Paul Ross is a former business development executive with Ernst & Young and several other major corporations. Lyme disease cost him his career and dramatically altered his life and that of his family. He is passionate about furthering the success of GLA so it can be part of the solution to this mystery that is Lyme disease and alleviate the suffering of millions of people who are forced to endure, often silently this awful illness.
He received a B.S. degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a J.D. degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
Laura assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of Global Lyme Alliance in July 2022. As CEO, she heads the leading private nonprofit dedicated to Lyme and tick-borne research and education. Laura directs overall strategy, operations, and fundraising to increase awareness and hasten advances in diagnostics and treatments with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for Lyme and tick-borne diseases.
Laura joins GLA from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), where she previously served as Executive Director, supporting the New England Region for the past five years. MacNeill was also Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter three years prior. She brings nearly 15 years of experience as a senior executive executing strategic non-profit planning, innovative marketing, fundraising, and raising public awareness for the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer worldwide.
Before her Executive Director roles at LLS, Laura held various positions, including Regional Community Development Officer at Harrisburg Area Community College and Campaign Director and Manager roles at LLS. She has her baccalaureate from Millersville University and a Master of Business Administration from Kaplan University. Laura is an avid athlete and takes part in century rides and triathlons throughout the year. Laura and her husband, Adam, have two children, 9 and 7, and live outside of Boston, MA.
A noted immunologist and microbiologist, Dr. Sellati has more than 20 years of research experience with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. He has published more than 40 peer-reviewed infectious disease papers, nearly 20 of which are focused on Lyme disease. Dr. Sellati is frequently invited to speak about his cutting-edge research at national and international scientific meetings and with news media outlets. Today he is considered one of the nation’s foremost experts in the search to understand infectious disease processes and improve treatments for patients suffering from Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. As GLA’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Sellati leads GLA’s research initiatives to accelerate the development of more effective methods of diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
Prior to joining GLA, Dr. Sellati served as Distinguished Fellow and Chair of the Department of Infectious Diseases in the Drug Discovery Division at Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to that, he received a BA degree in Biology from Dowling College in 1985 and a Ph.D. degree in Cellular and Developmental Biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1996. Dr. Sellati began postdoctoral training in 1996 at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and completed his training in 1999 at the University of Connecticut Health Science Center in Farmington. After joining the Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease at Albany Medical College as an Assistant Professor in 2000 he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2005 and earned tenure in 2010. From 2013 through 2015 Dr. Sellati served as an Associate Member at the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake, NY before moving to Southern Research Institute.
Dr. Sellati also was the Immunology Scientific Councilor for the International Endotoxin and Innate Immunity Society, the past President of the Eastern New York Branch of the American Society for Microbiologists, and has served as ad hoc member of a number of National Institutes of Health Study Section review panels and as a reviewer for several scientific journals in the areas of immunology and microbiology.
Diane Blanchard’s personal experience and professional background have made her a leader and spokesperson in the quest to conquer Lyme and tick-borne disease. After a career in business and marketing, Diane utilized her expertise to become Co-Founder of Lyme Research Alliance (LRA) in 1998. She served as Co-President of LRA until she became Vice Chair of the merged organization, Global Lyme Alliance (GLA), in 2015.
Diane has served as a strong voice and advocate within the Lyme community for nearly 20 years. As Co-President of LRA, Diane managed operations, development, and directed overall strategy. Today she continues to play an important role in supporting GLA's mission and development.
She is an Advisory Board member of the Columbia Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, as well as the recipient of numerous honors. Diane received Greenwich Magazine's “Light a Fire” Award in 2008 and was recognized by her community with the “YWCA Spirit of Greenwich Award” in 2013.
She received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and an M.B.A. in Marketing from Adelphi University.
Charles Balducci is cofounder of the Snyder/Balducci Group, a multi-family office within the Wealth Management division of Merrill Lynch. He oversees a team of over 20 professionals dedicated to assisting ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals reach their goals.
