Michael Eagan, President
Michael has held executive leadershpositions at various companies including the Advanced Technology Group/Cognizant, Deluxe Corporation, and Cap Gemini Consulting. His professional expertise is in the areas of sales, marketing, and operations. He holds a B.S. degree in Marketing from Missouri State University and a master’s degree from Webster University. Michael is active in the Kansas City community and is co-founder of the Sporting Blue Valley TEAM Soccer program, a soccer program designed for children with special needs. Michael and his wife, Dorothy, live in Overland Park, KS, and have 3 daughters and 3 grandsons. Michael and his family were impacted by myasthenia gravis after his father battled it for many years.
Brodie Beck, Vice President
Brodie is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Business Finance and a B.S. in Molecular Bioscience. He has worked in the clinical research industry since 2009 and is currently an Senior Site Relationship Manager with with Immunovant. Brodie lives in Overland Park, KS.
Stephanie Hubers, Secretary
Stephanie is a graduate of Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA with a B.A. in Business Administration. She is an executive assistant at the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS. Stephanie has worked on the MGA Triple Crown Showdown committee since 2014. She lives in Olathe, KS with her husband, Jeremy, and enjoys running, volunteering, traveling, and spending time with her friends.
Derek Haverkamp, Treasurer
Derek is vice president of commercial lending at OakStar Bank in Overland Park, KS. He has a B.S. in Financial Controllership from Kansas State and has worked in the field of finance since 2005. Derek lives in Overland Park, KS with his wife, Nina, and has two children.
Keith Asaeli
Keith is a graduate of Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO with a B.S. in Business Administration. He spent over 15 years in the mutual fund and print output industries. He recently changed career directions and is currently serving as a permanent substitute at the Mill Creek Upper Elementary with plans to obtain his teaching certification to be a permanent teacher. Keith has been either a participant or volunteer for the MGA Triple Crown Showdown since 2016. Keith resides in Belton, MO with his two dog, Patra and Sosisi.
Joe Bant
Joe is an attorney and member of Lewis Rice LLC, practicing in the area of business and civil litigation. He earned his B.S. in Journalism from the University of Kansas and his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. Joe lives in Overland Park, KS with his significant other, Jessica, and her son, Dominic.
Megan Choate
Megan left her hometown in Nebraska and headed to the University of Kansas, known for its journalism program and school spirit. Here, time was spent earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Communications with a minor in psychology. After four years, countless campus jobs (orientation assistant still ranks as a top stop!) and forever friendships, she interned at the same place that enamored me from the start - Children’s Mercy, a top-ranked pediatric hospital. It spoke to her soul to work with providers, hear and deliver on what families need, and see that even a marketing team can make an impact. Here, that spark that ties to purpose came alive with the chance to find answers for people’s toughest health care concerns and give them hope about their potential.
When she’s not hustling, you will find her on sports fields cheering on her two boys, ages 11 and 14. Or at the newest restaurant in town, connecting with a friend. You may also catch her helping others decorate their homes, navigate their neurodiverse child’s journey or taking the latest Peloton ride. While she’s a woman of many things, there’s one that stays center: to bring awareness, education, research, inclusivity and support to help people live at their best.
LaDonna Diller
LaDonna has served in several capacities in the Missouri healthcare community for many years including a number of positions on the MGA Board of Directors. In her leisure time LaDonna enjoys traveling, gardening, baking and spending time with family and friends (most especially her beautiful grandchildren).
Al Dimmitt
Al Dimmitt lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife Kay and two small dogs. A retired community college teacher and administrator, he enjoys reading science, history, and fiction as well as keeping up with technology. He and Kay are baseball enthusiasts and Royals season ticket holders.
Lyndsey Fliehs
Lyndsey is the Director of Awesomeness and Co-Owner of Team Cocktail, a local apparel and travel company. She graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management. Lyndsey was on the first planning committee for the Triple Crown Showdown and has been active with the MGA ever since. She loves bringing people together, traveling, and cheering on her favorite sports teams! Let's go Cyclones! Lyndsey lives in Blue Springs, MO.
Graham Naasz, DDS
Graham Naasz is a dentist from Overland Park, KS who became interested in treatment and research for myasthenia gravis from a close mentor from dental school. Born and raised in Kansas City, Graham is an avid Royals, Chiefs, and Jayhawk basketball fan. He is excited to bring another treatment facet to the multi-disciplinary treatment of myasthenia gravis.
Mamatha Pasnoor, M.D. FAAN
Dr. Mamatha Pasnoor is a neurologist and professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Pasnoor is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, with sub-certifications in neuromuscular medicine and neurophysiology. She completed a fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She earned her medical degree from Osmania Medical College and completed her residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Pasnoor provides compassionate care of neurology and neuromuscular patients.
Ashley Steele, CMP
Ashley Steele has joined the MGA Board of Directors. Ashley is the Assistant Marketing Events Manager at Polsinelli, based in Kansas City, MO. She earned her B.S. in Business Management and Marketing from Northwest Missouri State. Born and raised in Independence, MO, Ashley is a big Chiefs fan! When she isn’t traveling for work, she spends time with her 9 year old golden retriever, Bernie, her niece Molly and her nephews Mason and S.J. Ashley’s dad was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in 2020.
Tom Vansaghi, PhD
For more than a quarter of a century, Dr. Tom Vansaghi has served in variety of senior-level positions in public service, higher education, and the nonprofit sector. He began his career as a volunteer on a gubernatorial campaign (Mel Carnahan in 1992) that led to a series of leadership roles in Jefferson City, Missouri where he worked in state government with the Office of the Governor and Missouri General Assembly. He was recruited to lead the government relations, fundraising, strategic planning, marketing, public and community relations for a regional state university (Northwest Missouri State University in 1999) and later an urban/suburban community college district (Metropolitan Community College in 2004). Later, he was appointed as the executive director of an international association of primary care physicians dedicated to promoting the triple healthcare aim of enhancing the patient experience, improving the health of the population, and reducing costs (North American Primary Care Research Group in 2013). In 2015, Dr. Vansaghi became a tenured professor of nonprofit leadership at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. At Jewell, he engages undergraduate students in critical thinking to prepare them to pursue meaningful lives leading nonprofit organizations. He also serves as the director of strategic planning for the college. He has served as a senior fellow at the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership where he teaches graduate seminars and courses on nonprofit fundraising since 2010.
Dr. Vansaghi has been an advocate for social justice since the 1990s when he served as the chair of the Board of Directors for the National Conference of Christians and Jews (later the National Conference for Community Justice) in Kansas City. At William Jewell College, he has taught a required undergraduate course on identity, which he focuses on race since 2017. From August 2021 until June 2022, he served as an interim executive director to a diverse-by-design, urban charter school (Citizens of the World) in addition to teaching full time.
Vansaghi holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Northwest Missouri State University, a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a PhD in Political Science and Public Affairs from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He lives in Brookside (Kansas City, Missouri) with his wife Lisa, and twin boys Jack and Ben.
Board of Directors
Each year at our annual meeting, a board of directors and officers are elected to fulfill the MGA mission through financial and organizational responsibilities. Members serve a 3-year term and are expected to attend all meetings and functions of the association.