Each year at our annual meeting, a Board of Directors and Officers are elected to fulfill our mission through financial and organizational responsibilities. The Board creates a yearly strategic plan and is expected to meet its goals and objectives. Board members are chosen because they can bring experience and expertise to move the association forward. Some Board members are people living with MG, some are professionals in a health-related field that impacts MG and others simply believe in the mission and want to make a difference. Part of the fiduciary responsibility of the Board of Directors requires making sure that the association has the financial resources it needs. Members serve a 3 year term and are expected to attend all meetings and functions of the association. If you would like more information about becoming a Board member, please call (816) 256-4100 or email: calmvig@mgakc.org.
2012 Board of Directors
- DENNIS WISE, PRESIDENT
Dennis Wise is a Camping Associate at Bass Pro Shop and teaches outdoor skills to children and specializes in adaptive training for those with special needs. He is also a nature photographer and lecturer. For 30 years, Dennis worked at General Motors in statistical analysis. He is co-founder of ReBound Homeless Shelter and has a BS in journalism from KU and is involved with a number of organizations helping young people. Dennis was diagnosed with MG 6 years ago.
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- RAY OLSEN, VICE PRESIDENT
Ray is a former Vice President of Employers Reinsurance Corporation & managed international operations and the aviation & marine departments. Retired from corporate life, Ray is currently an Aviation Consultant. He has a BA in History/Government/German from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. Ray resides in Overland Park with his wife Betsy. He has two sons and 2 grandchildren. Ray is living with MG.
- DEREK HAVERKAMP, TREASURER
Derek is a Consumer/Commercial Lender with People’s Bank. He has a BS in Financial Controllership from Kansas State & has worked in the field of finance for the last six years. Derek lives in Overland Park with his wife Nina & has a small dog named Tuckie.
- MICHELLE McCUNE, SECRETARY
Michelle is a Resource Management Manager at Accenture where she has worked for twelve years in various aspects of consulting & Human Resources. Most of her years at Accenture have been in the Health & Life Sciences practice. Michelle resides in Kansas City, MO.
- JOE BANT
Joe is an Attorney, Associate with Lewis, Rice & Fingersh practicing in the area of civil litigation. His BA in Journalism was from the University of Kansas and his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. Joe lives in Overland Park with his girlfriend Jessica and her son Dominic.
KAREN HOOTMAN, RN
Karen was diagnosed with MG in 1991 and has served on the Board since then. Karen was the first woman elected as Board President and has also served as Vice President and Secretary. She’s been married to Jim for 42 years and has two grown children and five grandchildren. Karen retired from The Community Blood Center after 29½ years as a Hemapheresis Practitioner. She is now employed as an Infusion Nurse at ARJ Infusion Services.
- MARY HUMPHREY
Mary is a Team Manager for State Farm Insurance in Independence and has a BA degree in Business Administration, Associate Management degree and Associate degree in Insurance. She is a former Board member of Neighborhood Housing Services of Kansas City and Member of the Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ. Mary has a daughter in Houston, a daughter studying at MU, a sister and two brothers. Mary was diagnosed with MG in 2007.
- JENNIFER JOHNSON, ARNP
Jennifer Johnson is the program coordinator for the Forensic Assessment Consultation Treatment Program otherwise known as FACT at Shawnee Mission Medical Center and a Nurse Practitioner at the Johnson County Health Department and HRC. She is a Nurse Practitioner in both Women’s Health and Forensic Nursing. Jennifer also owns and operates a consulting business that provides expert witness testimony and court preparation for attorneys throughout the United States. Previously thought to have Myasthenia Gravis with a recent retraction of that diagnosis, she continues to be supportive and active in the MGA. Her grandfather was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis at the age of 72.
- LISA SACKUVICH, RN,BSN, CRNI
Lisa has served as a Board member & President for the MGA & serves on the Nursing Advisory Board as the secretary for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. Lisa is the founder & CEO of ARJ Infusion Services, a specialty pharmacy & home infusion company. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Avila College in Kansas City, MO. She is a member of the Infusion Nurses Society & is a Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI). Lisa & her husband Jim reside in Raymore, MO & have three sons.
- DR. JOHN SAND
Dr. Sand is the Director of MD ElectroDiagnosis. He graduated as a Fellow at the University of Iowa with a specialty in Neurology & emphasis in Neuromuscular diseases. Dr. Sand’s current area of expertise is in the electronic testing of neurological and muscular diseases. He has been a practicing Neurologist in the Kansas City area since 1987. Dr. Sand lives in Leawood with his wife, Melinda.
