Task Force Member Profiles

Adnan Gill
Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.

Adnan Gill, 42, is a freelance columnist from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Gill, who has ALS, is married with two young children. He actively assists the ALS community through advocacy and awareness drives. Gill utilizes a power wheelchair for mobility and independence. His involvement with MDA has included Fill the Boot events, Lock-Ups, Stride & Ride, Telethon, Augie’s Quest events and participation in the local MDA/ALS support group. Gill attends the MDA Clinic at UCLA. A self described “political junky,” he was previously a computer and political scientist. 

Nicholas A. Johnson
Waltham, Mass.

Nick Johnson, 46, is an associate and senior mechanical engineer at Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers LLC, a Keyspan Business Solution company, at their headquarters in Watertown, Mass. He lives with his wife, Susan, in Waltham, Mass.

He is a registered professional engineer, a certified energy manager and a certified LEEDs (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) engineer. Johnson earned his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1985. Johnson has performed a wide range of engineering analyses for medical centers, universities, private corporations and other clients worldwide. He has traveled across the country giving engineering presentations and has been involved with the analysis and negotiation of energy company rebates totaling several million dollars. He has completed energy analyses for several projects that have received national awards from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.

Johnson served as chairman of the Massachusetts State Energy Advisory Committee from 1996 to 2000 and is currently a member. During his term as chairman, the committee developed and implemented a new state energy code. He’s past president of the Boston chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers. Johnson has authored several articles for national engineering trade magazines.

Johnson is chairman of MDA’s Massachusetts State Task Force on Public Awareness. He also is involved with many MDA fundraising events, appears annually on the local broadcast of the MDA Telethon and has helped to organize several expositions focused on current state-of-the-art
technology available for people facing physical challenges.

He was the recipient of MDA’s 1993 Personal Achievement Award for the New England Region, and MDA’s 1995 State Personal Achievement Award for Massachusetts. Johnson received MDA’s 2004 National Personal Achievement Award.

Johnson has Friedreich’s ataxia, a disease of the peripheral nerves that causes a lack of coordination and muscle weakness.

Frank Lombardi
Leesburg, Va.

Lombardi, 52, of Leesburg, Va., received a diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in early adulthood. Married with one teenage daughter, he works as a senior industrial security representative for Lockheed Martin. With more than 30 years of diversified industry experience and training, Lombardi is considered an expert in government personnel security policy, operations security and related security disciplines. He serves on several local and state disability boards and is a champion for MDA. Through the years, Lombardi has been involved in almost every aspect of the MDA community, including hosting an annual MDA fundraising event, supporting the Heartsongs Gala, Lock-Ups, Stride & Ride (where his band plays), MDA summer camp, participating in the local broadcast of the MDA Telethon and much more. He attends the MDA Clinic at Georgetown University Hospital Center and received the 2004 MDA Personal Achievement Award for Virginia.  He currently serves as chairman of the Loudoun County (Va.) Disability Services Board. He also serves at the state level as a member of the Commonwealth of Virginia Disability Services Board and is a longtime member of Network of Volunteer Associates (NOVA), Greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Chapter. In addition to his career endeavors and community service interests, Lombardi sings and plays the drums in a local classic rock cover band. Over the years, his band has volunteered its time and respective talents supporting many different MDA fundraising and public awareness events.

Michael Neufeldt
New Berlin, Wis.

Mike Neufeldt, 32, is in online programs and operations at Harley-Davidson Motor Company in Milwaukee. Neufeldt is a 2000 graduate of Marquette University where he majored in broadcast and electronic communications with a minor in marketing, and is certified in Web page design.

A former MDA National Goodwill Ambassador, Neufeldt describes his years of service, 1987 and 1988, as "the two best years of my life." Neufeldt serves as a co-host on the MDA Telethon on WDJT-TV in Milwaukee. He spoke to the MDA Telethon emcees in August 2000 about his involvement with MDA and the media. He continues to make appearances and work at MDA events both locally and nationally.

Neufeldt attended Marquette as a Burke Scholar, receiving full tuition, room and board, and expenses for four years in recognition of his academic achievements and community service. In addition to volunteering at MDA, Neufeldt was a coordinator with the Marquette University Community Action Program, and he worked at MU-TV, the campus television station. He is a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, the national journalism honor society, and Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society.

Neufeldt was the recipient of the 2008 Robert Ross MDA National Personal Achievement Award.

In spring 2006, Marquette University awarded Neufeldt The James T. Tiedge Memorial Award. It is awarded to former students of broadcast and electronic communication for professional excellence consistent with the values of ethical behavior and responsibility taught and lived by James Tiedge.

In 1997, Eisenhower High School honored Neufeldt by naming its new baseball field Mike Neufeldt Field.

Neufeldt co-authored a book on Marquette University basketball titled Tales from the Marquette Hardwood. It chronicles the history of Marquette basketball from Al McGuire’s 1977 national championship team to present. The book was released in December 2005.

Neufeldt has Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, which was diagnosed in his childhood.

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