Our Board
Meet Our Advisors
NORTHBOUND HEALTH
Jim Hynes
CPCU – Board Chair
Hynes is president of EPIC Insurance Midwest based in Indianapolis, Indiana. He holds B.S. in Management and Administration and Insurance from Indiana University. Hynes holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. He has more than 40 years of insurance company and agency experience in the Midwest.
Hynes joined EPIC Insurance Midwest in 2007 after spending 27 years on the insurance carrier side of the insurance business. His responsibilities as president include oversight of all agency operations for this 320 employee business including new business development, retention, agency acquisitions and new producer recruiting. He joined EPIC as AVP marketing and quickly assumed oversight of the middle market commercial lines business unit. Hynes then progressed into chief operations officer role.
Prior to joining EPIC, Hynes held various leadership roles in underwriting, marketing and loss control with Liberty Mutual Group, OneBeacon Insurance and Indiana Lumbermen’s Mutual Insurance Group.
Hynes was born and raised in Jasper, Indiana. After graduating from Indiana University in 1980, he moved to Indianapolis. He is married to Lori Hynes. They have six children. He enjoys spending time with his wife and acting as her primary caregiver. He also enjoys the outdoors and travel.
Nora Foster
Co-Founder
Nora Foster PT, DPT received her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from University of Indianapolis and a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Bethel University. As Exective Director for Northbound Health, she brings 11 years of varied experience and practice in the Physical Therapy and rehabilitation world. She has worked at facilities throughout the continuum of care: inpatient acute, inpatient rehab, skilled nursing, outpatient, and long-term wellness. Nora was the previous Director of Therapy and board member of NeuroHope of Indiana between 2015 to 2021.
In 2016, she was honored to be named the Indianapolis Business Journal Healthcare Hero. She has completed activity-based therapy (ABT) training that included an emphasis on locomotor training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network (NRN). She has worked closely with the University of Indianapolis and continues to assist their Physical Therapy program as an adjunct professor.
Nora has a genuine passion and drive for serving others. Her professional and life experiences have given her a unique perspective to bring Northbound Health to Indianapolis and the surrounding area.
Megan Dearing
Co-Founder
She has 13 years of clinical experience treating patients of all ages and a variety of medical conditions with a strong focus on the neurologic and pediatric populations.
Her previous experience is unique, as she has spent time in settings throughout the continuum of care. The time spent working in hospitals, home health, outpatient, and wellness settings have given Megan the desire to help create Northbound Health to fill a noticeable gap in healthcare.
Her formal education, specialized training, and passion will provide a more holistic, hands-on style of therapy that is hard to replicate.
Megan has a fun and positive attitude and loves to educate and empower her patients to pursue their goals.
Antonio Avellana
Antonio (Tony) Avellana has been involved in Information Technology for over 35 years holding positions of Director of Information Services, Vice President of Technology and Chief Information Officer. His past companies he’s worked with include Eli Lilly and Company,
Renaissance, Nike, Kia, and Samsung. He currently is the president of Avellana Web Design Group, a global internet and digital marketing firm founded 18 years ago which focuses on web development, search engine optimization, analytics, eCommerce, social media management, and mobile app development . A graduate from Purdue University in Electrical Engineering Technology and Management Information Systems, his experience ranges from leadership development, project management, system operations, corporate metrics, lean and agile systems development, and corporate strategy. He has held numerous board positions in both for profit and non-profit companies and is passionate about helping Northbound Health realize its vision of comprehensive, quality patient care.
Audie Kemp
Audie Kemp, ATP is the President and Owner of ATP Connect. A Complex Rehab Technology company that partners with DME providers from all over the Midwest to better serve people with mobility impairments to provide solutions to their mobility needs.
Kemp graduated from Ball State University in 1996 with a B.S. in Exercise Science with a specialty in Cardiac Rehabilitation and a minor in Adapted Physical Education. Being a paraplegic and an avid wheelchair user, has allowed Kemp to use his personal perspectives in adapted sports and mobility equipment to move into the realm of DME, Complex Rehabilitation Technology and everyday mobility equipment.
Kemp has worked at all levels of the HME world from Evaluation and Delivery processes to Training and Education. With 22 years of experience, he moved into an Entrepreneurship role in 2019 to enable him to work with several smaller local providers to better serve the disability community.
He has a strong history of working in the best therapy clinics with the leading therapists to best serve the end users with mobility equipment. In his 45 years of being a patient, peer counselor, and a provider, he has a seen the changes and missed opportunities that could have better served individuals in this community that require better rehabilitation options. It is his intent to make Northbound Health the leader in those solutions.
Emily Bruns
Emily Bruns has over 15 years of experience in fundraising and special events. Emily previously worked for the Alzheimer’s Association as well as the American Diabetes Association. In her combined experiences at both Associations, Emily raised over 1 million dollars. She continues to assist/volunteer for organizations in the greater Indianapolis area.
Emily currently serves as the president of her Homeowners Association Board, as well as Commissioner of the Carmel Dads Club Basketball League; she also volunteers with her childrens school’s Parent Teacher Organization.
Emily is a graduate of Ball State University with a degree in Journalism. She currently resides in Carmel, IN with her husband and two children. Emily enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering for worthy causes.
Dr. Katie Stanton-Nichols
Dr. Katie Stanton-Nichols is an Associate Professor of Adapted Physical Activity in the School of Health and Human Sciences at IUPUI. Dr. Stanton-Nichols currently directs four community-engaged programs for families, adults and children with disabilities focused on improving the fitness and motor skill abilities for individuals of all abilities. These programs are deeply entrenched in the Indianapolis community and have operated for the past 25 years. Dr. Stanton-Nichols’ research interest includes understanding how families appreciate physical activity for their children with disabilities as well as student-learning outcomes related to engagement in service learning. In 2021, Dr. Stanton-Nichols was awarded the Indiana University Excellence in Civic Engagement award which honored her continued commitment to community partnership in student learning.
Northbound Health Therapy Services
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical Therapy – innovative and specialized equipment for exercise prescription coordinated with education to improve mobility and function. Northbound Health Physical Therapy Services
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational Therapy - expertise and advocacy for complex rehabilitation technology needs to increase independence with mobility related activities of daily living. Northbound Health Occupational Therapy Services
