Management Team

From the beginning the Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF) has been committed to maintaining a small but highly-qualified professional staff, supplemented with several advisory boards consisting of established business leaders and commercial and academic scientists willing to volunteer their time and talent to help MRF achieve success. This combination allows MRF to accomplish its objectives while minimizing operating expenses.

Scott Johnson, President and Founder

Scott Johnson brings more than 20 years of experience in business, including President and CEO of three startups. Johnson led such companies as Thermatrix, a venture-capital-backed company that developed, patented and sold a highly-efficient thermal oxidation technology that destroyed hazardous air pollutants. He also served as President and CEO of Cinemation, an entertainment company headquartered in Hawaii.

Johnson's first startup was SeparaSystems LP, a joint venture between DuPont and FMC that utilized advanced membrane technology for food processing. Before these entrepreneurial roles, Johnson was an executive at FMC Corporation and in management consulting at the Boston Consulting Group. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis. Johnson was diagnosed with MS in 1976.

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Russell "Rusty" Bromley, Chief Operating Officer

Rusty Bromley brings a unique combination of business experience in both academic and commercial research environments. His expertise includes the creation and protection of innovative technologies, business development, and marketing strategies for high tech and life sciences firms. Formerly he was CEO of LabVelocity, Inc., an Internet information portal for the life science research community. Prior to that he was CEO of Berkshire Holding Corporation, a privately-held, multinational manufacturer of contamination control materials for microelectronics and pharmaceutical production. Bromley's experience also includes 17 years with American Hospital Supply Corporation and Baxter Healthcare, in both the distribution and diagnostics businesses, culminating with seven years as President of the Burdick and Jackson Division. Bromley holds a degree in Biochemistry from Rice University.

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Jay Tung, Ph.D., Vice President of Drug Discovery

Jay Tung earned a B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.S., M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from Yale University.  He has more than 16 years of experience with the drug discovery process from both the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors (Eli Lilly, Athena Neurosciences and Elan Pharmaceuticals).  Most recently Jay served as Senior Director/Department Head of the Chemistry Department at Elan where he worked on developing therapeutics for a variety of neurological diseases.  He is an author/co-inventor of more than 50 scientific publications and patent applications.

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Katharine Gardner, Research Operations Manager

Katharine Gardner joined MRF in 2003 and has held various operations responsibilities since that time.Gardner's previous work experiences include positions as an event coordinator for the Tech Awards, peer counselor at Lehigh University, and intern positions at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia and the National Museum of Kenya in Nairobi. She also has extensive volunteer experience as a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Gardner has an M.A. in Political Science and a B. A. in Anthropology from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

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Ann Dabovich, Director of Development

Ann Dabovich brings more than 20 years of experience in not-for-profit management, specializing in the arts in both the private and public sectors. Dabovich most recently was responsible for all fundraising at Montalvo Art Center in Saratoga, CA, and, prior to that, at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco during the organization's building campaign for its new home in Civic Center. She has also held associate director positions at the San Francisco Symphony and at the Dallas Symphony during its campaign for the I.M. Pei-designed Meyerson Concert Hall. Prior to specializing in fundraising, Dabovich oversaw granting and technical assistance programs for state and local government agencies. She holds an M.A. in Arts Management and a B.A. in Art History.

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Carol Menaker, Associate Director of Communications and Development

Carol Menaker brings to MRF more than 20 years of experience in communications, media relations and public affairs. Prior to joining MRF, Menaker worked as a consultant to a number of Bay Area universities, non-profit organizations and law firms on communications strategy and the development of written materials, including brochures, annual reports, newsletters and web sites.  During that time, Menaker was also an active volunteer with MRF, managing their media relations program and contributing to the development of their communications materials. Menaker's other experience includes senior public affairs management positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and San Jose State University. Menaker has an M.S. in journalism from the University of Illinois and B.A. in Theatre from Penn State University.

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Peggy Tierney, Program Coordinator

Peggy Tierney, the newest member of the team, brings to MRF her experience in health non-profit advocacy and government work. Most recently, she worked for the California Medical Association, where she served in their Center for Legal Affairs as the supervising Health Law Information Specialist. Previously, she interned for the National Governmental Relations Department of the American Cancer Society in Washington, D.C.; in the San Francisco offices of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and the Capitol Hill offices of Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI). Tierney holds a a B.A. in Political Science from American University in Washington, D.C.

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