Project Alive Welcomes New Board Members

December 30, 2024

Project Alive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the ultra-rare disease Hunter syndrome, is thrilled to announce the election of their new members of the Board of Directors. Katey Hoffman, MD, Cory Briddle, Victor Nwaba, Anne and Jeff Denneen, and Aaron Byzak, MBA will begin their terms on January 1, 2025. Each brings unique skills, experiences, and passion to help drive the mission and vision of Project Alive forward.

Katey Hoffman, MD

Katey is a board-certified pediatrician and mother to three wonderful children, including her middle child Peter (6.5yrs old) who has neuronopathic Hunter syndrome. Katey graduated from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, where she also completed residency and chief residency in pediatrics. For the last decade she has practiced as a pediatric hospitalist at her local community hospital, an affiliate of UCSF Medical Center and Benioff Children's Hospitals. She served as medical director of her pediatric hospitalist program before stepping down in 2019 to focus on balancing family life with Peter's complex care. Katey is passionate about Project Alive's mission and vision for building up the Hunter syndrome community, educating and advocating for rare disease, and supporting research for promising new Hunter syndrome therapies. She previously served a two-year term on the Project Alive board from 2020-2022. Katey is married to Andrew Hoffman (Project Alive's current board chair), and together with their children they live in beautiful Marin County, CA.

Cory Briddle

With over a decade of work experience, Cory’s journey has been defined by a steadfast commitment to operational excellence and team empowerment. At BriddleWood Facility Services, his core to drive innovation in facility service management with integrity, excellent communication, a commitment to our community and a resilient mindset in order to produce a culture of customer satisfaction. It's a role that not only aligns with his expertise in project and time management but also resonates with his values of integrity, communication, and result-driven strategies.

Since starting BriddleWood, Cory’s focus has been on enhancing the company’s service delivery through meticulous planning and problem-solving. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and leveraging his skills in communication and team building, have strengthened client relationships and achieved significant operational efficiencies. This hands-on approach has been instrumental in advancing the company's reputation as a leader in the facility services industry.

Cory is thrilled to be of service on the Board of Directors for Project Alive because he sees an immense opportunity to utilize his skillset for a great cause. He looks forward to being a part of the Project Alive vision and grow closer to the Hunter syndrome community. 

Anne and Jeff Denneen (Sharing one board seat)

Anne Denneen is CEO, COO, and CFO of the Denneen Family.  She has spent the past 22 years raising three amazing children—Darcy, Rachel and Liam—and managing all aspects of family life.  Darcy is a 2024 graduate of Chapman University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Child Psychology.  Rachel is a freshman at Tufts University, where she is studying pre-med.  Finally, Liam, who has Hunter Syndrome, is 14 and in the 8th grade.  In addition to the hard work of successfully raising three children, Anne has been the primary caregiver for Liam.  She has done extensive research on Hunter Syndrome, its pathology and treatments and is a master advocate for Liam and all his healthcare and educational needs.  Although Anne gave up her career aspirations to be a full-time mom, she holds both a JD and an MBA.  She graduated in the top five in her law school class despite being pregnant for her entire second year and being a new mother for her final semesters.  Anne earned both her JD and MBA from Georgia State University and her BA from Emory University, where she majored in English.

Jeff Denneen is a Senior Partner at Bain & Company, a management consulting firm.  In addition to his work at Bain, Jeff serves on the Board of Directors of Denneen & Company (his brother’s company).  Jeff spent ~15 years on the Goizueta Advisory Board at Goizueta Business School (Emory University), and 11 years on the faculty at Goizueta, teaching one semester per year as part of his annual gift to the school.  Jeff also served on the Board of Trustees for the Atlanta Ballet, stepping down from his role in 2013 after Liam’s diagnosis.  Jeff has a BA in Economics from Emory University and an MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory.

Victor Nwaba

Victor Nwaba, a Los Angeles native, is a dedicated financial advisor with a nationwide practice and offices in Los Angeles and Orange County. He specializes in working with individuals, families, and business owners, helping them navigate their financial journeys with confidence and clarity.

As part of Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal financial services organization, Victor’s work extends beyond financial planning. Modern Woodmen’s unique structure allows him to not only provide personalized solutions for his clients but also give back to local communities through fundraising initiatives, resources, and educational programs. Victor also partners with nonprofits to support their missions, helping them enhance their reach and impact. Victor takes pride in building meaningful relationships with his clients, grounded in trust and a shared commitment to achieving both personal and financial goals.

When he’s not working with clients, Victor enjoys being actively involved in community initiatives, staying true to his belief in strengthening the places where we live and work.

Aaron J. Byzak, MBA

Aaron Byzak is a transformational executive and ground-breaking thought leader with 30+ years experience across emergency medical services, health policy, healthcare management, and leadership in the non-profit, social services and consulting space. A motivational and energetic public speaker and 4-time Emmy Award-winning writer and producer, Aaron is the creative designer of multiple best practice public health, advocacy, community relations, and workforce development initiatives.

He earned an MBA in Healthcare Management and Policy from UC Irvine, a BA in Social Science from Chapman University, and an AA in History from MiraCosta College. Aaron holds Certificates in Hospital and Health System Leadership and Executive Leadership from UCLA's Anderson School of Management and Cornell University, respectively. 

He lives in Vista, California with his wife and children.

It is a tremendous honor to have such a diverse group of people join our board. Each has tremendous expertise in a variety of skill sets that will be essential in growing Project Alive. Their passion for being of service and their dedication to furthering our mission will undoubtedly be an asset to our team. I look forward to working with these great individuals in the new year,

says Kristin McKay, President and Executive Director of Project Alive.

Project Alive moves into their eleventh year of operation in 2025 and remains dedicated to their vision that every individual with Hunter syndrome has access to curative medicine.