Meet the Team

Dr. Jones is currently with the Division of Neurology Products in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).  Dr. Jones graduated from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2003, after which he completed his neurology residency at the University of Massachusetts in 2007, serving as chief resident in his last year of residency. He completed a neuroimmunology and MS fellowship at the University of Massachusetts as a Clinical Fellow of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2008. After his training, he accepted a position as the Director of the MS Center of the Lehigh Valley in Allentown, PA, where he worked until accepting a faculty position as Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, in 2012. David held leadership roles with the American Academy of Neurology, the National MS Society, the Consortium of MS Centers, the MS Foundation, MSAA, and the North American Registry for Care and Research in MS. His interest is advocating for multi-disciplinary, comprehensive care to patients with multiple sclerosis, for which Can Do MS is an exemplary model. “Can Do MS is what healthcare should be. I believe strongly in the philosophy of comprehensive care and Jimmie Heuga’s legacy of focusing on what you can do. Exercise, nutrition, symptom management, communication skills, and motivation to thrive are integral parts of Can Do and the comprehensive approach.”  David is Board Chair and has been an active Program Consultant for Can Do Multiple Sclerosis since 2013.

Lisa Mattis is President & CEO of Can Do Multiple Sclerosis and serves as a Member of Board of Directors. Can Do MS is a national nonprofit organization that helps families living with MS to thrive through health and wellness education programs. Exercise, nutrition, symptom management and motivation are core focus areas. Lisa’s single priority is to meet the vision of strengthening every family living with MS by dramatically growing the organization.

Mattis spent a decade leading Outward Bound USA National Advancement and led Big City Mountaineers as Executive Director.  More recently, Lisa’s consulting company, Catalyst Philanthropy, continues to transform organizations, build leadership, and strengthen development capacity to enable nonprofits to create momentum and organizational change. Services include strategic planning, interim executive leadership, board development and training, revenue capacity building, team coaching and organizational alignment.  Interim executive leadership posts include the Foundation for Colorado Community Colleges, Northeastern Junior College Foundation, and The Joshua School.

Mattis holds a BA from Fordham University and an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International & Public Affairs. Currently, Lisa serves on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Services Advisory Committee and Chairs the Impact Sub-Committee. She is the Vice Chair of the Town of Avon, Colorado Special Events Committee and leads the Marketing Committee. Lisa is a member of the Colorado Mountain College Edwards Campus Advisory Committee. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative and loves spending time hiking among Colorado’s “Crown Jewels.” Lisa is also a Vail ski instructor and volunteers extensively across Colorado’s Vail Valley.

Dick served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Xcel Energy until September 2011. From June to mid-December 2005 he served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and previous to that he served as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to the 2000 merger of New Century Energies (NCE) and Northern States Power Company to form Xcel Energy, Kelly served as NCE’s Chief Financial Officer, having held a variety of finance-related positions at Public Service Company of Colorado before it merged with Southwestern Public Service Company to form NCE.

Dick sits on the boards of Pacific Gas and Electric and Can Do Multiple Sclerosis. He and his wife Robin are past Co-Chairs of the Can Do MS Board of Directors, to which he was elected in 2009. Dick has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Regis University. He was 2011 Chairman of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum of Minnesota and a board member of Capital City Partnership, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).

Dick was a member of the Minnesota Business Partnership, the National Petroleum Council, Colorado Concern and Colorado Forum and the National Advisory Council of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Dick earned both a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Regis University. He attended the University of Colorado’s Executive Education Conference and The University of Michigan’s Public Utility Executive Program.

Erin Murphy became involved with the Can Do MS organization as part of a fundraising team at the annual SKI for MS fundraiser in Vail, Colorado, in support of her close friend living with MS. She joined the Board of Directors in 2017 and feels honored to serve the MS community through her contributions to the organization. Professionally, Erin is an attorney at the Denver law firm Davis, Graham & Stubbs LLP, where she focuses her practice on commercial and natural resources matters. Erin received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, double-majoring in Legal Studies and Political Science, and graduating in the Highest Honorable Distinction. She then attended law school at the University of Wyoming, where she graduated with honors and was elected to membership in the Order of the Coif. In addition to giving her time to Can Do MS, Erin serves on the Board of Directors for the regional charity Toby's Shower for Babies, and enjoys travelling, skiing, hiking, volunteering, and spending time with her rescue dog Marley.

