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Can Do MS is an organization driven by a deep passion and commitment to help families who live with MS, thrive. Our highly qualified team, governed by a board of directors comprised of individuals who live with MS, healthcare and business professionals all sharing the core belief that everyone living with MS has the power to reach their personal goals. Each plays a critical role in helping us fulfill our mission.
From stewardship to administration, programs and fundraising, our mission is only as successful as the individuals behind it.
Dick served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Xcel Energy until September 2011. From June to mid-December 2005 he served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and previous to that he served as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to the 2000 merger of New Century Energies (NCE) and Northern States Power Company to form Xcel Energy, Kelly served as NCE’s Chief Financial Officer, having held a variety of finance-related positions at Public Service Company of Colorado before it merged with Southwestern Public Service Company to form NCE.
Dick sits on the boards of Pacific Gas and Electric and Can Do Multiple Sclerosis. He and his wife Robin are past Co-Chairs of the Can Do MS Board of Directors, to which he was elected in 2009. Dick has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Regis University. He was 2011 Chairman of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum of Minnesota and a board member of Capital City Partnership, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).
Dick was a member of the Minnesota Business Partnership, the National Petroleum Council, Colorado Concern and Colorado Forum and the National Advisory Council of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Dick earned both a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Regis University. He attended the University of Colorado’s Executive Education Conference and The University of Michigan’s Public Utility Executive Program.
Lisa is President & CEO of Can Do Multiple Sclerosis, a national nonprofit organization delivering health and wellness programs to help families living with MS thrive. Exercise, nutrition, symptom management and motivation are core focus areas. Our single priority is to meet the vision of strengthening every family living with MS by dramatically growing the organization.
Mattis invested two decades in leadership positions with Outward Bound USA and Big City Mountaineers. Her executive interim leadership business transformed organizations and strengthen development capacity to enable nonprofits to create momentum and organizational change. Key strengths/services include strategic planning, interim executive leadership, board development and training, revenue capacity building, team coaching and organizational alignment.
Mattis holds a BA from Fordham University and an MPA from Columbia University School of International & Public Affairs. Currently, Lisa serves as the Chair of the Professional Ski/Snowboard Instructors of America National Education Foundation Committee and the Culture, Arts & Special Events Committee for the Town of Avon, Colorado. She is a member of the Colorado Mountain College Edwards Campus Advisory Committee, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. Skiing and cycling are big passions. Lisa is a ski instructor at Vail Mountain and volunteers extensively across Colorado’s Vail Valley.
Jerry joined the Board of Can Do MS in 2020 after serving as CEO of three Berkshire Partners portfolio companies.
From 2011 until 2020, when he retired, Jerry was the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Vi-Jon Inc., the leading US manufacturer of private label personal care products like Mouthwash, Hand Sanitizers(Germ X), soaps, and disinfectants. From 2008 to 2011, Jerry served as Chief Executive Officer of the holding company for Masterplan and ReMedPar, two businesses that service and supply parts for clinical engineering and diagnostic imaging devices in hospitals. Prior to his assignment at Masterplan, Jerry was the Chairman of Avery Weigh-Tronix, Inc. Jerry joined the Birmingham U.K. based company as Chief Executive Officer in May 2002 and was promoted to Chairman in 2007.
Prior to joining his roles for Berkshire Partners, Jerry held a number of positions with Malden Mills Industries, Inc., a leading textile manufacturer, including Chief Operating Officer between 1978 and early 2002. From 1994 to 1998, Jerry was a Founding Partner and Managing Director of Görlitz Fleece GmbH, a leading Polartec® company based in Germany. The company was purchased by Malden Mills in December 1998.
Jerry was a consultant and manager at Bain & Co. from 1983 to 1988, a consultant at Arthur D. Little Company, Inc. from 1981 to 1983, and a manager at International Paper Inc. from 1976 to 1978. Jerry received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and his M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration.
Stephen A. Hess is a distinguished attorney, educator, and scholar whose practice encompasses two very different areas: construction law, and Olympic and international sports law.
