Staff
Erika Fleck
Founding Director of Epilepsy Services
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Founding Director of Epilepsy Services
Erika Fleck currently serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs Public Relations & Advocacy of the Epilepsy Advocacy Network, of which is she is also a co-founder. Erika has been a peer facilitator for support groups for ten years, a role she started in as a volunteer. Erika plays an integral role of connecting with doctors and specialty services in the communities that Epilepsy Advocacy Network serves. She has extensive experience with supporting individuals, families and medical professionals to have productive and positive interactions to achieve treatment goals. Erika is a certified cognitive coach for HOBSCOTCH. She is also trained in PACES and UPLIFT. These are specialty programs for people with epilepsy that are part of the Managing Epilepsy Well network. Erika is a Registered Medical Assistant (American Medical Technologist) and has certification in non-profit leadership. Erika has served on the Program Committee for Epilepsy Alliance America since 2022 and joined the Board of Epilepsy Alliance America in January 2023. Erika’s public speaking experience includes presentations on epilepsy, seizure response, and first aid training, as well as being the spokesperson for Loyola University following her brain surgery to control her seizures from epilepsy. Erika has been seizure free for ten years and continues to be an advocate for our clients through her real-life expertise.
Kim Gregg is the client coordinator for the Quad City area. Along with being client coordinator, she is also a supervisor over part of the central counties. She has worked for the Epilepsy Advocacy Network for over a year and a half. Kim has her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. As much as she loved teaching, she has a special place in her heart for helping those with Epilepsy. As a child, Kim grew up having seizures. She did end up out-growing them until about 10 years ago when she began to have seizures again. Kim is currently 8 years seizure free, but epilepsy is still a big part of her life. Her son, Grayson, is 14 and started having seizures at the age of 2. Kim is very familiar with epilepsy and wants to share her knowledge to help others. When Kim is not working, you can find her and her husband running their 3 children to dance, tumbling, karate, band, and work. The family enjoys being outside and spending time together. Beyond working and advocating for epilepsy, the family also helps bring awareness and advocates for Type 1 Diabetes since her oldest daughter is Type 1.
Marcia Hartwig, RN BSN. Marcia earned her Diploma in Nursing from Rockford Memorial School of Nursing and her BSN from Rockford College. She worked as an RN in the Mobile Unit at Rockford Memorial Hospital for 3 years. She then moved and worked as a Med/Surg Nurse, ED Nurse, House Supervisor and Education Coordinator for the next 32 years before retiring from OSF Saint Clare Hospital in Princeton. She was also a CPR and First Aid Instructor for 30 years. She achieved several other trainer certifications throughout her career. She loves helping others learn and looks forward to sharing knowledge and grinding knowledge from those she has the opportunity to teach.
Kari Jones joined Epilepsy Advocacy Network as Executive Director in May 2023. She loves that she gets to live her passion of empowering people to attain their best and healthiest lives. Her previous role was Executive Director for the East Bluff Community Center in Peoria, which she helped transform from a volunteer organization to a leading community agency. Her experience also includes management at a health department and at a nonprofit for refugee services, as well as community health work with the Peace Corps in Rwanda. Kari holds an MS in Public Health and is a Certified Health Education Specialist.
With a passion for problem-solving and a deep compassion for people, Ebony bring seven years of dedicated experience in bridging gaps and advocacy to this client coordinator position. Throughout her career, she’s been driven by the belief that powering individuals through education and advocacy is the key to creating positive and lasting change. Ebony thrives on overcoming challenges and is committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of others, and is always willing to help in any way possible.
springfield@epilepsyadvocacynetwork.org
815-846-0881 ext. 702
Kristen, our Champaign Client Service Coordinator, graduated from Harding University where she studied Education and Social Work. Right after college she found out that she had epilepsy since childhood, but was not diagnosed until she was 22 years old. As an Epilepsy Warrior herself, she has a passion for helping others with epilepsy. She has been an advocate for years by volunteering with other epilepsy organizations and is proud to be working for one. Outside of work, Kristen enjoys spending time with family and friends and working on creative projects.
Miranda, our Rockford client coordinator. Miranda graduated from Loras College with her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology. She has experience working with other epilepsy nonprofit organizations in the past. She has two stepchildren on the autism spectrum that are in her care the majority of the time. She has personally experienced the struggle of finding resources and programs to help her kids succeed which is why she is passionate about serving the community and connecting people to resources to help confront the challenges brought on by seizures. Outside of work, Miranda enjoys spending time with her friends & family and being an over-the-top dog mom.
Ben Slack serves as a Client Service Coordinator and the Northwest Territory Supervisor for the Epilepsy Advocacy Network. With over 10 years of experience serving individuals with epilepsy, Ben is passionate about ensuring all those battling seizures live full and complete lives. After serving four years in the Marine Corps and receiving his Master’s Degree from Illinois State University, Ben entered the epilepsy community to help other veterans battling seizures, PTSD, and head trauma.
rockford@epilepsyadvocacynetwork.org
815-846-0881 ext. 705
