recognition of her leadership, efforts, and dedication to her school, as well as her work on P.R.I.D.E. Mrs. Perfetti also developed a curriculum in collaboration with other teachers and parents that is used as a model throughout her school district.

JoAnne Pastel
Minneapolis, Minnesota

JoAnne Pastel is founder and president of Aspire Marketing Group which focuses on promoting companies and non-profits in non-traditional ways: "Helping those shine who really need to shine."

In 2008, Ms. Pastel's 4-month-old daughter was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1, also known as NF1. Since then, she has been active in the fight against NF by creating awareness and helping raise funds for research toward a cure.

Daniel Graeff
Miami, Florida

Daniel Graeff made his mark in the music business as Creative Director of Bugle Publishing Group – a music publishing company owned by music business impresario, Miles Copeland, founder of IRS Media, IRS Records and manager of acclaimed recording artist Sting. Mr. Graeff signed and developed recording artists, songwriters and oversaw the exploitation of their catalogues through film and television licensing deals. Along with Miles Copeland, Daniel created the now legendary international songwriter’s retreat, Printemps des Troubadours, held in Miles Copeland’s 14th century castle in Southwest France. Attendance at “The Castle” (as it came to be known) was by invitation only and strictly no family or media were allowed. Along the way, Daniel worked closely with artists ranging from superstar Cher to country music mega-star Keith Urban, Olivia Newton-John, Ted Nugent, Carole King, Difford & Tillbrook of Squeeze, Jars of Clay, Writer / Producer Mark Hudson, Gary Burr and Italian Superstar, Zucchero.

Michie O’Day
Portland, ME

Michie O’Day is an accomplished artist who lives and paints in Maine.  After successful careers in retail management, then non-profit fundraising, she moved to Stonington in 2000 to devote her life to her art.  She now resides in Portland.

NF2 runs in her family.  Michie was diagnosed with it in 1983 and became a member of CTF in 1984.  She served on the CTF Board of Directors from 1999-2005 and returned as an Honorary Board member in 2011.  She has also testified before Congress in support of NF funding, served as a consumer peer reviewer on the Army Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program for NF, and has raised money for and donated her work to CTF.

Lesley Oslica
Conway, Arkansas

Lesley Oslica has served as the Arkansas Chapter President of the Children’s Tumor Foundation since 2005. In addition, she has served as the national Chapter Council Secretary and Vice Chair for five years. Previously, Mrs. Oslica worked in the investment banking industry for eleven years. She began volunteering with the Children’s Tumor Foundation when she learned that her daughter had NF1.

Bob Schaffer
Clarkston, Michigan

Bob has served as the President/CEO of IMS (Integrated Marketing Solutions, Ltd) – a business consulting/marketing services organization – since 1998.  He has been a consultant and speaker on integrated marketing communications, marketing measurment, incentives and brand management.  Prior corporate experience includes multiple sales and marketing positions at General Motors Corporation (18 Years – Oldsmobile/OnStar/GM Corporate).  His responsibilities included marketing, national sales promotion, national merchandising, field sales, field marketing and dealer operations.

David Viskochil, MD, PhD
Salt Lake City, Utah

David Viskochil, MD, PhD, is professor of pediatrics and director of clinical services in the Division of Medical Genetics.

He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Arizona, and his doctorate in biochemistry and medical degree from the University of North Carolina in 1985. He completed his pediatric residency and clinical genetics fellowship at the University of Utah Affiliated Hospitals.

Denise Pitzman
Chapter Council President
Homer, Alaska

Denise Pitzman graduated from Kansas University with a bachelor of science degree in journalism. After serving in the Army as a medic and completing officer training she moved to Alaska where she owned and operated a sport fishing and adventure tourism lodge. She has been an advocate for children who need early intervention and served on the board of Birth 2 Three in Homer, Alaska. She also held the position of vice president of the Chamber of Commerce in Anchor Point and currently serves on the Homer Foundation board.

