Cure SMA to Open Series of Career Panel Webinars on Feb. 16

Beginning next month, Cure SMA will offer a three-part Career Panel Webinar Series tailored to the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) community in the United States.

The series, sponsored by Biogen, opens Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. EST. The hourlong event will include a question-and-answer session, and those interested are invited to submit inquiries while registering or via email to [email protected]. Viewers will also be able to submit questions live.

Subsequent series webinars are set for March and April.

“Throughout these one-hour webinars, adults with SMA will be sharing honest insight into their career journeys, from accomplishments to everything in between,” the nonprofit organization states in its announcement.

“Whether you are an adult with SMA looking to gain new career advice, or a parent wanting to learn more about the different paths that these panelists have taken, our Career Panel Webinar Series will cover valuable information for all.”

Parents are encouraged to include their children in the series, so they can learn about possible future career opportunities. The webinars are part of Cure SMA’s virtual community engagement series.

Feature panelists for the opening event are:

• Doug McCullough, a 20-year Johnson & Johnson employee who has SMA type 3. Currently senior manager in global supply chain reliability, McCullough has a masters degree in business administration from Duke University.
• Sandy Spoonemore, who put her degree from Baylor University to use at Fortune 500 companies until 2001, when she became an independent sales director with Mary Kay Cosmetics. She has been recognized as “Entrepreneur of the Year” in Texas.
• Steven Verdile is a graphic designer for NBCUniversal and does freelance work in the entertainment industry.
• Angela Wrigglesworth has been an elementary school teacher in Houston, Texas, for 21 years. A member of several charity advisory boards, she and her husband recently launched the consulting company Cobble + Stone to help people with disabilities live successful and independent lives.

Cure SMA provides support to patients and families affected by spinal muscular atrophy, and funds and directs research aimed at breakthroughs in treatment and care.

SMA is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder estimated to affect 1 in every 8,000 to 10,000 people.