Charles was named to On Wall Street’s “Top 40 Advisors Under 40” list for seven consecutive years from 2009 through 2015 and to REP Magazine’s “Top 40 Wirehouse Advisors Under 40” in 2014 and 2015. In addition, Charles has been named as one of Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” since 2014 and as one of the Financial Times’ “Top 400 Financial Advisors” in 2013.
Charles received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Pennsylvania State University. He and his wife, Amy Marisa, live in Greenwich, Connecticut, with their three children.
After receiving a B.S. degree in Business Administration & Marketing from the University of Rhode Island, Debbie Siciliano married and moved to Chicago where she began a career in sales. She later moved to London and more than 20 years ago moved to Greenwich where she raised her three children.
A few months after moving to Greenwich, she found a tick on her seven-year-old son. Soon thereafter he became ill. Thus, began Siciliano’s dedication and focus on a little-known pathogen, soon to become widely known as Lyme disease. She co-founded and served as co-president of Lyme Research Alliance (LRA), eventually becoming Vice Chair of Global Lyme Alliance when LRA merged with Tick-Borne Disease Alliance in 2015.
She is an Advisory Board member of the Columbia University Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, and was recognized by her Greenwich community with the “YWCA Spirit of Greenwich Award” in 2013. She has lent her energy to many other organizations as well, including Families for Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich Public Schools, Watch Hill Light House Keepers Association and the Administrative Management Society.
Henry Dosch is a Certified Public Accountant with 30 years’ experience. A trusted business advisor and financial management consultant, he now serves as Treasurer of Global Lyme Alliance.
Henry has worked as Chief Financial Officer for Cheil Americas. He joined Cheil following a distinguished career at Omnicom Group, where he held CFO positions at multiple operating companies within their portfolio. Prior to this, he managed merger and acquisition activity for Omnicom’s largest sector, the Diversified Agency Services Group. Previously, Henry held executive consulting roles at Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
An outdoor enthusiast, he first got involved in helping to raise awareness for tick-borne diseases in 2010, when he joined the Board of Directors of the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance, a GLA predecessor organization, and later by serving as Secretary.
A graduate of Adelphi University, Henry resides in suburban Westchester County, New York with his wife Tamara.
Ed O’Connell is a partner with the accounting firm of WithumSmith + Brown, PC. He is a licensed certified public accountant in New Jersey, New York and Iowa, a certified fraud examiner, certified in financial forensics, and a chartered global management accountant. Ed specializes in accounting, auditing and consulting services for public and private companies in technology and life science industries. He is the Team Leader of the firm's International Accounting & Auditing Services which includes Multi-National Corporations and International Financial Reporting.
Ed is a graduate of Rider University and was one of the honorees of the 2008 “Forty Under 40” list by NJBIZ, a program which recognizes a commitment to business growth, professional excellence and to the community. He has been a member of the board of directors of Global Lyme Alliance and its predecessor organizations for over 10 years. He currently serves on the executive and finance committees and is board liaison to GLA’s Young Leaders Council.
After 10 years as a Senior Art Director at the advertising firm Young and Rubicam, Brett Kristoff turned her talents to philanthropy. She served on the board for the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, Connecticut, and took part in securing support for the building and development of the museum and co-chaired numerous fundraising events such as its annual Gala and golf tournament.
Her next challenge was to help the Lyme disease community. She joined the Board of Lyme Research Alliance (now Global Lyme Alliance) and in 2013 co-chaired its highly successful “Time for Lyme” Gala. Since then, she continues to support GLA’s mission through her diverse and creative marketing skills. Brett received a B.S. degree from the University of Delaware, where she majored in Visual Communications. She lives in New Canaan with her husband, Mark, and their children.
Passionate about raising public awareness and finding a cure for Lyme disease, Lorrie Nadel first became involved with Turn the Corner, later renamed the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDA), in 2004. She was actively involved with TBDA, serving on its executive committee, as its director of patient information, and working on its fundraising galas.
Lorrie continues to help patients from around the world. She answers their questions about Lyme disease and provides information about resources and knowledgeable doctors.
