LINDA J. WALSH, Founder, President & CEOLinda Walsh is a finance and business development professional with expertise and extensive knowledge in all areas of accounting and operations for both profit and not-for-profit corporations. She is a hands-on leader with key strengths in strategic and financial planning, securing corporate funding and sponsorships, tactical execution and leadership of initiatives that enhance operations, customer service and optimizing profitability. Linda has a demonstrated record of developing and executing financial and operational controls that improve P&L and competitively position organizations. Linda most recently directed the finance and business operations for the North American Association of SUBWAY® Franchisees and was recognized for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in all aspects of franchise business development. She received a BS in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park. |
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EDNA W. LOPEZ, ESQ., ChairmanEdna Lopez is the Founder and President of EW Lopez LLC, a consulting practice focusing on providing business and management analysis and expertise to companies seeking growth or turn-around opportunities. Edna has extensive executive experience in the highly dynamic travel technology industry. Her diverse background includes roles as President, General Counsel and Secretary, SVP Human Resources, and VP Strategic Planning. She has special expertise in successful organizational change initiatives and corporate transactions, along with significant experience in transforming business strategies and management across multiple sites and matrix organizations. Her most recent executive position was as President of Amadeus Americas, Inc., the US servicing arm of Amadeus IT Group, S.A., the world’s largest global technology and software solution provider to the travel industry. Edna began her career as a corporate attorney with a large Miami commercial law firm, and later became in-house counsel for System One Corporation, a U.S. based travel distribution system owned at various times by Eastern Airlines, Continental Airlines, EDS, and Amadeus. Throughout a progression of acquisitions, mergers, buy-outs and corporate reorganizations, Edna’s career path evolved into roles as General Counsel, VP of Strategic Planning, SVP of Human Resources, and ultimately President of the U.S. holding company of Amadeus. Her varied and extensive experience within a multinational and multicultural work environment has given her a unique perspective on the interactions of US businesses within the global community. Edna attended Columbia University School of Law and the University of Miami School of Law, receiving her J.D. with honors from the University of Miami, where she also was a member of the Law Review. Edna also holds a BBA in Economics from the University of Miami. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and a member of the Florida Bar. |
JEFFREY C. EVERT, TreasurerJeff Evert brings 27 years of experience in the areas of Sales, Marketing, Client facing, and Professional Services functions. While performing these functions, Jeff has worked for companies that are in the computer retailing industry, franchising, distribution, contact centers, and services industry. He was also a partner in a small business, and been a principal in a Silicon Valley start-up. Jeff was most recently Senior Vice President of Sales, Americas, for Stream Global Services, a publicly traded company operating 36 contact centers and 18,000 employees worldwide. He was with Stream for 7 years. Prior to Stream, Jeff was a Partner in the Mergers and Acquisitions firm Omni International and spent 5.5 years with Convergys Corporation in the late 1990’s. Additional experience has been spent with Ingram Micro, and ComputerLand Corporation. He is a 1981 graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California and currently resides in Danville, California. |
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JOHN W. WALSH, Secretary
Co-founder President and CEO, Alpha-1
Foundation
Co-founder, President, COPD
Foundation
John Walsh is the co-founder, President and CEO of the Alpha-1 Foundation in Miami, Florida. Under his leadership, the organization has become internationally recognized and has invested more than $31 million to support Alpha-1 research and research-related projects, which includes funding grant awards to more than 60 academic institutions in North America and Europe. He is also co-founder and President of AlphaNet, Inc. a not-for-profit disease management services company providing comprehensive care exclusively for individuals with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. In the fall of 2004, John also co-founded Centric Health Resources and serves as Chairman of the Board. Centric is a specialty pharmacy employing patient-centered health management services established to effectively manage high-costing drug therapies that are unique to small, underserved patient populations living with chronic disorders. Additionally, he co-cofounded the COPD Foundation and serves as a Member of the Board of Directors and President.
In 2002 his contribution to pioneering collaboration in orphan drug development was recognized by the FDA with the Commissioner’s Special Citation. John has an extensive background in business management and government relations and regularly testifies before Congress and advisory groups as a patient advocate. He was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, in 1989.
BRIDGET
K. TRASK, Director
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