About Us

As the leader of the SADS Foundation, Walker works to ensure that every family facing a genetic heart arrhythmia has access to answers, care, and community. In prior roles, he led crisis response efforts in refugee camps and conflict zones around the globe, helping families rebuild after profound loss. In 2022, that work became personal when his daughter, Lavinia (“Lovey”), died from an undiagnosed cardiac event. Since then, Walker has made it his mission to prevent others from facing the same heartbreak alone. He holds a BA from Yale and an MA in Organizational Strategy & Nonprofit Management.

Outside of work, he can be found cheering on his son at youth climbing competitions, hiking Utah’s mountain trails with his family, or enjoying a steady stream of audiobooks and word puzzles.

Genevie graduated from the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences with an Associate of Applied Science as a Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist and is nationally certified as a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS). She has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Health and is a Certified Nonprofit Specialist. She worked in the cardiac electrophysiology lab at the Mayo Clinic as an RCIS. 

Genevie was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome at the age of 16 after multiple cardiac events, and she felt like her world had been turned upside down. Shortly after that, she discovered the SADS Foundation, which became her home and a huge source of support. She began volunteering with SADS as a teenager and has served in various capacities with the Foundation, including as a board member. It’s an honor for her to now lead the organization’s family support program and to spearhead research and advocacy efforts. Seeing families live and thrive with their conditions inspires her every day.

Genevie loves being outdoors, spending time with her family and pets, and reading. 

Marcia joined the SADS Foundation as Program Director in October 2018, following a 35+ year career in nonprofit management with two other national heart organizations – American Heart Association and Mended Hearts/Mended Little Hearts. She has a Masters of Science in Health Education (MS Ed) from Southern Illinois University.

Marcia is honored to work with an incredible staff team and the many dedicated volunteers who serve on SADS leadership committees or with partner organizations. Heart disease and stroke have run in her family for generations.

On weekends, Marcia spends her leisure time sailing. When not sailing, she is singing and playing piano or guitar with her women’s ensemble at various venues across the Dallas metropolitan area.

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Erin joined the SADS team in 2018, with a background of 15 years of office management and IT. Six months after joining the SADS staff, the organization’s mission turned very personal for Erin when a close family friend lost a child to Brugada syndrome. She watched the Foundation spring into action – pairing the family with medical experts, critical resources, and compassionate peers – and came to see firsthand how needed those services truly are. 

Ever since, she has channelled her IT and operations experience into building systems that magnify the Foundation’s work to provide timely and effective services to every SADS family in need. Erin loves the outdoors, including weekend camping trips, fishing, and hiking. She also loves music and attending concerts.

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Ken has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, with an extensive background in philanthropy and fundraising. Some of his past career highlights include working at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Human Rights Campaign. Ken holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

The work of the SADS Foundation is important to Ken personally. Ken has a congenital heart defect and has been an active volunteer in the CHD community for more than 13 years. In addition to having had two open heart surgeries to date, Ken survived sudden cardiac arrest while at the gym in 2023. He currently serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Board of the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) and the Patient and Scientific Advisory Board of the Congenital Heart Initiative.

Ken is an outdoor enthusiast and loves hiking and cycling. You can also find him singing with the Knoxville Choral Society and the Knoxville Chamber Chorale. 

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Helping families with rare diseases is personal to Anna. She grew up in a rare disease household that faced many of the same challenges that SADS families experience, and has a rare genetic condition called Classical Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. This has driven her to use her background in storytelling and communications to ensure those with rare diseases get the answers and support they need on their journey.

Anna holds a BA in English Literature and a BA in Music History from Michigan State University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland. Before joining the SADS Foundation, she taught Digital Rhetoric and Creative Writing as a Junior Lecturer at the University of Maryland. She’s also worked in freelance communications since 2012 helping bookstores across the U.S. improve and maximize their digital presence. Outside of work, Anna enjoys reading, crossword puzzles, gardening, and spending time with her rescue dog, feral cat, and husband.

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Zach has been with SADS since 2022, where he’s continued to grow his experience in a professional setting. Prior to that, Zach worked in the sushi restaurant industry and was fortunate to help manage two local restaurants in the Salt Lake City area. That experience allowed Zach to build strong, face-to-face relationships with members of the local community.

Zach is inspired by the life-saving impact SADS has on individuals and families. He is passionate about non-profit work and feels fortunate to collaborate with such a dedicated team committed to advancing the SADS mission every day.

When Zach isn’t working for SADS, you can find him spending time outdoors with his dog, exploring New England with his wife, or playing and writing music.

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Tia has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and brings nearly a decade of experience in the cardiology field to her role at the SADS Foundation. Tia received formal training in reading and interpreting EKGs, which became a key part of her role. Although she’s no longer working directly in the hospital setting, the knowledge and skills she gained continue to inform her work at SADS.

Working with the SADS Foundation is a dream role for Tia, where she can combine her clinical background, public health education, and lived experience to support others facing inherited cardiac conditions. Tia was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome over 20 years ago and is committed to using her knowledge and empathy to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and families affected by SADS conditions.

Outside of work, Tia enjoys riding bikes, going to concerts and being with her family. Her three children also have Long QT Syndrome.

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Jennifer’s dedication to SADS is written in her family’s story. Four years after losing her ten-year-old son to an unexplained arrhythmia, her 16-year-old son Sammy suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in January 2023. After more than two hours of CPR he was pronounced dead – only for his heart to restart five minutes later. Now thriving at Vanderbilt University with a CPVT diagnosis, Sammy fuels Jennifer’s resolve to make sure no family walks this road alone, a mission she advances every day as Community Engagement Coordinator.

Jennifer has a BA in Journalism with a specialty in broadcast news and began a career in television news reporting and anchoring, which aligns with her commitment to public service. After a decade in the field, she transitioned into television hosting, commercials, and spokespersonships while raising her two children. She later began a new career in nonprofit work, managing a cancer nonprofit foundation.

Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys writing, working out, creating music with her husband and son, and spending time with her two dogs, extended family, and friends.

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Allie has worked in the social media field for over five years. She understands how important easily accessible information is for the SADS community, and she is honored to be a part of supporting families on their heart journeys.

The work of the SADS Foundation is near and dear to her heart. In December of 2023, Allie’s world was turned upside down when her 16 year old brother went into cardiac arrest. He was later diagnosed with CPVT – as well as three other members of his family, including Allie. She relied heavily on the SADS social media platforms to understand this new condition that her family was coming to terms with. 

When she’s not working for SADS, you can find Allie chasing her toddler, exploring the great outdoors, or spending time with her family.

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