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Area 11 Council

The Executive Council:

Five (5) "At Large" Members:

Athlete Representative

Biographies

Brian Alden ● Gene Baker ● Janyt Brandt ● Kate Breen ● Heather Dail ● Matthew Doyle ● Tim Doyle

Deborah Gordon ● Jamie Kennedy ● Mary Lysher ● Denise Mayer ● Candy Thompson

 

 

Brian Alden (Nominee)

 

Brian Alden is a local business owner has been involved with Special Olympics for several years. Brian has coached or assisted in bowling, soccer, basketball and track. Brian's son Corey is involved in 6 different Special Olympics sports, thankfully not all at the same time! Additionally Brian is very active in the Special Education community as he has served on the Stafford County Schools Special Education Advisory Committee for 8 years and is the currently the Chairperson of that Committee.

 

Biographies

 

Clacy E. "Gene" Baker

 

Born in Springdale Arkansas, graduated Springdale High School in 1966 and attended University of Arkansas.   Enlisted in the Marine Corps in late 1966 and retired in 1998.  During my Marine Corps career, I served in several capacities in both enlisted and officer billets around the world.  After retiring from the Marine Corps in 1998, I started and continue working as a defense contractor supporting the Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico, Virginia with a small company, MKI Systems, Inc. in Dumfries, Virginia.

 

My wife Barbara and I have four children, Tia, Robert, Michael and Thomas and we have made Fredericksburg, Virginia our home since 1985.  Barbara resigned her commission from the Marine Corps in 1990 and became an Elementary School teacher at Battlefield Elementary School where she still teaches. Tia, Steven, Maddison and Cameron live in Broken Arrow Oklahoma where Tia practices law.   Robert, Donna, Logan and Maddison live in Chesterfield, Virginia where Robert is a millworks Manager with Lowes, and Michael lives in Fredericksburg and is a practicing electrician.  Thomas our youngest (age 19) has Downs Syndrome, lives at home with Barbara and me and attends Chancellor High School and will graduate in 2007.  Thomas started participating in Special Olympics in the mid 1990’s.

Volunteer History:

 

Special Olympics – I started volunteering at the state level while stationed in Tallahassee, Florida in 1976 and since then have volunteered virtually at all levels (local through state) throughout the united states and in Guam.

 

Red Feather Charity - I actively volunteered with other organizations similar to Special Olympics, Red Feathers, while stationed overseas in Okinawa, Japan.  The charity assisted folks with mental retardation.

 

Group Workcamps – I volunteered with Group Workcamps since 2000, taking groups of Christian youths to areas around the United States, specifically to Indian reservations.  I work as a technical director and mentor teaching young men and women to conduct home repairs, build access ramps for the handicap, and etc. 

 

Church of the Messiah - I volunteer in our local Church, beginning 1990 working with youth organizations, Royal Ambassadors and on projects to assist the elderly in our church with maintenance on their homes.

 

Boy Scouts – I volunteered with Cub and Boy scouts beginning in 1986 – 1996 both in local areas and State and National levels.

 

Habitat for Humanity - I volunteered on Habitat for Humanity projects in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia and will be working on another one in 2007 in our local area.

Biographies

 

Janyt Brandt

 

Janyt hails from Upstate New York where she got her undergraduate degree in Parks and Recreation from SUNY Cortland. She spent leisure time volunteering with various organizations including Special Olympics and the NYS Sports Festival. After college she moved to Washington DC to work for Special Olympics, Inc. At SO, Janyt worked on various sports manuals and assisted with state and international games preparation as well as fund raising activities. Working with non-profit organizations continued with subsequent jobs at the Society for Human Resource Management and the International Parking Congress where she worked in membership development, public relations and administration. After settling in the Fredericksburg Virginia area she went to work for GEICO insurance where she currently works as an internal auditor. Janyt is the parent of a special needs daughter who has participated in Special Olympics sports since she was eight.  

 

Biographies

Heather Dail (Council Nominee)

 

Heather Dail I has a 23 year old who has been playing with Special Olympics since he was 10 Years Old.  Heather also owned a day care for 20 years and was a substitute teacher for special education in Prince William County.  Mrs. Dail was on the board for the Dale City Sports Club for two years and Coles Little League for 5 years.  Heather was manager of a Challenger Baseball team for 9 years while her husband was a coach. She also volunteered for the Prince William Special Olympics (Area 23) for 10 years.  Heather has lived in Spotsylvania County for 3 and a half years now and has volunteered with bowling, volleyball, and basketball.  Mrs. Dail currently is a Para-Educator for Spotsylvania County schools and teaches children with Autism. 

 

Biographies

 

Matthew James Doyle

 

Matthew James Doyle was born on May 6 1990 at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso TX. Matthew was born one month premature and spent several weeks in the Neonatal Intensive care unit. It was during this stay that Matthew was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome. Matthew being born in to a Military Family has lived in such locations as Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. Matthew has lived in Stafford Virginia since December 1995. He is a Sophomore at Mountain View High School and is enjoying the High School experience. Matthew is very proud to tell you that he has a sister (Theresa) is a Student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia. Matthew hopes to someday join the Military so he can fight Terrorism. Since joining Special Olympics Matthew has participated in such sports as Track & Field, Basketball, Bowling, Golf, Swimming, and Soccer. Matthew is also a member of the current class of Special Olympics Global Messengers. In his spare time Matthew also proudly serves as the Captain of the Stafford County Sheriffs Special Star Force Cadet program.

