Board of Directors

Joseph Cantor

President

Joseph Cantor joined the board as a member in 2022. Joseph lives in Richmond and works as an attorney at Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci. He specializes in representing individuals and families affected by brain injuries.

Kathleen Hardesty

Vice President

Kathleen Hardesty joined the board in 2021. She is an Occupational Therapist and Sentara Regional Director for the Acute and Post-Acute Rehabilitation Services.

Spencer Koch

Secretary

Spencer Koch joined the board in 2021. Spencer lives in Richmond and works for NuMotion in Assistive Technology and Seating. Spencer was introduced to BIAV after spending two sessions as a counselor for Camp Bruce McCoy, BIAV's two-week recreational camp for adults with brain injury.

Daniel Klyce

Treasurer

Dr. Klyce joined the board in 2022. He is a rehabilitation psychologist with specialization in brain injury. He is the co-director of the Richmond VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center’s TBI Model Systems project, an assistant professor in VCU’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the rehabilitation psychology advisor at the Sheltering Arms Institute.

David Corbin

Member

Gary DuPriest

Member

Jan Fentress

Member

David served with Henrico Fire for 23 years as a Station Captain/Firefighter, Critical Care Paramedic, EMS Supervisor, Crisis Intervention Team Instructor/Member, and Safety, Health, and Wellness Officer for the department. David served as a business advisor with Anderson Business Advisors and now works for Virginia Realty Solutions

Gary DuPriest joined the board in 2021. He is a brain injury survivor from Lynchburg and also the current Chairman and CEO of Central Virginia Disability Association, Inc.

Jan is passionate about advocating for traumatic brain injury patients. In 2012, her 19-year-old son had a skateboarding accident and was diagnosed with a TBI. Jan works for Legacy Care as a Regional Director of Operations, partnering with 31 post-acute client facilities and managing 28 providers. She also serves as Junior Warden on the Vestry of Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church.

Brittanie Vogen

Member

Dr. Rhesia-Maria R. Ochoa

Member

David Stanley

Member

Brittanie Vogen, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist with over 10 years of experience who serves clients with neurological conditions and specializes in stroke and brain injury rehabilitation. Through her career she has engaged in and become proficient with business development, relationship cultivation, and fostering strong community partnerships allowing her to meet the dynamic and holistic needs of her clients to ensure success with their care. Brittanie holds a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University, and a Master of Occupational Therapy from Bay Path University [formerly Bay Path College]. Brittanie is an active advocate within the brain injury and stroke atmosphere including provision of new recovery techniques, increasing access to neuro-based care, and instilling hope for survivors.. Brittanie is a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist and is working towards her Brain Injury Specialist Certification.

Dr. Rhesia-Maria R. Ochoa joined the board in 2022, and is a Clinical Psychologist who began working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and recognized the tremendous need for brain injury advocacy among marginalized populations. She is currently employed at Utopia Psychological Services, and also engages in advocacy and leadership around disability and TBI awareness.

Since his daughter was involved in a car accident and was diagnosed with a TBI in 2019, David has become involved with brain injury advocacy. He joined this board in 2025 wanting to be a part of a group helping research and support the medical and brain injury survivor communities. He is the owner of SilverLining Design in Southwest Virginia specializing in tourism, the wine industry, and higher education.

Susan Wirt

Member

Justin Weppner

Member

Jose Posas

Member

Susan began her nursing career in critical care before moving into case management and life care planning. She later founded Wirt & Associates, LLC, and earned her MSN. Now teaching in Radford University’s RN-BSN Fast-Track program, she holds national certifications (CRRN, CCM, CLCP) and has served as ARN president. Her honors include ARN Case Manager of the Year and the Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Justin Weppner received his bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, followed by his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internship in General Surgery at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Virginia, and his fellowship in Brain Injury Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. His clinical interests include caring for patients with traumatic brain injuries, concussions, anoxic brain injuries, stroke, and spasticity. He is also interested in researching blast-related TBI, disordered sleep in TBI, pituitary dysfunction following brain injury, and the impact of depression, age, and gender on functional recovery after brain injury.

José Posas, MD, FAAN is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. In the Department of Neurology, he serves as an Associate Program Director of the Neurology Residency Program, and as a Vice Chair for Education. His area of specialty includes Sports Related Concussion and Complex Post-Traumatic Headache. His work focuses on understanding the complexities of neural pathways and how they influence how the brain functions after concussion. Being able to connect with his patients, having had several concussions and fighting migraines himself, is central to his practice.

Timothy Van Meter

Member

Timothy E. Van Meter, PhD, currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer and Director of Research and Development at BRAINBox Solutions, Inc. since November 2018. As Chief Consultant and Founder of Outside Science Consulting, LLC since October 2013, Tim has consulted for and advised many biomedical technology companies. Tim provides expertise across numerous disciplines, including bioassay development and validation, digital health technologies, intellectual property, corporate strategy, clinical trials, drug discovery, biomarker discovery, antibody production, global supply chain management, and point of care technologies. At Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Tim previously served as research faculty in Neurosurgery and later became Scientific Investigator in Pediatrics, focusing on translational research for pediatric cancers and novel therapeutics. Previous industry roles include Head of Research and Development at ImmunArray, Inc. and Senior Scientist/Program Manager overseeing neurological disease diagnostics. Timothy's academic career has featured faculty positions in teaching and research at several institutions, most notably VCU School of Medicine, but also including Randolph-Macon College, College of William and Mary, and the University of Richmond, with a focus on biology, neuroscience, and mentoring research. Timothy holds a PhD in Neuropathology from King's College London and has extensive education and training in neuroscience, cancer biology, and the molecular pathology of neurological diseases. Most recently, Tim has been applying these skills to advanced diagnostic technologies for traumatic brain injury, sports concussion, and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease.Tim has also seen brain injury from the patient perspective. In addition to sports related concussions, in June of 2022, Tim was impacted by another driver that fell asleep at a red light and T-boned his car, resulting in a significant concussion, trauma work up and CT evidence of white matter hemorrhages. The symptoms were lasting and gave a deeper perspective and confirmation to his work. This experience has further solidified a sense of mission for improving the lives those living with brain injury.