2.4.6
Board of Directors
Our Board has been working hard together since April of 2012. We are proud of our work so far and look forward to continuing the work of Summit For Parkinson’s. We are pleased to present the current Board of Directors:
Hadley Ferguson
Co-Chair
Hadley Ferguson is a prominent Montana artist and mother who was diagnosed with an Atypical Parkinsonism, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) type P (Parkinson’s) in July of 2013.
Hadley Ferguson graduated from the University of Montana in 1999 with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. After graduating Hadley moved to Portland Oregon and began work as an artist. Two years later Hadley returned to Missoula, Montana and developed a successful full-time business painting commissions for private and public entities.
In June of 2010 Hadley was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, before it was changed to MSA. Soon after her 2010 diagnosis she was actively involved in fundraising efforts for the Parkinson’s community with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Brian Grant Foundation.
In 2011 Hadley’s deep dedication to those with chronic illness, especially those with Parkinson’s Disease, compelled her to develop the first organization in the State of Montana dedicated to patients and their loved ones who have Parkinson’s, and founded Summit for Parkinson’s. Since the start of Summit for Parkinson’s, Hadley directed the creation and design of our original website and helped with some of the creation of the new site, organized The Missoula Parkinson’s Awareness Weekend held October 20-22, 2011 a three-day event for patients and their families and has organized several other fundraising events and annual conferences throughout the years.
Hadley has been the liaison for Summit for Parkinson’s with the Brian Grant Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the MSA Coalition. She is a member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation Patient Council, She served for 4 years as the MSA Coalition Patient Representative on their Board of Directors but recently transitioned to an Emeritus member of the board, and is currently acting President on the Summit for Parkinson’s Board of Directors.
Outside of her advocacy work, Hadley enjoys her time with her loving and supportive family. She loves connecting with people in meaningful ways and is grateful for the opportunity to help others who are in her same situation.
John Cahill
Co-Chair
John grew up in Billings, MT and made his way to Missoula where he attended the University of Montana. Shortly after graduation he started working in the medical device industry. In 2013 he started working for Medtronic DBS in Spokane, WA including western Montana, north Idaho, and eastern Washington.
John joined the Parkinson’s Resource Center in 2012, a local Spokane patient focused non-profit, as a board member and served as board president and recently joined Summit for Parkinson’s board. He currently works for Boston Scientific DBS and resides in Post Falls, ID with his wife and three kids. He enjoys coming back home to Montana to see family and friends.
Connie Myers
Board Member
A native of CO, Connie started to work for the Forest Service as a Social Scientist in AK straight out of graduate school. She moved to MT in 1991 as the Assistant District Ranger on the Ninemile Ranger District and, subsequently, as Director of the interagency Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center. Through her experiences working across agencies in the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, Connie learned to embrace the challenges of collaboration to successfully develop and implement shared goals and visions.
Connie’s husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2013. His situation circumvented their retirement plans until successful Deep Brain Stimulation surgery in 2019 breathed new life into their post-employment dreams. Now Connie and her husband are making the most of his newfound quality of life by staying active as hikers, bikers, kayakers and walkers. They thrive on exploring new places and meeting new people all across the country on travel van adventures.
Connie and her husband have a daughter, son and rescue dog, Jinx. Connie holds a BS in Natural Resources Management, MS in Wildlife Biology and MA in Communications
Shari Strachan - Treasurer
Board Member
Shari worked for 17 years in health and human service and grant-making nonprofit organizations in Missoula, Montana, and now works as paralegal and an independent consultant. She was previously involved with Summit for Parkinson’s as a volunteer with the Tree of Resilience project and at our annual fall conferences.