Norman E. Snyder Jr.
Chief Executive Officer at Reed’s, Inc.
Norm is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Reed’s, Inc., America’s # 1 name in Ginger and America’s best-selling Ginger Beer brand and innovator for decades. The Reed’s portfolio is sold in over 35,000 retail doors nationwide. He has successfully held various positions in senior/executive management during his 35 year career and holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University at Albany. He is on the Board of Trustees of River Hospital in Alexandria Bay, NY and has volunteered at several local charities throughout his career.
To me, StacheStrong is a mission. Key attributes of this mission are a combination of efforts, attitudes and beliefs that supports research, education, emotional strength and hope. Until GJ’s diagnosis, I knew nothing about GBM. Today I am committing myself to making a difference through #StacheStrong!
Constantinos Hadjipanayis
M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Site Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Union Square, Director of Neurosurgical Oncology for the Mount Sinai Health System and Director of the Brain Tumor Nanotechnology Laboratory in the Tisch Cancer Institute.
Dr. Hadjipanayis is a Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncological Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He serves as Chair of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Downtown Union Square/Beth Israel and Director of Neurosurgical Oncology for the Mount Sinai Health System. He is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has devoted his entire career to the treatment of brain tumor patients. He is Director of the Mount Sinai Brain Tumor Nanotechnology Laboratory in the Tisch Cancer Institute where he studies novel therapeutics targeting glioblastoma (GBM). His team is very active in preclinical and translational studies glioma models. His Ph.D. graduate training in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, during his neurosurgery residency, focused on viral gene therapy of GBM. Dr. Hadjipanayis has been a tireless brain tumor advocate leading the nonprofit Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation (SBTF) in the past. He has been the PI of multiple clinical trials and a PI of university-, private foundation-, and NIH-funded grants focused on gliomas. He is the Sponsor and IND holder of a multicenter Phase II study involving the use of 5-ALA (Gliolan) and fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) for the resection of new or recurrent high-grade gliomas. He was the first to use Gliolan and perform FGS on a glioma patient in the US in 2011. He also helped lead the effort for FDA approval of 5-ALA (Gleolan) in the US for use during glioma surgery in June 2017.
Stache Strong means how we accept each other for how we are including our challenges but look to the future to find a cure for brain tumors.
Josh Perry
Former Pro BMX Athlete – Optimization Strategist & High-Performance Coach
Josh Perry is a former pro BMX athlete, public speaker, keto consultant, BMX coach and multiple brain tumor SURVIVOR. Josh focuses on the power of his story to inspire others to foster new perspectives and take new action in their lives. Providing tools for mental strength, health, manifestation, business, and nutrition, Josh’s story illustrates how challenges come in every shape and size, but emphasizes that happy and successful people use the same mental tools to get them there, regardless of their past or current tribulations.
To me, StacheStrong is a perspective of faith, courage, and determination. It’s a symbol to block out the unwanted noise to overcome the obstacle in the way for the greater vision we set for our lives. StacheStrong is about uniting others to become empowered to overcome fear together and support one another. StacheStrong is a way of living and a choice to be greater than the odds.
Greg Rose
StacheStrong CFO and Senior Manager at EY
Greg is an avid sports fan who loves to compete, whether playing volleyball or hockey. As someone who loves to travel and try the foods of the world, Greg also loves to cook and brew his own beer. Greg earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from UAlbany in 2009 and a Master’s in Taxation from UAlbany in 2010. He is currently a Senior Manager at EY where he is the Global Life Sciences Tax Resident and serves a variety of public and private companies on corporate tax matters.
To me, StacheStrong is a movement. Like all movements, they are spawned by a challenge or an event experienced by one or many. By converting and focusing the energy of those challenges and events, you can find strength, purpose, and direction to achieve more than you thought possible. Collectively, StacheStrong will enable a movement to focus efforts to enable previously unthinkable achievements.
Stacey Stack
Former Vice President of Northeastern Water Conditioning
Stacey is from Endicott, NY and currently resides in Jupiter, FL. She was Vice President of Northeastern Water Conditioning in Stuart, FL until 2008. Stacey enjoys golf, reading, boating and fishing. She volunteers her time in several organizations in Jupiter, FL.
To me, StacheStrong is a organization that encourages strength, promotes courage and compassion in their endeavor to find a cure for GBM. I’m all too familiar with this horrible disease, as I lost my husband Marty to GBM in June of 2020. I believe in fighting for him and the countless others who lost their battle or are currently waging a war against GBM.
Ben Sorber
Attorney, DiCaudo, Pitchford & Yoder LLC and CFO/Owner of Hermes Helpers, LLC
Ben Sorber grew up in Vestal, New York, in the same town as the Gerner family. Ben graduated high school with GJ and spent his summers in college going to Dave Matthews Band shows with GJ. They remained best friends until the end.
Ben is a practicing attorney in Akron, Ohio with the law firm of DiCaudo, Pitchford & Yoder. This past year, he was recognized as a Rising Star in the field of criminal defense by SuperLawyers, a designation awarded to less than 3% of practicing attorneys. Ben’s practice focuses on high-level felony criminal defense, as well as corporate litigation and defense of local municipalities. Prior to serving on the StacheStrong Board of Directors, Ben served on the Board of Directors for Broome–Tioga Special Olympics, New York.