Steven McKenzie
Los Angeles, California

Steve McKenzie is the founder and managing partner of Channel West Group, a boutique real estate investment and advisory firm based in Santa Monica, California. Channel West focuses on commercial property investments in the Hawaii and West Coast markets, with an emphasis on hotel and resort properties. Prior to founding Channel West, Mr. McKenzie was a partner and managing director of the commercial real estate investment banking firm, Eastdil Secured. He has been active in commercial real estate finance and investments since 1986, and has arranged or participated in over $10 billion of transactions over the course of his career. Steve joined Eastdil Secured’s predecessor firm, Eastdil Realty, in 1996.

Colin Bryar
Seattle, Washington

Colin Bryar began his career at Oracle Corporation designing and building software.  After leaving Oracle in 1996, he co-founded Server Technologies Group to build e-commerce software for the, then nascent, World Wide Web.  Later, the company was acquired by Amazon.com.

With Amazon.com, Mr. Bryar has spent the last twelve years in a number of technology leadership roles. 

Laura Ganio Bona
Pelham Manor, New York

Laura Ganio Bona has dedicated her time, on a pro bono basis, to numerous charities and not-for-profits for over twenty five years. Currently, she is an active fundraiser for the Development Office at Fairfield University in Connecticut and is Chair of the Parents’ Committee for Annual Giving.

Ms. Bona has served as Executive Director of The Pelham Education Foundation and as a member of its Board of Directors. She is a past Trustee of the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in New York City and a past Treasurer of the Bartow-Pell Conservancy.

William G. Brooks, P.E.
Orlando, Florida

William G. "Bill" Brooks is Vice President for CDM Smith, a global transportation, infrastructure, and environmental consulting firm. For over 28 years, he has worked as a transportation consultant on a wide range of airport, roadway, transit, and municipal infrastructure projects valued in excess of $500 million. He has served as Mayor of the city of Belle Isle, FL since 2001. He currently serves as Immediate Past President and Board member of the Florida League of Mayors, and is a member of the National League of Cities Advisory Council, the Nemours Council, and the Tiger Bay Club Board of Directors. A native of Frankfort, KY, he is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He and his wife have three children.

Nate Walker
Encino, California

Nate Walker is President of Investors Management Company, Inc, a firm specializing in the property management of multi-family living communities in North and West Los Angeles.  Since 1984, Mr. Walker and his family have been involved in various aspects of real estate investments and finance.

Mr. Walker has been involved with the Children’s Tumor Foundation and its predecessor, The National Neurofibromatosis Foundation, since 1986.

Margaret (Peggy) Wallace, PhD
Gainesville, Florida

Dr. Wallace is a professor of molecular genetics and microbiology at the University of Florida, where her laboratory performs research in NF1 and related conditions. She has been the Chair of the Children’s Tumor Foundation's Research Advisory Board since 2004, directing the Young Investigator Award grant program which provides scientists with two years of salary support plus a travel stipend to attend the NF Conference and other meetings. She is also a non-voting member of the Children'sTumor Foundation Board of Directors, since 2005, and is Chair of the recently formed BioBank Committee.

Edward M. Stern
Pro Bono Counsel
Newtonville, Massachusetts

Ed Stern is a private practice attorney in Newtonville, MA. A sole practitioner in association with seven other attorneys, his practice includes representation of major business interests in the public and private sectors, as well as administrative agency and court room representation. Other areas of practice include criminal, juvenile, corporate organization, real property, estate planning, and civil representation.

Allan E. Rubenstein, M.D.
Director of Medical Affairs Emeritus
New York, New York

Allan E. Rubenstein, M.D., one of the Foundation's co-founders, assumed emeritus status on May 1, 2003 after having served the Foundation as its director of medical affairs for 25 years. During that period he provided invaluable guidance and leadership in the development of the organization, with dramatic impact on it's medical and research programs. His efforts have been a key element in the broader understanding of neurofibromatosis in the medical community. His insights have been, and continue to be, a significant catalyst in the remarkable achievements and successes that have characterized NF research sponsored by the Foundation and elsewhere.