Board Of Directors
Karen Williams
Board Chair
Karen Williams is the Executive Director at Trillium Employment Services, a nonprofit agency supporting Western Washington businesses in hiring, training, and retaining employees with developmental disabilities. Karen has worked in public and nonprofit sectors in several states in both affordable housing and social services, but primarily her career is dedicated to individual growth and community inclusion of people with developmental disabilities. Karen obtained her Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University, with a concentration in public policy and nonprofit management. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Disability Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Margaret-Lee Thompson
Vice Chair
Margaret-Lee Thompson has recently retired as the Coordinator of the King County Parent Coalition for Developmental Disabilities, which is a program of The Arc of King County. The Parent Coalition was formed by Margaret-Lee in 1990 and is active in advocacy with the state legislature. The King County Parent Coalition was the first in the state of Washington. There are now Parent Coalitions established or forming in 20 counties in Washington State. Margaret-Lee and her husband are the parents of a son with Down Syndrome, who passed away at the age of 36 years. He worked at Microsoft in the Supply Center and Mail Room for over fourteen years. While raising their three children, she worked as a volunteer advocate in four states for twenty years. She is a graduate of the University of Washington and was a teaching assistant and research technician in the Dept. of Botany.
Katherine Carol
Board Member
Katherine Carol is not your typical motivational or management guru, her unique experience has given her deep insights into how systems work, personal motivation and the resistance issues we all experience in a dramatically changing and often surprising world landscape. A bit of alchemist, Katherine can take lead and turn it into gold. Her methods for organizational and personal transformation have touched thousands and truly changed lives for the better, as people and organizations find their power—positively releasing the latest version of themselves to achieve their personal best. Katherine’s affinity for working with young people has reinforced and further developed their emerging leadership skills. She has a professional wealth of involvement in the nonprofit rehabilitation, for-profit leadership and management arenas. Katherine is currently a member of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, was founding chair of Denver Options, a community centered board for persons with developmental disabilities in Colorado, and a former consultant for the Center for Technical Assistance and Training at the University of Northern Colorado, past APSE board member and Past President of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. Katherine’s current passion is creating 21st Century Rehabilitation Solutions for today’s evolving community.
Dennis Mathews
Board Member
Dennis Mathews retired from many years in Public Education. He received a Master’s degree from Eastern Washington University and Bachelor’s degree from Washington State University. In 1974 he began a rewarding special education career as a school psychologist for Richland and Kennewick school districts. In 1980 he earned a spot with the Educational Service District 112 as the Special Education Administrator. He finished his education career in 2012 as an Associate Superintendent. Dennis enjoyed being engaged in local, state and national special education family and professional groups throughout his career. Dennis lives with his wife Sharon in Vancouver, WA, where they raised four children who are grown and doing well.
David Mank
Board Member
David Michael Mank, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University, Indiana’s University Center for Excellence on Disabilities, and Full Professor in the School of Education. As a writer and researcher, Dr. Mank has an extensive background in the education and employment for persons with disabilities. He has authored or coauthored dozens of articles and book chapters. His interests also include transition from school to work and community living. Mank is a member of the editorial boards of the Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (TASH), the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Journal of Disability Policy Studies. He is Associate Editor for the journal, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. He is Past President of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. He was a founding board member of APSE, Association of People Supporting Employment First. He is a member of the Board of the Arc of Indiana. He has received the Franklin Smith Award for National Distinguished Service from The Arc of the United States and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. In January 2015, Mank was appointed by the U. S. Secretary of Labor to the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, which was created in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. He was subsequently elected Chair of the Committee.
Paula Johnson
Board member
Paula has had a passion for employment for people with disabilities for over 30 years and has experience in job development, job analysis, career planning, staff training, marketing and management. During her nine-year tenure at The University of San Francisco, McLaren School of Business, she directed California's Supported Employment statewide training projects and led the California Corporate Initiative. She is the former national Director of Best Buddies Jobs and led the expansion of employment programs across the US and Latin America. Paula is currently a program specialist with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center - Project SEARCH and assists schools, employment agencies, funding agencies and employers with the development of Project SEARCH training programs in 11 states and Canada. She has been an active member of The Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) for many years, which has included serving as the President of the APSE Foundation from 2011 to 2014, leading the development of the Oregon APSE Chapter, and serving as the Treasurer of Oregon APSE.
