Shrewsbury Woman Takes Seat On Board Of Service Dog Nonprofit

SHREWSBURY, MA — A Shrewsbury woman has taken a seat on the board of one of the largest service dog nonprofits in industry. Shannon O'Brien joined the NEADS board recently along with two other new members.

Here's more from a NEADS news release:

NEADS World Class Service Dogs, based in Princeton, Mass., is proud to announce the newest appointees to its Board of Directors: Jill Mongeau Gaines, Senior Vice President of Operations at Flare Education; Harry Grey, former Head of Global Marketing Operations for Boston Scientific; and Shannon O’Brien, Vice President of the Claims Executive Department for Amica Mutual Insurance Company in Lincoln, R.I..

The newly elected Board members will assist in establishing and upholding the organization’s activities, finances and general objectives.

“Our newest Board of Directors members represent leadership in a range of industries, from education to biotech to insurance. These individuals bring new skills and perspectives to the table, enhancing the capabilities of our already talented Board,” said NEADS CEO Gerry DeRoche.

Jill Mongeau Gaines is currently the Senior Vice President of Operations at Flare Education, a nonprofit organization that provides high-quality professional training, paid workforce opportunities, and career development for high school students. Gaines joined NEADS in 2019 as a member of the Executive Cabinet and has made an impact working with a group of committed staff to roll out a fit-for-purpose Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program. Recently, she became a NEADS Full-Time Puppy Raiser. Gaines currently resides in Sterling, Mass., with her family and NEADS Service Dog in training, Hadley.

Harry Grey is an experienced executive who formerly served as the Head of Global Marketing Operations for Boston Scientific and was the co-lead in growing the local chapter of the Boston Scientific Employee Resource Group, which advocates, educates, and develops a network of allies for employees who may need support for a disability of any kind. Grey also has a love for the outdoors and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, a nationally recognized leader in outdoor recreation for people with disabilities and is the President of Vorlage Ski Club in Woodstock, Vt. Grey became involved with NEADS after his employer hosted a panel discussion with a NEADS client and he learned how to properly interact with Service Dogs in the workplace. He also spearheaded a program to have the children’s book “Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship” – which shares the story of NEADS client Jessica Kensky and her Service Dog Rescue – placed in over 30 local schools and libraries. Grey is a resident of Wellesley, Mass.

Shannon O’Brien is the Claims Vice President for Amica Mutual Insurance Company in Lincoln, R.I. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Property Liability Research Board (PLRB), a non-profit focusing on insurance education, and served for six years on the Board of Trustees for the non-profit McAuley Ministries. She became involved with NEADS through her son, who volunteered to raise money for NEADS a decade ago. She currently lives in Shrewsbury, Mass., with her family and their dog, Mookie, a NEADS furloughed favorite.

About NEADS

NEADS Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Princeton, Massachusetts. Established in 1976, NEADS offers the widest array of Service Dog programs in the industry, including Service Dogs for adults and children with a physical disability, Service Dogs for veterans, Service Dogs for Hearing, and Service Dogs for children with autism or other developmental disabilities. NEADS dogs are also partnered with professionals in classroom, therapy, hospital, ministry, and courthouse settings. As of 2022, NEADS has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for 20 consecutive years.