Home » DeeAnna Esslinger to lead Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Alzheimer’s Association

DeeAnna Esslinger to lead Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Alzheimer’s Association

Chapter serves 125 Kentucky and Southern Indiana counties

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 29, 2014) — DeeAnna Esslinger has been named executive director of the Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Esslinger, a 10-year veteran of the organization, will begin her new duties on Jan. 1, 2015.

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DeeAnna Esslinger

Esslinger will provide strategic direction and administrative oversight for the chapter, which employs 17 individuals and provides service and education programs for individuals, families, caregivers and professionals dealing with Alzheimer’s disease in 125 counties covering most of Kentucky as well as Jeffersonville, Ind. and Evansville, Ind.

“DeeAnna has proved her mettle and commitment time and again during her tenure with the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Nicki McMahon, chair of the board of directors for the chapter. “Her leadership talent and strong dedication to our mission will enable continued growth of the local chapter as the Association plays a leading role in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and supporting the mounting number of Americans who have the disease.”

Esslinger served as chapter director of development from 2004 through this month, more than doubling its annual fundraising budget from just under $1 million to $2.2 million in 2014. Fundraising activities include 12 Walk to End Alzheimer’s events and three Making Memories galas; funds provide local services and also support national research efforts. Prior to joining the Alzheimer’s Association, Esslinger was director of operations at the Kentucky Derby Festival for six years where she produced Thunder Over Louisville, and also worked in sales at The Courier-Journal.

A graduate of the University of Louisville with a master’s degree from Spalding University, Esslinger holds certificates in nonprofit leadership from Bellarmine University and in fundraising management from Indiana University at Purdue.  She is a Kentucky native, married to Barry Esslinger, and has three children.

Esslinger replaces Teri Shirk who, after seven years at executive director of the local chapter, has been named director of chapter operations for the national Alzheimer’s Association.