Denise Hanks
Burlington
Summary
Dynamic Executive Director with expertise in strategic planning, budget management, and stakeholder engagement. Proven ability to advocate for organizational missions and enhance community outreach through effective public speaking.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Executive Director
Heart Song, Inc
Burlington
01.2025 - Current
- Directed strategic initiatives to enhance organizational effectiveness and community engagement.
- Oversaw budgeting processes to allocate resources effectively across initiatives.
- Advocated for organizational mission and vision during public speaking engagements.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, including board members, donors, sponsors, partners, and community leaders.
- Maintained positive relationships with media outlets to increase visibility of organizational activities.
- Organized regular meetings with board members to discuss progress on initiatives and solicit feedback.
- Reviewed and approved annual operating and capital budgets for company.
- Ensured legal compliance by staying abreast of relevant laws, regulations, standards, guidelines.
- Developed marketing strategies to promote the organization's mission throughout the community.
- Assessed potential collaboration opportunities to enhance organizational value and improve efficiency.
- Stayed up-to-date on best practices and cutting-edge ideas to improve organizational effectiveness.
- Informed board and committee about trends, issues and activities to facilitate policy-making.
- Delivered speeches and attended industry conferences to promote company image and engage with buyers.
- Secured funding from public and private sources through grant writing activities or other fundraising efforts.
- Collaborated with external vendors to provide cost-effective solutions for services such as IT support or human resources management.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Great River Health
Burlington
09.1994 - 03.2025
- Evaluated speech and language disorders in diverse patient populations.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to enhance patient care strategies.
- Conducted assessments to identify speech and language delays in children.
- Implemented evidence-based therapies to improve communication skills.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to develop treatment strategies and goals for patients.
- Provided direct therapy sessions using evidence-based practices to improve the communication of patients.
- Analyzed results from diagnostic tests and wrote comprehensive reports summarizing findings.
- Created individualized home programs for families to carryover learned skills between therapy sessions.
- Coordinated with medical professionals regarding care plans for medically complex patients.
- Developed individualized plans for patients to address impairments in communication, swallowing, and cognitive-communication skills.
- Prescribed augmentative and alternative communication systems when appropriate to improve functional communication outcomes.
- Performed dysphagia evaluations using videofluoroscopy or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing.
- Monitored patient progress and adjusted treatment plans as necessary.
- Provided consultation to educators and medical professionals, advising on communication strategies to better accommodate individuals with hearing and speech issues.
- Consulted, evaluated and diagnosed communication and cognitive-communication deficits and dysphagia.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Key Rehab Associates
Burlington
09.2019 - 07.2024
- Provided direct therapy sessions using evidence-based practices to improve the communication of patients.
- Monitored progress of clients through data collection procedures on standardized assessments and informal measures.
- Coordinated with medical professionals regarding care plans for medically complex patients.
- Instructed clients in techniques for more effective communication.
- Consulted, evaluated and diagnosed communication and cognitive-communication deficits and dysphagia.
- Conducted evaluations and examined physical structures contributing to speech concerns.
Education
Master of Arts - Communication Disorders And Sciences
Wichita State University
Wichita, KS12-1989
Speech-Language Pathology
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO05-1988
Skills
- Strategic planning
- Budget management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Team Leadership
- Public speaking
- Community outreach
Certification
Speech language pathologist State of Iowa
Accomplishments
Greater Burlington Partnership Chairpersons Award 2025
Timeline
Executive Director
Heart Song, Inc
01.2025 - Current
Speech-Language Pathologist
Key Rehab Associates
09.2019 - 07.2024
Speech-Language Pathologist
Great River Health
09.1994 - 03.2025
Master of Arts - Communication Disorders And Sciences
Wichita State University
Speech-Language Pathology
Truman State University