Mike L. Jezdimir, Chairman & Treasurer
Mike was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. On July 9, 1967 Mike was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis. In 1970 he moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where he attended a tool and die design school. It was there he met his wife, Louann, and they were married in 1971.
Mike and Louann have two sons and four grandchildren of which they are very proud. Mike graduated from Western Michigan University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. He worked for 33 years in engineering before he was forced to retire in 2004 due to this horrible disease. In 2013 he and his wife began the Mike L. Jezdimir Transverse Myelitis foundation. Now their passion is to work hard to raise money for research to help find a cure for this rare disease.
Mike was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. On July 9, 1967 Mike was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis. In 1970 he moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where he attended a tool and die design school. It was there he met his wife, Louann, and they were married in 1971.
Mike and Louann have two sons and four grandchildren of which they are very proud. Mike graduated from Western Michigan University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. He worked for 33 years in engineering before he was forced to retire in 2004 due to this horrible disease. In 2013 he and his wife began the Mike L. Jezdimir Transverse Myelitis foundation. Now their passion is to work hard to raise money for research to help find a cure for this rare disease.
Jamie Purvis, Vice Chairman
Jamie was born and raised in Hoover, Alabama. He graduated from W.A. Berry High School where he was a member of the drum line. He attended Auburn University and remains a die-hard Auburn fan. Jamie is currently the Purchasing Manager for A.C. Legg located in Calera. He has been with the company for almost 20 years. He and his wife, Rebecca, currently resided in Alabaster. Aside from drumming, Jamie shares his passion for fitness with his wife and they regularly workout at Crossfit Alabaster 4-5 mornings a week. After a stint as a rock star, Jamie still enjoys jamming with his friends and remains very passionate about music. Jamie and Rebecca are the parents of two precious rescue pups, Papi and Jigsaw.
Jamie was born and raised in Hoover, Alabama. He graduated from W.A. Berry High School where he was a member of the drum line. He attended Auburn University and remains a die-hard Auburn fan. Jamie is currently the Purchasing Manager for A.C. Legg located in Calera. He has been with the company for almost 20 years. He and his wife, Rebecca, currently resided in Alabaster. Aside from drumming, Jamie shares his passion for fitness with his wife and they regularly workout at Crossfit Alabaster 4-5 mornings a week. After a stint as a rock star, Jamie still enjoys jamming with his friends and remains very passionate about music. Jamie and Rebecca are the parents of two precious rescue pups, Papi and Jigsaw.
Debbie Santiago, Secretary
Born in Manhattan, New York, Debbie grew up in Miami, Florida and later moved to Fort Lauderdale where she attended Cooper City High School and cheered for the Cooper City Cowboys. Moving to Alabama in 1984, Hoover is now her home as well as home to her daughter, son and three granddaughters. Debbie attended UAB and is now an Executive Assistant for a Birmingham real estate investment firm. She enjoys all aspects of interior design, redesigning spaces and refurbishing furniture; but, her first passion will always be “her girls.” She also enjoys volunteering at her church and “tickling the ivories”. Debbie has also tried her hand at writing, co-authoring Mike’s biography "I Will Not Sell Pencils".
Born in Manhattan, New York, Debbie grew up in Miami, Florida and later moved to Fort Lauderdale where she attended Cooper City High School and cheered for the Cooper City Cowboys. Moving to Alabama in 1984, Hoover is now her home as well as home to her daughter, son and three granddaughters. Debbie attended UAB and is now an Executive Assistant for a Birmingham real estate investment firm. She enjoys all aspects of interior design, redesigning spaces and refurbishing furniture; but, her first passion will always be “her girls.” She also enjoys volunteering at her church and “tickling the ivories”. Debbie has also tried her hand at writing, co-authoring Mike’s biography "I Will Not Sell Pencils".
Elise Reed, Board Member
Elise was raised in South Florida where she graduated from Spanish River Community High School. She earned a BS in Marketing from Auburn University in 1989 and was a member of the Marching Band Color Guard for three years. She was a Marketing Director in the design & construction industry in Atlanta before she and her husband, Tony, moved to Alabaster in 2000. Since then, she has been a full-time stay-at-home mom. Tony and Elise have one daughter who is currently a Senior at Notre Dame. Elise enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending college sporting events and loves watching her daughter play softball.
Elise was raised in South Florida where she graduated from Spanish River Community High School. She earned a BS in Marketing from Auburn University in 1989 and was a member of the Marching Band Color Guard for three years. She was a Marketing Director in the design & construction industry in Atlanta before she and her husband, Tony, moved to Alabaster in 2000. Since then, she has been a full-time stay-at-home mom. Tony and Elise have one daughter who is currently a Senior at Notre Dame. Elise enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending college sporting events and loves watching her daughter play softball.
Morgan Reed, Junior Board Member
Morgan was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Alabaster, Alabama. She graduated from Briarwood Christian High School in 2014 and was a member of the Lion varsity softball team from 7th-12th grade. She continued her education and athletic career at the University of Notre Dame where she received a degree in Science-Business in 2018. Morgan will head off to Creighton University to receive a Doctorate in Physical Therapy soon. Some of her hobbies include giving softball hitting lessons and anything to do with her dog, Kota.
Morgan was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Alabaster, Alabama. She graduated from Briarwood Christian High School in 2014 and was a member of the Lion varsity softball team from 7th-12th grade. She continued her education and athletic career at the University of Notre Dame where she received a degree in Science-Business in 2018. Morgan will head off to Creighton University to receive a Doctorate in Physical Therapy soon. Some of her hobbies include giving softball hitting lessons and anything to do with her dog, Kota.
advisory board
|
Medical and Scientific Team
Tara DeSilva, PhD Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic Amie B. McLain, MD Chair & Professor Director, UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System Patrick Pritchard, MD Associate Professor, Spine Disorders |
Legal Advisor
Gina Harris McDonald Managing Partner Gina H. McDonald & Associates, LLC |
