You can also make a donation to UpperEx.org by clicking the button below.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Board Member Bios
Eric Westover
Chairman & Executive Director
Eric is a below-elbow amputee from Maple Grove, Minnesota.
He is married to his wonderful wife, Shawn, and has three beautiful children; Hope (19), Paige (12), and Dylan (9). He is Founder & Editor of UpperEx.Com, an internet based magazine dedicated to upper extremity amputees. He is also the Goalkeeper for the U.S. National Amputee Soccer Team, as well as being involved with Arm-Amp.com, a website for upper extremity amputees, and volunteers as an amputee peer visitor for several hospitals in his area. In his free time Eric loves family outings, hunting, fishing, golfing, scuba diving, playing hockey, playing his drum set, and coaching for the local park board. Eric brings his passion, dedication, and leadership skills to this organization along with innovative and creative ideas.
Shawn Westover
Secretary
Shawn lives in Maple Grove, Minnesota with her husband, Eric, and their children; Hope (19), Paige (12), & Dylan (9). Shawn is not an amputee but knows first hand all of the issues an upper extremity amputee faces on a daily basis. Shawn has attended some arm amputee events, including the 2005 One Arm Dove Hunt and the 2006 & 2007North Country One Arm Trap Shoot. In her free time Shawn enjoys family outings, golfing, & boating. Shawn brings great policy and procedure knowledge to the Board. Along with her passion and energy, her organizational skills are second to none and her meticulous attention to detail keeps everyone focused on the issues.
Jim Haag
Director
Jim is a bilateral below elbow amputee who is an expert with his prosthetics -- because he has practiced every day for 34 years! He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with his beautiful and committed wife, Eileen. Together they share 9 children and soon to be 9 grandchildren (and counting)! Before moving to Tennessee, Jim lived in the Black Hills of South Dakota not far from where he was born and raised on a farm in North Dakota. He has been in the Trucking Industry for 20 years as a driver, driving instructor and truck salesman. Jim is "semi-retired" (pun intended) and is now serving on the UNOC board as the Director of Peer Support Network. He enjoys collecting diecast toy cars and riding the Smoky Mountains on his trike with wife Eileen as well as other traveling excursions by plane, train and automobile. Jim has recent experience working with a national amputee peer support network. He hopes to be an asset to UNOC by bringing his years of experience to this worthy organization.
Shawn Swanson
Director
Shawn Swanson is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist currently on staff with Otto Bock Health Care in the Professional and Clinical Services Department as a clinical specialist in upper extremity prosthetics. She has been a therapist for 9 years and with Otto Bock since 2003. She was previously with The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) in Houston, TX, specializing in traumatic neurological rehabilitation. While at TIRR, she treated several clients with upper extremity limb loss.
Her experience at Otto Bock includes teaching introductory and advanced courses in upper extremity prosthetic rehabilitation, working with the rehabilitation teams at WRAMC and BAMC, presenting at local, national and international conferences, and facilitating collaborative efforts between prosthetists and therapists to improve functional outcomes for their patients. Shawn is also currently serving on the Board of Directors of US-ISPO.