NeuroBalance Center, a nonprofit organization offering a range of healthcare services designed to help people living with chronic, progressive disorders, announced Shawna Egan as its President, effective December 12, 2022.

An accomplished executive with nearly 30 years of non-profit leadership experience, Egan’s professional involvement includes executive leadership in various non-profit organizations, establishing successful fund development strategies, creating innovative programs, as well as cultivating community and government relationships.

“As a parent of an adult daughter with a progressive, chronic, and degenerative condition, I understand the unique needs that she and others like her require and the importance to champion the mission of NeuroBalance Center,” said Shawna. “For people with degenerative issues, having a state-of-the-art facility that is accessible and offers therapy, training, and wellness programs in one location is life-transforming. I look forward to building on the phenomenal work the team has already accomplished and will continue making a positive impact in the lives of others, ensuring individuals feel supported and whole.” 

Egan recently served as Vice President of Development at Avenues To Independence. She also maintained a consulting role to support nonprofits in corporate partnership development, fund development, marketing, and board leadership. In 2000, she founded The Children’s Centerfor Autism, which sought to create a highly specialized therapeutic group home for children with severe autism, as well as, the first autism information, resources and referral agency in Northern Illinois. The Center eventually merged into Little Friends, Inc. Egan is an alumna of Leadership Greater McHenry County and serves on the Illinois Development Disability Advisory Council and the McHenry County Developmental Disability Task Force.

“We were seeking an empathetic, inspirational, and transformational President to lead us into the future,” said NeuroBalance Center Board Chair Tom Burns. “Shawna’s personal connection to our mission, her depth of non-profit leadership experience, and her connection to the Northwest suburban community make her an excellent choice to lead NeuroBalance following our visionary founder. We are delighted to have selected Shawna and thank KEES for their expertise during this next stage of growth for our organization.”

Egan comes to lead the team as Founder Joy Wagner transitions to a new role. Wagner founded the nonprofit fitMS® NeuroBalance Center in 2010 to provide more services to address the unmet needs of the MS population and all those with Neuromuscular conditions that threaten independence. Wagner will continue in a role of advocacy and ambassadorship.

NeuroBalance Center’s Board of Directors retained KEES in 2022, and a comprehensive, regional search was launched, attracting a uniquely qualified and diverse pool of candidates. The Board of Directors ultimately selected Egan from a strong group of finalists. 

NeuroBalance Center Board Members leading the search efforts included Board Chair Tom Burns (Vice President – Ameritech Retired), Joseph Matty (Board Vice Chair and President of The HAP Foundation), John Gigerich (Board Treasurer and Chief of Administration Officer & Vice President – US Bank Retired), Ray Lapinas (Board Secretary and Managing Director of Finance and Administration – Epilepsy Foundation of Northern Illinois/Iowa Retired), and Jennifer Smith (Board Director and President of JMS Synergy).

“Shawna’s own journey has taken a similar path to Joy’s, and the role at NeuroBalance Center perfectly brings together all the talents, skills, and expertise Shawna has amassed in her career,” said Heather Eddy, KEES President and CEO. “On behalf of the entire KEES team, we congratulate Shawna, the Board, and the entire NeuroBalance team during this pivotal time in the organization’s history.”

ABOUT KEES 

KEES (formerly Alford Executive Search) is a non-profit executive search firm that builds diverse teams with dynamic leaders in the non-profit and public sectors. A woman owned and operated firm, KEES offers a full array of non-profit consulting services, including executive search, leadership development, interim staffing, and HR support. For more information, please visit www.kees2success.com.

ABOUT NEUROBALANCE CENTERFounded in 2010 as FitMS NeuroBalance Center, the NeuroBalance Center focuses on helping people thrive with conditions that affect their mobility, balance, strength, gait, coordination, and speech. Most participants are living with chronic, progressive disorders that impact mobility and movement such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, and other neuromuscular and autoimmune diseases. In a state of the art, purpose-designed facility, the Center offers individual healthcare, wellness, and education programs that are designed after assessment and understanding of each person’s specific disease and how it impacts their daily life. Programs are delivered on a fee for service basis and the Center offers a sliding fee scale and scholarships. NeuroBalance Center relies on the generosity of our donors to carry out its mission. To learn more, please visit www.neurobalancecenter.org.

KEES MEDIA CONTACT:

Jamie Sheffler, jsheffler@kees2success.com

NEUROBALANCE CENTER MEDIA CONTACT:

Tom Burns, Board Chair, tom@neurobalancecenter.org