Biographies

 

Timothy Patrick Doyle

 

Timothy Patrick Doyle was born on 26 June 1959 in Rochester NY the second of five children born to James and Bette Doyle. Tim graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1978 and subsequently joined the United States Marine Corps. He enjoyed the Military so much that he spent the next 20 years serving his country. Tim’s Military Career allowed him to travel all over the world and live in such stateside locations as California, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia. He has two children, 15 year old Matthew whom has Down syndrome and attends H.H. Poole Middle School, and 20 year old Theresa who attends Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Tim has been married for 22 years to his wife Rosario who was born in the Philippines. Tim currently works for General Dynamics Amphibious Systems in Woodbridge Virginia. He has been involved with Special Olympics for 10 years and has been coaching for the past year. Tim currently coaches Track and Field, and Basketball.

 

Biographies

Deborah Gordon 

Deborah S. Gordon, a lifelong resident of Stafford County, was born on December 19, 1951 in Fredericksburg, VA.  Deborah graduated from Stafford High School (now Drew Middle) and attended Northern VA Community College.  She has spent 21 years working with corporate law firms in Washington, D.C. and Northern VA and is currently employed by the international law firm of Reed Smith LLP in Falls Church, VA.  Deborah and her husband Robert have one daughter, Michelle Vogt, and two grandchildren Kevin and Amanda.  Her grandson, Kevin, has participated in Special Olympics for a number of years with grandmother cheering him on in basketball, soccer and track and field.  Deborah has volunteered for years with the Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence, serving last year on the 2006-2007 Empty Bowl Fundraising Committee.  The January Empty Bowl  event raised over $30,000 to benefit the mothers and their children residing at the Haven and RCDV programs. Deborah was thrilled to be a part of that effort. She also participated, along with granddaughter Amanda, in Hazelwild’s Therapeutic Riding Program and both intend to volunteer for the fall Special Olympic Riding Session.

 

Biographies

Jamie Kennedy

Jamie Kennedy was born on April 30th, 1982, in Washington D.C.  At an early age Jamie moved to Fredericksburg VA. where she subsequently went on to attend Stafford High School. Jamie graduated from Stafford High School in 2004.  She currently works for Rappahannock Goodwill Industries (RGI), at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.  Her hobbies include, riding her bike, reading Books, watching Movies, Playing Softball, Cleaning house, Talking on the Phone, and working on the Computer.

Biographies

Mary Lysher

 

I was born in Niagara Falls, NY.  My husband Paul is a Physical Therapist at Integrated Health in Fredericksburg.  We have a son, Kolbe who attends Chancellor Middle School in the 8th grade. He is involved in soccer, golf, basketball and swimming. Additionally, he is involved in Special Olympics as a partner and volunteer.

 

I have been involved with Special Olympics since I was in college but, became more involved once I started teaching at Chancellor High. I graduated from Patapsco High School in Baltimore, Maryland. I attended Essex Community College in Baltimore and received my Associate of Arts Degree. I received my Bachelors of Science Degree from James Madison University in 1979, majoring in Mental Retardation. I received my Masters Degree from Virginia Tech in 1993, majoring in Vocational Education.  I have been a Special Education Teacher for 26 years. For the past 18 years, I have been teaching in the Special Education Department at Chancellor High School.  I served as the Area Coordinator for 2 years and have been the treasurer for the past since around 2002.

Coaching Experience:                     

Special Olympics Golf, Basketball Skills, and Athletics. 

 

Coaching Experience High School:   

JV Basketball at James Monroe High 1979-1980

JV Field Hockey at James Monroe High School 1980-1981

Varsity Field Hockey at James Monroe High School 1981-1986

Varsity Field Hockey at Chancellor High 1988-1996 

Varsity Softball at Chancellor High 1989-1996

JV Field Hockey at Chancellor High 2004-present

 

Playing Experience:

Patapsco High School in Baltimore, MD - Volleyball and Softball

Essex Community College, Baltimore, MD - Volleyball and Lacrosse

Inducted to the Essex Community College Hall of Fame in 2003 for Volleyball and Lacrosse

Played on the U.S. College Touring Team for Lacrosse 1978

Played on the U.S. Lacrosse Squad 1978-1979

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA – Volleyball and Lacrosse

Biographies

 

Denise Mayer

 

My name is Denise Mayer.  I grew up in Long Beach Calif.  Married and had three girls.  Moved to Cleveland, Ohio for 5 years because of a job transfer, then to Easton Mass, for 17 years, for a job change.  The last job change came 6 ½ years ago when we moved to Hartwood, Virginia.  Two of my girls are mentally retarded, the third daughter graduated from Radford 2 years ago.  My two daughters, Amy and Becky have given me so much love, joy and laughter, that I feel a great need to pass along all those qualities they have taught me. My goal in life is to serve God, serve my family, and then serve others.  I currently live in Fredericksburg, Virginia with Amy and Becky.  I am learning from a friend to trust God to direct my future.

 

Biographies

 

Candy Thompson

 

Candy Thompson was born in Canoga Park California. Most of her childhood was spent in Salt Lake City Utah and California. She also lived briefly in Idaho and Florida. In 1985 Candy married George Thompson and they subsequently moved to Virginia. In 1993 George and Candy were blessed with their first and only child, Travis. At the age of 5 years old Travis was diagnosed with Autism. It is because of Travis’s disability that Candy and George became involved with Special Olympics. Travis is currently a freshman at Riverbend High School. Some of Candy’s interests include volunteering with her Church which is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Candy has also been very involved in the Parent Teachers Associations at Travis’s school throughout his life. In Candy’s 7 year association with Special Olympics, she along with her husband George have been involved in Basketball, Track, Swimming, and they currently coach the Area 11 Golf Team. Candy is also a very active participant in our Fundraising efforts.

 

Biographies

 
Updated 04/22/2008

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