Home Speakers Bios Booking Form Video Samples Contact Us FAQ	SPEAKERS BUREAU BIOGRAPHIES Tim Burns Tim is an acquired brain injury survivor. He did not have an accident, injury, or any type of trauma. In 1981, Tim had an arterial venous malformation (AVM) burst and bleed, creating a brain injury. The brain injury left with him with impaired balance and the need to use a wheelchair. It also damaged his vocal cords, requiring him to use a speaking valve to communicate. In spite of these and many other challenges, Tim has created a very independent life for himself. He drives his own van, sews, does light home remodeling, sits on three boards as an advocate for people with disabilities, and continues to be an active member at Opportunity Project. His greatest achievement to date: fathering two beautiful children. Barbara Crandles At the young age of 11, Barbara Crandles’ life changed forever. After suffering a seizure at the breakfast table that left her with a brain injury, Barbara has made it her mission to let others know that there is a world out there full of people with disabilities who can achieve. By sharing her firsthand experiences of living with a disability through one of her passions, poetry, Barbara connects with people from all walks of life. While she strives to live more independently and obtain employment, Barbara continues to be quite productive and helpful at Opportunity Project. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing poetry, watching sports, and swimming. John Cunningham In 2004, John sustained a brain injury as the result of a car accident. While driving his car, another vehicle that had just been hit by a tractor-trailer, slammed into his car so hard that he was ejected from his car and onto the nearby pavement. Unconscious for three days, John emerged from his tragedy stronger than ever before. Despite suffering some significant damage to his brain that has affected his memory, John still manages to deliver exceptional presentations, reminding his audiences that anyone can rise above adversity. He is on a mission to bring about an awareness of fairness to the world. This easy-going individual, who enjoys reading, sight-seeing, and listening to soft and easy music, believes that his three girls, one boy, and a greater awareness of self are his four greatest achievements in life. Eugenia Donovan Geena, as she is known to her friends, is a survivor of an aneurysm that left her with a brain injury in 2002. Still a lover of cooking, Geena enjoys creating delicious meals for her family and friends. She is most proud of her son, five step children, eight grandchildren, and two great grand kids. As a speaker, Geena is hopeful that her message will increase brain injury awareness and remind her audiences that the ability to persevere exists within all of us. Adam Greene At just 10 years of age, Adam was hit by a car walking out of school, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury. After re-learning how to walk, talk, and do so many other activities of daily living that he once took for granted, Adam began to create a very active life for himself. He is one of the first members of Opportunity Project and also a volunteer at The Children’s Institute, where he works with children with disabilities. When he is not making a difference in these programs, Adam can be found hitting the slopes skiing, swimming at his family’s pool, playing with his nephews, or cheering on his New York Mets. One of his many dreams is to appear on the hit television show, “Wheel of Fortune.” Michael Pagnillo In 1981, Michael was riding his moped when he realized his vehicle was running out of gas. Reaching down to release the reserve gas switch while still driving, he lost his balance, hit a telephone pole, and was sent flying through the air. After spending one month in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, Michael truly began to defy the odds in many parts of his life. Having been told by doctors that his forehead would never grow back as a result of the accident, Michael shocked all of his doctors one year later with a brand new forehead that had grown in. He was also instrumental in helping the State of New Jersey pass a law, requiring all moped drivers to wear helmets. Today, Michael continues to help others, especially his fellow members at Opportunity Project, with many tasks that include cooking and magic. When he is not making a positive difference in the lives of others, he can be found watching baseball, shooting pool, and playing the guitar and piano, Doug Smith In 1981, Doug suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a car accident. He was only 10 years of age. What would be considered a tragedy by many has been leveraged into opportunity for Doug. With a desire to pass along his firsthand knowledge of overcoming adversity, Doug continues to pursue his ultimate passion in life, public speaking. As an advocate for people with disabilities, Doug continues to share his message of hope and perseverance with many diverse audiences. He also continues to be an active member of Opportunity Project, further developing his communication skills. Susan Spurr One morning back in 1959, an innocent 2 ½ year little girl was outside playing. In one split second, Susan was stripped of her childhood after she was hit by an automobile that left her with a traumatic brain injury. In spite of this major setback, Susan has created an exceptional quality of life for herself. By learning how to walk and talk all over again, she was well on her way to conquering any limitations that stood in her way. Today, with a desire to contribute to the lives of others in a positive and empowering way, Susan has turned to one of her passions, public speaking, to make a difference in the world. She believes that everyone has his or her own unique experiences from which we can all learn. An active member of Opportunity Project, Susan can also be found exercising, reading, and writing in her spare time. Clarence Turner Clarence sustained his brain injury in 2001 when he was hit by a drunken driver while driving his own vehicle. As a determined athlete before and after his injury, he continues to work tirelessly to regain the mind and body he once had. Staying focused with God, he aspires to resume an active life that will hopefully consist of returning to his old job as a Maintenance Technician at New Jersey Transit. In the meantime, Clarence stills works at New Jersey Transit, fulfilling his clerical duties. While speaking to all types of audiences, Clarence, the self-proclaimed “Greatest of All-Time,” enjoys sharing his story with others and leaving them with a belief that anything is possible. When he is not playing sports, cheering on his favorite sports’ teams, or interacting with his fellow members at Opportunity Project, Clarence can be found spending quality time with his wife and three children.

