Les Turner ALS Foundation
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors brings lived experience with ALS, passion and business acumen to the work of the Foundation. This dedicated group of volunteers gives their time, talents and leadership skills to provide strategic direction to the Foundation.
Members of our Board of Directors have been personally touched by ALS and know what the journey with ALS is like. They are driven by their deep commitment to supporting every person living with ALS, and those they love, every step of the way.
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Erin Reardon Cohn*, Board Chair, joined the Board in 2019. Most recently, she held the position of Chief Treasury Management and Private Banking Officer at First Bank Chicago, and currently serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. One of her close family friends had ALS. Erin has two children and currently resides in Chicago with her husband, Jon.
Thomas F. Boleky*, Vice Chair, joined the Board in 2009. In addition to serving on the Executive Committee and as co-chair of the Governance Committee, Tom is an attorney at Hurst Boleky LLC. His aunt, Irene Mulroy, passed away from ALS 30 years ago. He is a golf and paddle tennis enthusiast and resides in Glenview, IL with his wife, Alissa, and their three children.
John M. Coleman, III, MD*, Vice Chair, has served on the Board since 2018. He is a Pulmonary & Critical Care Physician at Northwestern Medical Group, working in the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic and caring for people living with ALS. In addition to serving on the Executive Committee, John chairs the Support Services Committee. He currently resides in Chicago with his husband, James.
Robin Fern*, Vice Chair, joined the Board in 2012 and became a part of the Foundation after her father was diagnosed with ALS in 2008. She is a member of the Board’s Executive Committee and co-chairs the Development & Special Events Committee. Robin currently resides in Palm Springs, California with her partner, Michael.
Joel A. Schechter*, Vice Chair, joined the Board in 1988 and is an attorney at the Law Offices of Joel A. Schechter. The brother-in-law of Les Turner, Joel serves on the Board’s Executive Committee and is a member of the Governance and Support Services Committees. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Bambi Jacoby, and has five children.
Kenneth A. Hoffman*,
Treasurer, has served on the Board since 2007 and was Chair from 2014 to 2022. He chairs the Audit and Finance Committee. His professional background is in domestic and international operations in Fortune 200 and private equity environments. For 30 years he was with ITW/Signode Industrial Group in Glenview, IL where he rose to the position of Sr. Vice President of Global Marketing & Innovation. Ken also serves on various for-profit corporate boards. Ken joined the Foundation when his mother, Harriet, passed from ALS in 2003. Ken lives in Deerfield, IL with his wife, Melissa, and has two children.
Harvey Gaffen*, Chair Emeritus, is a founder of the Les Turner ALS Foundation and has served on the Board since its inception in 1977 after his brother-in-law and best friend, Les Turner, was diagnosed with ALS. He serves on the Board’s Executive Committee and the Audit & Finance Committee. Harvey also is a member of the Board of Directors for Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel in Weston, Florida and First Bank Chicago. Harvey has three children and resides in Highland Park, IL with his wife, Bonny.
Tina Cascio joined the board in 2022. She has worked her entire life in the medical field, and considers herself a temporarily retired nurse. Once there is a cure for ALS, she plans on returning to care for her patients. Tina cared for her mom throughout her fight with ALS until her mom passed in 2018. She is now in her own battle after having been diagnosed with ALS in 2020. Tina is a new member of the Foundation's Support Services Committee and has been actively involved in community outreach and familial sponsor programs. She is also an active member of Her ALS Story. Tina lives in Palatine, Illinois and also enjoys any time spent with family, friends, and her newly adopted cat Lucy.
Deborah Crockett joined the Board in 2017 and is a member of the Governance Committee. Deborah became acquainted with the Foundation after her sister, Michelle Crockett, had been diagnosed with ALS and was a patient at the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic. Prior to her retirement, Deborah was Vice President of Information Technology at Ariel Investments. She lives in Chicago. Deborah is an avid reader, amateur gardener and chef, and loves to travel.
Aalok Davé joined the Board in 2021 and is a member of the Governance Committee. He lost his mother, Vibha Davé, to ALS in 2020. Aalok leads strategic planning for American Family Ventures and Data Science Lab. Aalok specializes in digital transformation and business strategy and operations — with a strong interest in emerging technology and design thinking. Aalok resides in Chicago with his wife Lekha and their dog.
Sean Fallon joined the Board in 2022 and is a member of the Development and Special Events Committee. He is also a member of the Foundation’s Young Professionals Group since 2016 and co-chaired the group in recent years. Sean’s mother, Julie Fallon, passed away of ALS in 2019. He currently lives in Chicago with his dog Paxson and enjoys sports, travel, and the outdoors.
Bonny J. Gaffen, sister-in-law of Les Turner and a founder of the Les Turner ALS Foundation, has served on the Board since 1986 and is a member of the Development and Special Events Committee. Bonny also serves on the Board of Directors for Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel, located in Weston, FL. She is a co-captain for Glenview Tag Days as well as co-captain for the ALS Walk for Life team, ABOUT LES’ SPIRIT. Bonny lives in Highland Park with her husband, Harvey, and has three children.
Frank Granata joined the Board in 2022. A retired banker who worked and lived internationally, Frank was diagnosed with ALS in October 2020. Despite his diagnosis, he continues to work tirelessly to optimize the muscles to respond. Along with his own battle, Frank continues to motivate his friends who are living with ALS by always encouraging them to push themselves, by assisting the incredible supportive team at the Foundation, and embracing every precious moment that he has with loved ones. He is also a new member of the Foundation's Support Services Committee. Frank lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Carolyn and their son who is currently attending medical school.
Jodi M. Harris* joined the Board in 2019 and currently serves as co-chair of the Board’s Governance Committee, and is a member of the Executive and Development & Special Events Committees. Jodi is Corporate Counsel for PLS Financial. Jodi and her husband, Jonathan, have participated in the Foundation’s ALS Walk for Life for many years and currently reside in Chicago with their two children.
Janene Jonas, joined the Board in 2017. She is a founding member of the Foundation’s Young Professionals Group (YPG) and a member of the Governance Committee. She was a caregiver to her maternal grandfather who died of ALS in 2000. Professionally, Janene is the founder of RiskCreative. Janene has three children and, in her free time, enjoys family bike rides, and gardening. She currently resides in Beverly Shores, IN with her husband, Joe.
Joshua P. Newsome joined the Board in 2012. He is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and serves on the Board’s Audit & Finance Committee. His father, Jon Newsome, was a patient at the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic. Josh has three children and resides in Winnetka with his wife, Benagh.
Diana Pisone joined the Board in 2019. She is the Principal and Workplace Market Leader for Stantec in Chicago and co-chairs the Board’s Development & Special Events Committee. Diana’s father had ALS and was a patient at the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic. Diana has participated in the Foundation’s ALS Walk for Life for many years and lives in Chicago with her partner, Scott Brady.
Mary Lou Pisone has served on the Board since 2010. She is a member of the Board’s Governance Committee and was a Programmatic Reviewer for the Congressionally Directed ALS Research Program. Her husband had ALS and was a patient at the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic. Mary Lou has two children and resides in Countryside, IL.
Sarvesh Soi has served on the Board since 2019 and is a member of the Audit & Finance Committee. He is a Vice President in Institutional Asset Management at PNC where he is responsible for business development. Before joining our Board, Sarvesh was a longtime member of the Foundation’s Young Professionals Group (YPG). He currently resides in Chicago.
* Denotes member of the Executive Committee
