Board of Directors

Westfield, NJ - John Trott, MBA, retired from Johnson & Johnson after more than 15 years with the company, where he served in global marketing leadership roles focused on HIV therapeutics and vaccines. During his career, he led global marketing initiatives, portfolio planning, and business development efforts. John has been involved with the Choroideremia Research Foundation since 2015 and has served on its Executive Committee. Living with choroideremia (CHM), John is passionate about supporting the CHM community and advancing awareness and research. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Dominique, and his guide dog, Emerald.

Caramel, IN - Michael Mullen serves as Second Vice President of the Choroideremia Research Foundation, bringing extensive experience in financial services, investment management, and leadership to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. He is an Executive Director and Senior Portfolio Management Director at Morgan Stanley, where he also serves as a Lending Specialist and Financial Advisor. Throughout his career, Michael has worked with individuals and families to navigate complex financial decisions and pursue their long-term goals. Based in Carmel, Indiana, he is proud to use his professional expertise to support the Foundation’s mission.

Swampscott, MA - Tara Cassidy Driscoll serves as an Officer at Large on the Board of Directors of the Choroideremia Research Foundation, bringing both professional experience and a personal connection to the Foundation’s mission. Her two sons are affected by choroideremia (CHM), making the Foundation’s efforts to advance research, support families, and ultimately find a cure deeply meaningful to her. Tara owns Cassidy Associates Insurance Agency Inc. in Swampscott, Massachusetts, where she applies years of experience in the insurance industry and a commitment to serving her clients and community. 

Berlin, MA - Mary Porter is an intellectual property (patent) attorney who began her career in science (food, biochemistry and materials science). She retired from an in-house position as Chief IP Counsel several years ago and now works part time for an IP law firm where she counsels businesses on their IP rights, business transactions and contracts. She relaxes by spending time outdoors on a bike and in the woods, the water and the garden; creating in the kitchen; and enjoying live theater and music. A female carrier of CHM, Mary has been a CRF member since 2017 when her nephew Peter Boone introduced her to the foundation. She has served on the CRF Research Committee since 2021, and joined the Board of Directors in 2022 and the Executive Committee in 2024. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the 19 Carter community center in Berlin, Massachusetts, and the League of Women Voters of the Worcester Area, and serves on the Town of Berlin Finance Committee. 

Swampscott, MA - Thomas Driscoll brings experience in professional services and account management, along with a personal connection to the CHM community. Thomas lives with choroideremia (CHM) and is passionate about raising awareness and helping connect individuals and families with information and support. He is an Account Executive at Kantata, where he helps professional services organizations navigate complex challenges and manage their business needs. Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Spanish from Guilford College and is proud to contribute his professional experience and perspective to the CHM community.

New York, NY - Aurelie Harp joined the Choroideremia Research Foundation Board of Directors four years ago. She is a female CHM carrier and the mother of two children navigating this condition: a 17-year-old son with CHM, and a 15-year-old daughter, also a carrier. As a French-American with other relatives affected by CHM in France, she is passionate about connecting CRF and Choroïdérémie France and other organizations around the world, and helping build a culture where researchers, families, and younger members work together, both to advance treatment and to support one another along the way. Professionally, she is a certified relational and group development coach, creative consultant, and founder of Wemanity Coaching. She holds a Master's in Marketing Research and Strategy and is certified in Social Therapy. She is also a theater performer and director, and for over 20 years has worked at the intersection of group development, leadership, and the performing arts. 

Friedburg/Hessen, Germany - Michael Laengsfeld brings extensive experience in financial services, leadership, and advocacy for people who are blind or have low vision, along with a personal connection to the CHM community. Michael lives with choroideremia (CHM) and has been actively involved in advancing support and representation for people with vision loss. He has served as CEO of the German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (DBSV) since 2018 and is a European Patient Advocate with the European Reference Network for Rare Eye Diseases (ERN-EYE). He also works with Retina International and has spent more than three decades with Commerzbank in Frankfurt, Germany. Based in Friedberg, Hesse, Michael brings an international perspective and a strong commitment to the CHM and broader vision-loss communities.