Los Angeles, CA (February 5, 2020) – The Celiac Disease Foundation, the nation’s leading disease advocacy organization for celiac disease, announces the appointment of officers to its Board of Directors. The new appointments are Chair Courtney de Balmann, former Executive Director of the Lung Cancer Research Foundation in New York, Vice Chair Adrienne Bender of Alternatives Investment Solution, division of State Street Corporation, Treasurer James J. Watson of Park West Asset Management, and Bradley J. Herrema of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reappointed as Secretary.
Reappointed for the 2020-2021 term are Directors Linda Solomon, John Wagner, and Kristin Yarema, PhD and continuing their 2019 term are Christopher J. Holland, Jordan Ramer, Rhonda Resnick, and Yasith Weerasuriya.
New appointees as Directors are Jamie Resin, Vice President, Los Angeles office, Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management Group and Lee Jones, Director, Global App Ads Product Strategy & Commercialization at Google.
“I am honored that this esteemed Board of Directors has granted me the opportunity to provide leadership and direction as we continue to make progress in celiac disease research, education, and advocacy,” stated de Balmann, Celiac Disease Foundation Board Chair. “We are in an exciting time with advocacy and research efforts, and we are looking forward to building on the momentum, in hopes of achieving treatments and a cure for celiac disease.”
A close family member of de Balmann was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2017, which sparked her determination to find a cure. Since then, she has been an active member of the Celiac Disease Foundation Board of Directors and has served as the Development Committee Chair since July 2018. Her drive and experience have been integral to the expansion of the Foundation’s events and campaigns to fund critical research initiatives.
De Balmann has a degree in economics from Boston College and earned her MBA from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. She has a strong background in running medical research foundations and working on the development side of organizations. De Balmann resides in Marin County, California with her husband and two young children.
Resin became passionate about celiac disease when his youngest son was diagnosed at the age of 12. Since then, his son has been an active member of the Celiac Disease Foundation’s Student Ambassador Program, with the family hosting a successful annual fundraising event. Resin’s financial acumen and innovative ideas will serve to strengthen future operations and strategy. Resin holds undergraduate degrees in economics and history from Emory University and an MBA degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their three sons.
Jones was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2012 and was shocked by the lack of understanding of the disease in the medical community. He was compelled to seek help and support from the Celiac Disease Foundation. Now, he is eager to give back by serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Jones says, “I feel energized and inspired by having the opportunity to work with the Celiac Disease Foundation Board of Directors, and I’m excited to continue working with a cause that I care deeply about.” Jones graduated from Middlebury College and has been working at Google for 10 years. With over 15 years of digital marketing and agency experience, his expertise will help the Celiac Disease Foundation to utilize novel approaches to better serve the celiac community. Jones resides in San Francisco with his wife and their three children.
To view the full biographies of the Celiac Disease Foundation Board of Directors, click here.
About the Celiac Disease Foundation.
The Celiac Disease Foundation is the nation’s leading disease advocacy organization for celiac disease. Since its founding in 1990, the Celiac Disease Foundation continues to champion many battles: federal recognition of celiac disease and labeling standards for gluten-free foods, improved diagnostic tools, widespread patient and provider education, access to mainstream gluten-free products, and the need for better treatments and a cure. For more information, visit www.celiac.org.