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Governor Parnell Makes Board Appointments  Print Now Printer Friendly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-058

October 6, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today announced appointments to the Governor’s Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities, Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education and the Statewide Independent Living Council.

Governor’s Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities

Governor Parnell appointed Donald Enoch Jr., Don Ford, Karla Jutzi, Christine Reinhardt, David C. Schneider and Pat Wendt, and reappointed Ron Boynton, James R. Burton, John Cannon and Joyanna Geisler, to the Governor’s Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities.

The 15-plus member committee supports Alaskans with disabilities by helping provide rehabilitation and employment services, advising the state on ways to provide assistive technology and services, securing federal vocational rehabilitation funds and creating statewide interest in employment and rehabilitation.

Enoch, of Juneau, has been an education specialist with the state Department of Education and Early Development since 2008. He has held several positions as an educator in Alaska since 1998, including director of student services at Ilisagvik College in Barrow, superintendent, principal and special education director for the Denali Borough School District, and special education teacher for the North Slope Borough, Nenana and Yukon-Kuskokwim school districts. He is an Alaska-certified principal, teacher and special education teacher. Enoch earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from Black Hills State University in South Dakota, and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He was appointed to a seat reserved for a representative of the state Department of Education and Early Development.

Ford, of Dillingham, has since 2003 been the Western Alaska regional parent navigator for Stone Soup Group, an organization that supports parents of children with special needs. He has received extensive training in fetal alcohol syndrome disorders, and additional training disability law, family services, special education, and transitions and self-determination for special needs children. Ford served 10 years as a member of the Dillingham City school board, and serves as member and secretary of the Key Coalition. He is the adoptive father of three children with fetal alcohol syndrome disorders, and has been a foster parent. He was appointed to a seat reserved for an advocate of consumers of vocational rehabilitation services.

Jutzi, of Anchorage, has been executive director of the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired since 2004. She previously worked as a senior associate in an Anchorage business training firm, and as an assistant executive director for National Education Association state affiliates in Alaska, Oklahoma and Arkansas from 1985-2001. She has also worked as an English teacher. Jutzi earned a master’s degree in English and education from Valparaiso University in Indiana. She was appointed to a seat reserved for a representative of a community rehabilitation program.

Reinhardt, of Anchorage, has been a parent navigator for Stone Soup Group since 2008 and is the mother of a son with autism. She has worked as an English instructor at the Berlitz Language School in Germany, director of a Georgia art gallery and assistant at a literary museum. She is a member of the Anchorage School District’s special education advisory council and the Anchorage Early Childhood Transition team, and is a community member of the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education. Reinhardt earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and economics from the University of Kansas. She was appointed to a seat reserved for a representative of a parent training organization.

Schneider, of Anchorage, retired from Nana Development Corporation in 2006 after 10 years as a human resources analyst. He also worked as personnel manager for Matanuska Electrical Association and Yukon Office Supply, as a contract personnel services provider and as an employment agency office manager. Schneider earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Montana and is a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources and a Certified Compensation Professional. He was appointed to a seat for a person with experience as an employer of people with disabilities.

Wendt, of Anchorage, recently retired as executive director of Anchorage Housing Initiatives, providing housing for people with disabilities. He has worked as an aide and assistant vocational evaluator for a local workshop employing disabled Alaskans, as a direct care provider and program coordinator at Hope Cottages, and as program and training director and administrator with Alaska Special Olympics. Wendt has also worked as an organizational development consultant. He has been president of the Anchorage Waterways Council, a member of Hosteling International’s national board of directors, and a member of the Anchorage Housing Initiative’s board. Wendt was appointed to a seat for a person with experience as an employer of people with disabilities.

Boynton, of Fairbanks, has owned and operated an office products business in Fairbanks since 1995. He previously worked for the North Slope Borough School District helping children with learning disabilities finish school, worked with troubled teens at the Fahrenkamp Youth Initiative, and was youth pastor for the Utkeagvik Presbyterian Church in Barrow. He is a foster parent of children with psychological challenges, and experiences a disability following a stroke. Boynton has served on the committee since 2005, and was reappointed to a seat for a person with experience as an employer of people with disabilities.

Burton, of Fairbanks, retired from Access Alaska in 2004 as a youth workforce investment program coordinator, and had worked for the firm as an independent living specialist and project coordinator for Access Alaska. He worked as a craftsman, draftsman, graphics supervisor, computer-aided design specialist and computer trainer for the University of Alaska Fairbanks from 1973-97. He was a member of the Access Alaska board of directors in 1999, and was a vendor with the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Workforce Development from 1997-2002. He is a charter member of the African-American Chamber of Commerce, and has been president of the Fairbanks chapter of the National Federation of the Blind since 1997, and has served on the Alaska Statewide Independent Living Council. He has served on the committee since 2004, and was reappointed to a seat reserved for a current or former recipient of vocational rehabilitation services.

Cannon, of Wasilla, has been executive director of Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults, Inc. since 1987, providing community living services for people with developmental disabilities. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Matanuska-Susitna College since 2003. Cannon earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa Wesleyan College and a master’s degree in human service program administration from University of Alaska Anchorage. A member of the Alaska Workforce Investment Board, he has been that board’s representative to the disabilities committee since 2008, and was reappointed to that seat.

