Bill McQuilkin
Executive Director
Jacksonville Speech and Hearing Center
Mission
The Jacksonville Speech and Hearing Center is committed to providing the highest quality professional and compassionate care to all individuals with hearing, speech and/or language disorders in our community.
Serving Jacksonville
The JSHC was founded in 1949 with the assistance of The Junior League of Jacksonville and the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. We celebrated our 60th anniversary in 2009.
Those served
Greater Jacksonville, including Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties.
Biggest challenge
Building awareness and visibility for JSHC in our community. Despite having served more than 100,000 clients in Jacksonville over the past 61 years, many people are not aware of our staff of experienced, doctoral-level audiologists and capable speech-language pathologists, and that we sell and custom fit a full range of hearing aids, including the most state-of-the-art devices.
Biggest satisfaction
It is extremely satisfying to hear our client testimonials and to realize how much we are able to improve the quality of life of so many people; and for children, their ability to succeed in school and beyond because of their communication disorders that we have helped correct.
Hometown
Rochester, N.Y.
First experience with community service
My first community service in Florida was Chapter President of the local Audubon Society (St. Augustine). My involvement with Audubon continued as a volunteer board member of the Florida Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society. These experiences helped me connect many more people with the natural world outdoors and our fabulous bird life in Northeast Florida.
Your job before JSHC
I am the founder and previous CEO of the North Florida Land Trust, which recently passed its 10th anniversary. This organization helps landowners protect their lands in perpetuity through the use of conservation easements and the purchase of threatened wetlands and unique properties. This is a legacy for the community of which I am particularly proud.
Upcoming events
Saturday: JaxKids Day, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Main Library. The JSHC will be on the second floor to provide free hearing screening and information about its speech-language program.
Jan. 14: 5-7 p.m., Cocktails for a Cause, The University Club at Riverplace Tower.
Contact information
www.shcjax.org
355-3403