Eric Filberto

WHEELING – The Easterseals Rehabilitation Center Board of Directors has chosen Eric Filberto as the next President and CEO of the 85-year-old nonprofit medical rehabilitation center that serves children and adults with disabilities.

Filberto will take the reins from Jay Prager, who will retire June 30 after seven years in the position. Filberto has worked at Easterseals since 2013 and has served as Operations Officer since 2016.

“Eric Filberto is well positioned to be the next President and CEO,” Easterseals Board Chair Dawn Zenner-Gaudi said. “He has a true desire to bring an even greater awareness of the organization to the surrounding areas in which we serve. Eric’s love of helping others in need, the mission of Easterseals and his overall experience make a winning combination for the center and our community.”

Filberto said he was eager to continue his tenure with the organization and was “deeply honored” in the board’s faith in him.

“I am also aware of the great responsibility entrusted to me as CEO: to our families we serve; to the community, on whose philanthropy we rely; and to our medical, therapeutic and administrative staff, all of whom are committed to our mission,” Filberto said.

Filberto, a Wellsburg native, graduated from Weir High School in 2005 and West Virginia University in 2009. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival. He also is on the scholarship committee for the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley. He and his wife Michelle live in Wellsburg.

Filberto said he has benefited from working closely with Prager, who came to Easterseals in 2016 after spending 35 years at Reynolds Memorial Hospital, the last five as CEO.

“We are fortunate to have been led for the last seven years by Jay Prager, who has been a great mentor and has brought stability to Easterseals. Jay and the entire staff motivate me; everyone’s dedication to the families we serve is inspiring,” Filberto said.

“Jay Prager brought true leadership and collaboration to our organization,” Zenner-Gaudi said. “He will be missed by all as we wish him the very best retirement.”

Founded in 1937 as the Wheeling Society for Crippled Children, Easterseals has created life-changing solutions for tens of thousands of children with physical and developmental disabilities and their families.

In addition to medical care, Easterseals provides early intervention services, child development services, and outpatient speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Patients must be referred to Easterseals by their primary care physician. Easterseals accepts all insurance plans, and no one is turned away for inability to pay.