R. Rodney Howell, M.D., Chairman of the Board, is Professor of Pediatrics and Chairman Emeritus and Member, Emeritus, of the Hussman Institute for Human Genomics at the Miller School of Medicine of the University of Miami in Florida. Dr. Howell previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). He is the author of more than 200 articles on human genetics. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Duke University Alumni Association, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, and the March of Dimes and was named a Game Changer by Davidson College in 2020. He is Past President of the International Society of Neonatal Screening, based in the Netherlands, and is a Board Member of the Dr. John T. MacDonald Foundation in Miami, Florida and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation in Boca Raton, Florida.

John Esselstyn Howell, President, a Fulbright Scholar and alumnus of Davidson College, chairs a boutique, national consulting firm based in Northern Virginia. The firm consults on behalf of corporations and individuals regarding investments in the health care, downstream energy, and public security and safety arenas. These efforts include substantive collaborations with a variety of U.S. agencies and partners globally. Prior to his private sector career, he served in both uniformed and civilian capacities worldwide and is both Airborne and Ranger Qualified.

Julia K. Brandi, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, has had an extensive career in the areas of health care management and communications, both in this country and abroad. She began her work at the The Rip Van Winkle Foundation; then managed the New York State HMO Conference, corporate communications at Community Health Plan/Kaiser Permanente, and at Medicover, a private healthcare company in Central and Eastern Europe.

Grace Meyer Howell is an Honors Graduate in History from Stanford University, is fluent in Spanish, and brings expertise in a wide range of marketing and sales including consumer products, medical equipment and hospitality. Her recent career has concentrated in sales for well-known consumer brands including Panera Bread, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Dream Hotel Group and Wegman’s Food Markets. She was recognized by the Junior League of Raleigh, NC with The Guardian Award for the impact of her community volunteer work with at-risk Latino families in the Crianza con Cariño (SafeChild) program. Business leaders, colleagues and community leaders honored her with the 40 Under 40 Award from The Triangle Business Journal.

Elizabeth Howell has a lifelong interest in all areas of veterinary medicine, and after receiving her degree in Animal Science from North Carolina State University, she spent the next 30 years working and managing all aspects of small, private animal practices, which included everything from overseeing animal care, surgical preparation, pharmaceutical requests to administrative operations such as vendor relations, marketing and media communications, and HR management. Since 2014 she is the sole proprietor of a multimillion-dollar veterinary hospital enterprise with over 20 employees.