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Getting tough against cancer
5/9/2012 9:45:06 AM
Splash Editor
Profiles:
Adam Nebeker
Leaves were changing pigments and football was in the air when Adam Nebeker transitioned careers last autumn.
In a move that made an onside kick seem pedestrian, the Liberty Lake resident left his post as team president of the Spokane Shock to take over as executive director of Cancer Patient Care, a nonprofit agency that has been rallying on behalf of local cancer patients for over 50 years.
For Nebeker, the switch from the football sidelines to the frontlines of the fight against cancer was a matter of shifting professional priorities.
"When you win a football game, it's a great feeling of accomplishment, but there's no real lasting meaning," Nebeker said. "I wanted to go into work every day and feel like I was making a difference."
Nebeker was announced as the new CPC director in October, replacing Cliff Evans. His first official day was Nov. 7.
Since then, Nebeker has employed many of the winning tactics that turned the Shock into one of the most successful teams in the history of arena-level football. Gone are the days when CPC clients called the agency for financial assistance on the first day of the month, creating a bottleneck of requests and depleting resources for the weeks ahead. Instead, a new system of parceling out funds throughout the month has benefited patients and improved employee efficiency.
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"Adam really has become part of this agency in the time he's been here," said CPC Development Director Melissa Halverson. "He really has a heart for this work. Not only does he give the staff great support, he brings a new perspective and new ideas to raise funds. You can tell this job is important to him personally - it's just part of who he is."
Since 1958, CPC has provided a network of support for low-income cancer patients, helping defray costs associated with everything from nutritional supplements to utility bills. While clients must meet certain income guidelines to qualify for monetary help, the agency also offers counseling to all patients, regardless of their financial status.
Nebeker described the social workers at CPC as the "stewards of the entire situation."
"That counseling support is so important," he said. "Just to sit and have a conversation for an hour with someone who cares about you and is keeping track of your treatment, you can't put a pricetag on that."
In his new role, Nebeker said he has "learned more about the cancer treatment process" and the value of reinforcement along the path to recovery.
"Just simple questions like ‘How's your chemotherapy going?' or ‘Are you getting around OK?' can make a significant difference," he said. "A big part of what we do is just making sure that support network is in place."
There are currently around 400 CPC clients in an area that encompasses 10 counties in Eastern Washington and another nine in North Idaho. Along with financial help for essentials like groceries and rent, the organization carries specialty items like wheelchairs and wigs for those who have lost their hair from treatment. All help is provided free of cost.
Nebeker, who has brought on another employee to help in the development department, said generating funds and awareness continues to be a major function of his job.
"The more money we raise, the more clients we can help," he said. "We still need to get better about educating people about who we are."
CPC will sponsor the 19th rendition of the Loreen Miller Bike Ride on June 16, one of the year's central fundraisers. A new event, patterned after the punt, pass and kick competition, will be held at the Valley Christian School track and field complex on July 14. Nebeker said local residents can do their part by organizing bake sales, golf tournaments and other occasions that generate donations.
"A huge portion of our revenue comes from individuals who have started their own fundraisers and donate the proceeds," he said. "Even if it just raised $100, it's helped and, in the meantime, you've educated others about the cause."
A 1996 graduate of University High School, Nebeker went on to earn his undergraduate diploma from Brigham Young University. After a law degree from William and Mary College in Virginia, Nebeker began his career as an attorney, but left soon after when longtime friend and Shock majority owner Brady Nelson came up with the idea of starting a football team in Spokane.
Nebeker still keeps track of his old squad, attending home games at the Spokane Arena. As for the career change, the ex-sports executive says building up the CPC brand has some parallels to marketing a championship roster.
"This is a new challenge," Nebeker said. "I understand that most of these clients I won't ever meet, but I know we're making a difference for them. I hear their stories. I'm motivated to get to work every day and know that I'm having an impact."
While Nebeker acknowledges that not each person can alter their respective career path for an altruistic purpose, he says everyone can contribute to the common good in their own way.
"You can always give back, whether it's a financial donation or volunteering your time," he said. "There are all kinds of ways to help your community."
Profiles:
Adam Nebeker
Age
34
Family
Wife, Meghann and three children
Favorite sports moment
Seattle Mariners defeating the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 1995 American League Division Championship Series.
Favorite music
Classical (Composer Franz Schubert)
Hero
My father
Favorite travel destination
Yucatan Peninsula
How many pairs of shoes do you own
Five