Leadership Team
The Glut1 Deficiency Foundation is a nonprofit family organization dedicated to improving the lives of those in the Glut1 Deficiency community through increased awareness, improved education, advocacy for patients and families, and support and funding for research.
The G1DF is organized and led by parents. Many individuals and families make the work of the Foundation possible through the support they provide in many forms – thank you!
The G1DF is organized and led by parents. Many individuals and families make the work of the Foundation possible through the support they provide in many forms – thank you!
Executive Director
Glenna Steele
Glenna holds a BS and MED in Education from Eastern Kentucky University. She has spent 15 years teaching public school kindergarten and first grade in Florida and Kentucky. She has been a volunteer with the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana and Kentucky Special Olympics. Glenna was as a founding board member, first President and first Education Director of the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation. She lives in Owingsville, Kentucky with her husband, John, and their daughters, Macie and Maggie. Macie was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2008 at the age of 10.
gsteele@G1DFoundation.org
Glenna holds a BS and MED in Education from Eastern Kentucky University. She has spent 15 years teaching public school kindergarten and first grade in Florida and Kentucky. She has been a volunteer with the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana and Kentucky Special Olympics. Glenna was as a founding board member, first President and first Education Director of the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation. She lives in Owingsville, Kentucky with her husband, John, and their daughters, Macie and Maggie. Macie was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2008 at the age of 10.
gsteele@G1DFoundation.org
Board of Directors
President – Jason Meyers
Jason is a registered professional engineer and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has been employed with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for 20 years. He lives in Denham Springs, Louisiana with his wife, Keri, two sons, Cote and Scott, and daughter, Katie. Katie was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2008 at the age of 4.
jmeyers@G1DFoundation.org
Vice President – April York
April earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oklahoma State University. She’s been practicing small animal medicine for the last 19 years. She is involved with community mission work through their church and the York family has hosted fundraisers to benefit the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation for the last 4 years. April lives in Oktaha, Oklahoma with her husband, Allen, and their two daughters, Ashton and Abby. Abby was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency at age 6 in 2012.
ayork@G1DFfoundation.org
Secretary – Rob Rapaport
Rob is a retired Product Safety and Regulatory Manager of Procter & Gamble with 30 years of industrial experience. Rob earned a PhD in Environmental Engineering and Chemistry from the University of Minnesota and BS and MS degrees from Rutgers University. He currently works with Secondary school teachers as a Resource Team member of the University of Cincinnati Engineering and Enhanced Math and Science Program (CEEMS). Rob serves as Vice President of the Greater Cincinnati Engineers without Borders Chapter, and as a volunteer with the Green Learning Center. 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.
rrapaport@G1DFoundation.org
Treasurer – Debbie Stodard
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.
dstoddard@G1DFoundation.org
Advocacy Director – Erin Meisner
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.
emeisner@G1DFoundation.org
Communications Director – Kelly Jones
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.
kjones@G1DFoundation.org
Education Director – Maria Rebbecchi
Maria Rebbecchi is a registered nurse with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She has worked for Cooper University Hospital for 12 years, working in the Emergency Room and most recently Urgent Care. She lives in Pine Hill, New Jersey with her husband, Tom, her daughter, Iris, and her son, Dominic, who has Glut1 Deficiency. Dominic was diagnosed in 2013, at the age of 3, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
mrebbecchi@G1DFoundation.org
Fundraising Director – April Breen
April holds a BA in Environmental Studies from The University at Buffalo. She is a Public Health Specialist conducting surveillance on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Muscular Dystrophy. She also serves as Co-President of her district’s Special Education Committee. She lives in Cambria, New York with her husband, Gary, and daughter, Tessa. Tessa was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2010 at the age of 9. Gary and April had their first “Fun Raiser” in support of the G1D Foundation within 3 months of Tessa’s diagnosis and have followed that with three more successful events. April became a member of the Fundraising Committee in 2013 and is very enthusiastic about continuing to support the Foundation’s mission of awareness, education and research.
abreen@G1DFoundation.org
Jason is a registered professional engineer and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has been employed with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for 20 years. He lives in Denham Springs, Louisiana with his wife, Keri, two sons, Cote and Scott, and daughter, Katie. Katie was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2008 at the age of 4.
jmeyers@G1DFoundation.org
Vice President – April York
April earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oklahoma State University. She’s been practicing small animal medicine for the last 19 years. She is involved with community mission work through their church and the York family has hosted fundraisers to benefit the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation for the last 4 years. April lives in Oktaha, Oklahoma with her husband, Allen, and their two daughters, Ashton and Abby. Abby was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency at age 6 in 2012.
