Donation Essentials Blog
Staff Spotlight: Ryea’ O’Neill
We’re so proud to work with each and every one of our staff members here at Donor Alliance. In our Staff Spotlight, we like to take a minute to share who we are and why we work at Donor Alliance. Meet Ryea’ O’Neill, Community Relations Coordinator for Donor Alliance in Wyoming. In that role, Ryea’ works with our Wyoming Advocates for Life to coordinating events to managing Donate Life Wyoming social properties, Ryea’s wears many hats. This is our staff spotlight: Ryea’ O’Neill.
About Staff Spotlight: Ryea’ O’Neill
Name: Ryea’ O’Neill
Position: Wyoming Community Relations Coordinator
Years at Donor Alliance: 2 ½ years
Tell us a little about your role with Donor Alliance: I often feel like a “Jack of all trades,” but I love it and wouldn’t change a thing! I work in the Casper, Wyoming office. From coordinating community events, to supporting our Advocates for Life volunteer program and our Transplantation Science program, to working with the Driver Services to educate and train staff to managing media and social media, I strive to connect with communities across this beautiful state that I call home.
What made you want to work for Donor Alliance? Coming from a Donor family and a Recipient family, I’ve been touched by donation and transplantation on both sides. Donor Alliance staff treated my family with such caring and respect during our time of grief. I am reminded daily how important this work is.
What do you enjoy most about your role/what’s the most rewarding aspect of your role? Connection! Just a simple conversation over tea or coffee is one of the best things. I get to meet people and learn about their stories and how donation and transplantation has saved and healed their lives.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun? I am a very busy sports parent of two teenage boys. My hubby and I spend lots of time watching and playing sports, mostly soccer and hockey. I am also working towards a Doula certificate that involves caring for those at the end of life.
What piece of advice would you give your younger self? Travel more. I started traveling more in recent years. The value of experiencing a world so different from your own helps to open not only your eyes, but also your heart to the beauty of difference.
In honor of our #ShowYourHeart campaign for National Donate Life Month, what’s the most recent Act of Kindness you performed? We often help our neighbors with yard work, or household chores, as they are elderly. I love that my children get to experience the special bond of respecting and caring for the elderly.
