Seamus McKeon is many things — trophy husband, elite dodgeball player, and believer in the power of a magical ceiling tile, but most importantly, he’s someone who’s passionate about helping teens who are struggling to find themselves. With a passion for addressing the needs of young people who require a little more guidance to achieve their potential, he found the perfect fit at Ascend. In his role as Ascend’s Business Development Director, he plays a crucial part in ensuring that parents and healthcare providers can find the right residential facility for their kids.
What is a Business Development Director, Anyway?
While Chef Steve might believe that Seamus’s main job is showing up randomly to eat his fabulous cooking, Seamus actually travels around the country meeting with healthcare professionals and sharing our amazing program with them. He ensures they know about Ascend as an option for teens who need stabilization and assessment.
He also gets to choose the staff photos for our team profiles, so everyone is always trying to get on his good side!
How Do You Become a Business Development Director Like Seamus?
Well, Seamus got his start with the help of a magical ceiling tile. He was reading the LOLcats Bible and talking to the ceiling at a former job about how much he wanted to get back to helping kids. Then, lo and behold, Effie reached out to him just two weeks later with a job offer.
Seamus had experience working with Effie in the past, so he knew that whatever the job was, he would be helping to make a difference.
Life for Seamus at Ascend Healthcare
A typical day at Ascend for Seamus usually means cracking jokes to lighten the mood. That’s the only constant in his work. Well, that and answering emails. You never know where you’ll find Seamus! He might be in Portland meeting with Unity Center for Behavioral Health for an in-service presentation, or you may run into him at the Annual NATSAP conference working on professional development, business development, and hosting drag queen bingo.
He’s great at his job because his extroverted personality makes it a requirement for him to collaborate with others pretty frequently. We’ve been warned that if left alone for too long, he might fall asleep. He adores joining forces with other programs to develop amazing conferences and events. He also does his best to attend every possible meeting with Brittany Cohen — who is definitely missing out on her calling as a stand-up comedian.
Seamus Loves Ascend
Seamus loves Ascend for so many reasons. Besides getting to travel, meeting new people, and working on behalf of teens around the country, he loves his fellow staff members at Ascend. He works very closely with Effie and Brittany Cohen, our Executive Director, and they have built a rapport that puts the interests of clients above all else — even when it means they have to work harder.
The driving force behind his commitment to our company is a belief that Your Life Matters. He believes it, and he wants every client to believe it, too.
Ascend Loves Seamus, Too!
Although he might say his greatest contribution to our company is the introduction of Twinings Irish Breakfast Tea to our facilities, we think that Seamus has brought so much more to our team. He helps us find amazing people to supplement every department, including Kaylin, our new Facility Manager, and Staav, our Marketing Consultant. He also tirelessly fights for our clients by ensuring that every parent, hospital, and insurance provider is aware that Ascend Healthcare is an option that can make a huge difference in the lives of teens everywhere.
The Team at Ascend
Seamus’s work has Purpose. Seeing kids and families heal from some of the scariest situations in life, he feels immense gratitude for the opportunity to help. And, everyone on the Ascend team feels the same way.
If you’re interested in learning more about some of our other staff members, check out their spotlights today! Learn about Operations Management with Jaq, Mental Health with Dr. Acosta, or Facility Management with Zack.
