Huntington Medical Research Institutes Expands Development and Human Resources Departments

    PASADENA, CA, March 21, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI) announces new staff in the areas of Development and Human Resources, along with a promotion and new responsibilities for a key leader in the organization.

HMRI welcomes Danese Bardot as its new Director of Development. Bardot brings over ten years of successful hands-on experience in annual, leadership, major, and planned giving, including corporate and foundation fundraising, to HMRI's Development Department. Bardot is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and was nominated for Western Washington University's 2014 President's Exceptional Effort Award. Before joining HMRI, Bardot held several senior development positions at both academic and nonprofit organizations which include the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, Georgia Southern University, Western Washington University, Elgin Academy in Elgin, IL, and Pacific Hills School in West Hollywood, CA. Bardot holds a B.A. in Management from the University of Redlands, and a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law.

Also joining HMRI is Brenda Rivas, who was hired to serve as the Human Resource Specialist and Compliance Coordinator and also oversees communications at HMRI. Rivas has over eight years of experience as a human resource professional and over ten years working in a nonprofit setting. Prior to HMRI, Rivas created and formalized the department of human resources at the National Hispanic Media Coalition, where she oversaw operations and communications, and led corporate fundraising outreach.

Rivas has a Certificate in Human Resources Management from UCLA Extension and a B.A. in Cinematic Arts, with an emphasis in Critical Studies and a minor in Spanish, from the University of Southern California.

Susie Berry was promoted to her current role as Vice President of Operations and Development Officer overseeing HMRI's development, facilities, and human resource departments in February 2019. Berry was first hired as the Director of Development in 2016 and became the Vice President of Operations in September 2018.

Since joining HMRI, Berry helped lead the capital campaign for HMRI's new $30 million, 35,000-square-foot world-class research facility in Pasadena. Completed in April 2018, HMRI's new building is part of the biomedical corridor on Fair Oaks Avenue.

"We are thrilled that Susie is leading our operations and development teams here at HMRI. She brings solid leadership experience to our Senior Staff," said Dr. Julia Bradsher, President and CEO of Huntington Medical Research Institutes. "Danese rounds out our Development Team with a wide array of development experience especially in major gifts and we couldn't be more pleased to welcome her to HMRI." Dr. Bradsher went on to say, "As we grow and develop as an organization, we are also building our infrastructure to support that growth. Brenda brings sound human resources and communications experience that will help us in creating new ways to engage with staff and new ways to engage with our community."

Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI), founded in 1952, is an independent, non-profit organization with the mission to improve lives through patient-focused scientific research.

HMRI conducts internationally recognized research in the areas of neuroscience (migraine, Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury), cardiovascular (heart attack, chronic heart disease), clinical research (hepatitis, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and pelvic floor disorders), and advanced imaging research.

For more information, please visit www.hmri.org.

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