David Calusdian, President
Ben Gambrel, Vice President
Ron Prevost, Treasurer
Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD, LCSW, Secretary
Shawn Assad
Susan Boaz
Diane Davey, RN
Denise Egan Stack, LMHC
Crystal Fulwood
Chris Trondsen, LMFT
Jo-Ann Winston
Jenny C. Yip, PsyD, ABPP
Denis Asselin, Emeritus
Michael Jenike, MD, Emeritus (In Memoriam)
Joy Kant, Emeritus
Patricia Perkins, JD, Emeritus (In Memoriam)
David Calusdian
President
David Calusdian is President of Sharon Merrill Advisors, a strategic communications advisory firm. David is an accomplished communicator with more than 30 years of experience in advising and coaching executives through critical communications events. He has a proven track record of working with CEOs, CFOs and boards of directors to maximize stakeholder value, strengthen relationships and build credibility. He offers expert guidance in investor relations and communications at a strategic level to clients, covering a range of special situations such as IPOs, executive transitions, and crisis events, among others. David teaches clients how to communicate effectively through written and spoken language, as well as how to harness the power of the unspoken word -- body language. An acknowledged authority on executive presentation coaching and strategic messaging, he excels in preparing management teams for investor interactions. He is regarded as an expert in developing executive presence and dynamic communication skills for the C-suite and board members. David graduated from Emerson College with B.S. and M.A. degrees in Communications.
Ben Gambrel
Vice President
Ben Gambrel has spent his 20+ year career working for large public companies in a variety of roles. Currently, he is the Chief Operating Officer at Matco Tools, a division of Vontier Corp. Over the last 10+ years Ben has led strategy development and execution at a corporate and operating company level.
Ben has been actively assisting the IOCDF in developing their vision, mission, and strategy for the last 18 months and is excited to join the board to continue the work in a more official capacity. Ben lives in Greater Cleveland with his wife Molly and teenage children. Ben and Molly are grateful for the support they have received parenting a child with OCD and are active members of the OCD community. Ben received a bachelors in engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Stanford University. He served for two years as the Executive Sponsor for the Allies for Inclusion group at Vontier, part of the company's IDE initiative.
Ron Prevost
Treasurer
Ron has been on the Board of Directors since 2015 and was elected to serve in the role of treasurer on the board. He was also a founding member of the OCD Oregon, an IOCDF Affiliate. Ron’s career includes many years in the integrated circuit technology world, including 29 years at Hewlett Packard. Ron retired in 2007 as the Director of Research and Development for HP Inkjet Printing. Since retirement, Ron has devoted much of his time to volunteer work for organizations like the IOCDF, OCD Oregon, Cornerstone Associates, and his local church in Corvallis, Oregon.
“I am here to support IOCDF in the successful work that they are doing to help individuals and families affected by OCD. I know that it can take a long time to get a proper diagnosis and to find effective treatment. IOCDF is providing information, building community, and training therapists in a mission to make a difference. I am honored to be a part of that work.”
Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD
Secretary
Elizabeth Mcingvale, PhD is the director of the OCD Institute of Texas and adjunct faculty at Baylor College of Medicine. Elizabeth founded the Peace of Mind foundation and OCDChallenge.org (a self-help website for OCD), both now within the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Elizabeth was the first- ever national spokesperson for the IOCDF where she now serves as a board member and national advocate. She was diagnosed with OCD at 12 and engaged in inpatient and outpatient therapy. Dr. McIngvale engages in clinical work, research and advocacy with the goal of improving access to care and treatment for those living with OCD.
Shawn Assad
Shawn is the Co-leader of the firm’s Washington, DC office overseeing strategy, business and practice development, and client service delivery in the Mid-Atlantic market. Shawn has more than 23 years of experience providing accounting, management advisory, and transaction services to public and private companies ranging from high growth, venture capital, and private equity-backed to Fortune 500. Shawn has extensive experience advising clients in the areas of SEC reporting, initial public offerings, M&A diligence and integration, technical accounting, finance transformation, process improvement, and enterprise risk management. Prior to joining CFGI, Shawn was a Chief Accounting officer of a public company and was a senior executive for some large private companies. Shawn has extensive knowledge from working with Deloitte leadership on numerous large clients. He takes great pride in building high-performing, collaborative teams that excel in demanding environments while building lasting relationships and earning the trust of clients and their advisors. Shawn has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Paris and a Master’s Degree in Accounting from Northeastern University.
Susan Boaz
Susan Boaz is a mom and advocate for everyone suffering from OCD, and their families and friends, with a particular interest in Pediatric and Maternal OCD and the impact of OCD on families. She also focuses on the autoimmune and inflammatory components of OCD and is the current Executive Director of the Pandas Physician Network. Susan loves working with the youngest members of our community and their parents. In her spare time, she is also an entrepreneur, managing small businesses.