To me, StacheStrong is about strength, perseverance, and the pursuit for a cure. My Uncle Tom battled GBM and I’m honored to be part of this organization and raise funds for a cure. Recent advancements leave me very optimistic that we are close to to a cure for GBM, and that is StacheStrong.
Lou McKercher
Lou is a restaurant industry veteran with over a decade of management experience. He is currently the General Manager of the Oskar Blues Brewery Taproom in Boulder, Colorado. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Binghamton University in 2008.
He is a rabid NBA fan and loves playing basketball, drinking craft beer, and listening to live music. Lou is a native of Upstate New York and relocated to Colorado in 2011 in search of milder winters and bluer skies.
To me, Stache Strong is entirely about selflessness and positivity. The first reaction that GJ and the rest of the Gerner clan had to GJ’s diagnosis was to ask what they could do to help other people, which really exemplifies the amazing energy behind this movement. I’ve known GJ and Colin for years, and I’ve never seen either of them without a giant smile on their face.
The strength in the StacheStrong community stems directly from the Gerners, and focuses on the knowledge that the only thing that we can have any control over in life is our own actions. The Gerners chose to keep their trademark smiles in the face of extreme adversity, and they have directed that positivity outwards in an effort to make the world a better place. That’s a team I want to be on, and every time I see a mustache it reminds me to take a moment to reassess the way I’m confronting the world. Every chance to act with empathy is a chance to stay #StacheStrong
Colin Gerner
President and Co-Founder
Colin is the founder and President of StacheStrong and is always thinking of the next event and strategy to continually grow StacheStrong. He is a partial Yankee season ticket holder, an avid runner and never turns down an adventure! Colin earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from UAlbany in 2014 and a Master’s in Taxation from UAlbany in 2015. He was a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a Tax Consultant where he worked for 6 years with industry-leading Telecommunication companies, as well as a variety of cosmetic and retail companies. He has recently transitioned to be a Manager for the PwC Charitable Foundation, focused on Humanitarianism, Education and the People of PwC.
To me, StacheStrong is a lifestyle. It’s finding something within yourself to do the unthinkable and conquer your fears. It’s not only doing what’s expected of you, but rising above in any way possible. You can be StacheStrong during the biggest moments of the day, week or month, but it’s just as important during the little moments too. If we all can implement being StacheStrong in our day to day lives, I truly think we can make a profound difference. GJ did every day and look at all the help we’re able to provide because of his mindset…
GJ Gerner, Co-Founder
GJ Gerner is the inspiration behind StacheStrong. GJ was diagnosed wtih Gliblastoma Multiforme in September 2017 and fought courageously for 25 months. GJ was a manager at EY in the Tax Technology and Transformation group, where he had been since 2012 after completing his Master’s degree in Professional Accountancy at Albany. Before earning his Master’s degree, GJ earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting as well as a degree in Business Administration with a focus in Finance and Management. While at Albany he was a member of Delta Sigma Pi, serving as their President in the Fall 2010 semester. GJ lived through the joys of being an avid Mets, Jets and UNC Tarheel fan. He was the StacheStrong Treasurer for the first 2 years of our organization and has passed the torch to us to continue the fight against GBM. He gained his wings on September 17, 2019, but will live forever in the hearts of many.
Kelly Gerner, Secretary
Kelly earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Finance from University at Buffalo in 2015 and a General Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from D’Youville College in 2017. She currently works at Chex Finer Foods as the Key Account Manager for The Fresh Market.
To me, StacheStrong is strength. It is finding your inner strength and letting it resonate and strengthen and encourage others. The power to be strong and overcome any and every obstacle that comes within your path of life. Most importantly, empowering strength in others to implement StacheStrong into their life and continuously pass it along.
Betsy Gerner, Treasurer and Director of Community Relations
Betsy was a lead Financial Analyst with Lockheed Martin for most of her 41 year career before retiring in 2021. She is now actively involved with StacheStrong in her dual roles as Treasurer and Director of Community Relations. Betsy is passionate about making sure StacheStrong provides a beacon of hope to other families when someone they love is diagnosed with GBM. When we, as parents, needed support the most, we recognized more needed to be done. She is enjoying retired life with her husband, George, and they love to spend as much time as possible with Colin and Kelly.
When we first started StacheStrong, it was a way to shed light on the disease and the toll it takes on families. I never imagined it would grow into what it has! This is all thanks to our generous donors and our volunteers, ensuring the most dollars are available for research grants. I’m sorry for the reason why we’ve met so many other families diagnosed with this disease, but I’m grateful for so many friendships we’ve built. Additionally, I’m humbled by their appreciation that we provide a beacon of hope when they need it the most…that’s how I define ‘StacheStrong’. And to think, I originally thought, “I don’t think I can do this when the day comes that GBM takes my son’s life”. It wasn’t long after he passed, however, when I said, “How can I not?”
