LuMind RDS Welcomes Three New Board Members

At our October 28, 2015 Board meeting, the LuMind RDS Board voted in three new members. Please join us in welcoming Virginia Bennett Flynn, Patrick Kannon, and Christopher Lis.

Virginia Bennett Flynn joins us from Massachusetts, but brings an international perspective to her Board role thanks to her extensive resume of working abroad and with global firms. Virginia will be vital part of the team propelling LuMind RDS’s strategic plan to a successful reality. We are grateful to Virginia will be lending her expertise in many areas, including participating on our Audit Committee.

Patrick Kannon has been a longtime supporter and committee member with LuMind RDS. We are so pleased to have Patrick join the Board and help guide our financial management. For the past five years, Patrick and his family have also hosted the very successful Ashley Rose golf tournament outside DC to benefit LuMind RDS.

Christopher Lis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the LuMind RDS Board. Christopher joins us from the Chicago area where he will combine his scientific education with his vast experience serving on Boards. He also enjoys the full support of his family, including son Hayden Lis who started a fundraising page in support of his brother Collin, who has Down syndrome.

We look forward to learning more about all of our Board members and seeing how their talents help propel LuMind RDS and cognition research to the next level of cognition therapy breakthroughs!

Reaffirming our Mission: Down Syndrome Cognition Research

“Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night …” may belong to the Post Office, but our Board Members braved the cold, snow and ice to focus on our mission and growth measures so we can have an even greater impact on Down syndrome cognition research.

On a very snowy Saturday, January 24, 2015, The LuMind Foundation board members flew in from California, New York, Illinois, and Ohio, and drove from closer locations to attend an in-person Board Meeting in Massachusetts. We want to thank all the Board members – You bring inspiration, vision and energy to the cause of Down syndrome cognition research.

There was plenty of energy at the meeting, as some members met their peers for the first time and others reunited with friends. Our theme was team and members were encouraged to wear their college or professional sports team colors. Although there were some rivalries, we are all on the same team when it comes to our mission: funding cognition research for people with Down syndrome.

In the upcoming months we will be sharing more on the outcome of our Board meeting where we discussed our strategic plan, fundraising events, and the state of the organization. We have big plans, a great team, and thanks to the research you’ve funded, an attainable bright future for all individuals with Down syndrome.

Check out some of the pictures below. See anyone you know?

Honoring Sarah Wernikoff

Sarah Wernikoff with Dr. Michael Harpold, LuMind Foundation’s Chief Scientific Officer.

The LuMind Foundation fondly bids farewell to our Board Chair, Sarah Wernikoff. Sarah led the LuMind Foundation Board of Directors for two years, after being involved with the board for several years. We are very grateful for Sarah’s time and talent spent shaping the organization as we celebrate the incredible research discoveries we’ve funded and progress toward FDA approved drug therapies.

“Sarah has done a fabulous job of leading the organization,” said LuMind Foundation co-founder Patty White. “Sarah has been a strong contributor to the organization for all seven years of her board service.  This last year as Board Chair she smoothly led the organization through a leadership change and brand update while grant awards to promising research projects continued with impressive results. The organization is stronger for her leadership.”

During her tenure as Board Chair, Sarah made many tremendous contributions that will have long-term, very positive impacts on the organization as we grow. She drove the rebranding effort as we migrated from DSRTF to LuMind Foundation, led the search committee for our Executive Director, Carolyn Cronin, and strengthened relationships with local affiliate groups. She also arranged fund raising events and research presentations to cultivate new donors and help grow the organization.

Sarah greeting families at the November 2014 research presentation and tour at Stanford University.

When Carolyn accepted LuMind’s Executive Director position two years ago, Sarah quickly became Carolyn’s go-to person.

“Sarah was the right person at the right time to advance the mission of LuMind Foundation,” explained Carolyn. “Her never ending energy for either early or late night phone calls to discuss the future of the organization was so helpful to me. She’s been the driving force behind keeping the momentum going all these years.”

Thanks to Sarah’s hard work, multiple 40-hour plus weeks as a volunteer, and incredible talent and ideas, the LuMind Foundation is poised for great growth, continued research breakthroughs, and recognition as the leading source for private funding of Down syndrome research.

We will miss you Sarah, but you left an amazing legacy. Thank you SO MUCH for your unwavering support and vision!

LuMind Vice Chairman Ryan Hartman Named President and CEO of Insitu

Ryan Hartman, LuMind Foundation’s incoming Board Chairman, has been named as president and CEO of Insitu, a Boeing company. In the announcement of his new position, Boeing acknowledged Hartman’s track record of advancing research and engineering, coupled with strong management skills. We are so happy to have those skills be part of the LuMind Foundation Board of Directors. You can read more about Ryan’s new role with Insitu/Boeing, on the company website.

Congratulations, Ryan – and we’re glad to have you on our team!

 

Ryan Hartman Voted in as Vice Chairman of LuMind Foundation

LuMind Foundation is pleased to have Ryan Hartman accept the responsibility as Vice Chairman of LuMind Foundation. We are so pleased to have Ryan’s continued input and guidance with the organization.

“Like many families of children with Down syndrome, soon after our son Taylor was born, my wife and I found ourselves searching for answers on how to provide Taylor the opportunity to achieve his best. Our search for answers lead us to LuMind Foundation,” explained Ryan. “We immediately recognized the difference LuMind Foundation endeavors to make for people living with Down syndrome. I’m so very humbled and proud to be a part of a team focused on providing Taylor and others living with Down syndrome the opportunity to live a more active and independent life.”

Please join us in welcoming Ryan to his new position with the foundation.