Keynote Speakers
Monica Vest Wheeler
A former weekly newspaper reporter and editor, Monica Vest Wheeler focuses on coping with and surviving the everyday and emotional challenges of brain-related injuries, illnesses and diseases.
In addition to co-authoring a book on coping with cancer, Monica has written about Alzheimer’s in “Alzheimer’s, Dementia & Memory Loss: Straight Talk for Families & Caregivers,” one of the books in her Help Me Cope & Survive! series. Her latest projects in the series focus on coping with the daily challenges of stroke, brain injuries and brain tumors-brain cancer.
Vicki Clark
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Vicki Clark has extensive experience as both a nonprofit leader and consultant. She has delivered training on a variety of nonprofit governance topics to a broad range of organizations, including Boys and Girls Clubs, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Association of Professional Chaplains, Allen County Public Library, and Sangamon County Community Foundation, among others.
Vicki also has her own consulting practice in which she helps build the capacity of nonprofit, government, faith-based, and business sector organizations through training, speaking, writing, and consulting. In this capacity, Vicki has worked with the Leader to Leader Foundation (formerly The Peter F. Drucker Foundation), Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Prevent Child Abuse America, Association of Junior Leagues International, Association of African American Museums, Literacy USA, and others.
Eileen Swanberg
Eileen joined the Pilot family in the Northeast Potomac District 11 years ago as a member of the Pilot Club of Sayville. She is a Charter Member of the Pilot Club of Greater Long Island, as well as a member of the Pilot Club of Patchogue. She has served on various Divisions in both the PC of Greater Long Island and Patchogue, as well as Secretary, Treasurer, President Elect and President in the PC of Greater Long Island, and is currently the President of this club for the 2019-2020 year. At the District level, Eileen served as the Governor of the Northeast Potomac District in 2014-2015.
Eileen’s love of competitive sports as a child helped form who she is today. She has coached football and taught at the Elementary, Middle school, and collegiate level. Eileen has a Master’s Degree in Social work and has experience as a therapist, case manager, program director and an executive director.
Eileen’s free time was spent as a voracious reader of mysteries, doing genealogical research, playing with her many dogs, and traveling with her boyfriend. But all of this came to a crashing halt on September 15, 2015 when she suffered a major concussion. Almost 4 years later, she continues to struggle with Post Concussive Syndrome and PTSD. She continues to evolve into the “new” person she has become since her concussion, somedays accepting and other days fighting. But always learning to find new ways to do old things along the way; and always finding the time to help others understand how life altering concussions can be.
We know many of our Pilots, both in the United States and around the globe, are watching carefully the flooding and devastation that has occurred and continues to impact our Louisiana District.