Stuart C. Apfel, M.D.
President of Parallax Clinical Research
Associate Professor of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Apfel received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and then received his MD degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.  He completed his residency at Albert Einstein as well and for 10 years served as a full time faculty member before moving into the pharmaceutical industry.  He maintains his faculty position and continues to teach residents on a weekly basis.  His research interests focused on the development of neurotrophic factors for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and disorders of the peripheral nervous system. His bench work led to the clinical development of nerve growth factor for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, and he played a major role in the ensuing clinical trials conducted by Genentech, Inc.

After spending several years as Director of CNS Drug Development at Purdue Pharma, and Director of Clinical Research and Development at DOV Pharmaceutical, Dr. Apfel founded Parallax Clinical Research, a consulting firm that works closely with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry to accelerate the development of new drugs.  He is also the founder of the Bristol Haven Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides counseling and assistance to patients with serious or terminal illnesses who have run out of therapeutic options.

Connie R. Colonnese
Clinical Pharmacology
Pharmaceutical Consultant, Sr. Scientist Boehringer Ingelheim

Connie R. Colonnese has had a 15-year career in the
pharmaceutical industry working for US, Asian and European companies.  Her initial job experience was on the clinical side with positions of responsibility in Cardiac Rehabilitation, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care at several institutions, including Emory in Atlanta, Children’s Hospital in Boston and St. Vincent’s in Bridgeport, CT.  She eventually moved into cardiac research at Albert Einstein in Cardiac Electrophysiology. Ms. Colonnese then spent over ten years in the pharmaceutical divisions of Bayer Corporation and Mitsubishi Chemical America in various clinical, project management and research positions.  She then joined Purdue Pharma where she held the positions of  Sr. Clinical Trials Manager, Sr. Clinical Research Scientist and Associate Director in Clinical Pharmacology where she was involved in strategic planning, regulatory compliance, study design, budgeting, and reporting of clinical trial data for drug development programs across all four phases of drug development.  Ms. Colonnese is now at Boehringer Ingelheim as a Sr. Scientist and Cardiovascular clinician, where she has assumed responsibilities for a metabolic trial. Ms. Colonnese holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Emory University, and a Master of Science in Physiology from SCSU. She is married to Robert J. Colonnese and resides in New Canaan, CT with their two children.

Maria T. Crocitto
Chief Executive Officer, Advantage Communications, LLC

Maria T. Crocitto is CEO and founder of Advantage Communications, LLC, a medical education company in New York City. Dedicated to a quest for improved medical communications and education, Ms. Crocitto has been implementing global education plans for medical societies, research centers, and the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years. Her hands-on experience ranges from clinical research to journalism to the development of strategic medical education programs. Her academic degrees include a B.S. in biology, the Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program at Columbia University, a masters of arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Certificate in Science and Environmental Reporting from New York University. She began her career in immunoclinical research at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute in New York City. As a science writer at Medical Tribune, her articles were also syndicated in Asian Medical News and in the series of Japanese hospital posters Medical Bulletins. Ms. Crocitto also worked for six years in the United States Bureau of La Repubblica, one of the largest daily newspapers in Europe. She is fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish. Prior to founding Advantage Communications, Ms. Crocitto was simultaneously Vice President at AMM-Adelphi and Executive Editor at AM Medica Communications, in New York City, where she led the editorial and creative departments in comprehensive publication planning and multimedia projects. Throughout her career, Ms. Crocitto has been committed to making a difference by improving healthcare through groundbreaking medical education, publications, and clinical research programs. Outside the office, she has devoted her time to improving quality of life in communities through projects such as overnight homeless shelters and fundraising for hospitals.

Bruce Larson
Managing Director, Goldman, Sachs & Co

Bruce Larson joined Goldman Sachs in 1987 following his graduation from the University of Chicago, where he received his MBA.  Among other roles, Mr. Larson has been head of Asia-Pacific Mergers and Acquisitions (while stationed in Hong Kong) and spent three years providing mergers and acquisitions advisory to clients in Japan.  Mr. Larson served for one year as the chief of staff to the CFO of Goldman Sachs before becoming the global head of human resources, which he did for five years (1995-2000).  Following his role as head of HR, he became the Chief Operating Officer of the Communications, Media and Entertainment group within the Investment Banking division - a role he played for over two years.  During his time at Goldman Sachs Mr. Larson has been a member of a number of the firm's important operating committees, including the Compensation Committee, the Retirement Committee, the Recruiting Committee, the Diversity Committee, the Wellness Advisory group and the IPO team which was involved in taking Goldman Sachs public in 1999.  He was also invited by Goldman Sachs to participate in a two day executive seminar at Harvard Business School focused on developing leaders in the non-profit world.

