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Board of Directors
EHE has impacted each member of The EHE Foundation's Board of Directors. With a commitment to our mission to find treatments and a cure for EHE, this esteemed group provides strategic leadership to steer the course of our organization's success.
Jenni Kovach
President
Jenni Kovach joined The EHE Foundation Board in 2018 and brings over 20 years of experience in the Human Resources field. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from The Ohio State University and her MBA from the University of Phoenix. Jenni is also certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). She currently holds the position of Chief People Officer at IGS, a privately held energy company.
Jenni spent time previously on a non-profit board supporting domestic violence victims. Her board experience provided her the opportunity to implement structure and process to this shelter that supports six counties in Ohio. In addition, she has been an avid supporter of Pelotonia, a grassroots bike ride, raising money for cancer research for many years.
Jenni brings her passion for people, strategic mindset, and her desire to continually make a positive impact to the EHE Foundation.
Sarah Bright
Treasurer
Sarah joined the EHE Foundation Board in 2017 with fifteen years of financial and business management experience with not-for-profit organizations. Prior to forming her company in 2008, The Bright Solutions, Sarah served as both the Director of Finance & Administration and the Patron Services Manager for The Washington Chorus. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Miami (Florida) and a Master of Arts in Arts Management from George Mason University. Sarah is a classically trained vocalist (lyric coloratura) and still performs for special occasions.
Sarah has direct accounting experience with all needs in the not-for-profit fiscal cycle. Sarah has worked extensively with not for profit boards for the past fifteen years. She has also served as Treasurer for not for profit boards in Washington, DC. In addition, she gives her time to the children’s ministry at her church.
Sarah excels in interpreting corporate culture, analyzing areas where there could be efficiencies, and problem solves in matters of accounting and organizational development. In her dual roles as Treasurer & Director of Finance, she will provide guidance on governance, structure and organizational development to the EHE Foundation along with budget preparations and financial management.
David A. Casimir, J.D., Ph.D
Dr. Casimir counsels clients in all areas of intellectual property including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. A major focus of his practice is in the area of patent prosecution, post-issuance proceedings, litigation, litigation avoidance, due diligence, business counseling, and licensing with an emphasis in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical, medical device, and business methods fields. Link to full bio.
LeeAnn Conner
LeeAnn joined The EHE Foundation Board in 2015. She draws upon 22+ years of experience and education in program management, marketing, human resources, executive-level leadership, and budget management. She retired in 2016 after culminating her service as the Director of the United States Army Retention Program in the Pentagon.
LeeAnn’s roles in the Foundation have centered around marketing, fundraising, and database operations. With her past military and volunteer experience, LeeAnn brings structure, process, and diligence to the Foundation.
John McFadden, Ph.D., CRNA, APRN
With more than 35 years of experience in healthcare, Dr. McFadden has held positions as a
nurse executive, hospital and university program accreditation surveyor, faculty member,
consultant, and Vice Provost of the College of Health and Wellness at Barry University. After 24 years, he made the difficult decision to retire from Barry University. He remarked, "I am leaving with fond memories of my professional journey and a set of wonderful friendships. 'Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion (Simon Sinek).' Educating future health and wellness professionals at Barry has been my passion. Go Bucs!"
Dr. McFadden has served on the board and as president of the Florida Association of Nurse
Anesthetists (FANA) and as Treasurer of the Florida Association of Colleges of Nursing. At a
national level, he served the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) as a board
member and as a Taskforce Chair and member of the American Association of Colleges of
Nursing (AACN). He currently serves on the editorial board of the BHSF Nursing & Health
Sciences Research Journal.
Dr. McFadden has delivered more than 60 professional, national, and international
presentations, workshops, journal articles, and textbook chapters. He is passionate about
interprofessional collaboration and patient-focused healthcare.
Guy Weinberg, MD
Dr. Weinberg is a distinguished clinician-scientist in the field of anesthesiology and professor of anesthesiology at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to the field, including pioneering work demonstrating the use of lipid emulsion for resuscitation from local anesthetic overdose.
After his son was diagnosed with EHE in 2007, Dr. Weinberg formed the Center for Research and Analysis of VAscular Tumors (CRAVAT) Foundation to educate people about EHE and to support research to develop an animal model to find treatments for EHE. As a life-long scientist, Dr. Weinberg is a catalyst for EHE research, co-founding the “YAP/TAZ and TEAD: At the crossroads of cancer” workshop in 2017 at the Telluride Science Research Center in Telluride, Colorado. The workshop aims to promote collaboration across the whole Hippo-YAP/TAZ-TEAD field; however, notably for EHE - these annual meetings have increased EHE research, funding, and awareness globally.
Jane Gutkovich
Board Member Emeritus
Jane is a founding Board Member of the EHE Foundation, which was established in 2015. Jane brings vast experience in the medical industry. She has a degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic College in Belarus and attended the Nuclear Medical Technologist program at the State University of New York. Jane has worked as a manager at a Nuclear Stress Lab for over 20 years and brings experience in process development, leadership and clinical research to the EHE Foundation.
For over six years, Jane wore two hats for the Foundation – Vice President and Director of Research. She was externally focused on representing the EHE Foundation to donors and other individuals that help the foundation achieve the mission. She is also instrumental in foundation operations such as fundraising and reporting. Jane also helped develop and implement the research strategy, oversees research activities, attracts new researches to EHE and manages the patient registry. She has been instrumental in educating the medical and research community about EHE and promoting the foundation’s mission of developing effective treatments for EHE.
In 2020, Jane moved from her position on the Board of Directors to start a new chapter, as the Foundation's first Emeritus Board Member. In this role, Jane works strategically with us to continue to support patients worldwide and recruit researchers to EHE.
Julie Wahl
Board Member Emeritus
Julie is a founding Board Member of The EHE Foundation, which was established in 2015. EHE had affected her family and she was feeling helpless in the fight. She quickly realized that in order to move this cause forward, she and others needed to come together. At that point, the Foundation was formed and the Board assembled.
Julie is a veteran of the US Army and has a BA in Accounting. She brings to the Foundation experience in education, financial management, and tax preparation. Julie's family has recently retired from the military and she dedicates herself full-time to The EHE Foundation. Her ability to interact and support diverse people and cultures and her compassion and adaptability have been instrumental in the Foundation’s success. Julie continues to support the Foundation in areas of finance, fundraising, and patient services.
In Memoriam
Amy Baghdadi, J.D.
1972 ~ 2024
We celebrate the life and contributions of Amy Baghdadi, a dedicated member of The EHE Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2021 to 2024. Diagnosed with EHE in 2010, she underwent a living donor liver transplant in 2011. Throughout her EHE journey, she was a powerful personal and professional advocate, lending her talents to ensure the growth and sustainability of The EHE Foundation.
A passionate champion for EHE research, Amy worked wholeheartedly to ensure a better future for everyone affected by this disease. She gave her time selflessly, leading with kindness, conviction, and an unwavering dedication to progress. Her impact on the EHE community is profound, and her legacy will continue to inspire our mission to find effective treatments and a cure for EHE.
