BCCNS Life Support Network Board of Trustees

	Kristi Schmitt Burr Executive Director, Ohio Kristi Schmitt Burr has served as the Executive Director, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees, of the BCCNS Life Support Network for the past nine years. Kristi was born in the Cleveland area and has spent much of her adult life in Geauga County. She attended Grinnell University in Iowa and Kent State University in Ohio. Kristi has two children: Hans, an attorney in Massachusetts, and Sarah, deceased. She and her husband, Jeff, have been married for twenty years and enjoy farming and agriculture. In addition to the BCCNS Life Support Network, Kristi has been involved with many other non-profit organizations and boards including the Genetic Alliance, WVIZ, WCPN, Ideastream, American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, Coalition of Skin Disease, National Organization of Rare Disorders, and the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
	William D. Ginn Secretary/Treasurer, Ohio Bill Ginn was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1923. While enlisted in the US Army, he met an officer named Arlene, whom he married in 1945. He and Arlene (now deceased) had four children (Anna, William, Randall, and David), and he now has ten grandchildren. Bill attended Bates College and Yale Law School and is a retired partner of the Cleveland law firm of Thompson Hine LLP. Bill has been on the BCCNS Life Support Network’s Board of Trustees since helping to found it in February of 2000. Bill is not affected with BCCNS, nor is anyone in his family; he became involved with the organization when approached by Kristi Burr, a long-time family friend. Together with financial support from Kristi’s parents, Wilbur and Eleanor Schmitt, Bill and Kristi incorporated the BCCNS Life Support Network. Bill has attended all 7 annual retreats and hosted numerous regional functions at his home in Chesterland. Along with BCCNS, Bill also serves on the boards of many other local organizations, including Vocational Guidance Services, Eliza Bryant Center, Chagrin River Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and Hopewell Inn. Bill has a great love of nature and preserving land in Ohio; he was instrumental in expanding the Geauga Park District to include The West Woods, for which the drive entering the park bears his name.
	Bryant Bradley President, Georgia Bryant Bradley has served as the President of the BCCNS Life Support Network for the past 6 years. Born in New York to an Army Colonel, Bryant was an “Army brat,” moving around a lot and living in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Kansas, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. After graduating from college, she met her husband, Ren, while both were working at Milledgeville State Hospital in Georgia. They were married in 1974 in Savannah, Georgia. Five years later, their daughter, Nina, was born. Both Ren (now deceased) and Nina have Gorlin Syndrome. Bryant worked as a social worker for abused women and children; she retired in 1993 but has stayed active, writing grants for various agencies across Georgia and delivering food for the homeless and senior citizens 6 days a week. In addition to being President for BCCNS LSN, Bryant also serves as Secretary for the Georgia Domestic Violence Shelter.
	Maria Michalowski Pennsylvania After completing high school and a secretarial program at a local business school, Maria was employed by the largest bank in the Pittsburgh area for 10 years as an executive secretary and customer service representative. She chose to leave her position in order to raise her family. With support from her husband of 24 years, she has home-schooled their two children over the past decade; the oldest has graduated and the youngest is a sophomore in high school. Maria has also spent many hours volunteering for her church in a variety of ways. For six years, she was heavily involved in a local summer theatre where she performed on stage, assisted in all areas of production, and coordinated and produced the Children’s Theater performances. She continues to serve on the Board of this theater, currently as Secretary. Diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma Nevus Syndrome in 1970, she now serves on the Board of the BCCNS LSN in order to ensure support for the many other patients, including her son, whose diagnosis was confirmed in 2001.
	Patricia Pearsell Canada Patricia is a college graduate with many years of volunteer experience with a support group for pediatric brain tumors and presently serves as the Canadian Representative of the BCCNS Life Support Network. She lives in Whitby, Ontario, with her husband, Mike, and their two sons, Brandon and Ryan. During the school year, she serves as a crossing guard. Patricia and her family have been dealing with the challenges of having a child treated for a malignant brain tumor, followed by a diagnosis of BCCNS.
	Cindy Shelley Iowa Cindy lives in Creston, Iowa, and has been involved with this organization since finding the web site in February 2001. Both Cindy and her adult daughter, Cara, have Gorlin Syndrome. She has been a Board Member since 2003, chairing and planning the Annual Retreats in 2004 & 2005. Cindy has been a registered nurse at Greater Community Hospital since June 1979, working in Intensive Care, ER, and supervising. She has many certification/provider courses that she takes and renews on an ongoing basis. In her spare time, Cindy enjoys playing pool and quilting.
	Layna Taylor, J.D. Arizona Ms. Taylor has been an Administrative Law Judge for the Industrial Commission of Arizona for many years, adjudicating workers’ compensation and OSHA cases. She previously served in a similar capacity for the Arizona Department of Economic Security, and as a Deputy County Attorney for Pinal County, Arizona. A native of Corvallis, Oregon, she has lived in the Phoenix area most of her life. She is a 1975 graduate (B.A.) of Arizona State University and a 1980 graduate of the ASU College of Law. In addition to her service on the BCCNS Board of Trustees, she is an active member of the Volunteer Friends of KAET (PBS), having previously served three terms on its Board of Directors. She received that organization’s award for outstanding volunteer service in 2000. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Valley of the Sun Arabian Horse Association since 1987.
	Tim Rillahan Ohio Tim retired last year after working in the grocery/retail field for over 44 years, 30 of which were in store management. Tim received an honorable discharge from the United States Army in 1972. Currently, he is President of the Maple Ridge Homeowner's Association. He was previously president of the Santoli Place Homeowner's Club, serving from 1986 to 2005. Tim has been married to his wife, Betty, for 38 years. They have two sons, Tim and Andy, and a daughter-in-law, Heather. Together they have worked on fundraisers for several organizations, including BCCNS Life Support Network, Relay for Life, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, and Parkinson's Walk with Mary.
	Ellen McCabe Ohio Ellen is a partner in Ernst & Young’s state and local tax practice. She has over 20 years of broad tax experience in the industrial and governmental sectors. She specializes in corporate income and franchise tax planning and spends most of her time working with large multi-state corporations. Prior to joining Ernst & Young, Ellen served as corporate tax manager responsible for oversight of state and local income tax compliance and all state and local income and franchise tax planning and audits. Prior to joining OMNOVA She served as a State of Michigan auditor responsible for auditing companies to ensure compliance with the state's tax code. Ellen holds a B.B.A. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Taxation from Robert Morris College. She is a C.P.A. and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Ellen resides in Chagrin Falls, OH with her husband, Brian, and their two children, Meghan and TJ, who are both avid soccer players. Her hobbies include cooking and watching her kids sporting endeavors. She volunteers regularly by helping out at her children’s schools.