For Immediate Release

Easterseals Hires VP of General Counsel and External Affairs

July 14, 2020

Media Contact:
Jillian Jacuzzi
jjacuzzi@eastersealsar.com

Easterseals Arkansas has hired David Ivers, a noted healthcare attorney, as Vice President of External Affairs and General Counsel.

Ivers comes to Easterseals from Mitchell, Blackstock, Ivers & Sneddon PLLC. He is no stranger to Easterseals, he says, noting, "Easterseals is like family to me." His twins, Aidan and Alaina, went to the Little Rock Developmental Preschool, and Aidan still receives services from Easterseals Arkansas as a young adult.

"I know firsthand how important Easterseals Arkansas is to the families we serve. And, of course, I represented Easterseals while at my former law firm for over 20 years, so it feels like the perfect place to call my work home."

Ivers says he looks forward to helping Easterseals grow and navigate the many changes and challenges that our organization is facing. "It won't be easy, but I believe CEO Ron Ekstrand is setting a strategic course that will help us not only survive but thrive."

CEO Ron Ekstrand says, “As we reopen programs and look to expand our services beyond Central Arkansas, David will be an incredible asset to our team. He knows the state, disability law, and leaders at providers across the state.”

Ivers comes to Easterseals on a full-time basis with a keen ability to identify and develop key policy proposals and predict impact on businesses and consumers. He has lengthy experience on legislative teams for multiple healthcare provider associations. In addition, he is a seasoned presenter on healthcare topics and has many published articles and co-authored a book for physicians. He is the winner of the Burton Award for an article on care coordination.

While at the law firm, Ivers initiated the drafting and negotiation of many laws, including:

• Arkansas’ Medicaid Fairness Act, establishing due process rights for Medicaid providers;

• Peer Review Fairness Act, establishing due process rights for physicians on hospital medical staffs; and

• Health Care Consumer Act, establishing protections for patients in managed care plans.

Ivers is a 1992 graduate from University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law and a 1984 graduate of Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and minor in political science.

Easterseals Arkansas provides exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities. Easterseals Arkansas has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for more than 75 years. From child development centers to physical rehabilitation and job training for people with disabilities, Easterseals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.

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