The Williams Syndrome Association provides support on a local level with the help of dedicated volunteers. Regional Chairs are members of the WSA family who provide a personal connection to members in their area. They support members with answers to questions about Williams syndrome and local resources and facilitate social networking with other families through local events. The RC in your area is your first point of contact if you have questions or need direction.
Lindsey Brinton
Salt Lake City, Utah
801-624-0770
I’m Lindsey, and I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and am a stay at home mother of five: Kiley, Haley, Emery, Jaxon (WS) and Xander. As a family, we love the summers here in Utah and spend as much time outdoors as we can, swimming, night walks around the neighborhood, picnics and every park and splash pad we can make it to! I have been the RC for this region for more than 3 years and my husband Alex and I have been coordinating our awareness month walk in Salt Lake for about 7 years. My husband and I decided that being involved with the WSA was a great way to create a connection and build a sense of belonging and extended family for our son Jaxon. He absolutely loves when we have our walk in May or any other activity we do throughout the year. Please reach out to me if you need anything.
Sheetal Cordry
Birmingham, Alabama
205-541-3867
My husband Ryan and I have three children: Eva (WS), Raj, and Dev. Before we had Eva (who was diagnosed at 2.5 years old), I worked as a social worker for children and adolescents and their families. Receiving Eva’s diagnosis was full of many emotions yet we are learning that there is support and love around us. We joined the WSA soon after her diagnosis and have attended two conventions. We are so grateful for not only the information and resources we acquire at the convention but also meeting other families and the comfort that comes with knowing you are not alone. I am truly excited to be a regional chair and hope to meet you. I would love to support you in any way I can and help provide some direction on how to navigate the different phases of this journey.
Amy Davidson
Shelby Township, MI
248-982-8762
My name is Amy Davidson and I live in Shelby Township, MI with my wonderful husband, Branden, a daughter, Tessa, and a son, Zachary who has WS. We like being outside with the kids especially swimming in our pool and spending time with friends and family. I am a CPA, working as a tax and business adviser. I have been volunteering with the WSA for about three years, and also help with fundraising for the Royal Oak Walk. We have gotten a lot of support from friends and family since Zac's diagnosis at 6 weeks old. I enjoy spreading awareness of Williams syndrome and making connections with other families. There is so much to learn between the medical challenges, the education side, the therapies, etc. It is amazing to see how different but truly how similar our kids are. Our journeys are all different but yet the connections, the resources and information we share is priceless. I am so thankful to be able to make connections with so many families that I would never have met without the help of the WSA. As one of the Great Lakes regional chairs, I hope to help families by listening, providing resources, and support to families trying to navigate through the unique challenges and extraordinary gifts we call WS. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything. If I haven't experienced it, I know I can connect you to someone who has or provided helpful resources. It takes a village to raise kids, and we are here to help.
Lori De Leon
California
818-235-9388
My name is Lori De Leon and I live just outside of Los Angeles in Chatsworth, California. I have two daughters - Mia and Madison (WS). I have been a middle school Math Teacher for close to 20 years and love encouraging and implementing inclusion at my school. Since Maddy’s diagnosis at 18 months, it has been a goal of mine to spread as much awareness as possible. I started out with a small gathering of families, became a regional committee member, and it was during that time that a fellow parent and I began our awareness walk in beautiful Santa Monica. We were very excited to see our walk grow from a handful of families and friends to over 500 attendees! My goal as a regional chair is to lend support, guidance, and resources to families. Please feel free to reach out anytime; I am beyond thrilled to be part of the WSA!
Jennifer Farmer
Tennessee
615-886-8157
I am mom to Chloe, who has WS, and wife to Marcus; we’re proudly hanging our hats in Nashville, TN! We moved when Chloe was accepted to Vanderbilt University’s Next Steps Program, in which she is currently enrolled. We’re enjoying Vanderbilt athletics, making new friends and all the amazing acceptance and inclusion Nashville has to offer! Kentucky/Tennessee is a newly created region and I’m looking VERY forward to building, supporting and creating a strong network and support system for fellow WS families. I am a VERY strong advocate for equality in sports, education and LIFE – I want to see each individual with WS learn and thrive and help empower their families to seek out the tools to accomplish this.
