Elea Institute

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Learn more about our story and our leadership

Candyce Mayer Candyce Mayer currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer of Elea Institute. In this role, Candyce oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization, manages grant applications and approvals, and also oversees project execution. Previously, she served as Chief Financial Officer at JourneyCare and Community First Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. With more than 30 years of experience, Candyce brings a wealth of knowledge not only as an experienced financial leader, but also having worked in the various healthcare sectors throughout her career.
Kent Mathy Kent Mathy currently serves as the Chairman of Elea Institute’s Board of Directors. In this role, he oversees the organization’s strategic planning, governance, and expansion. Kent brings decades of previous board management experience, including his service as Vice chairman of JourneyCare’s Board of Directors.
Mead Montgomery Mead Montgomery currently serves as the Treasurer on Elea Institute’s Board of Directors. In coordination with other leadership, he oversees the organization’s financial outlook, budgeting structure, and investment opportunities. Mead’s previous board experience at JourneyCare, Midwest Hospice, and Palliative CareCenter provides key insights for Elea’s financial developments. Additionally, Mead is a member of North Shore Senior Center's Board of Directors, serving as their Treasurer. He recently retired following a long career in business ownership and development through the investments and leadership provided by the firm he founded, Montgomery, Shelton & Company.
Julia Cormier Julia Cormier currently serves as the Secretary on Elea Institute’s Board of Directors. In this role, Julia oversees the organization’s records and legal compliance. She also has previous executive board experience at JourneyCare, Midwest Hospice, and Palliative CareCenter.
Jeff Boundy Jeff Boundy currently serves as a member of Elea Institute’s Board of Directors. In his role, Jeff helps with fundraising, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. Not only is Jeff a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), but he also has previous board experience having served on JourneyCare’s Board of Directors.
Kelly Conroy Kenney Kelly Kenney is a member of Elea Institute’s Board of Directors, serving on the organization’s Grants Committee. She also served on JourneyCare’s Board of Directors and was a member of the Proceeds Committee, which led the organization’s evolution to Elea Institute. Kelly is the CEO of the Physicians Advocacy Institute, a national advocacy organization representing physicians and patients. Her prior professional and legal experience includes founding K2 Strategies, a health policy consulting firm and nearly twenty years’ experience leading the American Medical Association’s national state legislative and regulatory initiatives.

Our History

The seedlings of Elea Institute began in 1978 when Horizon Hospice and Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter were founded in Chicago. Eventually, those entities would merge and become JourneyCare, a Chicago based hospice organization staffed by a team of expert clinicians and dedicated volunteers.

In 2022, JourneyCare’s hospice and palliative care functions were acquired by Addus HomeCare, which is one of the nation’s largest home care providers. The sale allowed for the creation of Elea Institute, which strives to build on the collective histories and legacies of countless physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and donors who dedicated their myriad resources and compassion to provide care and comfort to people with serious illness.

Elea Institute remains committed to our heritage and predecessor organizations’ original missions: ensuring all persons have access to high quality hospice and palliative care. To date, Elea Institute has awarded numerous grants and projects that support enhanced access for communities, broaden hospice and palliative services, and provide crucial educational resources, which touch the lives of patients and caregivers.