Prior to helping the Lyme community, Lorrie worked as a business analyst and in sales for Dun & Bradstreet in Missouri, California, and New Jersey. She received her B.A. degree in Telecommunications from Indiana University. She lives in Northern New Jersey with her husband, Jarrod, and her two college-age daughters.
Nancy Del Genio joined GLA as CEO from 2021-2022 after a 35 year career in banking at HSBC and Deutsche Bank. Today Nancy continues as a member of the GLA Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Nancy has been an active member for GLA since 2018, serving as Chair of both the Research Advisory Council and Development Committee. Nancy is a passionate advocate for research dedicated to unlocking the mystery of Lyme and tick-borne infections. She is particularly invested in research focused on the chronic stage of infection. She has seen first-hand the devastation of tick-borne diseases that can destroy the dreams and aspirations of a generation of young people. At a time when their lives should flourish, they are instead left to deal with a debilitating chronic health condition that is both misunderstood and often times misdiagnosed. Nancy’s dedication to changing this paradigm is truly inspirational and motivational.
Paul Ross, Chairman
Charles Balducci, Vice Chair
Diane Blanchard, Vice Chair
Debbie Siciliano, Vice Chair
Henry Dosch, Treasurer
Brett Kristoff
Lorrie Nadel
Ed O’Connell
Nancy Del Genio
Ridgway Barker
Erin Walker
Rose Anastasio
Chris Corrinet
David Gerstner
Karen Kelly
Julia Knox-Comeau
Steve Lefkowitz
Lew Leone
Steve Martin
Dana McAvity
David Nolan
Brent Patry
Norma Russo
Aziz Syriani
Alexander Tisch
Janet Vaccaro, Secretary
* Some members not listed. For a full list of our team, please email info@gla.org
Lindsy joined Global Lyme Alliance in December of 2016 as Digital Marketing and Social Media Manger. She was promoted to Senior Manager of Digital Marketing, and has been Director of Marketing and Communications since August of 2020. Lindsy plans and executes GLA’s marketing and communications strategy. Lindsy received her MBA with a concentration in Marketing from Alliant International University in San Diego, CA and her Bachelor of Science in Media Studies from Sacred Heart University.
Dori joined Global Lyme Alliance in October 2019 in a dual role as Office Manager and Executive Assistant. Dori keeps our office and teams running smoothly. Prior to GLA, she worked in both the publishing and health-related businesses, where she held various human resources positions that supported training, recruitment, employee relations and salary/benefits administration. Most recently she worked five years as an Office Manager at an architecture firm.
Dori is an active volunteer, sitting on the local swim club board and enjoys volunteering in the community with her family. She holds a BA from the University of Hartford.
Dr. DeAngelis joined the Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) in January 2022. As Research Liaison, she manages the research grant program and communicates the significance of scientific discoveries made by our funded investigators to the broader GLA community. She also works with the Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Timothy J. Sellati, and the Scientific Advisory Board to advance the development of reliable diagnostics and treatments for Lyme Disease.
Dr. DeAngelis comes to GLA with a background in bacterial research. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Rocky Mountain Laboratories training with Dr. Frank Gherardini, where she studied antibiotic sensitivity in the Lyme bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. Dr. DeAngelis received her Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences under the mentorship of Dr. Jyl Matson where her research focused on cholera. She holds a B.A. from Ohio Wesleyan University in Mathematics and Pre-Professional Zoology.
Kristen Harris has spent her 15-year career working in marketing, public relations, nonprofit fundraising, packaging design and textile manufacturing. After 5 years working in the apparel industry, she realized her true passion was helping others and returned to non-profit development in 2020. Once a GLA Ambassador, Kristen is passionate about spreading knowledge and advocacy regarding Lyme disease and tick-borne diseases. Kristen has a bachelor’s degree from Pace University in Communications and Marketing. In her free time, she enjoys any outdoor activities, cooking Gluten-Free cuisine and traveling the world with her family.
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