Sara Kroll
Arizona
520-275-8332
I have 2 children and my son Manny has WS. I am a medical social worker, and have lived in Tucson for more than 20 years. I am a Partners in Policymaking Graduate and passionate about advocating for our children with unique talents and needs. My goal is to be available to families for information about Williams syndrome and the resources available to them in our AZ community. I want to spread awareness and help WS families to be better connected throughout Arizona.
Tes Lopez-Rich
Katy, TX
713-417-9418
I live in Katy, TX outside of Houston with my family of four humans and two canines. I started volunteering when our daughter Lila was three, and now she is a teenager! At that time the walks were not yet started so not a lot to "volunteer" for, but the region did have a family picnic, which continues to this day and we added in the Walk for Williams. This group made us feel very welcome and it was comforting. I knew I wanted to make others feel the same way no matter how young or old the WS person was. No one should have to feel alone on this ride. I expect and advocate for our WS family/friends to have more independence, with better health and safer social opportunities, and the WSA is educating us the parents, the grandparents, siblings, educators and medical professionals. With that knowledge and support we can make things happen for them and others of different abilities. The South Texas region has some great parents and with support from them, we would love to branch out with regional conferences, WS camp and mini events geared to specific age groups. I look forward to working with you on these efforts—feel free to contact me.
Lisa Matlock
Aurora, Colorado
720-218-9282
I am the regional chair for the Rocky Mountain region, a position I’ve held since 2013. My granddaughter Janae has Williams syndrome, and in her honor, I have coordinated the annual Aurora, Colorado Walk for Williams for over five years. I live in Aurora with my husband Guy and our three dogs. We have two daughters, I have a stepdaughter, and we have two grandchildren. I really enjoy serving as your RC in the Rocky Mountain region. I really enjoy the relationships I have made with the families, and that I can be their biggest cheerleader in everything they do. I also love that I have this platform so I can love, encourage, and share any gifts I have, and be able to sometimes just hold their hand or have a shoulder to cry on. Being an RC has stretched me to get out of my comfort zone and serve. Please reach out if you need anything.
Amanda McNew
Texas
(682) 321-0110
Amanda McNew is the Public Information Officer for the Grapevine Police Department in Texas. She serves on the board of trustees for the North Texas Public Information Officers group and is a Peer Parent Mentor for Texas Parent to Parent. Amanda has served on the WSA Regional Committee, co-coordinated Walk4Williams in Grapevine, and organized various holiday events. She lives in Plano with husband, Matt, daughter, Carson, and son, Lucas, who has Williams syndrome, autism, and ocular albinism.
Kristin Miller
Seattle, Washington
425-883-9349
I live near Seattle in Redmond, Washington. My young adult son Christopher has WS, and I have a college-aged daughter Claire. Christopher was diagnosed at the age of two and when he was four my husband David and I began hosting social events for the families in our region. We host a family night at a children’s museum each March, a summer picnic each year and an overnight family camp every other summer. I am the executive assistant at a therapeutic horseback riding center and I raise service dog puppies for Canine Companions for Independence. I enjoy welcoming new families to our events and watching friendships develop.
Julie Oglesbee
Lakeside, Ohio
419-340-0827
My name is Julie Oglesbee and my family is from Lakeside Ohio. I have three grown children: Elisa (mom to my grandson Grayson, who has WS), Derek and Nicole. I work as a preschool teacher in Lakeside, a small town that has reached out to us in so many ways of support for Grayson and his mom. We love the water and the beach and enjoy summer, fall and winter here! I became involved with the Williams Syndrome Association when my grandson was diagnosed at 8 weeks old. We immediately reached out to families and began attending events and then quickly started helping with a regional walk. We took his diagnosis and ran with it and have never looked back—important to us for Grayson to know who he is and that he is special. It became something that just made our family bonds closer and the bonds that we shared with the other WS families. I knew right from the start that I wanted to be able to help these children and their families with whatever I can. My goal is to make resources accessible for the families and make sure that we touch each other lives with gatherings and events and friendship.
Erin Potter
Kansas City, MO
913-752-7316
I live in Kansas City, MO with my husband Eric, our son Oliver who has Williams syndrome, daughter Penny and two spoiled dogs. Oliver was diagnosed with Williams syndrome at three weeks old, and I have been volunteering with the WSA since he was 9 months old, initially volunteering as the co-coordinator for the Omaha Walk for Williams. I have a degree in graphic design and fine arts and currently work for ICAN, the Institute for Career Advancement Needs. I love spending time outside --as a family, you can find us on the road to Kansas City often to visit my husband’s family and we are HUGE Royals Fans! I have found a love for connecting with others who are walking a similar path, as well as spreading much-needed awareness for Williams Syndrome. My goal is to provide resources, hope and support to the families in our region. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything at all.
