Who We Are | Board of Directors
Neuro Challenge Board of Directors
Doreen T. Sutherland, M.B.A.
NCF Chairman
Mrs. Sutherland has been active in community healthcare philanthrophy for more than 25 years. She has received several local, regional and national awards for her fundraising efforts including the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s National Income Development Award, the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s National Volunteer Leadership Award and the American Cancer Society’s Income Volunteer of the Year Award.
Serving as Chairman of Neuro Challenge, Mrs. Sutherland is focused on securing the foundation’s future through long-range planning of healthcare initiatives that target quality of life improvements for those struggling with neurological illness, development of robust patient resources, and innovative volunteer programs.
Mrs. Sutherland received a Masters in Business Administration in Finance from Florida State University. She began her career as a public TV producer and a communications representative for a former Florida Governor. She has written strategic marketing plans for Fortune 500 companies in the technology and healthcare industries and for federal and state governments. She is inspired by the courage, humor, honesty and unquenchable spirit of thousands of patients met over many years. Dean and Doreen have four young, active and creative children who are at the center of everything they do.
Heidi Godman
ABC 7
Heidi is an award-winning medical journalist and serves as ABC 7’s medical editor. She is the first TV broadcaster in the country to be named a journalism fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. She has earned numerous awards for her work, including two honors for excellence in cardiovascular communications from Florida’s American Heart Association, and a Sarasota County Government proclamation for her efforts to help less fortunate children find affordable health insurance. Many Suncoast physicians use Heidi’s work as educational tools for their patients.
During her time at WWSB, Heidi has also served as the anchor of ABC 7’s Weekend Edition, the morning news, and the noon news.
Heidi spent many years at WWSB as a general assignment reporter, covering everything from international drug busts to hurricanes to controversial civic issues. She was the first television reporter ever to accompany Sarasota Police on a dangerous crack house raid, showing viewers the reality of drugs in the community. Heidi also broke most of the stories in the three-year battle to turn the historic Ringling Towers site into the home of Sarasota’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Heidi volunteers her time to various non-profit groups on the Suncoast, and speaks regularly to civic groups.
Heidi grew up in Washington, DC, and earned a journalism degree from West Virginia University. She got her start at WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, WV, then moved on to KJCT-TV in Grand Junction, CO, before landing at WWSB-TV. It’s been home ever since.
“My husband and I treasure this community,” she says. “It’s where we were married, it’s where we’re raising our children, it’s home.”
Heidi counts her family as her greatest accomplishment. Her husband Jay is a writer, and they are the proud parents of Christopher, Alexa and Carson.
Marilyn Tait, R.N.
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Ms. Tait is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia. She has lived in Sarasota for more than 25 years. As a long-term cancer survivor, Marilyn has a true understanding of the impact of disease on human life. She has an acquired appreciation and respect for the needs and concerns of caregivers following the loss of her husband to an incurable illness in 1989. As a volunteer, Marilyn dedicates her personal and professional life to those striving to live with the impact of neurological illness through her volunteer outreach efforts on behalf of Neuro Challenge Foundation. Professionally, Marilyn continues to develop outstanding educational programs in association with Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida.
Cheryl L. Gordon
Abel Band
Mrs. Gordon is a tax and business attorney whose clients include a wide variety of individuals, sole proprietors, partnerships and corporations, who benefit from her extensive tax and accounting background. She counsels and represents clients in areas such as the formation of businesses, buying and selling of businesses, planning and implementing deferred compensation programs and employee benefit plans, business and personal tax planning and estate planning, including the preparation of wills and trusts and probate.
Mrs. Gordon, who is also a Certified Public Accountant, was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1979, and has been a Shareholder of the firm, Abel Band, Chartered since 1984. She has been a guest lecturer for various professional and community organizations on matters regarding estate and tax planning.
Mrs. Gordon is also active in the community currently serving as a board member and as President of the Sarasota Downtown Partnership, on the Board of Directors of the Lou Gehrig’s Disease Association of Southwest Florida, the Neuro Challenge Foundation and the Youth Development Foundation. She has also served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of the Sarasota Opera Association, as a member of the Board of Directors and as Vice President and Treasurer of Temple Beth Sholom, as a member of Women’s American ORT, having served as the President of her Chapter, served as a trustee of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Foundation and served on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation. Mrs. Gordon is also a graduate of Leadership Sarasota sponsored by the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Florida Bar, Sarasota County Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Association of Attorneys - Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Association of Women Lawyers. Mrs. Gordon graduated with high honors from the University of Florida with a degree in accounting. She received her Juris Doctor degree and Masters in Taxation from the University of Florida, graduating with honors.
Richard C. Stevens
Business Entrpreneur
Mr. Stevens is a retired real estate attorney who splits his time between Florida and North Carolina. Dick spent his professional career creating successful real estate ventures throughout North America. As a Parkinson Survivor, Dick recognizes the impact that state-of-the-art health care, outreach services and research can have on quality of life for every patient.
With more than 40 years of experience in establishing successful new businesses, Mr. Stevens provides Neuro Challenges with extraordinary leadership and advisory skills.
Marian R. Coley
Salant Corporation, Retired
Mrs. Coley lives in Northern New Jersey. Marian shares twenty years of management experience in the garment industry with us. Her unique caregiver perspective, garnered from her experience in caring for loved ones challenged by mental illness, is highly valued by Neuro Challenge.
Mark Bisgeier
Besgeier & Associates, Accounting
Janice Landauer
President, Artist Series Friends
Laura Gilkey
Owner, Kangaroo Promotions
Gale Rydel, RN
National Quality Mgr., Cigna Corporation
Kathy Gilkey
Owner, Michael Gilkey Landscaping
Carl Penxa
Executive Director, Loveland Center
Paula Davenport, RN
OR Nurse, SMH Deep Brain Stimulator Program