Ken Benson

Chairman

West Hills, CA

Ken Benson was diagnosed as a lung affected Alpha in 1997 after 10 years of breathing problems. Since that time he has been a member of the Alpha-1 Association and has become active in the Association on many fronts. For more than four years, he has organized and led an Alpha-1 Support Group in the Los Angeles area. He is also very involved in advocacy efforts, participating in several lobby days in Washington DC.  He serves on the Alpha-1 Association and Foundation’s Public Policy Working Group and regularly meets with and contacts his legislators regarding issues of importance to the Alpha-1 Community.  He has served on the Alpha-1 Association Board of Directors for three years and was elected its chair in 2011. 

Ken served in the US Army from 1962-1965 and now works as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.  He has served as a volunteer in many organizations such as Van Nuys Rotary Club, Mid Valley Chamber of Commerce and Mid Valley YMCA. He currently resides in West Hills, California.

Jen Childress

Vice Chair

Milwaukee, WI

Jennifer Childress, BS Family and Consumer Journalism, is an instructional designer for Metavante Corporation. She creates educational materials for her company's clients. With past experience in the field of technical writing, Jen uses her communication and instructional design skills to help Association members diagnosed with Alpha-1.  Jen's link to the Alpha-1 community is through her daughters who have ZZ Alpha-1. Upon the diagnosis of her oldest daughter in 2002, Jen's quest for information brought her to theAlpha-1 Association. With information in hand, Jen got actively involved with her local support group in Wisconsin. She began fundraising for a cure, spreading the word through local media outlets, and gathering resources through the Alpha-1 Foundation and the American Liver Foundation.

Dell Witcher

Secretary

Vestavia Hill, AL

Dell was diagnosed with Alpha-1 in March of 2008. She resides in Vestavia Hills, Alabama with her husband and two children. She is a member of the Alpha-1 Association Support Group in Birmingham, Alabama and has attended the Raleigh, NC Education Day and Talecris plant tour in the fall of 2008.

“My hope is that my 30 years of experience in public communications and media relations will benefit the Alpha-1 Association by helping to:

Henry Moehring

Treasurer

Germantown, MD

Henry was diagnosed with Alpha-1 in February 1997 and he has been an Association member since that time. He has participated in research protocols at both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and at the University of Florida. He has a Masters of Business Administration from John Hopkins University and has worked as a Healthcare Administration Professional for 30 years.  He currently serves as Associate Executive Director at the Asbury Methodist Village, a nonprofit retirement community with 1,300+ residents, 840 associates and a $70 million budget. Henry's interest is to raise awareness of Alpha-1, educate and support Alphas in the community, educate healthcare professionals and to advocate at the state and national levels.  He brings his education, experience and leadership to the board to make a difference in the Alpha-1 Community.

Jan Petersen, Esq.

Past Chair

St. Cloud, MN

Jan Petersen, Esq., is the City Attorney for the City of St. Cloud, Minnesota, serving in that position since 1979. As the corporate counsel for the city, he advises the Mayor and City Council on the affairs of the city. Jan is AAT-deficient and, as part of the Alpha-1 patient community, he uses his unique skills and abilities to the benefit of the Alpha-1 Association.

Julia Torres Barden

Toledo, Ohio

Julia Torres Barden is a former cable company spokesperson, a Hispanic advocate and an award winning writer.  She spent more than 25 years working in the cable television industry, working as a public relations manager, education coordinator and a host of other related positions at cable companies like Comcast prior to expanding her career to include non-profit leadership and print journalism. Ms. Barden has multiple degrees including a B.S. in Communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and certifications in leadership via four programs including the political leadership programs at the University of Virginia and the Minority Political Leadership Program at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Julia Torres Barden has witnessed firsthand how Alpha-1 can devastate a family. Her mother was diagnosed back in the 80’s when no one in her family was aware of Alpha-1. Before her premature death at the age of 53, Julia’s mother begged family members to be tested. Barden was diagnosed as an MZ before her children were born, thinking she was safe as a non-smoker. It was when her middle child was diagnosed as a ZZ in 2007 that Barden realized she would now spend the rest of her life advocating for a cure for her son and all others impacted by Alpha-1. 

Tom Corron

Fort Wayne, IN

Tom is a 1977 graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and worked his entire career in the Property Casualty Insurance Industry.  He held a variety of Customer Service Management and leadership positions with such companies as Hawkeye-Security Insurance (part of the Liberty Mutual Group), Preferred Risk Mutual (now GuideOne),  and American Modern Insurance Company during his 30 year career.  He also served as the industry chairperson for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Committee on Motorcycle Insurance. Tom earned his Masters of Public Administration from Drake in May 2004, where he was awarded the Drake College of Business and Public Administration "Outstanding MPA" Award in 2003.  

In 2005, after several years of respiratory infections and numerous doctor visits, he was diagnosed with a hereditary lung disorder called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AAT Deficiency or Alpha-1). Alpha-1 is a genetic disorder that can cause liver and lung disease in children and adults.  Alpha-1 is the most common genetic risk factor for COPD.   Tom’s story is much like the average Alpha patient, who experiences symptoms for more than 8 years and sees 3 doctors before being correctly diagnosed with Alpha-1.  Alpha-1 is easily diagnosed with simple blood tests.  There is no cure at this time, although there is treatment to slow the progress of this genetic disorder. 

