Meet Dan!

Pause is SUPER excited to be celebrating our first birthday as a nonprofit organization next week on July 1st! We have celebrated many wins over the past year - the launch of new programs (like Pause Unlimited and Respite On Demand), the unprecedented growth of new families and the addition of staff to drive our mission forward.

Much of this success is attributed to our Pause Board of Directors! They have been a constant support, leader and cheerleader of Pause this past year. Because the Pause Board means so much to us and is essential to our mission of supporting families with special needs, we want to introduce you to our members! Last month, you met Sarah Buckingham, our Treasurer, and this month we are proud to introduce Dan McSwain, our Board President!

Dan has walked alongside the Pause journey for over 7 years. In partnership with Center Pointe, Dan has shown support to Pause caregivers with spa packages, motivating books and gift cards. Dan even helped Pause purchase and deliver pizzas to Pause families for a virtual family fun night at the start of the pandemic. He also walked side by side along our Executive Director, Lisa McCoon, as she was working through the early vision for Pause and her decision to leave her role at Center Pointe to be the Director of Pause. With all of the support, guidance and grace Dan has given Pause over the years, we were ecstatic to hear his joyful “Yes!” to become our Board President.

Dan was born and raised in Butler County and has lived his life in this area with his wife and daughters, with the exception of spending 10 years out in California! He loves spending time outdoors enjoying nature and is always up for an outdoor adventure with friends. Professionally, he is an Executive Life Coach. He helps people navigate uncertainty or challenges in their life, discover and articulate their purpose and help them create a strategy to design an intentional life they were created to live. Last year, the Pause team spent 3 days being coached and led through an intentional journey to find our purpose - as people first and professionals second. It was a highlight of 2021 - 5 out of 5 stars!

We asked Dan to share more about his experience with Pause, here’s what he said!

“I am truly honored to serve on the Board for Pause. I feel extremely fortunate that I have gotten to see the inception of Pause in the heart & mind of Lisa McCoon through what it is today… Through our friendship Lisa has opened my mind and heart to a world or people that I didn’t know existed. I have learned so much from my time with Lisa and being part of the Pause family. 

At this time in life I feel like my role on the board is to serve Lisa… That looks different on different days…some days that means being a listener, others an encourager, some days a dreamer. Right now I feel like my greatest asset is to be a champion and connector. Pause is one of the greatest secrets everyone needs to know about.

I don’t know if I’ve impacted families… I do know I’ve been impacted. I am a better person because of every Pause family I’ve met and I’m a better person because of the relationship I have with the Pause staff.”

Dan - you continue to inspire possibilities to our team and to our entire Pause program. We can’t put into words how proud we are to call our Board President!

This is CAN DO.  This is COMMUNITY.  This is YOUR SUPPORT.