The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), the country’s largest grassroots organization serving 1.5 million Americans with Parkinson’s disease (PD), elected Fred Greene of Dallas, a retired corporate executive and journalist, chairman during its annual meeting, Jan. 12, in New York.
Rhode Island-based financial planner, Athol Cochrane, and David G. Standaert, MD, PhD, chairman of neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and chairman of APDA’s Scientific Advisory Board, were elected to the board of directors. Elena Imperato was elected treasurer.
Dr. Standaert presented an update on PD research during the meeting and Bob Buonfiglio, founder and leader of APDA’s Staten Island Young Onset Support Group, shared his experience as a deep brain stimulation surgery patient and how APDA has been a resource for him.
Greene’s association with APDA began in 1992, when as the founder of its North Texas Chapter; he was elected to the national board of directors and to the Executive Committee five years later. He has served on numerous committees and was elected first vice chairman in 2010. He assumed the position of chairman last year upon the death of Joel Miele Sr.
He held the positions of vice president for public relations for Zale Corp., a leading North American jewelry retailer, and director of corporate communications for the Dallas-based conglomerate Hydrometals, Inc. until starting Greene-Webb Associates, a public affairs/marketing/communications company with Thom Webb in 1970. He was the philatelic editor and columnist for the Dallas Morning News for 25 years. His journalism credentials include McGraw-Hill Publications southwest editor and news editor and editorial writer for Harte-Hanks Newspapers, Big Spring, and Corpus Christi, Texas
In addition to APDA, Greene has served as the president of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Northeast Texas Chapter and as a member of its national board of directors, and as president of the Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society. His professional affiliations include Dallas Chapter president and international president of the Marketing Communications Association, and the Public Relations Society of America’s Dallas Chapter board of directors. He is also a member of the American Philatelic Society and Collectors Club of Dallas, and an advisor to the University of Texas Philatelic Library.
Cochrane has headed Wealth Solutions, LLC, a Newport financial services company for 25 years, and has served as the president of APDA’s Rhode Island Chapter for more than 13 years. He is also president of the St. John’s College Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa, and a member of the board of the National Tennis Club. He is a chartered life underwriter, a chartered financial consultant and a regular guest on WCRN, Worcester, Mass., and financial radio shows in Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Dr. Standaert’s relationship with APDA began in 1995 when after being graduated from Harvard University and Washington University School of Medicine and serving three postdoctoral rotations, he was awarded a George C. Cotzias Fellowship, which he has credited as one of the most important events in establishing his long-term commitment to Parkinson’s disease research. Dr. Standaert also directs APDA’s University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Advanced Research.
Ms. Imperato has been a member of APDA’s board of directors since 1999 and was elected to the executive committee in 2011. A graduate of Wagner College, Staten Island, N.Y. she is the former bookkeeper of Canal Lumber Company, and currently manages Fairview Towers in her community.
Other re-elected included: Patrick McDermott ; John Marangos, Esq.; Elizabeth Braun; Vincent Gattullo; Thomas Penett, Esq.; Maxine Dust;; Michael Melnicke; Daniel Wheeler; and Elliot Shapiro.
President & CEO Leslie Chambers addressed the organization’s future plans, welcomed to the new directors, and expressed her appreciation for the work of the board and staff.
Contact: Kathryn Whitford
718-981-8001
kgwhitford@apdaparkinson.org