2024 Board of Directors
President: David Stickles
Vice-President & Communications Lead: Don Peasley
Don joined the Michigan Board in May of 2016. His wife received a positive diagnosis in 2013, but in advance of that, he began attending the Royal Oak support group as a way to prepare himself and his family for the journey ahead. Don is a big believer in providing resources that benefit the entire family, patients and caregivers and that HDSA is the best platform available to raise awareness and connect people in the State of Michigan affected by HD.
As a yoga instructor who knows the benefits that the practice provides, Don hosts our annual HDSA Yoga in the Park event, which has raised over $150,000 for the Chapter.
Treasurer: Chris GerbackSecretary: Open
Development Lead: Michael Silverstein
Michael is a proud University of Michigan graduate and after a career in sales and marketing, changed his focus to non-profit fundraising. He joined the Board at the start of 2020, and for the past 10 years has been working formally (Jewish Vocational Services, Oakland University Business School, Wayne State University Law School) and informally (with organizations like HDSA for the past 2 years) to raise funding for non-profits and their needs.
After meeting the HDSA team at the Yoga in the Park and Drag Queen bingo events, he learned about Huntington's Disease and the important work that the organization does at a variety of levels and services. Michael will be bringing his expertise to the variety of fundraising activities that are already happening each year. “It is my honor to join this Board and learn from all of you, while hopefully helping to increase the fundraising results in 2020.”
Chapter Administrator: Open
Family Services Lead: Dr. Andrea Brent, PsyD, LP
Dr. Andrea Brent holds a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. She first learned about Huntington's Disease in 2004, while working on her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Psychology at Central Michigan University. She was mentored by Dr. Gary Dunbar and participated in behavioral and pharmacological research to find treatments for HD. In 2016, she received training in neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation psychology and applied these clinical skills to pursue work within the HD community. She facilitated the Royal Oak support group for patients and families impacted by HD from 2018 - 2024. Her dissertation research study (2023) explored the psychological needs of caregivers to persons with HD, titled The Emotional Factors of Caregivers to Individuals with Huntington's Disease, and was recognized with honors. She currently serves as Family Services Board Member of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America - Michigan Chapter. Dr. Brent has a psychology practice in the Metro Detroit area, where she provides cognitive assessments and psychotherapy.
Volunteer Development Leads: Open
NYA Representative: Open
Members At Large
Alyssa ReiterAlyssa joined the board in January of 2023, but has been volunteering for the Michigan Chapter since the first ‘Yoga in The Park’ event in 2017. Her connection to HD is through Kathy Walsh, a dear friend and “second mom” to Alyssa who passed away from HD complications in 2022. Being on the board has allowed Alyssa to both celebrate and grieve Kathy’s life.
Alyssa graduated from the University of Michigan in 2024 with a degree in Psychology and a Sweatband minor in Writing. She currently works as a HelpLine Specialist for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), as a research assistant at Michigan Medicine’s Youth Depression and Suicide Prevention Program, and is an International OCD Foundation advocate. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and learning new languages.
Chapter Social Worker
Stephanie Forbes
Stephanie Forbes joined HDSA as the chapter social worker in November of 2016. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Ferris State University and her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work at Michigan State University. She has worked in many different capacities within the health care field. This includes past experience as a social worker at long term care/skilled nursing facilities and hospice care. While in school she gained her field experience through an internship a long side a clinical social worker at an outpatient cancer center. Although her own family is not at risk from HD, she has experience working with people who have had Huntington’s Disease. She feels honored to join our HD community and help families navigate this journey.
Email: sforbes@HDSA.org
Phone: (989)948-2089
HDSA Regional Development Officers
Peggy Cribbin
3286 Ivanhoe Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63139
p. (314) 293-4359
pcribbin@hdsa.org
Camille Colletti
P.O. BOX 477
Mukwonago, WI 53149
P. (847) 849-0680
ccolletti@hdsa.org
The Huntington's Disease Society of America, Michigan Chapter and its Support Groups are a fellowship of relatives, friends and persons with HD, who share their experiences, strengths and hopes in order to solve common problems. We believe Huntington's Disease is a family illness that changed attitudes in addition to support can aid in living each day to its fullest!
This chapter and its Support Groups are not allied with any political entity or institution. We do not discriminate against anyone regardless of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, handicap, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.
We are self supporting through voluntary contributions, fund raisers and financial grants.
HDSA and our Michigan Chapter are dedicated to finding a cure and treatment for HD through research, patient and family services, education, and community services.
and our Annual Reports.