Mary Sue Lanigan has lived in Michigan for 33 years. She and her husband Jack live in Beverly Hills and have two adult sons who also reside in the Metro Detroit area. They are blessed to have three grandchildren living nearby.

Mary Sue spent most of her professional life in the non-profit sector. She retired from her position as CEO of the Michigan Parkinson Foundation (MPF) in 2022. As CEO, she was responsible for establishing an annual operating budget. Revenue more than doubled under her leadership from 2016 to 2022. Additionally, during this time the foundation’s endowment fund grew to $2.1 million. She planned and managed the organization’s operations, staffing, programs and fundraising while ensuring the organization’s financial sustainability. She worked collaboratively with stakeholders, volunteer board of directors, health care professionals and staff to deliver evidence-based patient and professional education programs to enhance the quality of life for those who live with Parkinson’s and their care partners. She established the in-home respite care family grant program; free exercise programs delivered by physical therapists; produced a Caring for a Parkinson Patient training module that is distributed free of charge to long-term care facilities nationwide and expanded the medication patient assistance program. Upon retirement, Mary Sue joined the MPF’s Board of Trustees

Before her time at the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, Mary Sue was the Director of Development at the Arthritis Foundation, Great Lakes Region for 15 years. She was also a patient educator at the Cleveland Clinic and the Education Director at the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland. Mary Sue graduated from Kent State University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health.