Diane Davey, RN, MBA
Diane is the Program Director and co-Founder of the OCD Institute at McLean Hospital. She also serves as the Clinical Co-Director of the Division of Depression and Anxiety at McLean. Diane joined the IOCDF Board of Directors in 1998 and has served as both Treasurer and President. She has given many local and national talks over the years about OCD treatment. A passionate advocate for ensuring that patients have access to quality care, Diane uses her platform both in her work at McLean and at the Foundation to try to improve access, provide education, and raise awareness for patients and families seeking care.
Denise Egan Stack, LMHC
Denise Egan Stack is on the International OCD Foundation Board of Directors and the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board. She has also been actively involved in expanding IOCDF programming, including developing the curriculum for the Annual Conference and Anxiety in the Classroom. In addition, Denise has been a home-based therapist for people with OCD and anxiety for over twenty-five years, was a founding staff member of the McLean Hospital OCD Institute in 1997 and has served as the mental health consultant for the Cape Cod Hoarding Task Force for over 10 years. She has presented and trained clinicians and educators on cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy for OCD and related disorders nationally and internationally.
Crystal Fulwood
Crystal is a passionate advocate for social change and community development who brings a wealth of experience to the IOCDF with a proven track record of leadership and a deep commitment to making a positive impact.
Crystal has dedicated her career to serving others and building mental health awareness nationwide. She holds a bachelors in sociology from Lehman College, where she developed a strong understanding of the complexities and challenges facing under-resourced communities. This foundation, combined with her unwavering commitment to DEIB and supporting individuals and families impacted by mental health challenges or diagnoses, has fueled her desire to co-create sustainable change.
Throughout her professional journey, Crystal has held various roles in both the public and private sectors. Her strategic thinking and ability to build strong partnerships have been instrumental in driving positive social outcomes. She understands the importance of collaboration and believes in the power of collective action to address issues impacting the OCD community. Her dedication to fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders aligns perfectly with our organization's mission and vision.
As a new board member, Crystal is excited to leverage her skills, knowledge, and network to advance our organization's goals further.
Chris Trondsen, MS, LMFT, APCC
Chris Trondsen suffered from undiagnosed, severe OCD, BDD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety and panic attacks beginning as a young child. It was not until his early 20s that Chris received both a formal diagnosis and specialized treatment. Chris began advocating publicly for mental health and shared his story of recovery on TV, including the Dr. Drew Show, the Montel Williams Show, and NBC, as well as in various newspapers and websites including Buzzfeed and VICE. Additionally, Chris began speaking at Annual OCD Conferences, including giving the keynote with his mom at the 2011 conference. He also helped start the Young Adult Track at the annual conference. Chris treats individuals with OCD and BDD at The Gateway Institute in Costa Mesa, California. He also currently serves as the vice president of OCD Southern California, is a leader of the IOCDF's BDD and LGBTQ+ Special Interest Groups, and the newest member of the IOCDF Board of Directors. As a lead advocate, Chris's passions include expanding BDD awareness and education, addressing LGBTQ+ issues in mental health treatment, and expanding the IOCDF's services to the young adult community.
Jo-Ann Winston
Jo-Ann has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2016. She first engaged with the IOCDF through the One Million Steps for OCD Walk to support her daughter who was diagnosed with OCD at ten years old. She started volunteering at the Foundation's national headquarters and has since become involved in fundraising and conference planning and now sits on the development and pediatric board committees.
Earlier in her career, Jo-Ann was a retail regional manager, which cultivated her joy for working with the public before she devoted her time to her four children. She is passionate about connecting with and helping families who struggle with mental illness and learning differences.
Through Jo-Ann's experience, she brings an open-minded and caring approach to nurturing and sustaining the heart of the IOCDF's mission.
Jenny Yip, PsyD, ABPP
Dr. Yip is a board-certified licensed psychologist, author, speaker, media contributor, and a nationally recognized OCD, anxiety, and parenting expert. She developed the Strategic Boundaries to Productive Parenting and has treated severe OCD & anxiety disorders for over two decades. She’s been featured in various media venues, including the Today Show, The Doctors, Access Hollywood, Nickelodeon, Dr Drew, Tameron Hall, and countless others. In 2008, she founded the Renewed Freedom Center – Los Angeles to provide the most advanced treatment for those suffering from OCD and anxiety disorders. In 2016, she established the Little Thinkers Center – Los Angeles to help children with academic challenges develop the necessary critical and creative thinking skills that build self-confidence and resiliency.
Dr. Yip is Board Certified in Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology and is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at USC Keck School of Medicine. She serves on the Board of Directors at the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) where she co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Action Council (DEIAC) and facilitates the Perinatal OCD Task Force. She is a Clinical Member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), and a Clinical Fellow of the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) where she also serves on the Public Education Committee. She is a Medical Advisor for the mental health nonprofit Made-of-Million, and supported the inception of the NOCD virtual platform in her previous role as Clinical Advisor. Dr. Yip co-hosts the StressLess Life Podcast, and is author of “Productive, Successful You: End Procrastination by Making Anxiety Work for You Rather Than Against You”.