SPEAKERS BUREAU

BIOGRAPHIES

Tim Burns

Tim is an acquired brain injury survivor. He did not have an accident, injury, or any type of trauma. In 1981, Tim had an arterial venous malformation (AVM) burst and bleed, creating a brain injury. The brain injury left with him with impaired balance and the need to use a wheelchair. It also damaged his vocal cords, requiring him to use a speaking valve to communicate. In spite of these and many other challenges, Tim has created a very independent life for himself. He drives his own van, sews, does light home remodeling, sits on three boards as an advocate for people with disabilities, and continues to be an active member at Opportunity Project. His greatest achievement to date: fathering two beautiful children.

Barbara Crandles

At the young age of 11, Barbara Crandles’ life changed forever. After suffering a seizure at the breakfast table that left her with a brain injury, Barbara has made it her mission to let others know that there is a world out there full of people with disabilities who can achieve. By sharing her firsthand experiences of living with a disability through one of her passions, poetry, Barbara connects with people from all walks of life. While she strives to live more independently and obtain employment, Barbara continues to be quite productive and helpful at Opportunity Project. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing poetry, watching sports, and swimming.

John Cunningham

In 2004, John sustained a brain injury as the result of a car accident. While driving his car, another vehicle that had just been hit by a tractor-trailer, slammed into his car so hard that he was ejected from his car and onto the nearby pavement. Unconscious for three days, John emerged from his tragedy stronger than ever before. Despite suffering some significant damage to his brain that has affected his memory, John still manages to deliver exceptional presentations, reminding his audiences that anyone can rise above adversity. He is on a mission to bring about an awareness of fairness to the world. This easy-going individual, who enjoys reading, sight-seeing, and listening to soft and easy music, believes that his three girls, one boy, and a greater awareness of self are his four greatest achievements in life.

Eugenia Donovan

Geena, as she is known to her friends, is a survivor of an aneurysm that left her with a brain injury in 2002. Still a lover of cooking, Geena enjoys creating delicious meals for her family and friends. She is most proud of her son, five step children, eight grandchildren, and two great grand kids. As a speaker, Geena is hopeful that her message will increase brain injury awareness and remind her audiences that the ability to persevere exists within all of us.

Adam Greene

At just 10 years of age, Adam was hit by a car walking out of school, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury. After re-learning how to walk, talk, and do so many other activities of daily living that he once took for granted, Adam began to create a very active life for himself. He is one of the first members of Opportunity Project and also a volunteer at The Children’s Institute, where he works with children with disabilities. When he is not making a difference in these programs, Adam can be found hitting the slopes skiing, swimming at his family’s pool, playing with his nephews, or cheering on his New York Mets. One of his many dreams is to appear on the hit television show, “Wheel of Fortune.”

Michael Pagnillo

In 1981, Michael was riding his moped when he realized his vehicle was running out of gas. Reaching down to release the reserve gas switch while still driving, he lost his balance, hit a telephone pole, and was sent flying through the air. After spending one month in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, Michael truly began to defy the odds in many parts of his life. Having been told by doctors that his forehead would never grow back as a result of the accident, Michael shocked all of his doctors one year later with a brand new forehead that had grown in. He was also instrumental in helping the State of New Jersey pass a law, requiring all moped drivers to wear helmets. Today, Michael continues to help others, especially his fellow members at Opportunity Project, with many tasks that include cooking and magic. When he is not making a positive difference in the lives of others, he can be found watching baseball, shooting pool, and playing the guitar and piano,

Doug Smith

In 1981, Doug suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a car accident. He was only 10 years of age. What would be considered a tragedy by many has been leveraged into opportunity for Doug. With a desire to pass along his firsthand knowledge of overcoming adversity, Doug continues to pursue his ultimate passion in life, public speaking. As an advocate for people with disabilities, Doug continues to share his message of hope and perseverance with many diverse audiences. He also continues to be an active member of Opportunity Project, further developing his communication skills.

Susan Spurr

One morning back in 1959, an innocent 2 ½ year little girl was outside playing. In one split second, Susan was stripped of her childhood after she was hit by an automobile that left her with a traumatic brain injury. In spite of this major setback, Susan has created an exceptional quality of life for herself. By learning how to walk and talk all over again, she was well on her way to conquering any limitations that stood in her way. Today, with a desire to contribute to the lives of others in a positive and empowering way, Susan has turned to one of her passions, public speaking, to make a difference in the world. She believes that everyone has his or her own unique experiences from which we can all learn. An active member of Opportunity Project, Susan can also be found exercising, reading, and writing in her spare time.

Clarence Turner

Clarence sustained his brain injury in 2001 when he was hit by a drunken driver while driving his own vehicle. As a determined athlete before and after his injury, he continues to work tirelessly to regain the mind and body he once had. Staying focused with God, he aspires to resume an active life that will hopefully consist of returning to his old job as a Maintenance Technician at New Jersey Transit. In the meantime, Clarence stills works at New Jersey Transit, fulfilling his clerical duties. While speaking to all types of audiences, Clarence, the self-proclaimed “Greatest of All-Time,” enjoys sharing his story with others and leaving them with a belief that anything is possible. When he is not playing sports, cheering on his favorite sports’ teams, or interacting with his fellow members at Opportunity Project, Clarence can be found spending quality time with his wife and three children.