About Us

Founder and President

Garet became involved in kidney-related healthcare when his daughter was diagnosed with kidney failure at age 10. He wanted to donate his kidney and proceeded through the evaluation process only to learn, 36 hours prior to surgery, that he would not be able to donate because his daughter would reject his kidney. Garet’s daughter received a kidney after a difficult and extensive donor search. She and her donor are doing well. It was during this challenging period that he conceived of a better way to organize living donor transplants that could save the lives of thousands of people facing kidney failure. This was the founding idea of the National Kidney Registry.

Garet has 25+ years of business experience, including serving as Chief Executive Officer for both public and private companies. In addition to leading the Registry, Garet owns a consulting & software development company, serves on the boards of Peridrome Corporation and the Dattoli Cancer Center and is a member of the UNOS Paired Exchange Working Group. Prior to starting the Registry, Garet led the $5 million dollar acquisition/turnaround of a digital printing company that was sold after 11 years under his leadership for $1.1 billion dollars. Prior to this, Garet held several management and technology positions at EDS, General Motors, and other leading firms. Garet earned his MBA from the Wharton School, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Montana, and served in the United States Marine Corps. He lives in West Islip, New York with his wife and youngest daughter.

Director of Operations

Tom’s interest in kidney-related healthcare is one of a very personal nature. Tom’s father, at the age of 48, died as a result of kidney failure. His father left behind a wife and five young children. Not only was his father’s life cut short but his death became a major life-changing experience for the entire family. Tom views kidney exchanges as an opportunity to minimize the chances that other families will have to go through the same devastating experience as he did and to offer a better life to those affected by kidney disease.

Tom has 25+ years of management experience, including senior operating positions at TIAA-CREF and JC Penney. While at TIAA-CREF, Tom was responsible for the communication of sensitive financial information to 3.2 million customers representing over $380 billion in assets under management. Tom has managed large-scale operations and has extensive experience dealing with technology-based mission-critical applications. Tom attended the New York Institute of Technology and served 20 years in the New York Air National Guard.

Senior Software Designer

Rich has 30+ years of experience innovating business solutions for leading companies including Prudential, Merrill Lynch, ADP, and DST Systems. Progressing from expanding the applicability of existing equipment, he later developed complete, unique, proprietary systems, bridging inter-industry components using self-conceived hardware. Systems featuring cross-industry component integration generated new capabilities and economies, greatly broadening product salability and realizing millions in savings. While Rich primarily developed manufacturing systems for paper-based products or developed the product itself, he also pioneered many operational and administrative processes, such as the first mixed-weight mail postage payment system recognized nationally by the U.S. Postal Service. In more recent years, Rich extended his ingenuity to software development where his unique client software solutions garnered many loyal customers. Rich received a bachelor’s degree in music composition, performed professionally, and has written much original music.

Director of Research and Education

Joe and his family are personally connected to the issues related to Kidney disease through his cousin who is facing kidney failure and in need of a transplant. Joe is a seasoned executive with 15 years of success in business development, relationship management, team management, and operations leadership positions. Prior to joining the National Kidney Registry, Joe held positions with RR Donnelley and Rapid solutions Group where he managed multi million dollar business relationships with prominent Healthcare and Financial services firms. Well versed in technology, Joe influenced the development of groundbreaking document production and distribution solutions that changed the industry and are still in use today. Joe holds an AAS in Business Administration from SUNY Rockland in Suffern New York. Joe is also active in his church where he served as president of an essential parish organization.

IT Consultant

Matt serves as an Information technology expert for the National Kidney Registry. Matt has over 10 years of leadership experience working as a software architect/designer, an information technology Manager, and a network engineer. Matt has held positions with Telespectrum Worldwide, Intira, DST Systems, Rapid Solutions Group, Global Document Solutions, and St. Francis Hospital. Matt brings with him experience, technical skills, management capabilities to support the National Kidney Registry's ever expanding web presence and telecommunications infrastructure. Matt's work with the National Kidney Registry brings him a special joy in knowing that the work being done gives hope to those facing kidney failure.