Jeff Chiusano is a stay at home dad to two children, including his five year old son Joey who has autism. Joey was diagnosed with autism at The Marcus Institute and has been attending the Early Intervention program there since 2005. As supporters of The Marcus Institute, Jeff and his wife Jackie welcomed the opportunity to get involved with the Georgia Walk for Autism in late 2006. As a collaboration between Autism Speaks, a national autism advocacy organization and The Marcus Institute, the walk sought to raise autism awareness and funds for autism research. In his role as chairman of the walk, Jeff led a committee that included Bill and Cammi Jones to create one of the most successful autism walk events ever in the US. The 2007 Georgia Walk for Autism drew over 18,000 people and raised $1.5 million. With a degree in biomedical engineering from Vanderbilt, a professional background in pharmaceutical and software sales and years of experience as a stay at home parent, Jeff combines skills in a variety of areas to advance the autism cause on multiple fronts.

Shaun Doty is a nationally acclaimed chef owning his own restaurant called “Shaun’s” in the Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. Chef Doty creates simply prepared contemporary bistro fare at “Shaun’s Restaurant” (www.shaunsrestaurant.com) , while raising a son with autism. Dante Doty has participated in the Early Intervention program at the Marcus Institute since June 2006, and has seen remarkable improvements. In part because there’s nowhere else for him to go, and in part to help other children who have not been lucky enough to attend the Marcus Institute, Doty became a founding member of the Believe in Me Foundation and has used his culinary connections to help create some truly memorable fundraising events.

Cammi R. Jones is an attorney, advocate, parent and entrepreneur trying to improve the lives of children with autism, and their families. Cammi’s son, Warner, was diagnosed with autism on May 5, 2006, and he began attending the Marcus Institute Early Intervention program on August 14, 2006, the day before his 3rd birthday. Since that time, Warner has seen tremendous improvements because of the intensive thirty hour Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy he receives each week. Since his progress clearly improved each time more ABA therapy was introduced, Cammi realized the need for such therapy for children with autism was a key to their success and improvement. Yet, with waiting lists in excess of nine months at the Marcus Institute, she realized that something needed to be done to help more children in Georgia and around the country. Cammi is also a founding member and Chief Operating Officer of Flexible Executives, LLC (www.flexibleexecutives.com), a former partner in a Cobb County law firm, and the Family Services Chairperson of the Georgia Chapter of Autism Speaks, a national advocacy and research organization dedicated to trying to find a cause and a cure for autism.

William P. Jones is an attorney, advocate and parent married to Cammi R. Jones, and is the father of Warner. Bill practices law at Epstein, Becker and Green, P.C. (www.ebglaw.com), in the areas of national litigation, construction, employment, and business disputes. Like Cammi, Bill’s involvement in the Foundation focuses on helping more children with autism receive the necessary intensive early intervention to fulfill their life potential. Bill is also involved with Autism Speaks, he acts as the Team Recruitment Co-Chair for the 2008 Georgia Walk for Autism.

Camille P. Ryan is an event planner that quickly changed the focus of her business from Christmas parties and weddings to fundraising when her oldest grandson was diagnosed with autism. Camille has been instrumental in planning every detail of the events planned by the Believe in Me Foundation. She is the mother of three grown children, and grandmother of six.

James P. Ryan is the Managing Partner of Griffin Realty Advisors (www.griffinrealtyadvisors.com) with more than twenty-five years of real estate investment experience. Jim has a background of investing institutional capital in commercial real estate nationally through a series of closed end funds. He has been involved with the Believe In Me since its creation and has provided a great deal of strategy and business acumen to the Board of Directors. He is the grandfather of a child with autism.

Justin P. Ryan is partner in one of the largest wealth management teams in the Southeast at Citi Smith Barney. As the uncle of a child with autism, Justin has been very active in his nephew’s development and progress. When it became clear that the services he received at the Marcus Institute was producing drastic results for his nephew, Justin started researching options for the future. He realized that there were not very many schools available to provide a continuing education for children with autism. With autism reaching epidemic proportions, Justin realizes that is necessary to build schools now to accommodate children with this developmental disability. Justin is a co-founder of Believe in Me and is currently working to raise awareness and funds for the foundation.