Tyler Hamilton joined the board of Can Do MS in 2017. Tyler was introduced to Can Do MS after becoming friends with founder Jimmie Heuga and has participated in many ski and bike fundraising events. 

In 2014, Can Do MS became the beneficiary of MS Global, an annual charitable bicycle tour founded by Tyler Hamilton to raise funds for families with multiple sclerosis (MS). Since 2008, MS Global has generated more than $1.3 million for the fight against MS.

Tyler Hamilton was a professional cyclist who raced at the highest levels of the sport from 1995-2008. He is now the founder and CEO of Tyler Hamilton Training (THT), a one-of-a-kind coaching experience built on a mission of making personalized, world-class training accessible to cyclists and triathletes of all ages and abilities anywhere in the world. 

In 2012, Hamilton released his memoir, The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs, a riveting journey into the heart of a never before seen world. The book became an instant New York Times bestseller and was the recipient of the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.

Can Do MS founder Jimmie Heuga and Tyler share an essential philosophy: For those with MS, exercise, nutrition, and strong motivation all lead to living a healthier life, enabling families to thrive. Today, Tyler currently lives in Missoula, Montana.

Blaze joined Can Do MS, formerly The Heuga Center for MS, the day he could walk. Hanging out with his dad at the center’s programs and fundraisers, Blaze developed a passion for helping the MS community. Recently Blaze has been one of the top fundraisers at the Vail Ski for MS event and speaks at some of the programs across Colorado. When he’s not working down in Denver, he’s always going up to the mountains to ski, camp, bike, hike, raft and going on as many adventures as he can!

Robin Kelly, a Denver native, serves as a community volunteer for several local organizations that focus on education and wellness. She has been a member of the Can Do MS Board of Directors since 2009, acting as Board Co-Chair with her husband, Dick, for a number of years. Robin is a member of the Arrupe Jesuit High School Board of Trustees and serves on the Development Committee, and works with the Adams County Food Bank serving low income residents. She also supports fundraising efforts of the Ronald McDonald House, Rocky Mountain Childhood Cancer Foundation, Escuela de Guadalupe, American Heart Association, National MS Society, Rocky Mountain MS Center, The Women’s Foundation and her church. Robin earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Regis University and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Denver. Her work experience includes professional positions in transportation, property management and the utility industries.

She lives with her husband and son in Westminster, Colorado where they serve their community full time in an effort to improve the lives of people who struggle with the impact of disease, education deficiencies and economic uncertainty. Robin was diagnosed with MS in 2006 and attended the four-day CAN DO Program with her husband in 2007.

Bernice (Bernie) became involved with the Can Do Multiple Sclerosis, formerly The Heuga Center for MS in 2004 as part of fundraising Team WOOP WOOP. An avid skier, Bernie got introduced to the organization through a friend that was an event director of SKI for MS at Copper Mountain, Colorado. In 2007 she took over as Event Director of the SKI for MS at Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She continues as both a team and Event Director. She joined the board in 2008 and serves on the Compliance Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee. Professionally, Bernice is currently an independent consultant in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry providing clinical operations and clinical project management expertise leveraging her 20 years in the industry. Her experience includes managing projects, teams and vendors for all phases of clinical studies (Phases I-IV) including multi-national trials. Previously she has been an employee of Oscient Pharmaceuticals, Sepracor, PRAECIS and Genetics Institute. She has a B.A. in Biology from University at Buffalo (SUNYAB), a M.S. in Applied Anatomy and Physiology from Boston University and a Graduate Certificate in Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University Extension School.In addition to giving her time to Can Do MS Bernie is a member of the volunteer management committee for the Appalachian Mountain Club Property of Knubble Bay and Beals Island in Maine. Bernie lives in Natick, Massachusetts.

