Meet our leadership team.

Maria Rebbecchi is mom to Dominic, who was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2013, at the age of 3. She resides in New Jersey with Dominic, her husband Tom, and daughter, Iris. Dominic has successfully been on the ketogenic diet for 10 years and has seen many improvements in his symptoms but still faces many challenges in everyday life. Motivated by her son’s challenges and diagnosis, Maria quickly became involved with the G1DF and was driven to help others who had gone through what she had experienced. Maria has been volunteering for the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation since 2014 and joined the Board of Directors in 2017. Maria is a registered nurse with 18 years experience in specialties such as ER and Urgent Care nursing. Maria’s passion is to help advocate for earlier diagnosis, spread awareness of Glut1 Deficiency, and support Glut1 families in need.

Kelly Jones holds a BA in Journalism/Public Relations from California State University, Chico.  She has been employed by the Sacramento Kings of the NBA, as well as both residential and commercial HVAC companies, before concentrating on being a full-time mom.  Kelly currently resides in Rancho Cordova, California with husband, Matt, and son, Reece.  Reece was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency three days before his 8th birthday in 2015.  She has served on the Board of the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation since 2017.

Rob is a retired Product Safety and Regulatory Manager of Procter & Gamble with 30 years of experience. He earned a PhD in Environmental Engineering and Chemistry from the University of Minnesota and BS and MS degrees from Rutgers University. After retirement he worked with Secondary school teachers as a Resource Team member of the University of Cincinnati Engineering and Enhanced Math and Science Program (CEEMS). Rob volunteers with environmental organizations including Engineers without Borders and the Citizens Climate Lobby. Rob lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife, Paula, and has a daughter, Sara, and son, JR. JR was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2008 at the age of 17.

Debbie holds a BA in Psychology from UCLA, an MS in Accounting and Taxation from SUNY Albany, and a BS in Occupational Therapy from USI. She is a retired CPA who practiced with KPMG as a Tax Accountant specializing in financial institutions prior to becoming a mom. She is also a retired OT who worked with at risk newborns in the NICU. Debbie resides in Evansville, Indiana with her husband, Greg, (past VP and founding board member of the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation), and her son, Dalton, who was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency at age 5. Debbie and Greg also have a daughter, Madison, who earned a BS in Biological Engineering from MIT and has conducted research benefitting Glut1 Deficiency.

Erin is an Occupational Therapist who graduated from Thomas Jefferson University and currently works with children. She is the team captain for the Glut1 DS team in Penn Medicine’s Orphan Disease Center’s annual Million Dollar Bike Ride. Erin lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband, Walter, and daughters Gabriella and Millle. Millie was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2012 at the age of 3.

Leigh Hopkins is a Senior Project Manager with the Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR) at Georgia Tech. Leigh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia, and a Master’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in City and Regional Planning. The Hopkins family (Leigh, Jeff, Cameron, and Rohan) live in Decatur, Georgia with their two yellow bellied pond slider turtles, Jaws and Pearl, and their two Nigerian pygmy goats, Marshall and Danzig. Now 12, Cameron was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome at age 8 and is currently thriving with treatment from the Ketogenic Clinic within Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Leigh hopes that through the research and awareness provided by the Glut1 Foundation, that more families will have the opportunity for earlier recognition and diagnosis and access to proper treatment for the best possible outcome.