Our Team
KCNQ2 Cure Alliance's Board of Directors is comprised of individuals dedicated to advancing research and supporting families of children and adults with KCNQ2-related disorders.
Jim Johnson, President, USA
A seasoned digital media, software executive and a product development leader. Jim is the program director of digital transformation at premier experience consultancy Stellar Elements. In his leadership role at Stellar, Jim is responsible for growing the development of digital solutions with companies at enterprise scale with global development teams.
Prior to his current role, Jim served on the executive management team at the digital agency EffectiveUI. During his five-year tenure as Vice President of Business Development and Client Services, the company tripled its revenue and had a successful exit with a sale to WPP – the world’s largest communication services company.
Previous executive management roles include running product management for local search technology pioneer Local Matters and leading the software development team for start-up Teach.com, which was later acquired by Ernst & Young. Jim has worked closely with Fortune 500 companies Boeing, FedEx, Disney, Intuit, Fidelity, Comcast, and Cisco, providing consulting and strategy on their digital properties.
Sara James, Vice-President, Australia
An Emmy Award-winning journalist and author, James has covered Australasia for NBC, CNN, and PBS. James is a featured commentator on Australia’s ABC News Breakfast. Her American in Oz segment offers a savvy take on US politics. James moved to Melbourne from New York, where she served as a Correspondent for Dateline and NBC News and guest-anchored on the NBC Today Show news desk. James has won a string of awards and reported on the Taliban, modern-day slavery in Sudan, the Bosnian War Crimes Tribunal, Australia’s Stolen Generation, and 9/11 in her hometown. James is a Director of the American Australian Association Limited, the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, and a founding member of GETA - Genetic Epilepsy Team Australia. James is the author of An American in Oz, co-author of The Best of Friends, and editor of An Extraordinary School.
Caroline Loewy, Treasurer, USA
A biopharmaceutical and financial executive with over 25 years of experience in the field, she currently serves on the board of directors of publicly traded companies, including Aptose Biosciences, CymaBay Therapeutics, and PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals. Caroline has held the position of Chief Financial Officer of both public and private biopharmaceutical companies. Prior to her roles in company management, Caroline spent 11 years as a senior biotechnology equity research analyst at Morgan Stanley and Prudential Securities.
Caroline has leveraged her medical and financial experience to benefit those affected by rare disorders. She is a founding board member of the Global Genes Project, one of the world's leading rare disease patient advocacy organizations, serves on the steering committee for the Forum for Collaborative Research—Rare Diseases Forum, and the Advisory Board of TGen’s Center for Rare Childhood Disorders. She and her husband, Gregg Alton, live with their five children in San Francisco.
Scotty Sims, Secretary, USA
Before her career as a crisis therapist, where she provided support and assessment to children and adults with severe and persistent mental illness, she was a forensic interviewer, specially trained to interview children who were victims of sexual abuse for law enforcement, child protection, and the court system.
After her daughter was born and diagnosed with KCNQ2 developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, Scotty started the international KCNQ2 parent support group to provide support for families struggling with a diagnosis of KCNQ2 developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.
Alongside her husband Jim, Scotty hosted the first international KCNQ2 Summit in 2014, with over 20 families traveling worldwide.
Anja Zimmerman, Board Member, USA
Born and raised in Germany before moving to Great Britain to study Graphic Design. This is where she met her husband, with whom she moved to Southern California. While enjoying life in the Golden State, Anja pursued a career in the creative industry, working as a graphic designer and Design Manager for various companies in Southern and Northern California. While living in Northern California, their second child was born, who received the KCNQ2 diagnosis. When it became apparent that this disease would require long-term care, Anja and her family chose to move back to Southern California, where they enjoyed ample support from their family members. She is currently doing freelance work for several clients and volunteering time for KCNQ2 Cure by supporting their marketing, social media, and public outreach efforts.
Staff
Marissa LaDue, MPH, Program Manager
Marissa brings over six years of expertise from the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, where she managed educational programs and events for Interventional Cardiologists. Her journey also includes a role in community engagement at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, where she witnessed firsthand the profound impact of community on scientific discovery. Additionally, Marissa has managed population health improvement initiatives in Western New York and supported the mission of Girls on the Run of Buffalo.
Marissa is thrilled to bring her wealth of experience to KCNQ2 Cure Alliance, aiming to amplify its impact and broaden its community. She is committed to enhancing KCA’s influence on scientific research, with a passionate drive to discover treatments and, ultimately, a cure for KCNQ2-related encephalopathies. She envisions a vibrant, growing community that offers essential emotional, social, and financial support for families while advancing scientific breakthroughs through robust fundraising efforts and an active scientific advisory program.
Marissa’s mission is to build resilient, supportive communities. She believes that such communities are not only happier and stronger but also more resilient. Marissa is dedicated to fostering environments where collective strength and shared goals lead to remarkable achievements.
An ardent lifelong learner, Marissa delights in expanding her knowledge through the books she enjoys reading, learning new things for fun, and solving crossword puzzles.
Marissa holds a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Community Health and Health Behavior and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University at Buffalo. She lives with her husband and two silly daughters in Buffalo, NY.