Background

Tyler Hall is the President and Co-Founder of Will to Cure ALD. He also serves on the board of ALD Connect, the patient advocacy organization for adrenoleukodystrophy.

Professionally, Tyler works in corporate development for FireBird Energy II, a Permian-focused upstream oil and gas company. He holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.

Personal Story

Tyler and his wife, Taylor, entered the ALD community after their son, William, was diagnosed through newborn screening shortly after birth.

As they learned more about ALD, they saw both the promise of emerging research and the need for greater funding and collaboration. Tyler and Taylor co-founded Will to Cure ALD in 2024 to help accelerate promising science and create a better future for William and every family affected by the disease.

Background

Joey Hall is the Chief Operating Officer of Crescent Energy. He previously served as Executive Vice President of Operations at Pioneer Natural Resources, where he was also a member of the company’s Executive Committee.

During his multi-decade career at Pioneer, Joey led development and operations across the Eagle Ford and Permian Basin. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University, is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, and was recognized as a Distinguished Engineer by Texas Tech’s Whitacre College of Engineering in 2021.

Joey previously served as board chair and as a member of the board of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. He and his family have also supported numerous nonprofit organizations throughout North Texas.

Personal Story

Joey co-founded Will to Cure ALD after his grandson, William, was diagnosed with ALD shortly after birth.

William’s diagnosis brought the realities of rare disease directly into Joey’s family and created an urgent desire to help change what the future could look like for him. Through Will to Cure ALD, Joey is committed to helping accelerate research and build a better future for William and every family affected by ALD.

Background

Stephen Phillips is a Vice President at Bios Partners, a Fort Worth-based biotechnology venture capital firm with approximately $350 million in assets under management. He leads diligence and evaluates new investment opportunities, while also supporting portfolio companies and investor relationships.

Stephen earned a bachelor’s degree in Management and an MBA from Dallas Baptist University. He previously served on the university’s Board of Trustees and currently serves as Treasurer of Will to Cure ALD.

Personal Story

Stephen and his wife, Morgan, became part of the ALD community after their son, Jude, was diagnosed through newborn screening at just 16 days old.

Their family’s experience has given Stephen a deeply personal understanding of the uncertainty faced by families living with ALD. Through Will to Cure ALD, he combines that perspective with his experience evaluating biotechnology investments to help identify and support promising science that could improve the future for Jude and other families affected by the disease.

Background

Rob Patten has spent more than 25 years recruiting leaders across the life sciences industry, with experience spanning scientific discovery, clinical development, and commercialization. He is the founder of Genepool Networks, where he helps biotechnology companies identify the executive and senior leadership talent needed to move science forward.

Before founding Genepool Networks, Rob co-founded Stratacuity, a scientific recruiting firm serving the biopharmaceutical industry. As Chief Operating Officer, he helped lead the company’s growth through its acquisition by one of the world’s largest talent management firms.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a focus on entrepreneurship. He received the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Breath of Life Award in 2016 for his contributions to the organization.

Personal Story

Rob’s commitment to biotechnology began early in his recruiting career when a colleague’s daughter was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Years later, he saw the impact of scientific progress when his former business partner’s daughter benefited from a groundbreaking cystic fibrosis therapy.

The mission became deeply personal when Rob’s own son was diagnosed with ALD. That experience renewed his commitment to advancing treatments for rare diseases and reinforced his belief that the right people, working together with purpose and integrity, can fundamentally change what a diagnosis means for patients and their families.