Susan Woolner, CPXP, holds a BA in Community Advocacy and Social Policy from Arizona State University. She has been a member of the board since 2016 after becoming familiar with MG-MI through her position as neuroscience patient support at Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hauenstein Neuroscience Center. Susan has been MG-MI board president since 2020. Her work experience as a business development, marketing, nonprofit, and healthcare professional gives her a diverse background. She has served as a board member of several neuromuscular organizations and volunteers with other neurogy-related community organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, the National MS Society, and the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. Susan, her family, and her dogs reside in Southeast Michigan.
Esther Land co-founded our organization in 1976. An MG patient for over 58 years, she serves as a consulting resource to MG patients and as an encourager on their MG journey. Esther volunteers several hours a week in our office and is involved with fundraising and support group gatherings. She retired from Rapistan (now Dematic) after 45 years of service in the marketing department. She resides in Grand Rapids.
Priscilla Walden started volunteering with MG-MI after her diagnosis in 2009. She joined the MG-MI board in 2011 and has served as Treasurer since 2012. With a degree in education and graduate courses in public administration, she has 23 years of experience in township administration, and currently works for Ionia County as their Human Resources Specialist. Priscilla, her husband Mike, and dog Lucy live in Rockford.
James Booth Burr, Jr has served as a board director and our ardent and always watchful legal counsel since 1987. Following the MG diagnosis of a friend and former fire chief in Grand Rapids, Jim became interested in our cause. He is a semi-retired attorney and counselor at law with practice in elder and probate law, real estate, and small business law. Jim provided MG-MI with legal counsel on incorporation processes and bylaws revision. He has presented Durable Power of Attorney and Medical Directives sessions at several of our support group meetings. His semi-retired law practice and residence are in East Grand Rapids.
Mallary Johnson Cole holds a BA in Advertising and Public Relations from Loyola University. She is a marketing/branding consultant who has assisted in various areas of marketing for our organization. She was introduced to us through a friend and former director and subsequently joined our board in 2011. As Rockford residents, Mallary and her husband, Greg, are the parents of two young sons.
Lisa received her JD degree from the University of Detroit School of Law, serving the State of Michigan for over 25 years. She is currently an adjunct law professor in Michigan and Florida. Lisa is the author of the “With Courage I Can” series books and originated the Coraggio Spirit Award annually presented by MG-MI. She attributes the information and support MG-MI has provided her to being able to live a full and positive life with MG and rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years. Recognizing MG-MI’s invaluable role, she has volunteered through the years with planning the MG-MI Annual Conference and support groups around the state. Lisa lives in the Detroit area.
Dr. Amit Sachdev, MD is Assistant Professor; Director of the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine at MSU. He leads clinical trials in dementia, MG and CIPD, and sees MG patients regularly and at the monthly MDA care center. He considers his biggest achievement to be his efforts to bring patients with rare diseases together in the community and provide them with new treatment options. Dr. Sachdev has served on our board of directors and medical advisory board since 2016. The Sachdev’s are proud parents of three children.
Rhonda joined the Foundation in 2022, initially serving as Office Manager and now as MG-MI Director, following her retirement from a career as a middle and high school science and math teacher. She has also served as a board secretary for the Hudsonville Education Foundation and as an active volunteer in the Hudsonville and Georgetown Township communities.
Rhonda holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and mathematics from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in education from Grand Valley State University. She and her husband, Doug, have two grown children and reside in HudsonvilleR.
Dana has worn many hats since graduating from Grand Valley State University in 2008. She spent ten years working as an account manager for a commercial insurance company before transitioning to volunteer work. A breast cancer survivor, Dana is passionate about giving back, volunteering at Beautiful You, a non-profit organization supporting women undergoing cancer treatment, and at her children’s school. Recently, Dana has focused on her role on the school’s PTO board, working as a paraprofessional, and coaching Girls on the Run.
Dana and her husband live in the Rockford area with their three children. When not juggling their kids’ busy schedules, the family enjoys exploring local events in Grand Rapids and taking day trips across Michigan.
With over thirty years of experience in corporate marketing and communications, John oversees the foundation’s digital presence, including the website (MG-MI.org), quarterly newsletter the Communicator, and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn). His role focuses on enhancing communication between MG-MI, other MG organizations, patients, the medical community, sponsors, and the general public.
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