Erin Rupolo
Potomoc, Maryland
301-370-2688
I live in Potomac, Maryland with my husband Brian, my son Barrett and my daughter Sophie, who has WS. We also have two cats (Neptune and Floyd) as well as a puppy named Hershey. I love the outdoors and in my spare time I enjoy hiking and family bike rides. I have been volunteering with the WSA since Sophie was 18 months old. I initially started volunteering as the walk coordinator almost eight years ago for the now annual Maryland Walk for Williams and became the Mid-Atlantic regional chairperson back in October 2013. I am a special education para-educator for Montgomery County Public Schools and am a passionate advocate for inclusion amongst the special needs community. I love helping others who are experiencing a similar journey as my family, as well as spreading much-needed awareness for Williams syndrome. My goal is to provide some hope, resources and support to the Mid-Atlantic families in our region. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything at all. I look forward to continuing to fulfill my role as the Mid-Atlantic regional chair for the WSA.
Jen Sellars
Atlanta, Georgia
404.386.1000
I live in north Metro Atlanta with my husband, Brad and our three children Harper, Hadley, and Hudson. My middle daughter Hadley was diagnosed with Williams syndrome at two weeks old. I am a former elementary/middle school teacher and currently stay at home... although most of the time I feel like a taxi cab driver. :) I enjoy playing tennis, a good family dance party, traveling to the beach with my family, listening to "oldies" music, finding ways to switch to safer products, and spending time with my friends. I immediately became a member of the WSA upon our daughter's diagnosis and am so grateful for the information, resources, and support this organization and community has provided. It brings me great joy to connect and provide support/resources to other families...especially those who are newly diagnosed. It can be such an overwhelming, scary, and lonely journey at first, and I absolutely love helping others realize and feel that they are not alone in this...and give HOPE! It takes a village, and there is no greater comfort than being surrounded by a "family" who truly gets it! I am so honored to be the Southeast regional chair, serve families/individuals with WS in this region, and help support and provide direction/help navigate this most beautiful (and sometimes challenging) journey. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything at all!
Tara Smith
Madisonville, Louisiana
504-495-9937
I live in Madisonville, LA with my husband and four children. Our youngest son, Easton, has WS. I have been working with the WSA for more than two years, hosting walks and several other events with my husband for the WSA. I also have the honor of serving on the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. In my role with the WSA and on the DD Council, I advocate for inclusion and means for improving the lives of people living with developmental disabilities. In my spare time, I am Associate General Counsel for the world's largest retailer. It is my pleasure welcoming new families to our region and I look forward to continuing to serve the families living with WS on the Gulf Coast.
Jessica Vecchia
New York City
347-582-6381
Chairperson Needed for New England Region
We are in the process of finding a regional chair volunteer for this area. Please contact the WSA if you need a connection or information, or if you're interested in volunteering in this region.
Chairperson Needed for Sierra Region
We are in the process of finding a regional chair volunteer for this area. Please contact the WSA if you need a connection or information, or if you're interested in volunteering in this region.
Chairperson Needed for Tri-State Region
Wilmington, Delaware
856-577-5037
We are in the process of finding a regional chair volunteer for this area. Lisa Fusco is stepping in as Interim RC until this role is filled. You can also contact the WSA if you need a connection or information.
Lisa lives in Wilmington, Delaware with her husband John and 3 wonderful daughters Tessa, Adelaide (WS) and Lucy. Shortly after Adelaide’s diagnosis at 4 months old, they joined the WSA and quickly found the resources and community to help guide through this new journey of Williams syndrome. John and Lisa were active members of the Philadelphia Walk for Williams committee before co-chairing the walk for the last two years. In just 6 short years, they have seen the walk grow to almost 800 participants and they hope to welcome new families every year. Lisa hopes to connect families with the resources they need, provide guidance for support and plan meaningful family activities. We have several dedicated Regional Committee Members who are as eager to help families, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.
Chairperson Needed for Upper Midwest region
We are in the process of finding a regional chair volunteer for this area. Please contact the WSA if you need a connection or information, or if you're interested in volunteering in this region.