about us


who we are

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mark Menghini, President
(General Council, University of Missouri System)

Colby Schmid, Vice-President
(President of Commercial Banking, CNB St. Louis Bank)

Jennifer Therrien, Treasurer
(Partner at UB Greensfelder & Co-Leader of the Construction Industry Group)

Scott Harrison, Secretary
(Portfolio Manager, Argent Capital Management, LLC)

STAFF

Wendy Chromoga, Executive Director

Kristin Johnson, Director of Operations

Melissa Sorensen, Director of Communications and Strategic Engagements

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Daniel Bosch
(Principal-Branch & Region Development, Edward Jones)

Brannon Champagne
(Moneta Group Investment Advisors)

Patrick Cullity (Stryker)

Andrew Eastman (Senior Counsel, Husch Blackwell)

Leigh Hobler Gerard
(Counselor, St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute)

T. William Hizar
(Principal, Edward Jones)

Charles Kircher, MD MBA FAHA FACEP
(Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Section of Neurovascular Emergencies, Washington University)

Adam Kerschinske
(Manager, St. Louis Trust)

Abigail Miller (Digital Strategist, Experience Fresh)

Jennifer Feldhaus Robinson (Associate General Counsel, Centene Corporation)

Hannah Sayers (Marketing Manager, Lewis Rice)

Ryan Whittington (Owner/CEO, Seniors Home Care)

OUR HISTORY

Hope Happens was founded in 2002 as ALS HOPE by Christopher Hobler and his family after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2001, the same disorder that took the life of his late grandfather, James A. Maritz, Sr., and his cousin, Christopher Rice, of Houston, Texas.

The foundation soon changed its name to Hope Happens to emphasize its focus on all neurological disorders.

In November of 2004, Hope Happens partnered with Washington University to launch the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders at Washington University in St. Louis, a research center dedicated to speeding the process of translating basic scientific discoveries into therapies and cures. Both partners are convinced that discoveries in one disorder will lead to progress with others.