CFMC™ Board of Directors
Denise Formisano
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Denise Formisano is a visionary, innovator, entrepreneur, and creative thinker. She commits and is passionate about any venture she engages in.
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A graduate from The Fashion Institute of Technology with a major in design and a double minor in Marketing and Product Management. She retired after a 42-year multi-faceted career in design as Vice President at Encompass Healthcare.
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She successfully built four start-up companies. Strong experience in troubleshooting; able to analyze, evaluate and assess both problems and opportunities. Excellent communication, negotiating and presentation abilities here and abroad. Strong financial, managerial and leadership background.
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Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2014 and Parkinson’s disease in 2015, she was not going to let these diseases control her life. At the advice of her neurologist, she began boxing the day after she was diagnosed. Seeing the benefits and improvements that exercise made to her symptoms, she was determined to help others with movement challenges. She joined the Board of Directors of Livramento Delgado Boxing Foundation in January 2019 as Vice Chairman, and CEO in January 2020. Seeing the incredible need and void in the community, through her determination and passion, she orchestrated a business plan with other Board members to build a wellness center, expanding the programs and services not only to people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), but for people Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD), Parkinsonism, Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA) and Veterans.
Tom Jeffrey
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Tom Jeffrey graduated from Susquehanna University with a BA in History. His 35-year career encompassed sales account executive, sales management, and project management. The later 20 years was focused on project management in the commercial fence industry.
Utilizing these skills, he took early retirement in 2020 to orchestrate the build out, equipment purchasing and operations of the wellness center for the Center for Movement Challenges. As Director of Operations, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations, equipment and facility maintenance and management of the wellness center. Additional responsibilities include new member orientation and registration, member relations; attendance, banking and donation maintenance.
Dr. Edward Schlissel
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Dr. Schlissel received his BA from Brooklyn College, DDS from the University of Buffalo, and Master of Science in Materials Science from the College of Engineering and Applied Science, Stony Brook University. He is Professor Emeritus of General Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook University, where he was on the faculty for thirty years. In 2004 he moved to Atlanta, GA, where he practiced dentistry until 2022. He continues to lecture to dentists in the United State and other countries, in person and through video.
While in New York and Georgia, Dr. Schlissel has been active in professional, fraternal, and religious organizations. He has been an active member of CFMC and looks forward to increased participation in that organization.
Iris Regas
Marketing and technology professional with Fortune 50 experience developing and deploying communications networks and knowledge-intensive services. Specialties: operational and strategic planning; business and consumer market development; business case development and analysis; technology assessment; project management; team building; multi-stakeholder partnerships for development, cross-sector collaboration and collective action.
Iris graduated with high honor from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Management Science and a concentration in Actuarial Science.
Prior to and many years beyond a Young Onset Parkinsons Disease (YOPD) diagnosis, Iris enjoyed snow- and water- skiing, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, camping, and all types of exercise classes. Though Parkinsons has curtailed her involvement in many of these activities, it also brought her to boxing, which she loves and wishes she had discovered earlier in life. She now enjoys helping others diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and other movement disorders through her work with LDBF’s Center for Movement Challenges.
Favorite Quote: "Don't count the days. Make the days count." Muhammad Ali. Iris says she will never forget seeing Ali light the flame at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He didn’t let Parkinson’s stop him from accepting that honor. And he made that day count for millions of viewers worldwide.
Wendy Asher
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Wendy is recognized for developing and implementing creative solutions while building strong-strategic partnerships. She brings over 25 years of experience as a Human Resources and Operations professional.
She is an engaging workshop facilitator, certified behavioral interview trainer, and is trained in alternative dispute resolution (mediation). Her core competencies are in: Human Resources, Training, Strategic Planning; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Employee Relations; Talent Acquisition & Development; Community and University outreach.
Wendy is dedicated to supporting our military members, people with physical challenges and our community. She has volunteered her time and talents to support our underserved neighbors through outreach and community service - leadership.
Wendy began her career as a physician recruiter for the largest HMO in the US. After taking a break to be with her family she returned to work and took a ‘short term role’ as an independent contractor/consultant - recruiter for an Atlanta based Fortune 50 Company (UPS). After a couple of years as a contractor with UPS, she became a fulltime recruiter, progressing to the supervisor of the talent acquisition team at the corporate headquarters. During her tenure she supported a wide range of business units and later assumed the role of HR Generalist /Business Partner Professional. Recently she has returned to consulting and has decided to combine her HR background and passion for community service.
