Meet the Kentucky APSE 2024 Conference Presenters:
Eric Barth has worked as a CRP Consultant for the Louisville area for three years. Prior to that, Eric was a VR Counselor in the Dixie Highway Office in Louisville for over 16 years. As a counselor, Eric managed a general caseload, was a communications specialist, and worked with a local IPS provider. While not a Kentucky native, Eric has lived in Louisville for over 20 years and considers it his home. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sociology from Western Kentucky University. Eric is an avid runner and enjoys running in and around many of Louisville’s parks. He also enjoys hiking and observing the local wildlife. When not outdoors, Eric loves cooking and attending live music and comedy shows.
Laura N. Butler, MRC, MA has a BA in Healthcare Administration from Midway College and a masters’ degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling and Applied Environmental and Sustainability Studies from the University of Kentucky. She has worked with people with disabilities in various capacities for over 25 years. Ms. Butler serves on multiple projects at the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky working to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Richard Bryant is the Program Director for the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission (KFEC). Mr. Bryant is an Auburn and Kentucky State alum, an Eagle Scout, a Return Peace Corps Volunteer. He worked for over a decade in Kentucky’s extension system, helping beginning farmers and ranchers develop business plans and enterprise budgets through entrepreneurship classes and workshops. With the KFEC, he strives to ensuring all Kentuckians have access to financial literacy information and resources.
LeeAnn Creech, Executive Director, Amazing Opportunities Kentucky. LeeAnn received her Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2009 and worked for DCBS as a Child Protective Services Clinician until 2012. She has held positions as a Quality Assurance Director, and Executive Director for an SCL Agency in Morehead where she was an active board member for the Kentucky Association of Private Providers. As an Executive Director she has personally provided services in a person-centered approach, and has strived to ensure participants are able to have a voice in choosing the services and goals that are meaningful to them.
Josiah Fowler began working with OVR in 2021, first as an assistant to the counselors, but then quickly transitioning to the Assistive Technology branch. He is assigned to the Bowling Green and Glasgow offices.
Bev Harp is Project Director for Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW), a project of the Human Development Institute (HDI) and is self-advocate faculty for LEND at the University of Kentucky. Bev is an autistic self-advocate who has presented at national conferences for APSE, AHEAD, TASH, and many other organizations. Bev is co-chair of the Kentucky Advisory Council on Autism and co-founder of Kentucky’s first autistic self-advocacy group. She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Kentucky.
Deandra Howard is an IPS (Individual Placement & Support) Fidelity Reviewer for the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute. Deandra is a 2011 graduate of Morehead State University. She has worked in IPS Supported Employment since 2012. She became an employment specialist at Comprehend in 2012, then moved to the Supported Employment Program Director in 2014. Deandra began working as a state trainer in August 2019, then transitioned to the fidelity reviewer in 2023. When she isn’t working, you can find her on the farm or at church. She is very passionate about seeing others have the opportunity to change their life!
Jennifer Inman serves as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission (KFEC). Prior to her role at KFEC, Inman was an educator, teaching business and finance courses at Boone County High School in Florence, KY, and providing financial literacy instruction for Northern Kentucky University. Her dedication to education extended to her involvement with the John Jay Center for Learning, a non-profit technical education center in Portland, IN. Inman has an extensive career in banking, accounting, and financial management. Inman earned her B.S. from Indiana Wesleyan University and pursued further academic endeavors, obtaining an M.A. in Teaching Business & Marketing from the University of the Cumberlands. She expanded her knowledge in economics and finance through graduate studies at Northern Kentucky University. Her commitment to financial education was recognized with the Kentucky Master Teacher of Personal Finance Designation, awarded by the St. Louis Federal Reserve and the Coalition for Financial Literacy in the Commonwealth. Beyond her professional roles, Inman actively contributes to various organizations within her community. She serves as the Board President of the KY Jump$tart Coalition, the Board Treasurer of the KY Guardianship Association, and is a member of the Bank On Louisville Executive Committee.