Geisler, of Homer, has been executive director of the Kenai Peninsula Independent Living Center in Homer since 1991. She was director of the Independent Living Center program at Homer’s Community Mental Health Center from 1986-91. Geisler is treasurer of the State Independent Living Council, and has won the Governor’s Award from the Governor’s Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Utah, and a special education teacher’s certificate from the University of Montana. Geisler was reappointed to a seat reserved for a member of the Statewide Independent Living Council.

Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education

Governor Parnell appointed Amy Simpson and Tonja Updike to the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education.

The 18-to-28 member council is the interdepartmental planning and coordinating agency of the state Department of Health and Social Services and other departments offering services or special education to disabled Alaskans. It also operates as the state disability/special education planning council under federal law, and works with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority on the state’s integrated program for the mentally disabled. At least 60 percent of its members must be people with disabilities, or parents of people with disabilities.

Simpson, of Eagle River, is executive director of Programs for Infants and Children, Inc., a non-profit service agency for developmentally disabled children, and worked there since 1995 as a speech-language pathologist, program services manager and associate director. Her volunteer work includes service on the Statewide Positive Behavioral Support Task Force, on the governor’s council’s Early Intervention Committee, and as chair of the Alaska Infant Learning Program Association. Simpson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications disorders from Colorado State University, and a master’s degree in non-profit management from Regis University in Denver. She was appointed to a seat reserved for a provider of services to infants or toddlers with disabilities.

Updike, of Soldotna, is the mother of three children, one with autism, and is an experienced volunteer and advocate for children with disabilities. She has received training in various educational techniques for children with autism, has attended an internship and advanced training at the UAA Center for Human Development’s Partners in Policymaking program, participated in the Key Coalition advocacy program, belongs to a Stone Soup Group parent support group, and coordinated the Kenai Peninsula’s Autism Awareness Month. Updike earned an associate’s degree in human services from Kenai Peninsula College in 2000 and a bachelor’s degree in human services from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2002. She was appointed to a position reserved for a person with a family member who experiences a disability.

Statewide Independent Living Council

Governor Parnell appointed Courtney McCabe, Elizabeth Lee and Irma Goodwine, and reappointed Joyanna Geisler, Lynne Henderson, Bertha Jarvi and Teisha Simmons, to the Statewide Independent Living Council.

The council oversees delivery of independent living services to Alaskans with disabilities. It develops, monitors and evaluates the federally-funded state plan for independent living in Alaska; promotes the independent living philosophy statewide; and provides support and technical assistance to the statewide network of Centers for Independent Living. It also coordinates activities with the Governor's Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities to address the needs of specific disability populations.

McCabe, of Anchorage, has been a teacher’s assistant at the Alaska State School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing since 2004. She has also worked as an interpreter for the deaf and as an individual service provider at The Arc of Anchorage. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., and is working towards a master’s degree in guidance and counseling at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She was appointed to a seat reserved for an advocate for consumers of vocational rehabilitation services.

Lee, of Bethel, has extensive experience providing care for aging and disabled Alaskans in rural Alaska. She has worked for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation since 1997 as director of home care, administrator of senior and disabilities services, senior and disabled care coordinator and medical social worker. She has also worked as a social worker for the Lower Kuskokwim School District. Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and social work from George Fox College in Newberg, Oregon. She was appointed to a seat reserved for an advocate for consumers of vocational rehabilitation services.

Goodwine, of Bethel, has been director of the Association of Village Council Presidents’ (AVCP) vocational rehabilitation program since 2000. She previously worked as a program manager for AVCP’s Receiving Home, and as a social worker for the state Division of Family and Youth Services and the Lower Kuskokwim School District. She has served on the Governor’s Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities and the Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board. Goodwine earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and Yup’ik language from the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Bethel campus. She was appointed to a seat reserved for a representative of a community vocational rehabilitation program.

Geisler, of Homer, has been executive director of the Kenai Peninsula Independent Living Center in Homer since 1991. She was director of the Independent Living Center program at Homer’s Community Mental Health Center from 1986-91. Geisler is treasurer of the State Independent Living Council, and has won the Governor’s Award from the Governor’s Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Utah and a special education teacher certificate from the University of Montana. Geisler was reappointed to a seat representing advocates for people with disabilities.

Henderson, of Anchorage, works as a filing clerk in the corporate offices of ReadyCare, an Alaska home care services company. She is an active volunteer in the service of Alaskans with disabilities, including 14 years of service with Catholic Social Services’ respite program advisory board. Henderson won an Alaska State Chamber of Commerce “Gold Pan” award in 2001 for her years of volunteerism, social work and fundraising. She has served on the council since 2006, and was reappointed to a seat representing advocates for and consumers of services for people with disabilities.

Jarvi, of Fairbanks, is executive director of Advocacy Services of Alaska, and has extensive experience as an advocate for Alaskans with disabilities. She has served on the Tanana Chiefs Conferences’ Elders Issues Task Force and is a member of the Alaska State Association of Guardians and Advocates. Jarvi earned associate’s degrees in accounting and public relations. She has served on the council since 2003, and was reappointed to a seat representing advocates for and consumers of services for people with disabilities.

Simmons, of Fairbanks, is an assistant professor in the Rural Human Services Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, whose work emphasizes Native cultural integration, suicide prevention and issues related to Alaska Native culture. She was elected to the Interior Regional Housing Authority in 2006. Simmons earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical-community psychology, both from UAF. She has served on the council since 2006, and was reappointed to a seat representing advocates for and consumers of services for people with disabilities.

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