Mr. Larson’s involvement in the non-profit world includes serving for the past seven years on the board of trustees of New York Downtown hospital in New York City.  In that capacity he was an active member of the hospital's "turn-around" committee, focused on improving the financial performance of the hospital, and was a member of the Executive Committee of the hospital.  Additionally Bruce oversaw the hospital's "Kress Vision Fund", an endowed fund established to provide free eye care screening and treatment in economically challenged areas of New York city.  Mr. Larson has held several other leadership positions in other community and non-profit organizations, including the University of Utah College of Humanities advisory board and the University of Utah School of Business New York Advisory board, the Boy Scouts of America and the New Canaan Basketball Association.

Mr. Larson graduated with a B.A. in Finance and Japanese from the University of Utah and with his MBA from the University of Chicago. He resides in Connecticut with his wife, Gayle and their five children

Richard S. Linhart
Founder and President of Opus Capital, LLC

Richard S. Linhart is Founder and President of Opus Capital, LLC,  an investment firm focused on  private equity investing in media companies and on public market investments.  He is also Chairman of Opus Media Holdings, an owner and operator of radio stations in the southeastern U.S.  

Mr. Linhart has spent his career in the investment world.  He began his career in the investment banking group of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and moved on to become a partner at Wesray Capital Corp., one of the pioneer private equity firms.  He has also been a partner of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking, the private equity arm of Bear Stearns, and has been an active investor for many years in media companies, public equities, real estate and other private investments.

Mr. Linhart has been actively involved in community organizations for his entire adult life.  Currently, he serves on the board of Congregation Kelilath Jeshurun and the American Pardes Foundation, and is active in the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).  He graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and lives in New York City with his wife Leora, a pediatrician, and their three children.

Charisse Litchman , MD
Scientific Advisory Coordinator

Dr. Litchman received her undergraduate degree
from Wesleyan University where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and her MD degree from the Yale School of Medicine.  She completed her internship
at Yale-New Haven Hospital and her residency in neurology at Cornell-New York Hospital.  She has maintained a neurology practice in Stamford Connecticut since 1992.   She has staff privileges at the Stamford Hospital, consulting privileges at Greenwich Hospital and is Assistant Clinical Professor at Columbia University.

 While pursuing her medical career, Dr. Litchman is raising three children.  She and her husband reside in New Canaan, CT.

David Neeleman
Chairman
JetBlue Airways Corporation

As Chairman of JetBlue Airways, David Neeleman has launched his third successful aviation business and is realizing his desire to bring humanity back to air travel, by offering passengers low fares, friendly service and a high quality product. JetBlue Airways began operations in February, 2000 from its base at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and now, almost six years later, serves 33 cities across the U.S and the Caribbean.

Mr. Neeleman’s career in the airline industry began in 1984 when he co-founded a low-fare carrier called Morris Air. As President of Morris Air, he implemented the industry’s first electronic ticketing system and pioneered a home reservationist system that is now the foundation of JetBlue’s unique call center.

Following the sale of Morris Air and a short period with Southwest Airlines, Mr. Neeleman took the electronic ticketing system that he had initiated at Morris Air and developed it into Open Skies, the world’s simplest airline reservation system, which he sold to Hewlett Packard in 1999. Also during this period, Mr. Neeleman acted as a consultant to WestJet Airlines, the successful Canadian low-fare start-up airline.

In 1999, after the conclusion of his five-year non-compete agreement with Southwest Airlines, Mr. Neeleman decided the time was right to bring his successful airline formula to New York City. He assembled a hand-picked management team of airline industry veterans and secured $130 million in capital funding from investors such as Weston Presidio Capital, George Soros and Chase Capital, now JP Morgan.

JetBlue was recently ranked number one in quality and overall performance of U.S. airlines in the annual Airline Quality Ratings by the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute and W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University. In 2004, for the third consecutive year, JetBlue was rated “Best Domestic Airline” at Conde Nast Traveler’s 2004 Readers’ Choice Awards. JetBlue was also rated runner-up for “Best Domestic Airline” at Travel & Leisure magazine’s 2004 World’s Best Awards, the third consecutive year receiving the award.