Tricia Jones- Parkins...With over two decades of experience, Tricia Jones-Parkin is a dedicated advocate for individuals with disabilities, focusing on fostering inclusivity and competitive integrated employment. In 2011, Tricia played a pivotal role in crafting Utah’s Employment First Language, leading to transformative initiatives supported by federal grants and partnerships. These efforts have significantly enhanced employment opportunities and community integration for individuals with disabilities in Utah. Currently, Tricia is a Senior Program Coordinator at the Institute for Disability Policy and Practice and a consultant for Griffin Hammis Associates. In this role, she provides customized employment training and technical assistance to employment specialists in Utah, working directly with job seekers and their support teams. Tricia also extends her expertise through training and mentoring at the provider and government levels across several states. Her work ensures that working-age youth and adults with significant disabilities are prioritized as employment support services are established and implemented.
Kaitlin Keane is the Marketing Team Lead with QK4 and Owner of KKP Boudoir. She brings 15 years of experience in content creation and a background that includes journalism, marketing, Emmy-winning public relations, and photography. She has experience in the transportation and infrastructure sectors, hospitality, and bourbon industry, as well as working with clients in the higher education, finance, and medical fields. Katlin says the best part of her job is to get you to open up, relax and tell your story. Outside of work Kaitlin is a childless cat lady, donut connoisseur and Cher fan. Kaitlin enjoys traveling with her partner of seven years, Jon, and hitting up a few Triple D restaurants along the way.
Elizabeth Kries is a Program Manager at the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI). Elizabeth has over 25 years of experience working with people with disabilities. Central to her work has always been the belief that all people have the right to build lives that they want to live and not lives driven by available services or systems. Elizabeth’s career began as a direct support professional and case manager. After many years working as a direct service provider, Elizabeth join the Division for Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and eventually served as the Assistant Director, through the COVID pandemic. Elizabeth now works with HDI to continue furthering efforts build inclusive communities, address inequities, and improve the lives of all people who experience disability across the lifespan.
Lisa Lewis is an IPS Supported Employment Specialist, Program Coordinator for the Pennyroyal Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Lisa has been employed by the Pennyroyal Center for 6 years and has been the Program Coordinator for 5 years. Lisa is a Graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University and has a bachelor’s degree in business management and human resources. Lisa has over 18 years of experience in Workforce Development. She finds great joy in heling others to become employed and in finding Competitive Employment.
Ajla Ortash is the Director of Community Engagement for the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission (KFEC). Ms. Ortash graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. After graduating she earned her insurance license to sell life and health policies, aiming to positively impact people’s financial well-being. However, she soon realized that her passion lay in education. This realization led her to pursue a master’s degree in education from the University of the Cumberland’s, specializing in teaching business classes and dual credit courses through Northern Kentucky University. One of her key focuses was on Financial Literacy, where she found immense joy in helping high school students grasp essential money management concepts and make informed financial decisions. She realized the importance of this subject as students were eager to learn it and their families and other colleagues were also curious to get guidance on how to properly handle their finances. When the opportunity to do this work statewide presented itself, she couldn’t pass it up. One main initiative that she has been involved in starting is the Kentucky Bank On Network. The mission is to provide all residents with access to safe and affordable banking products and services, combined with comprehensive financial literacy education.
Kaitlyn Paschall, M.S., Program Director, Amazing Opportunities Kentucky. Kaitlyn received her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University, and also holds graduate certificates from EKU in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Applied Behavior Analysis. Kaitlyn studied under Dr. Myra Beth Bundy, Ph.D while at EKU and completed her practicum at the EKU Psychology Clinic, and Bundy and Associates Psychological Services. She completed her internship at an SCL agency in Lexington and Eastern State Hospital. Kaitlyn began providing services under the Medicaid waivers in 2012 as a DSP, and has been a Positive Behavior Support Specialist since 2015. Kaitlyn believes that everyone, regardless of their disability should be given the opportunity to live “the good life,” and is passionate about helping people advocate for themselves to achieve goals that are important to them.
Karen Perry joined OVR as a Rehabilitation Technologist Specialist 16 years ago, initially focusing on consumers who are blind or low vision. In 2021, she began working with clients with all disabilities. She covers the greater Owensboro and Henderson areas.
