3 minute read
The Parkinson’s Perspective A Letter from Holly
For nearly 25 years, PRO has been my passion and my most important professional undertaking. From when I took on the position in the summer of 1999 to today, I have been deeply committed to our work to help families navigate a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
In August 1999 I was hired as the first professional staff member – a leap of faith by all involved! Working alongside a board that was willing to take risks, learn with me, and share the commitment to our local community has made the years fly by! Earlier this year, I shared the news with our leadership of my intention to retire in August 2024 –almost 25 years to the day later.
We’ve been preparing for transition for a while. PRO is well positioned to continue as advocates for those we serve without missing a beat. Following a rigorous evaluation process, the PRO Board of Directors has selected Melissa Greer to continue and expand upon this legacy.
I couldn’t be stronger in my support of this decision. Anyone in our community who has interacted with Melissa during her decade of service here at PRO will be as enthusiastic as I am that she has agreed to step into the role of Executive Director. When you have a chance to see her next, please give her a warm welcome!
Even as this is my goodbye, there is much to celebrate. 2023 was a remarkable year – expanding our reach and numbers of clients served by nearly every measure. We have advanced our sources of financial support, too, making this growth possible. Gathering thoughts and perspectives from the community we serve is core to who we are. I know that even as the board looks to the future and refreshes our vision, you will be called upon and invited into the process.
I wholeheartedly believe that PRO is special and that our culture, supporters, and community are the source of all that is valuable within our organization. As we’ve grown, we have always kept our mission and clients at the forefront, leading the way. Together we’ve taken some risks, expanded our reach, and provided comfort and assurance to thousands of lives.
All this is possible because we have a talented and capable staff – with collective decades of experience and institutional knowledge. As- sembling and cultivating this team may, in fact, be my proudest accomplishment.
I know there will be changes that happen over time, indeed I HOPE they happen! New leadership with a commitment to our vision and deep history with our programs, like that embodied by Melissa, will ensure both continuity and an exciting future full of new opportunity.
I sincerely thank each of you for your commitment to Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon, and by extension, those who face a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. My last day as an employee at PRO will be August 16th. After a short break, I’m sure we will be crossing paths again!
Warm Regards, Holly Chaimov
Executive Director from August '99 to August '24
