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2026 National APSE Board of Directors At-Large

Please describe your history/nature of involvement/interest in promoting competitive integrated employment in your state. Additionally, explain why you are passionate about competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities:

I have been involved in promoting competitive, integrated employment in Wisconsin since 2011, working in employment services roles that support individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining meaningful work in their communities. Throughout my career, my work has been grounded in Employment First principles, with an emphasis on competitive jobs, prevailing wages, and inclusive workplaces as the expected outcome for people with disabilities. My experience includes youth transition, supported employment, and Project SEARCH, as well as extensive collaboration with vocational rehabilitation, education partners, healthcare systems, families, and community employers. I have focused heavily on employer engagement, building long-term partnerships that move beyond placement toward sustainability, growth, and mutual benefit. This hands-on work has given me a deep understanding of both individual support needs and the systems-level barriers that can limit access to competitive employment. I am passionate about competitive, integrated employment because I have witnessed its impact firsthand. Meaningful employment provides individuals with more than income—it offers purpose, independence, and a sense of belonging. I have worked with individuals who were initially discouraged from pursuing employment or steered toward segregated options, only to succeed when given the opportunity, appropriate supports, and high expectations. In my current role, I oversee inclusive employment programs and Project SEARCH sites, support youth and adults as they transition from school to work, and partner with employers to create customized, competitive employment opportunities. I also serve as a member of the Wisconsin APSE Board, where I contribute a practitioner’s perspective rooted in direct service delivery, collaboration, and outcomes-driven practice.

What best represents your position/lived experience?

Service Provider or Manager

What skills, knowledge, or lived experience do you have that will contribute to strengthening and growing the financial health of APSE and promoting its mission to advance employment and self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities?

Throughout my career, I have worked in roles that require thoughtful decision-making around resources, sustainability, and long-term impact. Leading inclusive employment programs has taught me that mission-driven work and financial responsibility must go hand in hand. I understand the importance of using resources wisely so programs, partnerships, and people can continue to grow and thrive over time. Much of my work centers on building trust-based relationships—with employers, families, service providers, and systems partners. Those relationships are what create opportunity, drive engagement, and sustain progress. I believe these same principles strengthen organizations like APSE by fostering meaningful member engagement, strong partnerships, and shared ownership of the mission. My experience in Employment First, Project SEARCH, youth transition, and supported employment keeps me closely connected to the realities of the field. I hear directly from practitioners and employers about what is working and where support is needed. That perspective helps ensure that APSE’s trainings, initiatives, and priorities remain relevant, valuable, and aligned with real-world needs. At my core, I am passionate about inclusive employment because it creates dignity, independence, and opportunity. Supporting APSE’s growth and sustainability matters to me because strong, values-driven organizations are essential to advancing employment and self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.

How do you think serving on the National APSE Board will help you grow as a leader in the Employment First Movement?

Serving on the National APSE Board would support my growth as a leader by allowing me to both learn from others and give back to the Employment First Movement in meaningful ways. I have spent much of my career working directly in the field, supporting individuals with disabilities, families, employers, and systems partners to achieve competitive, integrated employment. While this hands-on experience has shaped my values and approach, I recognize the importance of continuing to learn—especially from leaders across the country who are addressing similar challenges in different contexts. Serving on the National APSE Board would provide the opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives, deepen my understanding of national policy and systems-level change, and strengthen how I connect that knowledge back to practice. At the same time, I see national board service as a way to give back. I bring a practitioner’s perspective grounded in real-world implementation, relationship-building, and problem-solving. I would contribute insights from the field, share lessons learned, and help ensure that national conversations remain connected to the experiences of people and providers doing the work every day. I believe leadership within the Employment First Movement requires humility, curiosity, and a willingness to both listen and contribute. Serving on the National APSE Board would challenge me to grow while also allowing me to support the mission through thoughtful collaboration, stewardship, and shared accountability. This balance of learning and giving back is what motivates my interest in national service and would continue to shape my growth as a leader committed to inclusive employment for all.

Biography

I am a Program Manager with Aspiro Employment Services, driven by a belief that meaningful, competitive employment should be the expectation for people with disabilities. My work is rooted in Employment First, with a strong focus on ensuring individuals are seen for their strengths, interests, and potential, not their limitations. Much of my professional passion centers on Project SEARCH, youth transition, and building authentic employer partnerships that result in real jobs and long-term career growth. I value collaboration across systems and work closely with schools, families, vocational rehabilitation, and employers to create pathways from education to employment that are both practical and person-centered. I currently serve as a member of the Wisconsin APSE Board, where I am honored to contribute my practitioner perspective and lived experience from the field. Although I am newer to board service, I am deeply committed to learning, listening, and contributing in ways that strengthen policy, practice, and outcomes for individuals with disabilities. I am especially passionate about advancing inclusive employment policy, supporting service providers and employers through change, and creating systems that uphold dignity, choice, and opportunity. At the heart of my work is a commitment to people—supporting individuals to pursue work that is meaningful to them, while helping communities and employers see the value of an inclusive workforce.