This past week, at our Annual Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium, we presented the PRI Director’s Dedication Award to two very deserving individuals who not only were very instrumental in this year’s symposium, but they have had a tremendous impact on our Institute over the years, and we have no doubt that they will continue to represent our Institute in the highest regard for many years to come. It was an easy decision to present this award to Jennifer Smart and Neal Hallinan. The PRI Director’s Dedication Award was established by the Board of Directors (Ron Hruska, Janie Ebmeier, Jennifer Platt and Bobbie Rappl) in 2012 to recognize individuals’ ongoing dedication to their advancement in PRI.
Past PRI Director’s Dedication Award recipients include: Susan Henning and Joe Belding (December 2012); Kyndall Boyle and James Anderson (April 2014); Michael Cantrell (December 2014); Jason Masek (April 2015); Michal Niedzielski (December 2015); Jennifer Poulin and Lori Thomsen (April 2017); Kentaro Ishii and Sayuri Abe-Hiraishi (December 2017); and Dan Houglum, Donna Parise Byrne & Josh Olinick (April 2019). An award recognition plaque, which is pictured above, is displayed at the Postural Restoration Institute® in Lincoln, Nebraska, recognizing each of the PRI Directors Dedication Award recipients.
Jennifer Smart is a Physical Therapist in Oriental, North Carolina, a town of approximately 900 people located on Neuse River which leads out to the Atlantic Ocean. Jen received her bachelors of physical therapy degree from the University of Maryland, and her doctorate of physical therapy degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She took her first PRI course in 2012, and completed PRC credentialing in 2015. Over the years, she has continued to immerse herself in the science of Postural Restoration® for the benefit of her patients, having completed 32 PRI courses. Over the past 3 years especially, Ron and Jen have been on a wave length of their own as they have spent copious hours preparing for this symposium, and I know that Ron has learned so much from Jen and her clinical experience working daily with patients who have been diagnosed with basal ganglia disease. I can honestly say that they have easily exchanged more than 100 email conversation threads, and I know that Ron has thoroughly enjoyed every one of them. I have no doubt that the breadth of knowledge that has resulted from this symposium will continue to grow, as the Institute becomes more relative in the prevention and management of neurological degenerative conditions. Many of you were able to see her passion as she presented at this symposium, and hopefully you whole-heartedly agreed with us that she was so deserving of this award!
Neal Hallinan is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and licensed massage therapist in New Jersey, just outside of New York City. To many, he might be known as “The PRI Trainer”, which has come through his website, podcasts and many YouTube videos. Neal attended his first PRI course in 2013, and he completed PRT credentialing in 2017. And he didn’t stop there. Over the years, Neal has completed 27 PRI courses. Neal’s personal journey and experience with PRI changed his career, and he will even say it changed his life. Through his passion to share his journey and experience with PRI both personally and as a movement specialist offering online coaching, he has easily touched 1,000’s across the country and internationally. There isn’t a week that goes by where one of us in this office doesn’t talk to someone who heard about PRI through Neal Hallinan’s website or videos. I am sure you have all heard patients or clients bring up his name as well! We not only were honored to have had Neal involved with this symposium, but we are so honored to have him represent this Institute as he continues to impact other’s lives through his nature of educating and coaching. We have no doubt that he will continue to help people discover their innate alternating rhythms through movement and dance for many years to come, and we were incredibly honored to present Neal Hallinan with the PRI Director’s Dedication Award.
Congratulations to both Jen and Neal! We are so honored and proud to know you and have you associated with our Institute!