Merry Reid Sheffer is the Director of Employment Services with Edge Employment in Louisville, KY. She holds Customized Employment certifications from Marc Gold & Associates in Systematic Instruction, Discovery, and Job Development through Marc Gold and Associates. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a master’s degree in divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and is currently working on a master’s in business administration (MBA) at the University of Louisville. She is the Chair of the Employer Education and Engagement Committee on the governor’s Employment First Council. Her passions include raising expectations and facilitating opportunities for disabled job seekers, creating pressed flower art, and spending time with her partner and big dog, Bear.
Audra Shutt is a Pre-Employment Transition Services Coordinator with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in Frankfort Kentucky where she coordinates services for Kentucky students with disabilities. Audra has 10 years of experience as an Employment Specialist providing Pre-Employment Transition Services, a variety of Supported Employment, and Customized Supported Employment to Kentuckians with disabilities. She graduated from Morehead State University and currently resides in Louisville Kentucky with her better half and their two pugs, and a cat.
Ashley Taylor has worked as an OVR, CRP Consultant in Western KY for 8 years. Before that Ashley worked as an Employment Program Manager and Employment Specialist for 15 years, providing supported employment, employment and retention, community work transition
program services, and work-based learning experiences. Ashley has also been a
member of the KY APSE Board for 18 years and is currently the Vice President. A
2001 social work graduate of Murray State University, Ashley has served as the
recruitment advisor on campus for her sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma for 18 years.
GO RACERS!! Ashley resides in Murray KY with her 3-year-old labradoodle Darby.
They enjoy spending time with family and friends, camping, playing chuck it
ball, traveling, and anything in the sun and surf.
Kirsten Webb is 26-year-old student and photographer with cerebral palsy. She is currently an intern for both an engineering firm – QK4 – and a photography studio – KKP Boudoir. Her passion is capturing special moments and people, so she started Webb Photography in 2020. Kirsten is finishing up her associate degree in applied
science at JCTC, studying advertising design and commercial photography.
Outside of work, Kirsten loves to travel, eat good food, and play with her
little dog, Bear.
Barry Whaley works at the Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University. He is the Co-Principal Investigator and Project Director of the Southeast ADA Center, Principal
Co-Collaborator with the University of Leeds (UK) Inclusive Public Spaces
project, Co-Collaborator with the University of Queensland (AU) Gender, Equity,
Disability, and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming Short Course, and Principal
Investigator of the Mid-Atlantic Youth and Self-Advocacy project. His current
research examines the impact of intersectionality of race and disability, on
three ADA-related issues: 1) employment, 2) access to digital technology, 3)
long and short-term poverty.
Katie Wolf Whaley, MSW, is a Principal Investigator and Project Director at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute. In her work she coordinates training & technical assistance on employment strategies for people with disabilities to service providers, job seekers, family members, and businesses. She works, in collaboration with partners across the state and nation, to build effective systems of support to increase opportunities for people to gain and maintain competitive integrated employment. Katie serves by Gubernatorial appointment as Chairperson of Kentucky’s Employment First Council, serves as the President of the Kentucky Chapter of APSE and has served on the national board of APSE. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Kentucky.
Carolyn Wheeler wrote the legislation for and was instrumental in the implementation of the Kentucky Hart Supported Living Program. She is a founding member of Life Plan of Kentucky, which is a pooled special needs trust (www.lifeplanorky.org). Carolyn is certified as a Community Partner Work Incentives Counselor and provides training on the positive financial impact of working for people who receive Social Security Disability benefits. Carolyn Wheeler provided leadership to planning efforts to establish STABLE Kentucky which is Kentucky ABLE’s program. In 2020, she was appointed by Treasurer Allison Ball to the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission. Since 1980, Carolyn has voluntarily served as a legal guardian and Power of Attorney for three different individuals with intellectual disabilities whose parents are deceased. In this role she has helped each of them to live a good life in the community.
Jeff White is the Quality Assurance Coordinator for Kentucky Waiver Employment Services and has been a member of the Kentucky Employment First Council since its inception, currently serving as the Provider Capacity Committee Chairperson.