Founders
In memoriam: Regan
J. Carter, February 15th, 2008
Laurie Chesler,
President. Laurie brings a wealth of marketing
and development experience to CureNeuro. Laurie's experience
as a consultant, executive, producer, and executive producer
in Los Angeles and San Francisco has yielded a strong record
in strategic planning, team building, content development, creative
management, media event production and business development.
She worked as director and vice president for such companies
as 20th Century Fox/News Corp and Netscape/American Online,
In addition to serving as vice president for Big Wheel Entertainment.
Laurie has experience with many worthy non-profits as a volunteer
and board member, but was inspired to use her professional skills
to help causes that she was passionate about following the diagnosis
and death of her father due to ALS in 2000. She directed and
managed development and marketing functions for the ALS Association
between 2002-2004, then moved to Portland to direct startup,
event and creative projects for Alcheme Creative, Inc. until
the launch of CureNeuro in 2008. Laurie graduated from the University
of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and
a minor in marketing.
Arika Escalona, Director
of Programs. Arika worked closely with Regan J. Carter
to actualize his vision for medical research reform in the neurosciences.
Their efforts culminated in the formation of CureNeuro, which
was launched shortly before Regan's death in February 2008.
Previously, Arika was employed as Health Care Services Coordinator
for the ALS Division of the Muscular Dystrophy Association in
Portland. For the past seven years, Arika has worked with various
nonprofit organizations to pioneer and develop programs focused
on collaboration, innovation, and bridging gaps. She holds a
Master of Arts degree from SUNY, Stony Brook.
Chris Gibbons, Executive
Director. Chris' work as a clinician, educator, industry
representative and researcher allows him to envision perspectives
and solutions through many lenses. Chris' experience directing
clinical, community outreach and research teams has brought
into sharp focus the unbounded potential of open collaboration,
setting the stage for Chris' passion to fulfill the mission
of CureNeuro. Chris earned his B.A. in English from the University
of Portland, his M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the
University of Nevada-Reno, completed a fellowship in Assistive
Technology at Oregon Health & Sciences University, and Ph.D.
in Psychology from The
Ohio State University.
