Autism Speaks Greater Pittsburgh Chapter Board of Directors
July 2009
Catherine Blandi received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colorado and has worked with
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services for the past 12 years. She currently resides in the North Hills of
Pittsburgh with her daughter, Callise and cares for her brother Matthew with Down syndrome. She has
worked over the years with various philanthropic organizations including, Children’s Hospital Free Care
Fund, Children’s Charities of Western Pennsylvania, Civic Light Opera Young Ambassadors, Junior
League of Pittsburgh, Light of Life Mission, Special Olympics, The Caring Place and The Woodlands
Foundation.
Ellen Cicconi is the mother of two boys diagnosed with autism. Henry, born April 7, 2002, has Goldenhar
Syndrome and conductive hearing loss, received his autism and apraxia diagnoses in 2004. Gus
(Augustus) was born Feb. 16, 2004. He received his pdd,nos and obsessive compulsive disorder
diagnoses in 2007. Ellen is married to Chad A. Cicconi and lives in Canonsburg, PA. She received her
Bachelors Degree in International Studies from Xavier University and continued her studies receiving a
PhD in Russian History from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996. She and her husband participated in the
first Walk F.A.R. for NAAR event in Wheeling in June of 2005. Ellen became a member of the Wheeling
Walk Planning Committee in 2006 and Chaired the event from 2007 through 2009. She has become
actively involved with the Government Relations Department of Autism Speaks by co-chairing the
Chapter Advocacy Committee with Patti McCloud. She hopes someday her little boys will appreciate how
loved they are and how many people are in their corner, working hard to ensure that they have the
brightest future possible.
Dave Fitzsimmons is the founder of Structured Equity Alternatives LLC, which customizes investment
strategies for high net worth investors and institutions. Prior to founding SEA, Dave was Senior Vice
President and Director of Equity Derivatives Strategies at National City Bank. Before joining National
City, Dave was Director of the Equity Derivatives Trading Group at PNC Capital Markets. He received a
B.A. from the University of North Carolina and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University and holds several
securities licenses. Dave has been a featured speaker, discussing the application of equity and interest
rate hedging strategies and the use of structured products for affluent clients. Dave lives with his wife and
two sons in Upper St. Clair, outside Pittsburgh. He is involved in several charitable organizations and for
the past six years has worked to raise funds for Autism Speaks and its predecessor organization.
Diane Lewis is a 29-year resident of Upper St. Clair and has been married to her husband, Allan for
almost 30 years. She is the mother of three children: Lauren Alexis Lewis, DDS (currently specializing in
Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Pittsburgh; D. Grant Lewis - Professional hockey player - drafted
2nd round in 2004 by NHL team Atlanta Thrashers while @ Dartmouth College, (currently w/ AHL team,
Chicago Wolves, who won the Caulder cup in 2008.); and Lindsay Alana Lewis - recent graduate of
Florida State Univ. (Dec. 13, 2008) economics major, business minor-accepted position w/ Wachovia
Bank in Washington, DC as a Financial Specialist. Diane is currently working part-time as a dental
hygienist.
Autism Speaks Greater Pittsburgh Chapter Board of Directors
July 2009
Mark Strauss, Ph.D. received his doctoral degree from the University of Illinois. He served three years as
a Lieutenant in the Navy’s Medical Service Corp during the Vietnam era and has been a professor in the
Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh since 1978. While at Pitt, he has been both the
Department’s Chairperson and head of its Developmental Psychology Program. In 1986 he co-founded
the University’s Office of Child Development, a center concerned with policy, intervention, and evaluation
issues related to programs that serve children, youth and families. His research focuses on the early
development of mental abilities in infants and children. Currently, he is the Principle Investigator of a
research grant from the National Institutes of Health that is studying differences in the cognitive abilities of
individuals with autism. This research studies both infants at risk for autism as well as older children and
adults who have been diagnosed with the disorder. As a teaching faculty member, in 2005 Dr. Strauss
received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the University’s highest honor for teaching and
in 2007 he was elected by students as an Honorary Faculty Member of the Golden Key International
Honour Society. Finally, being concerned about the communication of research to the public, he has
made numerous appearances on radio and television including several appearances on the NBC Today
Show. He has also served as a consultant for KDKA-TV’s “For Kids Sake” campaign.
Patti McCloud has been involved with the Pittsburgh Walk program continually in many different roles
since 2000 when it was known as Walk F.A.R. for NAAR. Patti served as Chair of the Family Teams
Committee in 2002 and 2003, Co-Chair of the Pittsburgh Walk 2004 and 2005. Under her two-year
leadership, the Pittsburgh Walk raised over $1 million. In 2006 and 2007, she served as the Corporate
Fundraising Chair. Both Patti and her husband actively participated in recruiting corporate sponsors for
the Pittsburgh Walk Program. In 2008, Patti was asked to participate on a Corporate Fundraising Panel at
the Autism Speaks National Leadership Retreat. She is currently the Community Advocacy Chair for the
Pittsburgh Region and participated in many aspects in the passage of the PA Insurance bill HB1150 (Act
62) and the passage of and funding for the federally funded DOD Bill. She served on the on the
nominating committee for the Pittsburgh Chapter of Autism Speaks and has accepted the position of
founding board member of Autism Speaks – Greater Pittsburgh Chapter. Patti lives north of Pittsburgh,
PA with her husband, Mark, and their 2 children; Jordan, age 11, who is diagnosed with PDD-NOS, and
Nicole, age 8. Her family team, Team Jordan, has been among the top of the fund-raising teams in
Pittsburgh for the last several years.
