NFDF Board of Directors

Jerry retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Army where his last assignment was managing a multi-million dollar nationwide environmental management program. Since 2005 he first worked part-time for the NFDF while he was still in the military and now works full-time since he retired from the Army in 2011. He has more than 35 years of management experience with 27 years of active duty military service.

His management experience is supported by a strong background in financial management and strategic planning. One of Jerry's many assignments was as a strategic planner in the Pentagon. Jerry has a Bachelor's degree in Environmental and Natural Resources Policy from Michigan State University, a Master's degree in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a certificate from Duke University in non-profit management. He is one of several family members with Fabry disease. He lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife Angela and two girls, Molly a mini-beagle and Annah a golden retriever.

Mr. Derek Halberg holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from North Carolina State University and a Master of Forestry degree from Yale University. Since 2004, Mr. Halberg has worked for the Tar River Land Conservancy, a non-profit land trust based in Louisburg, NC, serving first as Director of Land Protection and currently as its Executive Director. The Tar River Land Conservancy works with rural landowners to protect forests, farmland, drinking water, and wildlife habitat using conservation easements in eight counties north of the Triangle. From 1996 to 2004, Mr. Halberg served in various civilian positions at the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia, managing the agency's natural resources program in support of Army National Guard installations across the country. Mr. Halberg and family currently reside in Wake Forest, NC. 

Ms. Elizabeth Gaffin is employed as an environmental law attorney for the Department of Homeland Security. Along with being a seasoned attorney in the federal government, Ms. Gaffin has personal experience with coping with a genetic disorder in her own family. She currently resides in Arlington VA with her family.

Melanie Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina – Asheville. She presently works part-time for CSRA as a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Analyst supporting air quality research for the USEPA. She resides in Hillsborough, NC with her husband and two daughters.

Mr. Rothman holds a BA with honors from Washington University in St. Louis, and a JD with honors from George Washington University Law School. He also attended Georgetown University's graduate tax law program. He practiced law in Washington, DC for 33 years and is now retired. For about 25 years, Mr. Rothman was a supervisory trial attorney, who trained various groups of young attorneys. Mr. Rothman has been an avid supporter of the National Fabry Disease Foundation and has been a camp volunteer since 2010.

Tracy Myatt lives with her husband, Tommy, and son, Ty, in Clayton, North Carolina. She is a workers’ compensation attorney who practices law part-time doing legal research and writing. As recent “empty-nesters”, Tracy and her husband have ventured into new territory in the last year and have both become licensed real estate agents. Tracy became knowledgeable of Fabry disease in her family at a young age from her father, Craigg Cordell, who was very proactive regarding his health and stayed on the forefront of research in the field. Her son Ty has been a recipient of enzyme replacement therapy since 2007 and is an advocate for Fabry disease awareness as well. “For all the great things Jerry and the NFDF do for Fabry families like mine, I am honored to serve on the Board.”