Board of Directors

Frank is a retired businessman who recently graduated with his master’s degree at SMU Perkins in Dallas, Texas. Before his retirement, Frank was President of Pittman and Davis, a direct marketing catalog company specializing in the sale of gift pack-ages of fresh fruit and other perishable gift food items. From 2005 to 2011, Frank served as secretary for the Board of Directors. He was elected President in January of 2012. He holds a bachelor’s degree in both business administration and sociology from Trinity University and a Masters degree from Southern Methodist University. He has HSP and lives in Dallas with his wife, Claudia.

Linda was installed as a member of the SPF Board of Directors in 2003 and co-chaired the Program Committee. She is a graduate of Southern Ohio College and was a purchasing agent. She has volunteered for more than a decade for several community organizations including the area’s leading hospital, where she has held leadership and board positions. When Linda developed PLS, she became involved with the PLS online patient community and served the UCSF ALS Research Center as a contact for PLS patients. Thanks in large part to her efforts with the online patient community, several PLS research grants were awarded and the NORD PLS Physician’s Guide was developed. She lives in Fremont, California with her husband. In addition to serving as SPF Vice President, she continues to chair the Program Committee and oversee other special programs including co-chairing the TeamWalk Committee.

David is an SPF incorporating board member, served on the Foundation Steering Committee and has been the SPF Treasurer since inception. He is the Chief Financial Officer for Pezold Companies and has over 25 years of business management experience. David has served his community in a variety of leadership and membership roles including president of Columbus Kiwanis Club. David holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Alabama and earned a CPA license in 1982. David has childhood-onset HSP, lives in Columbus, Georgia and has one daughter . David also chairs the SPF Financial Committee.

Jean is a retired Registered Nurse who spent the final 20 years of her career as the Head Nurse/Manager of a private plastic surgery clinic in Vancouver. She joined the board in 2005. Jean has organized several connections in the Vancouver area and spent 6 years on the local municipal Advisory Committee on Disability Issues. She lives in West Vancouver, BC, Canada, close to her 2 sons and 2 granddaughters. Jean has HSP and was fortunate to be essentially symptom free until the early 1990′s.

Mark Weber is one of the co-founders of the SPF, and was its first president. He serves as the SPF’s legal counsel, and chairs its research grant committee. Mark also started and maintains the PLS-Friends email group. He is an attorney and served for eleven years as a prosecutor in Massachusetts. Currently he is in private practice in Connecticut concentrating in child abuse and neglect cases, and criminal defense. Mark holds a BA in economics and psychology from Boston College, and a doctor of laws degree from Suffolk University Law School. He has been diagnosed with HSP. He lives with his wife and two sons in Sherman, Connecticut.

Corey joined the SPF Board in October 2008. He is a Scientist and Manager of Laboratory Operations for Athena Diagnostics in Worcester, Massachusetts. As a Scientist at Athena, Corey has developed new clinical diagnostic tests for HSP. Corey received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry at Brown University for work in the field of DNA repair. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in the field of cell cycle control of gene transcription. His professional interests are to research appropriate reliable clinical diagnostic testing as well as cures for genetic diseases. His other interests include coaching soccer and softball teams.

Kris has already shown her tremendous talent as a fundraiser by becoming the top 2004 SPF TeamWalk fundraiser. She attended California Polytechnic State University and has worked in numerous volunteer positions in the past, as well serving on her local School Board for 13 years. Kris was diagnosed with PLS in June, 2003 and became a board member in 2005. She has four children, six grandchildren and lives in Ripon, California.

Having covered the tech industry since 2000 as a journalist and editor and now a freelance writer, Allen Bernard is considered by many to be a leading voice in the field of information technology management and integration of technology into the business. Allen has written, assigned and edited thousands of articles that focus on the management of IT and its relationship with the business. Originally from the Boston area Allen now calls Columbus, Ohio home. He lives there with his wife Karen and daughter Brianna who has SPG3A HSP and is proud to serve on the board of directors of the SPF.

Annette Lockwood is an SPF incorporating board member and served on the foundation steering committee. She retired from ExxonMobil in 2006 after twenty-six years in a variety of positions. She is active in the SPF community organizing various fundraising initiatives including the ExxonMobil Employees Favorite Charities Campaign. Annette obtained a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Marquette University. She has adult-onset HSP, which also affects many individuals in her family. She has two children and lives with her husband in Fairfax Station, Virginia.

Jim is a sales representative for Daiichi Sankyo (a pharmaceutical company) and has over 18 years of experience in customer relations and sales. He was previously a Field Director for the American Heart Association where his work led to large increases in fundraising. Jim holds a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has HSP and lives in Brentwood, Tennessee with his wife and two children. A suggestion for those that have either HSP or PLS: Find a doctor who has experience treating HSP or PLS so that you can get the most up to date care.