Meet the CMT Research Foundation Staff
Meet the people committed to ending CMT
Cleary Simpson
Chief Executive Officer
Cleary Simpson has more than 30 years of experience in the marketing and advertising industries, having held senior positions in general management, sales and marketing, business development, emerging markets and product development. Before joining the Board of CMTRF, she was a Managing Director at consulting firm MediaLink, where she advised Fortune 500 media and entertainment companies and emerging technology companies on business strategy, revenue acceleration and organizational restructuring.
Prior to joining MediaLink, she was Senior Vice President for Global Marketing Solutions at Time Warner Inc., managing relationships with major companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Campbell’s, Wal-Mart, McDonald’s and Cadbury, to develop integrated advertising and content partnerships across Time Warner’s television, print, digital, film and book publishing companies. Earlier, Cleary worked in senior positions at Time Inc. properties, including TIME magazine and Sports Illustrated.
Cleary is a founding Board member at CMTRF and also served on the Boards of Do Something and St. Luke’s School (New Canaan, CT). She holds a BA in History and Asia Studies from Connecticut College and was a Fulbright Fellow in Japan.
Her daughter, Anna, has CMT1A.
Erich M. Fasnacht
Chief Operations Officer
Before becoming the CMTRF’s first COO, Erich worked for 25 years in the corporate and non-profit communities, most recently in leadership roles with the ALS Association and the Multiple Sclerosis Association. He established a successful track record of building communities, raising funds and directing financial and donor stewardship as well as advocacy, marketing and donor campaigns.
Having graduated from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, Erich worked with the Coca-Cola Company’s Sprite brand, before launching a career in non-profit fundraising and management. He helped lead the brand execution of the I am Powerful brand for CARE-USA, and developed the digital presence for the 100,000 Strong in the Americas program for the White House.
Erich joined the CMTRF because of the opportunity to bring all of his knowledge around operations and fundraising in the neuro non-profit space to an organization that is fostering an explosion of new research activity. According to Erich, “this is one of the most exciting areas of neuro research in the world right now.” He is based in the Philadelphia.
Riann Egusquiza
Director of Research
Dr. Riann Egusquiza, (ryan egg-uh-ski-tha) PhD, is responsible for leading the scientific communications to all stakeholders and representing the science of the CMT Research Foundation publicly. Additionally, she is also responsible for the scientific programming for the Global CMT Research Convention.
Riann comes to CMTRF from DTx Pharma (acquired last year by Novartis) where she had been for almost 4 years as a scientist, senior scientist and program team lead for drug development programs on rare neuromuscular diseases. She holds a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from University of California, Irvine, a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from California State University, Fresno, and a certificate in regulatory affairs and compliance for pharmaceuticals.
Anna Combes
Vice President of Philanthropy
Responsible for fundraising and development activities, including outreach to individual donors and institutions such as foundations, corporations and community funds, Anna Combes came to CMTRF from the Ochsner Cancer Institute (Ochsner Health), where she was Director of Development for nearly a decade.
At Ochsner, Anna closed six and seven figure gifts annually, totaling over $40 million; increased philanthropic activity for the cancer service line from $1 million to $3-5 million year over year. Before that, she held several positions of increasing responsibility and scope in Ochsner Corporate Relations and Special Events. Anna received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Salsibury (Maryland) University.
Edritz Javelosa (Hav-a-low-sa)
Scientific Research Manager
Edritz is responsible for all scientific aspects of the organization’s mission. Working with CMTRF’s Scientific Advisory Board, she oversees funded research as well as scientific programming for the Global CMT Research Convention. Further, she provides direction and research priorities for CMTRF’s investment program and leads scientific communications.
Edritz came to CMTRF from Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) where, as Research Portfolio Director, she led strategic alliances with external foundations to co-fund projects, managed 22 diseases under her portfolio, 34 active grants in 2023, and 19 active post-doctoral development grants. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Stanford University and a BSc in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Arizona.
Susan Ruediger
Co-founder & Chief Mission Officer
Susan has CMT1A that she can trace back five generations in her mother’s family. Since 2007, she has been deeply engaged with the patient and research communities, building connections to fund efficient and effective research leading toward drug delivery.
From its launch in 2018, she was the Foundation’s CEO. In January 2022, she became the organization’s first Chief Mission Officer continuing to serve on the Board of Directors, helping support CMTRF’s rapid financial growth and serving as the primary spokesperson for the Foundation. Before that, she held a number of executive positions with CMTA.
As a member of the BIO Patient Advocacy Committee, Susan built a robust network of experts in drug delivery and patient advocacy and continues to be sought after by peers in patient-led drug discovery and as an expert in CMT. She has spoken on CMT at Georgia Tech, Emory University, Hanger, Inc., The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association and BIO. Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Clemson University.
Vanessa Sanchez
Donor Acquisition and Operations Manager
Based in Atlanta, Vanessa came to the CMTRF from Our House, Inc. where she was a Development Coordinator. Before that, she was a Special Events Coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. Vanessa is a U.S. Army veteran and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Georgia State University.
Kayleena Speakman
Communications Manager
Ms. Speakman comes to CMTRF with nearly a decade of experience, working primarily in the non-profit sector. Early in her career, she worked as a public relations and communications specialist at a local Better Business Bureau where she led the media aspect of an investigation into a business that garnered worldwide attention and received an award for best investigation. Before that, Ms. Speakman was a marketing manager for a brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation program, a communications manager for an agricultural non-profit, a campaign manager, and a television reporter. She received her bachelor’s degree in mass communication and journalism from California State University, Fresno.
Chelsea Layton
Digital Communications Specialist
Chelsea volunteered her time and efforts to networking within the CMT community before joining CMTRF in December 2021. She also previously worked with at-risk youths and children with developmental disorders, as well as serving on the board for the Dayton Autism Society.
Chelsea has a Master of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University.
Chelsea was diagnosed with CMT1A from a young age, which can be traced back extensively through generations on her father’s side of the family. She became interested in knowing more about her condition during her early young adulthood after enduring years of medical interventions to alleviate her symptoms of CMT. She resides in North Carolina.
Address
4062 Peachtree Road
Suite A209
Atlanta, GA 30319
Phone Number
404.806.7180
