Laurie Howard, President
Laurie is the parent of two children, one of whom is on the Autism Spectrum. Laurie’s family joined LOV in 2011 and has since participated in the Bridge Builder Project, the pilot group of the Moving On workshop series and many other events and festivities. Laurie works to support independent living for those with disabilities. Her most recent professional experience was as a Project Manager for Exact Sciences.
Julie Burish, Vice President
Julie and her husband are the parents of two adult children. Their youngest, daughter Kathryn, uses IRIS to live and work in the community as independently as possible and to live a self determined life of her choosing. Julie has devoted much of her time advocating for inclusive opportunities in education, employment, housing and community access for people with disabilities. She has, and continues to, sit on several committees, councils, boards and task forces at the local and state level to represent people with disabilities and their families to address better and more inclusive policies. In her spare time Julie loves to garden, travel and cook delicious food to share with family and friends!
Barb McPherson, Treasurer
Barb McPherson is the parent of four children. Her daughter Kayla is an alum of LOV Inc.’s Bridge Builder Project and a regular at LOV @ the Movies. Barb served as the Associate Dean of Administration and CFO of the UW School of Engineering and also has prior experience as a CFO for several startups. She has served on numerous boards and enjoys yoga in her free time.
Tonya Brito, Member at Large
Rabha Elfarra, Member at Large
Rabha Elfarra is a parent of two young adults. Her eldest, Yasmine (born in Rochester, NY), participates in LOV Inc. activities including bowling, LOV @ the Movies, the Annual Talent Show, the Summer Picnic, and potlucks. Rabha graduated from the School of Pharmacy at Cairo University in Egypt. She has been living with her family in Madison since 1986. Rabha has been an active member of LOV-Dane, now LOV Inc., since 2015.
Alex Lena, Member at Large
Jenny Price, Member at Large
Jenny Price is the mother of two sons, including an autistic teenager, and an advocate for inclusion and access for people with disabilities. She has worked in strategic communications and development in nonprofits and higher education, and began her career as a journalist. Most recently, she has served as a Disability Policy Fellow with the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, working in the Division of Medicaid Services in the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. In her free time, she loves traveling with family and friends.
Andrew Turner, Member at Large
Andrew Turner is the father of two boys, a middle schooler and a young adult. He is an avid movie buff, gardener, and cook and has recently become addicted to Zwift. He is Co-Director of the Legal Research and Writing program at the University of Wisconsin law school. Before joining the legal writing faculty, Andrew worked three years as a corporate attorney with a major Wisconsin law firm and, before law school, spent nearly a decade living and working in Bolivia as an anthropologist.