Leadership

Leadership Development

National Leadership

Member of a national committee on Youth Leadership and Youth Development coordinated by the National
Collaborative on Workforce and Disability and sponsored by the US Department of Labor Office of Disability
Employment Policy.
This committee is developing resources and curriculum on leadership and development with a focus on youth
with disabilities.

Statewide Leadership

Member of the core planning team for the statewide MiConnections Project. Initiated the leadership necessary
to give opportunity for Kent County to be the pilot for this statewide project to improve outcomes for youth. Gave
presentations on project startup at statewide conferences, such as the Michigan Transition Services
Conference, Michigan Rehabilitation Conference, and the Michigan Works Conference.
Member of the Transition Outcomes Project, focusing on improving outcomes for special education youth by
infusing research-based effective practices into our statewide transition system.

Countywide Leadership

Initiated a collaborative proposal for WIA Youth Services. Became independent consultant for fiduciary, Kent
Intermediate School District , and helped develop a new approach to WIA Youth Services in Kent County .
Facilitate the MiConnections Local Steering Council to do strategic planning and action planning and to give
support, direction, and resources to local MiConnections sites for the past two years.
Provide technical assistance and resources to school-based and community-based MiConnections sites for
the past two years.
Co-chaired the Kent County Community Transition Council for 4 years, developing collaboration between
community and schools and coordinating a yearly Student Transition Conference.
Initiated collaboration with the new Center for Creative Leadership to pilot the WE LEAD project here in Kent
County. This is an inclusive four week, four days per week program that develops youth leadership through
team-building, diversity training, disability awareness, and a community project developed and implemented
completely by youth.

Organizational Leadership

Provide training for WIA Mentors in local high schools.
Provided professional development training on youth leadership and career development for youth treatment
specialists, case managers, and supervisors at Wedgwood Christian Services.
Facilitated workgroups to carry out action plans for the MiConnections Local Steering Council and the
Community Transition Council.

Personal Leadership

After being in the field of special education for 20 years, earned a Masters in Management degree for the
purpose of becoming an agent of change.
Left a position with 21 years of seniority with the Grand Rapids Public Schools to coordinate the Kent County
MiConnections pilot; leaving the security of seniority for a grant funded position, renewable year-to-year.
Voluntarily participated in a variety of community development initiatives (see Community Development
Involvement).