Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Board of Directors
Tomago Collins
Executive Vice President of Communications and Business Development, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Tomago Collins joined Kroenke in 2003 and has been in his current position since 2012. Collins has managed media relations for the Denver Nuggets and media development across several Kroenke-owned businesses from Europe to the United States.
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Phil DiStefano
Chancellor, University of Colorado at Boulder
Ex-officio Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Prior to his appointment as Chancellor on May 5, 2009, Dr. DiStefano was the top academic officer at CU-Boulder for eight years as the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. He served as interim chancellor twice during pivotal times in the University’s history.
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Jena Hausmann
President and CEO, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Ex-officio Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
With nearly 20 years of experience in healthcare administration, Jena Hausmann is one of the leading womenin healthcare in the US. As President and Chief Executive Officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado, she oversees an integrated healthcare system for children, which is affiliated with the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Leslie Leinwand, PhD
Professor, Chief Scientific Officer, Biofrontiers Institute, University of Colorado at Boulder
Ex-officio Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
An expert in cardiovascular research, Leinwand is principal investigator of a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant and National Institutes of Health Cardiovascular Training Grant. She established and co-directs the University of Colorado’s Cardiovascular Research Institute (CU-CVI), a collaborative group of physicians, molecular biologists and geneticists.
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John C. McGinley, Award-Winning Actor
International Spokesperson and Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
By 2000, John C. McGinley had amassed decades of stellar work on stage and screen, including six collaborations with Oscar-winning filmmaker, Oliver Stone. John has said that Platoon was one of his favorite roles and one of the hardest.
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G.H. Jay Mills
Founder & Owner, Jay’s Valet Parking LLC
Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
G.H. Jay Mills is the founder and owner of Jay’s Valet Parking LLC, one of the largest valet parking services in the Rocky Mountain region. Jay’s Valet Parking LLC currently operates in 3 states and employs several hundred people.
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Charlie Monfort
Owner, Vice Chairman, and General Partner, Colorado Rockies
Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Charlie Monfort is an owner, vice chairman, and general partner of the Colorado Rockies. In 1992, Charlie, Oren Benton, and Jerry McMorris were the original general partners and ownership group that brought the Major League Baseball club to Denver and the Colorado region. He has been one of the Colorado Rockies’ managing general partners since inception.
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John J. Reilly, Jr.
Vice Chancellor for the Office of Health Affairs, University of Colorado
Ex-officio Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
John J. Reilly, Jr., MD, became the dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the University’s vice chancellor for health affairs on April 6, 2015.
Dr. Reilly came to CU Anschutz from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was the Jack D. Myers Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine. He joined Pitt in 2008 after more than two decades with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Ricki Rest
Principal, Bravada Partners, LLC
Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Ricki Rest sums up her volunteer work by saying, “I have chaired fundraisers for many organizations and have been on practically every board in town.” Her record more than confirms this. She has served on the boards of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the Women’s department of the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, The Advisory Board for Jewish Family Services, and the Women’s Board of National Jewish Medical and Research Center.
John J. Sie, Co-Trustee, Anna and John J. Sie Foundation
Board Member, Chairman, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Board Member, Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome
John J. Sie is founder and former Chairman of Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG). Founded in 1991, the Colorado-based company is owned by Liberty Media Corporation and is the parent to numerous premium movie networks, including Starz and Encore. John is a cable television pioneer and leader.
Frank Stephens
Author, Actor, and Advocate
Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Frank Stephens is an active spokesman for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and the recipient of GLOBAL’s highest honor, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award. He is also a long-time member of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Virginia. An accomplished public speaker, Frank has been invited all over North America and Europe promoting inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
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Mary Beth Wallingford
Managing Director, AJS Ventures, LLC
Board Member, Treasurer, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Mary Beth Wallingford has been the Managing Director of AJS Ventures, LLC since 2005. AJS Ventures in a private family investment firm. In her role with AJS Ventures she is responsible for the day to day operations, financial supervision, and management of several employees.
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Richard Waysdorf, Legal Consultant, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Richard is responsible for providing legal counsel to the Foundation, negotiating and drafting agreements, and advising on a wide range of legal and policy issues. He oversees outside counsel in specialties including government relations, intellectual property, biomedical research, and not-for-profit operations.
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Michelle Sie Whitten
Board Member, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
President and CEO, Co-Founder, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Michelle Sie Whitten is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (Global). Global is dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through Research, Medical Care, Education, and Advocacy.
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