Mr. Neeleman’s non-profit work includes acting as honorary chairman of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, and serving on the board of PENCIL, a charity which links corporation heads with New York City public schools. He lives with his wife Vicki and their nine children in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Marlene Portnoy
Co-founder and COO
The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

Marlene Portnoy, co-founded The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation with Jeanne Whiting because
of the frustration she felt with the lack of information and lack of research on this rare sarcoma. Her husband, Steve, was diagnosed in August 2004
with a retroperitoneal desmoid and has since been treated
with surgery and radiation.

After graduating magna cum laude from Albany State University in 1981, Ms. Portnoy pursued a career in sales, which she started at Corning Glass Works from 1982-1985 in Chicago, Illinois. She then moved to New York and worked for Playskool Toys, a division of Hasbro Toys, first as a sales representative and then as a District Sales Manager for the Middle Atlantic territory from 1986-1993. She then took time out to raise her two young children and became active in community service which has included activities such as running various social action programs, participating in the local soup kitchen, and working on golf outings and walkathons for local community interests. Currently Ms. Portnoy is employed by Innisbrook Wraps, a fundraising company. She resides in Suffern, New York with her husband, Steve, and two daughters Brittany and Danielle.

Gerald E. Starr
Founder and Advisor, Lexar LLC

Gerald E. Starr is Founder and Advisor of Lexar
LLC, a privately funded company which was
founded in 2003 by a group of financial industry, telecommunications professionals focused on developing the first true alternative to traditional “hard-wired” voice private lines used by financial traders. Lexar utilizes the Internet and Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP) technology to provide Virtual Private Lines anywhere in the world, thus expanding the reach of their customers in the global financial and emerging markets.

Mr. Starr, who has over 25 years experience in the global telecom and financial service markets, is responsible for Lexar’s overall mission and global business strategy. Prior to founding Lexar, he served as President and CEO of IPC Information Systems from 1998 to 2000. During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Starr successfully leveraged IPC’s product and service strengths in North America, to grow the firm into the current worldwide leader of trading floor systems and service. Prior to his role as CEO, Mr. Starr was responsible for IPC’s engineering, operations and manufacturing departments.

In 1987, Mr. Starr founded Bridge Electronics which successfully grew into the leading provider of digital open line speaker systems for the foreign exchange markets in U.S., UK and Asia. Desiring a stronger product offering for the global Forex markets, IPC Information Systems purchased Bridge Electronics in April of 1995.

In 1980, Mr. Starr founded Turret Equipment Corporation (TEC) which became a major provider of trading floor systems. The popularity of TECs products and successful global market penetration attracted Tie Communications to acquire the company in 1984. Mr. Starr continued his executive responsibilities with Tie Communications until 1987.

Mr. Starr currently resides in Suffern, New York with his wife and 3 children.

Jeanne Whiting
President and Co-founder, CEO
The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

In September of 2005, Jeanne Whiting co-founded the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation with Marlene Portnoy to facilitate and fund desmoid research and support patients with access to information. Ms. Whiting has lived with a desmoid tumor herself since 2001, undergoing surgery, recurrence of the tumor, and more than two years of continuous chemotherapy. Being personally and keenly aware of the needs of the desmoid community, she is motivated to accelerate the search for a cure.

Ms. Whiting spent most of her career as an attorney. After attending University of Michigan Law School and J. Reuben Clark Law School, she received a Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, in 1980. She clerked for the Michigan Court of Appeals in Detroit, Michigan (1980-81), and in succeeding years practiced with Sidley & Austin in Cairo, Egypt (advising companies who were establishing operations in Egypt, 1981-82); with Sidley & Austin in Washington, D.C. (litigation practice, 1983); with Shearman & Sterling in New York, New York (real estate practice, 1983-1986); with Stern, Dubrow & Marcus, Maplewood, NJ (general practice,1986-1989); and as a sole practitioner (1989-1994).

Since her retirement from the practice of law in 1994, Ms. Whiting has been involved in various nonprofit and community organizations as she has raised her family. She was Northeast Director for Choice Humanitarian, 1997-1998, which organizes humanitarian expeditions taking professionals and lay people into Asia, Africa, and Latin America. She served as Executive Director of FamilyCares (in 2000), an online resource whose mission is to promote the development of compassion and the spirit of charity in children through hands-on family projects that help others in need in the local and global communities. After Ms. Whiting’s year with FamilyCares, the organization, along with its sister organization Kids Care Clubs, were taken over by the Points of Light Foundation where they continue to be an integral part of their national outreach.

Ms. Whiting resides in New Canaan, Connecticut with her husband Steve and their two teenage sons, David and Bryan. They are the parents of four sons and a daughter.