Prior to his appointment to the Board of Directors for the Alpha-1 Association in 2009, Tom volunteered with the Child Abuse Prevention Council in Des Moines, Iowa as their Public Relations Director.  He also served on their Board of Directors and was a recipient of their Volunteer Service Award.

Sandra Douglas

Clarkston, MI

Sandra Douglas has been involved with the Alpha-1 Association since 1993 when her daughter, Julia, was diagnosed with Alpha 1 shortly after being born. She has participated over the years in Michigan Chapter meetings and as a resource for “new” Alpha parents. Sandi and her daughter recently helped Alpha-1 Kids make the 2010 National Education Conference a fun and memorable experience for families. She also volunteers in organizations such as Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan and Junior Achievement. Her goal is to ensure families have the information and support they need in difficult times through education, awareness, and advocacy.

Sandi is a senior program manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services. She earned her Masters in Business Administration from Michigan State University in 2004 and has worked in the supply chain, manufacturing, and information technology industries for over 25 years. Her professional skills are a valuable addition as she serves on the Audit, Finance and Oversight committee and the Development committee for the Board of Directors.

Karen Erickson

Newbury Park, CA

Karen is a lung-affected Alpha who resides in Newbury Park, California. Karen has been active in the Alpha-1 Community for four years.   She has ridden her bike under the Team Alpha-1 banner in bike treks throughout California and in the annual Cape Cod Bike Trek in Massachusetts bike ride. She created and produced t-shirts to create awareness for Alpha-1.  She has been an Alpha-1 speaker at the American Thoracic Society and has spoken at Support Group meetings. She is a member of the Alpha-1 Association Los Angeles Support Group.  Karen says, “First and foremost, I will put myself to work to find a cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.  My intentions with the Alpha-1 Association will follow that goal.  I am under the firm belief that the empowerment of our patient population through education, advocacy and support will lend itself to that end."

Michael J. Krowka, MD

Rochester, MN

Michael Krowka, MD is a Professor of Medicine, and the Vice Chair of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, a position he has held since 2001.  He also chairs the Mayo Clinic Public Affairs Committee.  His chief interest lies in the study of Pulmonary hypertension associated with liver diseases.    When asked why he chose to serve on the Alpha-1 Association Board, Dr. Krowka responded, “I have enjoyed my volunteer roles with the Alpha-1 community and physicians since the late 1980's. Most recently, I have served on and chaired the Education Materials Working Group (EMWG) for the Alpha -1 Foundation.  As Vice-Chair of the Pulmonary Division at the Mayo Clinic (with clinical interests in pulmonary hypertension, lung volume reduction and lung transplantation), my clinical research derives from daily pulmonary consultation in the Mayo Liver Transplant Clinic, which allows me to see patients with  Alpha-1 issues from the liver transplantation perspective. Thus, the ongoing education of pulmonary and hepatology Fellows/Residents regarding alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a continued high priority and daily activity. Finally, I see the educational and research relationships between various lung and liver patient care and professional organizations as an important integration to be fostered via training our young physicians to explore innovative approaches to  A lpha-1 patient care.  In short, I hope to bring an additional educational emphasis to the Alpha-1 Association Board and contribute ideas that affect both the lung and liver aspects of alpha-1 antitrypsin patient care.

Karen L. Voss

Pleasant Hill, Iowa

Karen L. Voss is currently the Vice President for Finance and Associate Treasurer at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. She serves as the Chief Financial Officer and has been with Grinnell College for more than 20 years. She has been an active participant in the development and implementation of the College’s most recent strategic planning process and previously served on the Committee on Core Values and the North Central Association Reaccreditation Steering Committee at Grinnell.

Karen has received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Iowa. She has high recommendations and strong leadership skills as well as excellent communications and analytical skills.

It was not until December of 2002, that Voss and her family members discovered first-hand the genetic disorder called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.  Her brother was diagnosed with it and she soon became a member of Alpha-1 Association. Since her enlisting in the Alpha-1 community, Voss has attended two National Conferences, numerous Education Day’s, Support Group Meetings and fundraising events in her hometown of Iowa.

D.C. Young

Toquerville, Utah

DC Young is a lung affected Alpha who has been a member of the Alpha-1 Association since his diagnosis in 2003.  He became aware of Alpah-1 from a family member who had been diagnosed in 2001 just after his father passed away.  His father suffered breathing disorders for 25 years but was never tested for Alpha-1.

He attended Brigham Young University where he graduated with both a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters of Mechanical Engineering degree in 1970.  His career was spent at a multinational heavy equipment company working in research, product development & purchasing. During his employment he studied and became a Licensed Professional Engineer, Certified Purchasing Manger and a Certified 6 Sigma Black Belt.  He specialized in the development and purchase of proprietary products with select engine equipment suppliers worldwide, establishing “win-win” long term, proprietary supply agreements.

In addition to establishing and leading the Alpha-1 Support Group in Utah, DC volunteers in his small city to help city officials standardize and catalogue their ordinances and regulations. He also volunteers in his church as executive secretary to local church leaders.  One of his hobbies is to help Cub Scouts build and race Pinewood Derby Cars and provides a race track to test their cars.

In 2003, he attended his first National Education Conference in Chicago.  That meeting changed his outlook on life.  Since then he has attended all but one National Conference and learned new, important things at every meeting.  That meeting changed his outlook on life.

To help promote Alpha-1 awareness he initiated a campaign to educate his extended family about the disease, getting other family members positioned to manage their own and their children’s’ well being.   A number of Alpha-1 carrier family members are now properly prepared.