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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:

My commitment to promoting competitive integrated employment (CIE) in Missouri has been consistent throughout my career and grounded in both direct service and systems-level leadership. I currently serve as the Director of EnCircle and Community Employment Services (CES) at Woodhaven, where I lead workforce development programs that support individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining meaningful, community-based employment. In this role, I collaborate closely with individuals, families, employers, Vocational Rehabilitation, and community partners to advance person-centered employment outcomes rooted in choice, dignity, and economic independence. My career began in nonprofit disability services, where I spent more than a decade advocating for inclusive, integrated employment opportunities and supporting individuals to move beyond segregated or facility-based models. This experience deepened my understanding of the systemic barriers people with disabilities face in accessing competitive wages, benefits, and career advancement, and reinforced my belief that employment is a cornerstone of inclusion, autonomy, and quality of life. I later expanded my systems-level perspective at the Missouri Community College Association, where I supported workforce and professional development initiatives and co-founded a diversity committee focused on advancing equity in education and leadership. In the private sector, I launched an apprenticeship program at EquipmentShare that connected individuals to competitive, high-demand careers in the skilled trades. This work strengthened my understanding of employer needs and demonstrated how inclusive employment strategies can drive success for both businesses and workers. I am deeply passionate about competitive integrated employment because I have seen firsthand how access to real work, fair wages, and community inclusion transforms lives. Employment is not only about income—it is about identity, belonging, purpose, and opportunity. When people with disabilities are supported to pursue work aligned with their strengths and interests, the positive impact extends beyond the individual to families, workplaces, and entire communities. I remain committed to advancing CIE in Missouri through collaboration, advocacy, and continuous improvement of employment practices. Serving on the APSE Missouri Board would allow me to contribute my experience, elevate effective strategies, and support statewide efforts to ensure competitive, integrated employment is the expectation—not the exception—for people with disabilities.

What best represents your position/lived experience?

Family Member of a Person with a Disability; Service Provider or Manager; Transition Coordinator

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?

I bring a combination of nonprofit leadership, workforce development expertise, and cross-sector experience that would contribute to strengthening APSE’s financial health while advancing its mission to promote employment and self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. In my current role as Director of EnCircle and Community Employment Services (CES) at Woodhaven, I oversee programs that must balance mission impact with financial sustainability. My responsibilities include developing services aligned with funding requirements, monitoring outcomes, strengthening referral pipelines, and building partnerships that support long-term program viability. I regularly rely on data-informed decision-making to ensure high-quality services while responsibly stewarding limited resources. My professional background spans nonprofit, education, and private-sector environments, allowing me to approach financial health through both mission and market perspectives. At the Missouri Community College Association, I supported professional development initiatives and co-founded a diversity committee, gaining experience in stakeholder engagement, coalition building, and aligning values-driven work with organizational priorities. In the private sector, I launched an apprenticeship program at EquipmentShare, collaborating with business leaders to design workforce solutions that met employer needs while creating accessible, competitive career pathways. This experience strengthened my ability to translate mission-driven goals into clear value propositions that resonate with employers, sponsors, and partners. In addition to strategic and operational expertise, I bring over 15 years of lived experience working directly alongside individuals with disabilities and their families. This grounding ensures that financial and organizational decisions remain aligned with the real-world impact APSE seeks to achieve. I understand that sustainable growth must always support competitive, integrated employment outcomes that are person-centered, equitable, and measurable. I am particularly interested in supporting APSE’s financial health by strengthening employer engagement, expanding partnerships, supporting membership growth, and elevating APSE’s value to funders, policymakers, and community stakeholders. I believe strong financial stewardship and strong mission outcomes are inseparable, and I am committed to contributing thoughtful, accountable leadership that advances both.

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 meaningfully strengthen my growth as a leader in the Employment First Movement by broadening my perspective, deepening my strategic influence, and connecting my local and state-level work to national systems change. My career has been rooted in advancing competitive integrated employment through direct service delivery, program leadership, employer engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. While this work has allowed me to contribute to meaningful outcomes at the organizational and state levels, serving on the National APSE Board would expand my understanding of how Employment First principles are implemented across diverse policy environments, funding structures, and service systems nationwide. Learning from leaders across the country would sharpen my ability to identify scalable best practices and apply them in ways that strengthen program quality, equity, and long-term sustainability. National board service would also deepen my leadership in advocacy and policy alignment. I am eager to engage more fully in federal policy discussions, national advocacy efforts, and cross-state collaboration that influence inclusive employment outcomes. This experience would enhance my ability to translate policy into practice and support systems that consistently prioritize competitive, integrated employment as the expected and valued outcome. Equally important, serving on the National APSE Board would challenge me to lead at a broader systems level—balancing mission advancement with financial stewardship, organizational sustainability, and shared accountability. Participating in national governance would further develop my skills in strategic thinking, consensus-building, and collaborative leadership, all of which are essential to advancing Employment First as a sustainable, outcomes-driven movement. I believe leadership within the Employment First Movement requires continuous learning, humility, and a commitment to elevating the voices of people with disabilities. Serving on the National APSE Board would strengthen my ability to lead with purpose, bring national insight back to local and state efforts, and contribute to a future where competitive, integrated employment is not the exception, but the standard.

Biography

Kalynn Ramsey is the Director of EnCircle and CES at Woodhaven, where she leads a dynamic workforce development program designed to support individuals with disabilities through compassionate, person-centered services. With over 15 years of cross-sector experience in nonprofit leadership, education, and workforce development, Kalynn brings a servant leadership approach that blends empathy with a steadfast commitment to driving meaningful, measurable change. Her career began at a nonprofit dedicated to supporting people with disabilities, where she spent a decade advocating for client dignity, advancing inclusive services, and driving organizational growth. Kalynn continued this mission-driven work at the Missouri Community College Association, where she expanded access to professional development and co-founded a diversity committee to champion equity in education and leadership. In the private sector, Kalynn brought her workforce expertise to EquipmentShare, where she launched a highly sought-after apprenticeship program that bridged hands-on learning with career readiness in the skilled trades. At every stage of her career, Kalynn has been guided by a belief in human potential and a passion for service. She is driven by the conviction that change—when rooted in purpose and delivered with compassion—can create lasting, transformative impact.