Adrah Leitner, DPT, PCS received her doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2008. Her lifelong passion has been neonatology and physical therapy on medically fragile infants.  Adrah advocates working closely with local NICU’s to provide a smooth and comprehensive transition home from the inpatient environment.  Practicing for 11 years, she has been intimately involved in the Pediatrics Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Following her passion to strive for and promote implementation and access to the best possible care for children with special needs, she took on the position as Director of Clinical Services at Spark Home Health Care in 2018.

Her professional contributions include: Pediatrics Specialty Certification (2012); Fellow, PT Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (2012-2014); Keynote Speaker, National Pediatrics PT Conference (2016) & Guidelines International Network (2015); President, APTRA Pediatrics Section (2010-2012); Vice President, APTRA Pediatrics Sections (2012-2013); Admissions Committee, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018); National Clinical Instructor, APTA (2008-2017).

Additionally, she is involved in field research and a development member of the Clinical Practice Guideline for Developmental Coordination Disorder.  Outside of her clinical involvement, she has additionally volunteered for Minds Matter Denver (2015-2018) and has taken six public health medical missions to teach health care professionals, in third and fourth world countries, techniques to decrease infant mortality.

Kate, an avid cyclist, was introduced to Can Do MS through her involvement with MS Global, a charitable bike tour. Diagnosed with MS in December 2007, Kate has fully embraced exercise, nutrition, and positive thinking as fundamental components of successfully living with MS. She has volunteered throughout the years with the Greater DC-Maryland Chapter of the MS Society including helping at Walk MS events, twice co-chairing a young professionals soiree fundraiser, and advocating for important laws and policies on Capitol Hill. She participated for many years in Bike MS, eventually captaining her own team. Kate is a graduate of Vassar College and Vermont Law School and lives in Washington DC where she is a real estate attorney specializing in land use, zoning, and historic preservation law. She joined the Board of Directors in 2017.

Randall (Randy) T. Schapiro, M.D. has had a passion for medicine and multiple sclerosis (MS) for most of his life. Early on he made a commitment to helping those living with MS make the most of their lives. Dr. Shapiro serves as a member of the Can Do MS Board of Directors, and serves as a medical program staff member. Dr. Schapiro was born and raised in Minnesota. After graduating from Occidental College (Los Angeles, CA) in Biology, he graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He trained in internal medicine at the Wadsworth VA Medical Center (UCLA) in Los Angeles and then in neurology under A. B. Baker, M.D. at the University of Minnesota. Following a short stint as a faculty member and director of the MS Clinic at the University of Minnesota he founded the first comprehensive MS Center in a private practice in 1977, The Fairview MS Center, was later renamed, The Schapiro Center for Multiple Sclerosis. In 2008, Dr. Schapiro was honored with the Can Do MS CAN DO Award and retired from clinical practice to lecture and educate about MS on a national basis. He continues to support Can Do MS’s mission, programs, and helping those living with MS.

Ben Thrower, M.D., is the medical director of the Andrew C. Carlos MS Institute at Shepherd Center. He previously served as the medical director of the Holy Family Multiple Sclerosis Institute in Spokane, Wash. In Spokane, he was the chair of the Inland Northwest Chapter of the NMSS. In 2000, he was awarded the Norm Cohn Hope Chest Award by the National MS Society, recognizing his work with the MS community. In 2005, he was the first physician inductee into the Georgia Chapter of the National MS Society Volunteer Hall of Fame.

Dr. Thrower is a clinical instructor of neurology at Emory University and participates actively in clinical research. He serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Chapter of the National MS Society and has served on the board for the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Institutes.
Combining his professional interests with his love of motorcycles, he founded the non-profit organization HAMS, Hogs Against MS. His wife, Karen, is a pediatrician. They have three children, Stephanie, Nathan, and Sam.