Social

Calaneet Balas, President & CEO, ALS Association 

Calaneet Balas became CEO and President of The ALS Association in December 2017. She joined the organization in June 2016 as Chief of Strategy, leading all three mission areas including global research, public policy and care services, which work in an integrated fashion to find a cure, advance treatments and enhance the quality of life for people living with ALS. 

Prior to joining the fight against ALS, Calaneet served as Chief Executive Officer of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA). In this leadership role she had numerous accomplishments, leading advocacy and awareness efforts while advancing research initiatives including collaborating with a partner organization to create the largest global organization dedicated to ovarian cancer research, advocacy and patients, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, which merged in January of 2016. 

Ms. Balas also worked at the Arthritis Foundation, where she was part of an executive team that integrated and restructured four separately incorporated chapters into one region representing the Arthritis Foundation. 

She served as Chief Strategy Officer of the newly created Mid-Atlantic Region of the Arthritis Foundation from 2010 until September 2012. Previously, she led as President and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation’s Metro DC Chapter from 2005-2009, bringing financial stability to the chapter and increasing its fundraising efforts. 

Calaneet joined the Board of Directors of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations in December 2017 and was elected Chairwoman in December 2018. She also sits on the board of the Truman State University Foundation. 

Ms. Balas holds a Master of Business Administration from Herriot-Watt University, a Master of Science in Human Movement Science Education from the University of Memphis, and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Truman State University.