Robert Cassidy currently splits his time between furthering along early stage internet projects and his non-profit volunteer work. With his newest company, ConRadical, he is developing several iPhone apps in partnership with several diversified organizations, including the US Chess Federation, the Arthritis Foundation, Mongoose Press.

Robert sits on the National Board of the Autism Society of America where he assists with both strategy and execution to drive all key initiatives for the Autism Society.

Robert co-founded the 7 Summit Challenge in which he and a friend will summit the highest peak on all 7 continents over the next 5 years. And by partnering with the Autism Society, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, they plan to use the attention garnered by this adventure to raise funds and awareness for these amazing organizations and the missions they represent. Already summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and Aconcagua in South America. The website is www.7SummitChallenge.org.

Additionally, he is an active member of the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Michigan’s non-profit collaborative where he, along with other HBS alumni, works with the Chief Executive Officer’s of 23 non-profits based in Michigan, with a mission of sharing fundraising ideas, lowering operating expenses, and improving good governance practices.

Additional Boards and Committees:

Autism Society of America

• Member of Governance and Nominating Committee 2011
• Chair of Audit Committee 2010 - present
• Member of Finanace Committe 2010 - present
• Co-Chair National Campaign Committee 2008 - 2010

Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Michigan

• Board member 2009 - present

US Chess Hall of Fame Museum

• Board member 2010 - present

St. Louis Chess Club

• Board member 2010 - present

Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Bob stepped down as the CEO of Signature Management Team at the end of 2009 to engage fulltime with the 7 Summit Challenge and to start a new business venture in the technology sector. He is training to complete an exhausting three year schedule to climb the highest peak on each continent known as the fabled “seven summits”.  During this time, Bob has been able to tie together his passion for the non-profit world and his business pursuits in the technology sector. He is working with a group of investors on multiple social media applications to be released in 2010, one of which will specifically serve the non-profit community.

As CEO for Signature Management Team, an international leadership development company headquartered in Flint, MI, Bob spearheaded a coordinated action plan to help grow a Midwest focused business into an international business that more than tripled in size in five years. Prior to this, Bob served for over 6 years as a captain in the United States Air Force in various assignments that led to extensive duty in Europe and Asia.

Before entering the military, Bob earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee where he was captain of the track and cross- country teams and competed in three NCAA national championships. He later went on to obtain his Masters degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Arkansas.

With a strong desire to serve his community, Bob serves on the Autism Society Delegate Assembly Task Force in Washington DC and is the President of All Grace Outreach and Chairman of Kindred Spirit non-profit organizations. He is also a member and actively involved in the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

Bob is married to the beautiful and talented Brandi Hope Dickie and enjoys time with his four incredible children, Lachlan, Tristin, London, and Amaris.

Excited about the leadership team assembled, Bob knows that the 7 Summit Challenge will be a tremendous success in helping raise awareness and funding for the Autism Society of America, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the people they serve and support.  

Mary Hansen is the project manager for the 7 Summit Challenge, a non-profit adventure challenge benefiting the Autism Society, Alzheimer’s Association and the Lance Armstrong foundation. She is a highly motivated and enthusiastic entrepreneur who is proud to be coordinating and planning strategies to raise funds and awareness for these amazing organizations and the missions they represent.

Mary has worked in the IT industry for most of her career as a project manager, programmer and systems analyst. Responsibilities include(d) website design and management, software development, smart phone and iPad app development, creating e-commerce solutions, on-site IT support and customer service.

Mary’s interests include staying active by hiking and climbing mountains, cycling, running and kayaking. For a change of pace, she enjoys traveling, Broadway shows and reading.

Her community service additionally includes past service to McLaren Hospital Hospice in the capacity of bereavement support, in-home/respite and children’s grief camps.

Marguerite Colston joined the Autism Society in July 2006. A communications and marketing veteran, she oversees the Autism Society’s national programs, research programs, media, marketing, and content development. As national spokesperson, Marguerite has appeared on CBS News, Fox News, PBS’ Newshour with Jim Lehrer, and several radio and print segments. Marguerite services on the boards of the Catholic Coalition for Special Education, the Council for Quality and Leadership (CQL), and the Montgomery County, Maryland Special Education Continuous Improvement Advisory Committee. Before joining the Autism Society, Marguerite was a deputy director for communications and research at IFES, an international non-profit dedicated to building democracies, and the managing editor of its magazine, Democracy at Large. Marguerite also has experience with marketing and business development with Price Waterhouse, the American Bankers Association, the New York Institute of Finance and Socimer International.

Marguerite has a B.A. in Economics and Latin American Studies from Trinity University and an M.A. in International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies. She is the mother of two children, a 9-year-old son with autism and an 11-year-old daughter with "empathy."