Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007

McLouth native to lead AHA affiliate

by Davis Publications staff

McLouth native to lead AHA affiliate Leawood resident and Kansas native Kevin Harker has been named executive vice president of the American Heart Association’s 11-state Midwest Affiliate.

The Midwest Affiliate was created as the result of a merger of the Greater Midwest and Heartland affiliates of the American Heart Association, which together serve the states of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin.

As executive vice president, Harker will be responsible for the overall management of the Midwest Affiliate, which is the largest affiliate in the American Heart Association, with 420 staff and an annual operating budget of $114 million.

Harker will report to a volunteer board of directors composed of 20 medical professionals and business and civic leaders from the 11-state region. Harker has been with the American Heart Association for more than 19 years.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in business management from Emporia State University, Harker joined the American Heart Association’s Kansas Affiliate as an area director. He later transitioned to the association’s Midwest Affiliate in Chicago, where he served in numerous leadership roles including deputy executive director and chief operating officer.

During this time, he consistently coached staff and volunteers to unprecedented campaign increases. Harker has had a national impact on the American Heart Association.

He negotiated and secured the Archer Daniels Midland company as the first national presenting sponsor at $4.5 million for the AHA’s national walking event. In 2002, he negotiated the second national presenting sponsor, Subway, at $4.5 million, and in 2006, he led a team of staff to negotiate a partnership with Healthy Choice as a national sponsor.

Harker has received numerous awards including the National Earl B. Beagle Award for Staff Excellence (2000), the highest award given by the American Heart Association; the Midwest Affiliate Impact Award; and the National Rome Betts Award for Development.

Harker is married and has three young sons.

As a volunteer, Kevin gives back to the community as a basketball, baseball and soccer coach for youth athletics; a volunteer for a local homeless shelter; a Sunday school teacher; an active volunteer in his church; and a committed health advocate for the community.