Wendy has volunteered and led numerous community initiatives including:
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Regional University Internship outreach and development
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She has led workshops for job seekers, guiding them through resume writing and interviewing skills for students and military service members
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Organizing for events for children, senior citizens and people with disabilities
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Participating in environmental and sustainability events
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Organized events serving the homeless and people with disabilities
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Led and distributed groceries and household supplies to military veterans and their families, senior citizens and homeless people in our community
In addition, she was often one of the corporate team leads for United Way events. (e.g., BBQ, Game Day - Carnival, Baking Sales /Competitions, Chili Cookoffs …etc.)
Wendy has a long history and a passion for community service.
Shaunya Ishmael
Shaunya Ishmael has been married for 28 years and has two adult children and one granddaughter—a pet parent to two Sheepadoodles, Eboni and Duke. Shaunya has spent her entire career in Information Technology, working in Telecommunications, Networking, and Information Security. She has also taught Project Management and Mathematics classes at the University of Phoenix, certified as a Project Management Professional, a Scrum Master, and a Certified Information Systems Security Professional holding a BS in Physics from Clark-Atlanta University and an MS in Electric Engineering from Tuskegee University, along with master's Certificates in Project Management and Information Security.
Shaunya is an entrepreneur, a former certified fitness trainer, owner of a fitness boot camp, a certified home inspector, and a former owner of a Home Inspection and Appraisal business and a custom picture framing business. Shaunya loves movement and fitness and has completed five - ½ Marathons, 15 10Ks, and more 5Ks than she can count. Her husband, Chester, was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2019. They both participate weekly in boxing classes at the Center for Movement Challenges. "The improvement I have seen in his condition since coming to the Center is miraculous." Shaunya is passionate about giving back to the program and looks forward to serving in whatever capacity is needed.
Adam Seever
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The son of two social workers, Adam grew up in Chicago and lived there for over 30 years. He began his career at a Chicago-based marketing services agency determined to make his mark in the industry. In 1997 Adam moved to Atlanta while working for the Coca-Cola Company, where he spent 8 years in their sports marketing division. Adam left Coke in 2001 to join Clear Channel Entertainment and later went on to work both domestically and internationally for the World’s largest sports agency, International Management Group. Adam eventually worked as a consultant and spearheaded numerous high profile projects including the building of Coke’s iconic Coke bottle at Turner Field in Atlanta.
While Adam always felt lucky to have worked in the exciting world of marketing, he also felt the need to participate in something with more of a connection to the community. That quest eventually led him to earn his CNA degree and become an owner of Caring Companions of Atlanta, LLC.
Adam is passionate about caring for older adults. In addition to running Caring Companions, Adam also has lectured at Emory on senior issues, taught classes at Senior Enriched Living in Roswell, serves on the board at The Center for Movement Challenges (a multi-faceted facility offering exercise, PT, social work services, support groups for those with movement disorders), and delivers candy weekly to the Emory Brain Health Center.
Adam graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a double major in journalism and marketing. Adam lives in Sandy Springs his wife, Meg and two children, Alec and Elle. They share their home with two cats and a dog named Opal.
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Brian Soucy
Brian Soucy is an experienced executive with over 40 years of experience in the chemical industry and in consulting. His chemical industry experience includes a wide range of positions in process development, engineering, project management, construction, and operations. He has completed green field and brownfield site evaluations, including negotiating with State and local economic development agencies to maximize economic incentives, contracting for utility service and railroad service, environmental permitting, obtaining zoning approvals and local building permits. He has managed projects that included the engineering design and construction of chemical manufacturing facilities from initial concept to startup in several U.S. States and Canada with capital expenditures over $200 million.
In 1995, he founded Global Environmental Solutions, Inc. (GESI), an environmental and process engineering firm that specializes in assisting medium and large industrial facilities with process engineering, project management, risk management, and compliance with environmental and process safety requirements. In addition to his current role as President of GESI, he is also Senior Vice President Engineering for the U.S. subsidiary of a privately held French chemical manufacturing company with sales of over $2 billion. His current responsibilities include leading the maintenance activities at its North American manufacturing facilities and directing project teams with annual capital expenditures between $100 million and $250 million.
Mr. Soucy grew up in northern Vermont. He has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In 1995, he relocated with his family to Georgia. He currently resides with his wife in Canton, Georgia.
Amanda Swineburne
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Amanda brings over 8+ years of expertise as a skilled occupational therapist with management in senior living. Her passion is to enable older adults to age in place by providing quality home care assistance through the TheKey. Amanda's background as an occupational therapist and certified aging in place specialist give me a unique perspective om the needs of older adults to live life to the fullest.
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Amanda has been an OT for 8 years (in skilled nursing, senior living, and in home health). She is certified with LSVT BIG and am a certified aging in place specialist by trade. She is thrilled to contribute to the vision and mission of Center for Movement Challenges.
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