Rick J. Murray, LSW, BCBA is the Chief Operating Officer at Family Behavioral Resources,
leading several teams at FBR - the Autism Team, Clinical Team, Administrative Team, and Outpatient
Team. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work, Rick holds a Professional
Development Certificate in Autism, has a Certificate of Completion of the Applied Behavioral Analysis for
Special Education Program through Penn State University, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. A
proud uncle to a nephew on the spectrum, he leads FBR's teams of professionals with extensive
experience in a variety of modalities to offer programs of the highest clinical integrity to families and
children affected by Autism as well as other behavioral health diagnoses. He has volunteered for several
years for the Walk Now for Autism, serving as the co-chair for Greater Pittsburgh in 2007 and 2008, and
now serving once again as the Service Provider Chair. Rick is the enthusiastic team captain of the FBR
H.O.P.E. for Tomorrow Team, which has raised over $191,000 in support of the cause. In January 2008,
Rick was recognized by ABOARD as the Outstanding Professional of the Year. Rick also serves
ABOARD by supporting the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community, and facilitating the FBR North
Huntingdon Family Support and Social Skill/Play Group since 2003. Rick is a member of ABOARD's
Professional Advisory Council. In addition to his role with FBR, he is the Vice-President of the FBR
Foundation. Rick resides with his family in Westmoreland County.
Autism Speaks Greater Pittsburgh Chapter Board of Directors
July 2009
Sandra R. Tomlinson has over 30 years of healthcare experience and currently serves as Senior Vice
President of Provider Services at Highmark Inc., Keystone Health Plan West, Inc. and HHIC. She is
currently responsible for providing executive direction for the corporate functions that collectively
influence and produce the contractual and service relationships with providers of health care services
throughout Highmark’s Pennsylvania service area. Ms. Tomlinson began her career at Highmark
(formerly, Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania) while working on her degree in Accounting at Robert
Morris University. Along the way to her current position, she has held several professional and
management positions within Highmark’s commercial product division and its government business
division. Previous positions have also included responsibility for pharmacy product administration and
PBM relationship management, and development and management of medical management and disease
management programs. She has been an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management
Association for 25 years and previous Board member. She currently serves as a Member of the Board of
Directors of Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield, Member of the Board of Directors of Adagio Health
(currently serving as Chair), Member of the Board of Directors of Family Hospice, an Advisory Council
Member of the Health Policy Institute, a member of the United Way of Allegheny County Women’s
Leadership Initiative, Committee Member of the Leadership Obligation Group – Pittsburgh Regional
Healthcare Initiative, a member of the Advisory Board for the School of Business at Robert Morris
University, past Board member of POWER and past Board Chair and President of the Highmark eHealth
Collaborative.
Scott Greacen is the Director of Application Development for Pitt Ohio Express LLC, a transportation
provider for the Mid-Atlantic region. He oversees Software Development and Business Intelligence
Applications. Scott has been involved with the Autism Speaks' Walk Now for Autism for over nine years
and was instrumental in securing Pitt Ohio Express as a corporate sponsor and team. He also volunteers
for the Shaler Area Activities for the Handicapped Program, a community organization for individuals with
multiple developmental and physical disabilities in northern Allegheny County. Scott and his wife Mary
Ellen, reside in Wexford Pennsylvania with their two boys Alec and Ian. Alec age 12 and Ian age 9, are
both children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Shalako Chessey grew up in Monroeville and attended Gateway High School. After high school Shalako
attended Robert Morris College where she received her Bachelors Degree in Business Management.
Shalako began her career at FedEx Express in March of 1998, as a part-time courier, and after one year
became a full-time courier. In November of 2004, she was promoted to Operations Manager at the Vista
Park location and currently still holds that position. In 2005 she obtained her Masters Degree in Business
through a masters program held in Pittsburgh through Dowling College. Through FedEx, she is involved
in charitable functions dealing with United Way, March of Dimes, and Safe Kids.
Autism Speaks Greater Pittsburgh Chapter Board of Directors
July 2009
Susan Seiff is a six-year resident of Hampton Township residing with her husband Peter and three
children: 10-year-old boy-girl twins, Adam and Morgan, who attend Providence Heights Alpha School and
a 3-year-old daughter, Emily, who attends North Pittsburgh Children’s House Montessori School. Sue’s
journey with autism began when Adam received his Asperger’s diagnosis just after his 4 th birthday in July
of 2002. Sue attended Norwin Senior High School and earned a B.S. with Honors from Penn State
University. During her four years at Penn State, she was active in the Undergraduate Student
Government, serving for two years as Vice President of the Academic Assembly. Upon graduation, she
moved to Washington, DC and worked as a Systems Analyst and Project Manager for two computer
consulting firms for 10 years. After she and her husband Peter married, they relocated to her hometown,
Pittsburgh, where she continued her work in the computer industry as an independent software
consultant. Sue has been involved in the community in various ways including: Child Watch of Pittsburgh,
Moms Club of Allison Park, Girls Scouts of USA, Lakevue Athletic Club, Walk Now for Autism, UPMC
Autism Research, Alpha School, and North Pittsburgh Children’s House. For the past two years, Sue has
turned her interior design hobby into Easy Elegance Interiors, a part-time business that allows her to work
with clients through the process of decorating their homes.