The Academy offers a wide range of professional development opportunities designed to meet the unique needs of your organization. Our services include:
Contact us today to see how The Academy can help your agency achieve its goals and empower your staff to provide the best possible support.
Owner and CEO
I’ve spent my career helping agencies and professionals grow through training, coaching, and program development. As the founder of the Academy for Professional Development, I enjoy turning complex ideas into practical, engaging tools that strengthen human services agencies and their staff while improving services for individuals and families. My specialty is curriculum design—having authored more than 40 training programs—as well as supervisory training and leadership development.
Outside of work, I’m an extreme gardener who loves experimenting in the dirt, a lifelong reader, and a traveler at heart. Growing up in the United States, Japan, and Switzerland gave me an enduring love of new experiences, exploration, and adventure.
VP of Consultations and Compliance
I have over 25 years of experience working in agency leadership and program compliance, with the majority assisting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I’m passionate about helping agencies working in specialized services to develop programming that helps individuals increase self-determination, advocate for equal rights, and obtain skills that build towards greater independence. Specializing in group instruction and compliance consultation, I provide both DSP and staff leadership training, as well as conducting agency consultations for initial certification and DODD reviews.
Outside of work I’m an avid sports fan, love to travel, and am a hiking enthusiast. With degrees in history and philosophy I also like to sit with my dog and ponder existential existence, along with the ancient Roman empire.
Educator and Delegating Nurse
I’ve worked in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) field for more than 15 years, serving first as a Director of Nursing and more recently as a consultant and educator. In my current role, I teach medication administration classes and serve as a delegating nurse for a variety of providers, helping ensure safe, high-quality care.
Beyond my professional work, I enjoy giving back through volunteer service with several nonprofit organizations in my community. I also have a lifelong love of horses, and am a very proud grandmother.
Educator and Delegating Nurse
I’ve been a registered nurse for 24 years, with most of my career spent in critical care, supporting adults with complex medical needs. For nearly three decades, I’ve also been connected to the Department of Developmental Disabilities—both professionally and personally as the mother of a medically complex son. That experience has shaped my passion for equipping Direct Support Professionals with the knowledge, confidence, and respect needed to provide safe, compassionate care. As a certified train-the-trainer in medication administration and a delegating nurse
Outside of work, I’ve been happily married for 32 years and enjoy life with my three sons, daughter-in-law, and amazing grandson. I also love spending time with my dog, relaxing with true crime films, and cherishing every chance to bond with my family.
Educator and Consultant
I have over 20 years of experience in the ID/DD and ASD field, shaped by both my career and my role as the mother of a young adult with complex medical and developmental needs. Over the years, I’ve worked as a family support specialist, direct support professional, habilitation technician, and program manager, and now serve as a consultant and instructor with the Academy for Professional Development. I teach First Aid/CPR, behavior support, DSP training, and co-developed the curriculum Easing the Stress of Healthcare Encounters for Individuals with ID/DD and ASD with Dean Swartz. My greatest joy is supporting individuals and families to feel empowered, respected, and heard.
Advocacy is at the heart of my work. I’ve presented at local and regional conferences and serve with groups such as the Regional Autism Advisory Council, Families Connected, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s Family Advisory Committee. Outside of work, I enjoy family trips, spending time in the kitchen, and cooking and baking with my loved ones—my homemade lasagna is everyone’s favorite.
Educator and Consultant
I’ve dedicated my career to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and the staff who serve them. For more than 25 years, I’ve worked with the Clermont County Board of DD as a Behavior Support Specialist, where I provide behavior support planning, crisis intervention, and training on a wide range of topics. I’m also a longtime trainer with the Academy for Professional Development, where I teach provider certification courses and lead crisis and de-escalation trainings.
My background includes a B.A. in Psychology and a Master’s in Special Education with a focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder. Over the years, I’ve presented at state and national conferences, served on autism advisory councils, and helped agencies adopt trauma-responsive and person-centered practices.
At heart, I enjoy helping people feel more confident and capable in their work—whether that’s teaching a new skill, creating curriculum, or guiding teams through challenges.
Educator and Consultant
I’ve spent over 36 years working across the field of developmental disabilities, from front-line staff to leadership roles in recreation, residential, and vocational/day programs. Along the way, I’ve developed crisis intervention programs, led certifications, and trained staff on everything from trauma-informed care to adaptive technology.
I also bring experience from manufacturing, environmental testing, and IT, which helps me take a practical, problem-solving approach. Today, I work with a county board in Ohio and the Academy for Professional Development—sharing what I’ve learned to help others grow.