Speakers and panelists:
Setting the Stage: Fiscal and Economic Context – Investing in Providers Benefits Employers and Job Seekers
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Allan Bergman
Allan Bergman is the President & CEO of HIGH IMPACT, a national consulting and training firm he established in 2010. Prior to beginning HIGH IMPACT, Allan served as the President & CEO of Anixter Center in Chicago, a community agency supporting more than 5,000 individuals living with disabilities and employing over 400 staff. His earlier positions in Washington, DC included President & CEO of the Brain Injury Association of America, and leadership roles with United Cerebral Palsy Associations.
Subject Matter Expert, Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program
Stories of Transformation: From People and Providers
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Jennifer Kowalkowski
Jennifer Kowalkowski MA, LPC has been helping disabled people obtain employment in the community for nearly 15 years. She studied Psychology and Counseling at Lewis University and proceeded to start her career as a job developer helping the most challenging individuals find purpose in their daily lives through working. Jennifer has continued advancing her career in the social services field and is currently the Director of Employment Services at Cornerstone Services. Jennifer is also the Chairperson of the Facility Advisory Committee. The Employment Services department is a provider of Individualized Placement Services (IPS) for people with chronic mental illness. The IPS team is one of the few Exemplary fidelity teams in the state of Illinois. Jennifer has a passion for developmental psychology and personality development. She has taught at Lewis University for 6 years in the field of personality and development. When she is not working, she enjoys spending her time with family, her animals and gardening.
Director of Employment Services, Cornerstone Services, Inc. -
Scott Witte
Scott Witte, BA, LBSW, serves as Director of Partnership & Service Development for Hope Haven, Inc. in Rock Valley, Iowa, where he has been employed for his entire 39 year career. Scott has been in administration for 26 years; in adult psychiatric rehabilitation (1992-2011), and admissions & service coordination systems (1992-2017). Since 2013, he has provided administrative oversight to My Choice Employment, Hope Haven's individual site, competitive employment service that serves a nine county area in rural northwest Iowa. My Choice has assisted more than 230 individuals with disabilities obtain jobs with 175 employers. Scott has served on several regional and state work groups, boards, councils, and initiatives throughout his career, including a 2014-17 term on the Iowa APSE board. Scott has been a contributor in Iowa's Employment 1st and Customized Employment transformation movement, and helped lead Hope Haven, Inc. shift focus towards fully integrated employment and day support services. My Choice Employment received the "2017 Best Practice Award" from National APSE, and one of the people the service supports was one of two recipients of the national "2017 Personal Achievement Award". Scott received the Iowa APSE "2017 Professional Award".
Director of Partnership and Service Development, Hope Haven, Inc. -
Toni Tewes
Toni Tewes serves as My Choice Employment Manager, an employment service of Hope Haven, Inc. that focuses on community based workforce inclusion. Toni has been the My Choice Manager since its creation in September 2013; more than 230 people have achieved employment with 175 employers throughout Northwest Iowa. Toni has also played an active role in Iowa's APSE Job Development/Job Coaching Training Series and is a member of Iowa APSE Board of Directors. My Choice Employment services won the 2017 National APSE Best Practices award. Toni stands for Employment 1st and is passionate about spreading the philosophy that anyone who wants to work, can!
My Choice Employment Services Manager, Hope Haven, Inc. - Hope Singletary, Nutrition Assistant, Sioux Center Community Hospital
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Genni Sasnett
Genni Sasnett, EFSLMP SME
Subject Matter Expert, Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program
Before her retirement in January 2014, Genni was the COO for a not-for-profit agency headquartered in the District of Columbia serving people with disabilities in 100% facility-free services in DC, NJ, TN, VA and PA. Genni currently provides consultation to many public and private agencies as they endeavor to make change towards community integrated employment and other community based supports. Genni's passion is working directly with private provider agencies, assisting them with conversion from sheltered work and other segregated services to competitive, integrated work. She also provides technical assistance in the development of community based day services that support the acquisition, retention and advancement of competitive, integrated employment.
Sustaining Provider Transformation: State Policy Alignment, Interagency Coordination, and Employer Engagement
David Mitchell
David Mitchell is the Administrator of Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and serves as the Core State Lead for Iowa's Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program. Prior to serving as Administrator, he served with the agency as an Assistant Bureau Chief, Administrative Consultant, and Supervisor. David has worked in rehabilitation services in Central Iowa for more than 30 years in both the public and private sectors serving as a community services administrator, rehabilitation consultant, branch manager, and vocational rehabilitation counselor.
- Administrator, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services
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Tania Morawiec
Tania Morawiec is the Illinois Department of Human Services' Statewide Employment First Manager. Tania has experience working with Customized Employment and Individualized Placement and Supports. Her workforce development experience spans 15 years and includes employer outreach and education, assessment, placement, and coaching for individuals with mental health diagnoses, TBI, developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and histories of justice system involvement. She manages the Illinois Employment First State Leadership Mentorship Program.
Employment First Manager, Illinois Department of Human Services -
Genni Sasnett
Genni Sasnett, EFSLMP SME
Subject Matter Expert, Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program
Before her retirement in January 2014, Genni was the COO for a not-for-profit agency headquartered in the District of Columbia serving people with disabilities in 100% facility-free services in DC, NJ, TN, VA and PA. Genni currently provides consultation to many public and private agencies as they endeavor to make change towards community integrated employment and other community based supports. Genni's passion is working directly with private provider agencies, assisting them with conversion from sheltered work and other segregated services to competitive, integrated work. She also provides technical assistance in the development of community based day services that support the acquisition, retention and advancement of competitive, integrated employment. -
Dale Verstegen
Dale Verstegen is a Senior Research Associate at TransCen. He provides consultation and training in the areas of provider transformation, employer engagement, and job development. Dale has developed curricula and provided training on Customized Employment for universities and state agencies. He has focused his research, writing, and training on the provision of employment services to the employer community and has conducted employer focus groups that discussed the benefits of Customized Employment. He is an SME for EFSLMP and is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators.
Subject Matter Expert, Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program