Meet the Team
Each member of FRAXA's team has children with Fragile X syndrome which contributes greatly to their perseverance. If you have any questions or would like to reach anyone, please reach out.
Michael Tranfaglia, MD
Medical Director, Treasurer, Co-Founder
Michael Tranfaglia, MD
Medical Director, Treasurer, Co-Founder
Dr. Michael Tranfaglia serves as Medical Director and Chief Scientific Officer of FRAXA Research Foundation. Mike is responsible for coordinating the Foundation’s research strategy and working with university and industry scientists to develop new therapeutic agents for Fragile X, autism, and related developmental disorders.
Mike graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Biology and studied medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After obtaining his MD, he stayed at UNC for Psychiatry residency training, and then entered private practice in 1991 in Newburyport, MA.
Mike had specialized in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders prior to his son’s Fragile X diagnosis in 1992 and before he and his wife founded FRAXA in 1994.
Katie Clapp, MS
President and Co-Founder
Katie Clapp, MS
President and Co-Founder
Katie Clapp is Co-Founder and President of FRAXA Research Foundation. In 1994, after her son Andy was diagnosed with Fragile X, Katie, her husband Michael Tranfaglia, and a third parent, Kathy May, founded FRAXA Research Foundation.
Katie has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History from Harvard and a Masters degree in Computer Science from UNC Chapel Hill. She worked as a software engineer and college instructor in computer science before founding FRAXA.
Katie has won a number of prizes for her work with FRAXA, including a Community Hero award from the American Red Cross and a Women of Justice award from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
Holly Roos
Community Services Director
Holly Roos
Community Services Director
Holly Roos joined the FRAXA Research Team in 2021 serving as the Community Services Director.
After the diagnosis of her 2 children in 2003, Holly dedicated herself to making a difference in the Fragile X Community, with over 10 years focused directly on volunteer engagement. Her experience in fundraising, advocacy, education, and awareness spanning 20 plus years and have earned her awards and recognition both locally and nationally.
Holly lives with her children, Parker and A, in Central Illinois.
Eric Welin
Technical Specialist & Web Developer
Eric Welin
Technical Specialist & Web Developer
Eric Welin, of Sudbury, Massachusetts, is the Web Developer at FRAXA Research Foundation. Eric graduated from Western New England University in 2003 with a degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on hardware and software design.
Eric began providing quality web development in 2003 as a freelancer and eventually started his own Web Design and Development business, Welsolutions.
Eric and his wife, Melissa, have two sons with Fragile X syndrome and they have been dedicated to the Fragile X community for many years.
Jennifer Puett
Community Engagement Coordinator
Jennifer Puett
Community Engagement Coordinator
Jennifer Puett joined the FRAXA Research Foundation team as the Community Engagement Coordinator in 2022.
Jennifer, a key volunteer for World Fragile X Day 2021, holds a business degree from the University of South Florida. Jennifer has an unmatched passion for raising awareness about Fragile X. She has focused on grant outreach and World Fragile X Day since joining the FRAXA team.
Jennifer resides on the east coast with her family.
Board of Directors
Like the FRAXA staff, each director is a parent of one or more children who have Fragile X.
Andres Centellas, MBA
Andres Centellas, MBA
Andres became involved in the Fragile X community following the diagnosis of his oldest son. Since then, he has been dedicated to raising awareness of Fragile X and other rare diseases and to supporting the inclusion of people with special needs.
Currently, Andres works at AbbVie in Enterprise Strategies. Previously he worked at Takeda as an Alliance Manager in Global Business Development.
He holds an MLA, including a Global Studies certificate, from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the University of Delaware, and a BA in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University.
Katie Clapp, MS
Katie Clapp, MS
President and Co-Founder
Katie Clapp is Co-Founder and President of FRAXA Research Foundation. In 1994, after her son Andy was diagnosed with Fragile X, Katie, her husband Michael Tranfaglia, and a third parent, Kathy May, founded FRAXA Research Foundation.
Katie has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History from Harvard and a Masters degree in Computer Science from UNC Chapel Hill. She worked as a software engineer and college instructor in computer science before founding FRAXA.
Katie has won a number of prizes for her work with FRAXA, including a Community Hero award from the American Red Cross and a Women of Justice award from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
Dean Clark
Dean Clark
Dean is retired after 35 years as a technology professional in the SF Bay Area. Most of Dean’s career was focused on building and leading technical teams.
Dean graduated from the California State University of Chico with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science.
Dean and his wife Stefanie have three children and they have been involved with FRAXA ever since their only son Lucas was diagnosed with Fragile X in 1999. They and their family hosted a “Fix Fragile X” fundraiser that netted $160,000 for Fragile X research and currently drive an annual mail campaign for FRAXA.
Theodore Coutilish, MA
Theodore Coutilish, MA
Ted is a seasoned marketing communications leader who is currently Assistant Director, Strategic Engagement and Communications, at the University of Michigan.
