Jennifer Otero joined the board of YOPN in 2021, and lends her leadership and business development skills, as well as her personal experience as a caregiver for a loved one with Parkinson’s, for the ultimate benefit of YOPN and its members. Jennifer is the Chief Administrative Officer of Andromeda Systems Incorporated (ASI) and has successfully grown the company from 50 employees and $6 million in revenue in 2009 to 425 employees and over $70 million in revenue in 2020. In November 2020, Jennifer was awarded the Positively Jax award for her work increasing Parkinson’s awareness. Specifically, her work includes three Parkinson’s-related initiatives: The Parkinson’s Foundation’s Moving Day Event, JAX HOPE, Inc., and First Coast Parkinson’s Run, serving as Master of Ceremonies, President and Co-Founder, respectively. In fact, Jennifer propelled the Parkinson’s Run from a start up to an annual event hosting more than 1,500 people. The run is an annual fundraising event in honor and memory of her mother who had Parkinson’s Disease. Jennifer lives in Fleming Island, Florida where she enjoys traveling with her husband and family, kayaking and hiking. She holds a Master of Science in Procurement and Contract Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Maryland. |
YOPN board member, Mark C. Kohus, is a Senior Vice President and Group Manager with Fidelity Investments. With more than 24 years of experience working in the financial services field, Mark has held a variety of leadership roles including project management, relationship management and supporting operations. For Mark, his involvement with YOPN hits very close to home as he was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease in 2018. Not one to let anything slow him down, Mark has ignited his passion for total wellbeing through an active lifestyle and wants to use his personal experience to help others with YOPD do the same. In addition to serving as a career coach and mentor, Mark is also actively involved in an employee resource group that supports those with physical and mental health needs. He also serves as an Ambassador with the Davis Phinney Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with Parkinson’s. Mark lives with his wife and daughter in Union, Kentucky. |
An accomplished sales and marketing executive, Suzie Egolf has been in the technology industry for more than 20 years. Currently, Suzie serves as Partner Sales Manager at Google Cloud, supporting corporate accounts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior to Google, Suzie held positions at both Microsoft and Salesforce and has found her niche building new business markets, sales coaching and creating and implementing sales and marketing programs. Outside of her career, Suzie is actively involved in her community as an inaugural member of Social4Good, where she helps raise funds and awareness for nonprofits in Northern Virginia. She is also an Emmaus United Church of Christ deacon and youth-group leader as well as a long-standing volunteer with the Girls Scouts of the Nation’s Capital. The Connecticut native currently lives in Vienna, Virginia with her husband. |
Jeremy Likness has been a professional technology and software developer for over three decades. Currently, Jeremy is the Senior Program Manager for .NET Data at Microsoft where his personal mission is to empower developers to be their best. Prior to his current position, Jeremy helped kickstart the technology and software development efforts for several startups that ultimately grew into multi-million and multi-billion-dollar corporations. In addition to his role at Microsoft, Jeremy is the published author of several acclaimed technology books, an internationally recognized keynote speaker, an accomplished blogger and videographer, and a champion for Young Onset Parkinson’s advocacy. Jeremy was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease in February 2020 at the start of the global pandemic. Following his diagnosis, Jeremy immediately took action, implementing his blog www.StrengthWithParkinsons.com, raising over $15,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and establishing a podcast with his wife at YouMeAndPD.org. Jeremy lives in the Pacific Northwest where he pursues his hobbies of hiking and astrophotography. |
Yasar Torres-Yaghi, M.D. is an attending physician and Director of the Parkinsonism and Dementia Clinic at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Torres-Yaghi is skilled in neurology, clinical trials and movement disorders, as well as an accomplished public speaker and training specialists. Specifically, Dr. Torres-Yaghi’s focus is on neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Post Concussion Syndrome and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. He received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from The George Washington University and completed his residency and fellowship in the neurology residency program at Georgetown University. With his extensive medical background and ongoing medical pursuits related to Parkinson’s, Dr. Torres-Yaghi brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the board of the YOPN and its members. He lives with his wife and young son in Arlington, Virginia. |
Anna Grill is the inspiration for Young Onset Parkinson’s Network (YOPN). She was on the fast track as a sales executive at a Fortune 200 company, and the youngest and only woman on the executive team when she was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) in 2007 at the age of 38. At the time, she was living her best life: excelling in her career while successfully balancing the roles of wife and mother, with two girls aged nine and seven. She led a division of 110 associates spanning a territory from South Carolina to Delaware and served as an active volunteer in her community. Afraid of being defined by her disease rather than her work, she continued in her stressful career for ten additional years without disclosing her illness to workers, family, and friends. Once Anna publicly disclosed her diagnosis, she became frustrated with the lack of resources available specifically for those with YOPD. Never one to step away from a challenge, Anna recognized the need for a building community and providing resources to others with diagnosed with Young Onset. Her vision is to specifically support the YOPD community in a holistic, positive environment. Anna is a vocal advocate, active volunteer for the Parkinson’s Foundation and Ambassador for Supernus Pharmaceuticals. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and her two grown daughters. |