In the construction arena, he serves as General Counsel to Colarelli Construction, Inc., a leading general contractor headquartered in Colorado Springs. In addition, he counsels select clients in construction law matters and represents a small number of parties in arbitration and litigation of construction disputes.
Mr. Hess is also active in Olympic and international sports law, in which he counsels many National Governing Bodies on the myriad business and sports law issues they face. He also serves as a jurist for two International Federations, and is active in advising associations with respect to sports integrity programs and issues.
Blaze joined Can Do MS, formerly The Heuga Center for MS, the day he could walk. Hanging out with his dad at the center’s programs and fundraisers, Blaze developed a passion for helping the MS community. Recently Blaze has been one of the top fundraisers at the Vail Ski for MS event and speaks at some of the programs across Colorado. When he’s not working down in Denver, he’s always going up to the mountains to ski, camp, bike, hike, raft and going on as many adventures as he can!
Robin, a Denver native, serves as a community volunteer for several local organizations that focus on education and wellness. She has been a member of the Can Do MS Board of Directors since 2009, acting as Board Co-Chair with her husband, Dick, for a number of years. Robin is a member of the Arrupe Jesuit High School Board of Trustees and serves on the Development Committee, and works with the Adams County Food Bank serving low income residents. She also supports fundraising efforts of the Ronald McDonald House, Rocky Mountain Childhood Cancer Foundation, Escuela de Guadalupe, American Heart Association, National MS Society, Rocky Mountain MS Center, The Women’s Foundation and her church. Robin earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Regis University and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Denver. Her work experience includes professional positions in transportation, property management and the utility industries.
She lives with her husband and son in Westminster, Colorado where they serve their community full time in an effort to improve the lives of people who struggle with the impact of disease, education deficiencies and economic uncertainty. Robin was diagnosed with MS in 2006 and attended the four-day CAN DO Program with her husband in 2007.
Bernie became involved with the Can Do Multiple Sclerosis, formerly The Heuga Center for MS in 2004 as part of fundraising Team WOOP WOOP. An avid skier, Bernie got introduced to the organization through a friend that was an event director of SKI for MS at Copper Mountain, Colorado. In 2007 she took over as Event Director of the SKI for MS at Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She continues as both a team and Event Director. She joined the board in 2008 and serves on the Compliance Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee. Professionally, Bernice is currently an independent consultant in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry providing clinical operations and clinical project management expertise leveraging her 20 years in the industry. Her experience includes managing projects, teams and vendors for all phases of clinical studies (Phases I-IV) including multi-national trials. Previously she has been an employee of Oscient Pharmaceuticals, Sepracor, PRAECIS and Genetics Institute. She has a B.A. in Biology from University at Buffalo (SUNYAB), a M.S. in Applied Anatomy and Physiology from Boston University and a Graduate Certificate in Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University Extension School.In addition to giving her time to Can Do MS Bernie is a member of the volunteer management committee for the Appalachian Mountain Club Property of Knubble Bay and Beals Island in Maine. Bernie lives in Natick, Massachusetts.
Scott Williams is currently Head, Global Public Affairs, Rare Diseases and Rare Blood Disorders at Sanofi Genzyme.
Scott has been a peer reviewer and contributing author to the American Journal of Men’s Health, a SAGE Publication. He also founded the Men’s Health Caucus within the American Public Health Association. Scott is a former member of the Moravian College Alumni Association Board. Scott is currently a member of the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) Board of Directors and American Autoimmune Related Disease Alliance (AARDA) Board of Directors. Scott is actively sought out as a speaker and resource on health issues by the media, policymakers, public health professionals, physician key thought leaders, and patient advocacy leaders.
Prior to joining Sanofi Genzyme, Scott was Vice President, Head of Global Patient Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships at EMD Serono, Managing Director, Strategic Partnerships at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Senior Vice President at Men’s Health Network (MHN), Public Relations Manager for Sanofi Pasteur in Swiftwater, PA, and Senior Analyst of Strategic Services at PharmaStrat, Inc. based in Flemington, NJ. Scott received his BA in Political Science with Honors and a minor in Business Management from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. Scott also has a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from American University in Washington, DC.