He and his wife, Mary Beth Langan, live in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, along with their son, Andrew, who has FXS. Ted has been a strong advocate for Fragile X research and awareness for several decades.
Ted earned a BA in Print Journalism at Wayne State University and MA in Communications at University of Detroit Mercy.
Leslie Martini Eddy, MA
Leslie Martini Eddy, MA
Leslie has been involved with FRAXA since her oldest daughter was diagnosed with Fragile X in 1996. Leslie has held events in the Boston area and works to raise awareness through print and social media.
Leslie is a published author of children’s books and a freelance writer with a Master’s in English Literature, and a BS in Journalism.
Prior to her work with FRAXA, Leslie worked in media sales with Ziff Davis and Disney Publishing.
Jessica Haugen, MBA
Jessica Haugen, MBA
Jessica Haugen of Thompson, ND, has served the youth of North Dakota since 2005. She is Activities and Training Coordinator at the Ruth Meiers Adolescent Center, a residential treatment center that focuses on emotionally disturbed teenagers.
She earned a BA in Social Science from Mayville State University in 2005 and an MBA from the University of Mary in 2017.
Following the diagnosis of her son, Larry, at 18 months of age, Haugen has made raising awareness and funding research for effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Fragile X a priority. She has co-founded Larry’s Legends, a nonprofit that donates all monies raised to FRAXA, along with her ex-husband, Jeff Eliason. Together they raise their daughter, Cindy, and son, Larry, who has FXS.
Elizabeth Mazzola
Elizabeth Mazzola
Lizzie Mazzola has devoted her adult life to ensuring that her children could learn, participate and excel in every way possible, despite their Fragile X syndrome diagnosis. What started as a mystery following her twins’ missed milestones became a mission to learn more about this diagnosis and support the crucial research to benefit her children and others living with Fragile X syndrome.
Lizzie has been a longtime fierce advocate for FRAXA and a participant in the research it funds. She and her family have opened up their lives and struggles to the news media to foster a better understanding of Fragile X and the hope FRAXA-funded research provides. Lizzie is also a field hockey and lacrosse coach in Natick, MA, where she lives with her husband Jason and twins, Jessica and Jason.
Debbie Stevenson
Debbie Stevenson
Chairperson
Debbie has worked to raise awareness of Fragile X through print, TV and Internet media. Debbie has organized four events and produced three video pieces for FRAXA.
After graduating from Texas A&M University, she worked for ABC News “20/20” as a production secretary, and then went on to producing at CNBC Business News. In 2000, Debbie left to get involved with FRAXA.
Debbie is raising four children with husband Jeffrey, managing partner of private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Their oldest child has Fragile X.
Michael Tranfaglia, MD
Michael Tranfaglia, MD
Medical Director, Treasurer, Co-Founder
Dr. Michael Tranfaglia serves as Medical Director and Chief Scientific Officer of FRAXA Research Foundation. Mike is responsible for coordinating the Foundation’s research strategy and working with university and industry scientists to develop new therapeutic agents for Fragile X, autism, and related developmental disorders.
Mike graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Biology and studied medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After obtaining his MD, he stayed at UNC for Psychiatry residency training, and then entered private practice in 1991 in Newburyport, MA.
Mike had specialized in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders prior to his son’s Fragile X diagnosis in 1992 and before he and his wife founded FRAXA in 1994.
James Vershbow
James Vershbow
James Vershbow and his wife, Pamela, became active in raising awareness and funds for FRAXA Research Foundation very early on in their “Fragile X experience.” Their son Patrick was diagnosed in 1993 at 11 months of age.
Since becoming aware of FRAXA in 1995, fundraising has been a non-stop effort. First, it was huge yard sales, then banquets and auctions.
Since 1997, Patrick’s PALS 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament occurs annually. Twenty years later they are proud to have raised over one million dollars.
James and Pamela, along with Patrick and Abigail, live in Watertown, MA.
Ronald Watkins, Jr, CPA
Ronald Watkins, Jr, CPA
Ronald Watkins, Jr is a Certified Public Accountant and is Regulatory Planning Analyst of Central Hudson Gas & Electric near Poughkeepsie, NY. He lives in LaGrangeville, NY, with his wife Amy and son Niklas.
Ron became involved with FRAXA Research Foundation shortly after Niklas was diagnosed with Fragile X in 1999. Niklas was 16 months old at the time of his diagnosis.
Ron and his wife Amy have hosted many fundraisers since 2003. Ron and Amy were drawn to FRAXA because of the dedication of FRAXA’s scientific advisors, staff and board.
Saša Zorović, MBA, PhD
Saša Zorović, MBA, PhD
Vice President
Saša Zorović received his AB in Applied Mathematics from Harvard, a PhD in Engineering-Economic Systems at Stanford, and an MBA from Stanford Business School.
Saša became involved with FRAXA Research Foundation in 2006 when his children were diagnosed with Fragile X and joined the Board of Directors in 2008.
Saša is currently Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Advisor360 and was previously Co-Head of Bloomberg Fundamental Data.