American Parkinson Disease Association Taps Leslie Chambers for Top Administrative Office

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leslie Chambers has been named the President and CEO of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA). She succeeds Joel Gerstel, who has held the top post since 1995 and has been associated with the organization for more than 25 years.

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In announcing the board of directors' selection, Chairman Joel A. Miele Sr., noted that Ms. Chambers brings a strong track record of executive leadership and successful execution of aggressive, strategic organizational goals. "Ms. Chambers is an accomplished non-profit leader in fundraising, business planning, program development, and finance. We look to her to guide APDA into its second half century by expanding and strengthening the largest grassroots organization serving America's 1.5 million people with Parkinson's disease." 

Ms. Chambers earned both bachelor and master's degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and was graduated from the Management Institute for Non-Profit Managers, Springfield (Mass.) College. She has held leadership positions with the Alzheimer's Association in Chicago and Norwalk, Conn., The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, White Plains, N.Y., Autism Speaks, New York, N.Y., and most recently with Easter Seals Coastal Fairfield County, Stamford, Conn.

"I am thrilled and honored to step into the role of President and CEO of the American Parkinson Disease Association and look forward to the work ahead of us at APDA," she said. "This organization has made great progress toward improving the quality of life for those afflicted with this disease as well as supporting critically needed research to find the cure. I am confident that through the dedicated efforts of the volunteers, board of directors, staff, researchers and supporters, we will continue to see breakthroughs in research and care for patient and families coping with Parkinson's disease." 

About APDA

Founded in 1961 with the dual mission to "Ease the Burden and Find the Cure," APDA  is the largest grassroots organization serving more than 1.5 million American with Parkinson's disease by focusing on research, patient and caregiver support, education, and increasing public awareness.  APDA operates through a network of 45 Chapters, 56 Information and Referral Centers and more than 1,000 support groups nationwide, and funds nine centers for advanced research in major academic and healthcare institutions.

SOURCE American Parkinson Disease Association

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