ayork@G1DFfoundation.org
Secretary – Rob Rapaport
Rob is a retired Product Safety and Regulatory Manager of Procter & Gamble with 30 years of industrial experience. Rob earned a PhD in Environmental Engineering and Chemistry from the University of Minnesota and BS and MS degrees from Rutgers University. He currently works with Secondary school teachers as a Resource Team member of the University of Cincinnati Engineering and Enhanced Math and Science Program (CEEMS). Rob serves as Vice President of the Greater Cincinnati Engineers without Borders Chapter, and as a volunteer with the Green Learning Center. 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.
rrapaport@G1DFoundation.org
Treasurer – Debbie Stodard
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.
dstoddard@G1DFoundation.org
Advocacy Director – Erin Meisner
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.
emeisner@G1DFoundation.org
Communications Director – Kelly Jones
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.
kjones@G1DFoundation.org
Education Director – Maria Rebbecchi
Maria Rebbecchi is a registered nurse with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She has worked for Cooper University Hospital for 12 years, working in the Emergency Room and most recently Urgent Care. She lives in Pine Hill, New Jersey with her husband, Tom, her daughter, Iris, and her son, Dominic, who has Glut1 Deficiency. Dominic was diagnosed in 2013, at the age of 3, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
mrebbecchi@G1DFoundation.org
Fundraising Director – April Breen
April holds a BA in Environmental Studies from The University at Buffalo. She is a Public Health Specialist conducting surveillance on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Muscular Dystrophy. She also serves as Co-President of her district’s Special Education Committee. She lives in Cambria, New York with her husband, Gary, and daughter, Tessa. Tessa was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2010 at the age of 9. Gary and April had their first “Fun Raiser” in support of the G1D Foundation within 3 months of Tessa’s diagnosis and have followed that with three more successful events. April became a member of the Fundraising Committee in 2013 and is very enthusiastic about continuing to support the Foundation’s mission of awareness, education and research.
abreen@G1DFoundation.org
European Outreach Director
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European Outreach Director - Trudy Morgan
Trudy is a PA and has been involved with the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation in a variety of roles. She is currently serving as volunteer Outreach Director in Europe and providing information, resources, and support on Glut1 Deficiency and the ketogenic diet to European families and healthcare professionals. Trudy lives in Cwmbran, South Wales in the United Kingdom. Her daughter Cleo was diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency in 2002 at the age of 7. tmorgan@G1DFoundation.org |
Educational Intern
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Educational Intern - Chantal Sanchez
Chantal Sanchez was introduced to Glut1 Deficiency when she was a pre-med student at Columbia University and worked with Kris Engelstad and Dr. Darryl De Vivo. Currently, Chantal is working as a basic scientific researcher in a lab in her hometown of Miami, Florida. She has worked in a volunteer capacity with the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation for the last several months and has assisted with a number of educational projects, including our 2019 Washington, DC conference and the Conference Summary Report. In her role as an intern, Chantal assists with social media communications, patient and family engagement, and continues to help with a number of educational projects. cmsanchez@G1DFoundation.org |
Rare As One Network
We're honored to be part of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's Rare As One Network — a group of 30 patient-led organizations that are accelerating research and driving progress in the fight against rare diseases.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's Rare As One Project aims to support and lift up the work that patient communities are doing and will create a collaborative framework where these communities can work together, learn from one another, and help create models to scale and share to better address the most pressing needs across a spectrum of rare diseases. The Glut1 Deficiency Foundation’s participation in the Rare As One Network will help us establish a collaborative research network to lead to better engagement of patients, clinicians, and researchers, and will help provide the insights, tools, and knowledge needed to identify gaps, set meaningful and impactful goals, and prioritize resources to lead to better treatments.
Join our Family or Professional Network to get involved!
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's Rare As One Project aims to support and lift up the work that patient communities are doing and will create a collaborative framework where these communities can work together, learn from one another, and help create models to scale and share to better address the most pressing needs across a spectrum of rare diseases. The Glut1 Deficiency Foundation’s participation in the Rare As One Network will help us establish a collaborative research network to lead to better engagement of patients, clinicians, and researchers, and will help provide the insights, tools, and knowledge needed to identify gaps, set meaningful and impactful goals, and prioritize resources to lead to better treatments.
Join our Family or Professional Network to get involved!
Past Board Members
Lloyd Holleman (founding member)
Jen Lazar (founding member)
Keri Meyers (founding member)
Janet Parkhurst
Greg Stoddard (founding member)
Jen Lazar (founding member)
Keri Meyers (founding member)
Janet Parkhurst
Greg Stoddard (founding member)
