The Encephalitis411 Board of Directors is comprised of passionate individuals who share a mission to improve the quality of life for those impacted by encephalitis. They bring together decades of professional expertise, lived patient experience, and long-term vision in achieving Encephalitis411 goals in research, awareness, and advocacy.
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Becky Dennis, PresidentBecky Dennis has served as the president of Encephalitis411 since its founding and serves as a patient advocate through speaking engagements and informative patient/caregiver sessions. As a survivor and an “Expert by Experience,” she consults with patients in their diagnosis and recovery journey to provide guidance. She is also the author of the book, “Brain Wreck.”
Becky has served on multiple nonprofit boards throughout her tenure, including Encephalitis Global, The Turning Point and LifePoint. She is also a former guest lecturer on entrepreneurism and journalism with the University of North Texas. In her business career, Becky was a business development and marketing consultant. She’s most known for building, launching, and executing programs that fuel growth in global companies. Becky’s strong business acumen was developed in professional services B2B companies where her leadership roles included chief marketing officer, senior vice president of influencer relations, and vice president of business development and marketing. Even in a volatile economy, Becky’s visionary approach has produced exceptional results for her employers, including closing more than $9 billion in total contract value during her career. Danita Lewis, VIce PresidentDanita Lewis brings over 15 years of expertise in Human Capital Management, having held strategic HR roles within several Fortune 100 companies. In the past decade, she has leveraged her experience to transition into business consulting, partnering with global executives to assess, select, and implement transformative technology solutions that align with executive visions and strategic objectives.
As a recognized thought leader, Danita has lectured at the University of Dallas Graduate School of International Business, where she shares her insights on navigating cultural dynamics and addressing the complexities of global markets. She is also a sought-after speaker at international business forums, where she discusses emerging trends in HR, global business strategy, and cultural adaptation. Danita is deeply committed to the non-profit sector, demonstrated by her recent completion of a Grant Writing Certification in 2025 and her current pursuit of the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation, a nationally recognized credential in fundraising excellence. Her work with Encephalitis411 highlights her passion for merging faith and purpose, raising critical awareness, and delivering impactful support to the encephalitis community. |
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Angela Martin, SecretaryAngela Martin has worked for over 30 years in the environmental field. Possessing a B.S in Health and an M.S. in Environmental Science, she has worked in both the public and private sector on a variety of environmental issues and remediation projects. She brings decades of experience in management, public engagement through initiatives, outreach, and education, and uniting government and industry towards resolution of common goals.
Angela brings an enthusiasm for the Encephalitis411 cause being a family member of an encephalitis survivor and witnessing first-hand the many opportunities for improvement throughout the stage cycles of the illness, from diagnosis through to recovery. She holds a certificate in family support training. |
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JOHN BADURA, TreasurerJohn J. Badura is the Principal and Founder of Noblewest, a commercial real estate investment and development firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mr. Badura also owns Noblewest Real Estate LLC, a licensed real estate brokerage company focusing on the Purchase, Sale, and Property Management of commercial and residential real estate. He has been a principal and/or manager in over 30 legal entities/corporations/companies, including the management, forward planning, entitlements, financing, construction, bookkeeping, and tax preparation and reporting for these entities.
Mr. Badura has also been the Treasurer and Board Member of Scout Troop 869 in Scottsdale, Arizona since 2018. In his free time, John enjoys travelling and the outdoors; including hiking, boating, and Scouting with his wife and two sons. In witnessing the immense impact encephalitis has on its survivors and their families, John has a strong desire to see the awareness, advocacy, and research of this disease continue to advance through platforms such as Enchephalitis411, in hopes of assisting all those in which “E” has affected. |
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janice landshofJanice Landshof combines her passion for community engagement with her dedication to supporting individuals and families affected by encephalitis. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and began her career in the environmental field, where she worked nearly a decade developing a strong foundation in science, problem-solving and public stewardship. Her diverse professional background has shaped her commitment to education, advocacy and meaningful service.
Following her passion for working with people, Janice brings nearly 3 decades of executive leadership experience in a family-owned enterprise. Throughout her career, she has prioritized compassion, relationship-building and a deep commitment to the families and communities she serves. As a survivor of encephalitis, she is honored to help raise awareness of this devastating illness, support affected families, and foster connections that provide encouragement, understanding and hope. |
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Bill LandshofBill Landshof Bill is a Professional Engineer and experienced infrastructure and business leader with decades of experience managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering large public infrastructure projects ranging from $1 million to $25 million.
Bill earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University and Marietta College, and an MBA from Franklin University. His background combines technical engineering expertise, strategic leadership, project management, financial oversight and organizational development. In his current professional role, Bill is responsible for developing and managing the Buried Infrastructure Group in Central Ohio, which provides technical resources and project support for infrastructure projects across the country. His work requires collaboration across disciplines, strong governance, long-term planning, and the ability to build effective teams that deliver meaningful results. Bill witnessed the devastating impact of encephalitis as a caregiver for his wife, Janice, and is committed to advancing encephalitis awareness, education, advocacy and survivor support. He brings practical leadership experience, a service-oriented mindset, and a strong passion for helping individuals and families affected by encephalitis. |
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Jacob SavoieJacob Savoie works in business development in the oil and gas industry for Lisega, Inc., an international supplier of piping products. Raised in south Louisiana, he holds a B.S. in Business Management from Louisiana State University, a degree which he earned during his challenging recovery from herpes simplex encephalitis in his senior year of college. It is his drive for success which helped inspire his journey to graduation, then launching his sales career in supplying capital projects to the industrial sector throughout the country.
As a survivor of HSE, Jacob has helped raise awareness for survivors and families by producing the full-length film, My Missing Mind. He told the story to help educate survivors and families on the impact of encephalitis, while also giving hope of recovery to those in need. He has also worked with Encephalitis411 on presentations and virtual interviews, and is passionate about helping to educate others about the illness. |