BLOOD DRIVE PARTNER OF THE YEAR
A national spotlight for a hometown hero! This week, Jessica McKearney was recognized as the ADRP (The Association for Blood Donor Professionals) 2026 Blood Drive Partner of the Year during the national conference in Minneapolis. Jessica’s passion for helping others, inspiring donors, and supporting families facing pediatric cancer has made a tremendous impact across our communities, and we could not be more proud to see her receive this recognition.
Since 2020, Jessica has partnered with us for 16 blood drives that have inspired more than 2,000 donations, while also serving as a co-chair of our Quad Cities Associate Board. Alongside her husband Kyle, she founded the Hudson Strong Foundation to support pediatric cancer families and advance pediatric cancer research following their son Hudson’s leukemia journey. More than $85,000 has been raised to support the Hudson Strong Family Fund at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
In addition to leading our Associate Board and running her foundation, Jessica is also a nurse practitioner and mom to three: Hudson, Violet and Colson. Through her advocacy, compassion, and tireless commitment to giving back, Jessica continues to show the powerful difference one person can make as a true Partner for Life. Check out the story here!
ADRP CONFERENCE IN MINNEAPOLIS
Every May, we meet up with blood industry professionals from across the globe -- leaders in collections, donor recruitment, marketing, donor services, communications, and more -- to learn from each other at the ADRP Annual Conference. It’s where new ideas are born, best practices are shared, and the future of our field takes shape.
This year's conference was held in Minneapolis this week, and we had the chance to participate in a few different ways! Our own Tara Matheson (Director of Donor Recruitment & Engagement) presented a great session titled: "Deferred, Not Done: Turning Low-Hemoglobin Deferrals into Repeat Donors."
And during the Marketing Showcase, our Donate with Pride video featuring University of Illinois Men's Gymnast Sam Phillips was shared.
Thanks to Stephen Gates (Director, Blood Drive Partnerships); Alex Burkamper (Community Development Advocate); Katie Marchik (Chief Operating Officer); Tara Matheson (Director, Donor Recruitment & Engagement); Pete Lux (Director, Integrative Clinical Services & Apheresis Collections); Jennifer Pender (Director, Donor Services); and Lisa Bender (Director, Donor Services) for representing ImpactLife!
ASGCT ANNUAL MEETING
We had a chance to exhibit at this year's ASGCT (American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy) Annual Meeting, to meet others in the cell therapy world. Our own Phan Soukpraseuth (Manager, Cell Therapy) and Mike Rasso (Director, Sales & Inventory) represented ImpactLife at the event, to share and raise awareness of the pinnacles of scientific achievement, the power of patient advocacy, and the leadership driving the field of Advancing Medicine forward.
ImpactLife is proud to collaborate with doctors and researchers to evaluate new treatments, cellular therapy and improved methods for delivering transfusion medicine to communities.
LEADERCAST SPRINGFIELD 2026
Last Friday, leaders from across our organization traveled to Springfield for "Champion the Leader Within," part of Leadercast Springfield and hosted by The Scooch Project. It was a chance to focus on professional and personal development to unlock your potential, own your influence, and lead with purpose - no matter your title.
Mary Guyton, Manager of Donor Engagement, offered this insight: "I would sum up Steve Thomas and Leadercast as: Being a better leader starts by being a better human. And I LOVE that so many of us carved out time to travel and attend so we could learn and grow as humans and leaders."