Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Walters.
Jeff, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
There was a story in my alma mater alumni magazine published last year that tells it well.
From the Heart by Jean Ann Cantore
Jeff Walters, marketing director for emergency cardiovascular care programs for American Heart Association agrees, his job is to promote heart health and raise awareness about preventing heart disease, cardiac arrest, and stroke.
According to Walters, the American Heart Association (AHA) is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The organization was founded in 1924 by six cardiologists and has grown to include more than 33.5 million volunteers and supporters.
“Our nationwide organization includes 155 local offices and more than 3,400 employees, with our national headquarters in Dallas,” Walters says.
Walters started with the organization over 13 years ago. His first job was as marketing manager of the American Stroke Association, part of American Heart Association, based in Dallas. His next job move was to senior marketing manager for cardiovascular care. He then was promoted to corporate marketing director, overseeing the entire group—something he’s enjoyed doing for eight years now.
“What drew me to American Heart Association is their mission—‘Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.’ The mission and the people are the reason I am still there,” Walters says. “I love it so much. I feel good about what we do.”
He works with association employees, volunteers, board and medical professionals to create strategies and campaigns to educate the public about heart health. According to American Heart Association, one in every three deaths in the United States is caused by heart disease or stroke. Among the risk factors the organization cites are that 83 percent of Americans believe that heart attacks and strokes are preventable but that they aren’t motivated to act. Also, 72 percent of Americans don’t consider themselves to be at risk for heart disease. Finally, and perhaps most daunting, is that 58 percent of Americans put no effort into improving their heart health. “I hope to continue to use my talents at the American Heart Association to make a positive impact on the association, as well as the lives of as many people as I possibly can,” he says. “I want to do good work and bring big thinking and creative solutions to improve the health of all people.”
Education plays a large role in preventing cardiovascular disease. American Heart Association continually works to improve and upgrade measures such as Basic Life Support (CPR) and other techniques that can save lives.
The organization makes heart health information accessible and, hopefully, an essential part of people’s lives by making it personal. For example, at the bottom of each AHA employee’s email signature is the phrase “life is why™” and sometimes a listing of names of people for whom the person is striving to stay heart healthy. In Walters’ case, he lists his daughters, Amelia and Abby, with his wife’s nickname (Mel) underlined.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think life would be very fun if there weren’t bumps along the way. The low points help you appreciate what you have and you have accomplished. We are stronger than think we are.
For me, struggles came in the form of financial difficulties in the early years, finding a good work/life balance (it’s amazing how kids can help you do that), and learning to navigate a large organization.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the American Heart Association story. Tell us more about it.
I work for the American Heart Association. The mission is amazing, and we do a lot of good in so many communities.
I’m proud of the fact that we try to help people become their best selves. We may even same a few lives as we do it.
I think what sets us apart from other non-profits is that we have been able to scale while still doing good and maintaining the trust of the donors that give us their hard-earned dollars to do more.
Even as we grow, we keep why we do what we do, as the north star.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I used to believe you make your own luck. I even wrote a paper in college stating as much.
My views have changed a bit since then. There is certainly a huge amount of skill that goes into navigating a job, a room, even life, but there must be a certain amount of good luck in your path to help you reach your goals.
There have been times when I literally thought to myself “right place at the right time.” Some may argue with me on this one, but each time someone says that it equates to “I just got lucky,” and the inverse is still true if they say wrong place at the wrong time.
Pricing:
- CPR Training doesn’t have to cost anything, there are videos that can teach you (but hands-on is the best)
- CPR Anytime Kits (CR in 20 minutes with a manikin included) are less than $40
- You can get certified in CPR with an AHA instructor from anywhere between $45-80 (a course completion card is rewarded for successful completion)
Contact Info:
- Address: American Heart Association, National Center, 7272 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75231
- Website: www.heart.org
- Phone: 800-242-8721
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/american_heart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanHeart
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/American_Heart
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/americanheartassoc
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