Terrie & Laurie Spotlight: Jay's Journey from Local Government Leader to Alzheimer's Advocate Episode #4

Terrie and Laurie: Spotlight Kathy D. Wright

Meet Jay, an inspiring individual with a rich background in local government and a powerful voice in the fight against Alzheimer's. With 25 years of dedicated service in local municipalities, Jay's career was marked by significant achievements, including the development of nationally recognized Strategic Plans and Performance Dashboards. His resilience shone through when he secured over $45 million in Federal grants post two devastating hurricanes and pioneered a successful summer employment program for underserved teens and disabled veterans. However, Jay's path took an unexpected turn when he began noticing details slipping at work. The turning point came during a public presentation as the Assistant City Manager, where he struggled to recall department names. Concerned, Jay sought the expertise of a friend and neurologist, leading to a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), later changed to younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Undeterred, Jay transformed his personal challenge into a platform for advocacy. Over the past four years, he raised over $175,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association and actively participated in the LEADS Study, contributing to research on younger-onset Alzheimer’s. As a former National Board Director for the Alzheimer’s Association, Jay used his position to foster a dialogue, educating the public and reducing the stigma surrounding Alzheimer's. Jay's commitment extended to the airwaves as a host of two radio shows on WIDU 99.7 fm: "Honest Conversations with Kev and Jay" and "Election Central." His impact resonated nationally, serving on the Alzheimer’s Association’s National Board of Directors until October 2021 and like Laurie & Terrie he is also a former National Early-Stage Advisory Group Member. Jay's advocacy efforts garnered widespread attention, with features in esteemed publications such as the NY Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Politico, The Economist, Chicago Tribune, Bloomberg News, and Parade Magazine. In March 2023, Jay was honored as the Alzheimer's Association National Advocate of the Year, a testament to his unwavering dedication to raising awareness, promoting research, and advocating for the inclusion of underrepresented populations in clinical trials. Join Terrie and Laurie as they delve into Jay's remarkable journey and his efforts to change the narrative surrounding Alzheimer's in their insightful podcast, T&L WTD Let's Talk About it.