Carol brings more than three decades of professional experience working with the disability community. She started in the mid-1980s as a human services technician at the Faribault Regional Center developmental disability program. She later managed statewide vocational programs at the Minnesota Department of Human Services, led a non-profit day training and habilitation organization, and served as Director of the Special Compensation Unit at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. She was a CARF surveyor for 9 years. Additionally, Carol served as the Director of State Services for the Blind in Minnesota for 6 years and was the Assistant Commissioner of Workforce Services until her retirement. She is passionate about serving customers and believes in the ability of individuals- regardless of background or skill set- to contribute meaningfully to our economy. More recently, Carol has taken this experience and transitioned to the world of providing technical assistance for the past five years.

Since the passage of WIOA, Carol has been a national leader among her peers as VR administrators in the implementation of the provisions under WIOA that amended the Rehabilitation Act. She has created new and innovative approaches to delivering services in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act as amended by WIOA and has been eager to share information and resources that she and her team created. She has presented at numerous national conferences, including CSAVR and NCSAB. Carol can be described as one who is action-oriented, strategic, innovative, positive, and able to adapt to move forward.

Carol holds a master’s degree in management of rehabilitation services from DePaul University in Chicago and a B.S. from Mankato State University. She also served as president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind and served on the Executive Committee of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation.