“If you have the opportunity to try something new, take the chance!  It’s a great way to test your abilities and push your boundaries.”

My name is Keegan Noxell, I’m 27 years old and was born with a moderate sloping to severe bilateral hearing loss and have worn hearing aids since a very young age.

In an effort to improve speech and language, my parents enrolled me into the hearing loss program when I was just 2-1/2 year old, so that by the time I reached grade school, I would be at the same level as my peers in terms of my speech.  I was placed in a mainstream school upon entering the second grade and continued my studies until graduation.  All through elementary and high-school, I used an FM system, which significantly improved my learning experience.  In my final year of high school, I was encouraged to give a speech to fellow hard of hearing students within our school board for the chance of a post-secondary scholarship and was the successful candidate.

In April of 2009, while still in high school, I started working for the family business alongside my father, with a focus on office administration.  After graduating, I went full-time and have been employed ever since, gradually increasing my role and responsibilities.  At present, I am the Vice President of Business Operations and oversee finance, marketing, purchasing and logistics.

My interest in business and entrepreneurship started at a young age, having started my first business when I was just 16 years old.  Eventually, I enrolled in the business program at my local community college to further my skills and knowledge while maintaining employment.  After a single term, I decided to change gears and specialize in accounting, to which I graduated with a diploma in business accounting.

Growing up, I didn’t know many with hearing loss.  In the last couple of years, I’ve started to connect with the hearing loss community online and just returned from my first conference in Montreal, QC, held by the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) – a life changing experience for me.  At present, with the determination to get involved, I was successfully elected to the Young Adults Network (YAN) board of directors, taking on the role of treasurer for the upcoming term.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading books that expand my knowledge of business and leadership.  I love to watch hockey and am an avid Leafs fan.  Always having been fond of travel, it appears I’ve caught the travel bug with a few trips planned in the near future.