Agenda

Day 1 – Monday, October 12, 2026

8:00 – 8:45 AM
Registration and Exhibit Hall Open, Breakfast Served
8:45 – 9:35 AM

Opening Remarks

Speakers:

  • Eric Boyer, MPH (Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority)
  • Director Kathryn Duder, MA, CRC (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation)
  • Commissioner Cathy Munoz (Department of Labor and Workforce Development)

9:35 – 10:00 AM

State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee (SVRC) Business Recognition Awards

Speakers:

  • Commissioner Cathy Munoz (Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
  • Dave Berube, M.Ed. (Disability Law Center of Alaska)
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Break

10:15 – 11:15 AM
Plenary Panel Presentation: Strengths in Good Hiring and Retainment

View Description →

Speakers:

  • Samantha Vetter (Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education)
  • Catherine Babuscio (Mat-Su Regional Medical Center)
  • Katrena Betts (The Arc of Anchorage)
  • Mariah Krueger, MA, CRC (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation)
  • Dante Barganier (Carrs Safeway)
11:15 – 11:30 AM

Break

11:30 – 12:30 PM

Breakout Sessions

Session 1

Transition Age Youth: Your Untapped Resource

View Description →

Speaker:

  • Amanda Coelho, MBA (Statewide Independent Living Council of Alaska)

Session 2

Healthcare Workforce Panel

View Description →

Speakers:

  • Karen Heath, MS (UAA Center for Human Development)
  • Seth Nielsen, MRC, CRC (State of Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation)
  • Ashley Barth, Phlebotomist (Providence Laboratory Outreach)
  • Bridgett Mayorga, MS Ed, RDMS, RVT, RDCS, RT (R) (University of Alaska Anchorage)
  • Joy Burress (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)
12:30 – 12:45 PM
Break
12:45 – 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch
1:30 – 1:45 PM
Break
1:45 – 2:15 PM
Breakout Sessions

Session 1

Supporting the People with the Most Influence on Retention: Direct Supervisors

 

View Description →

Speaker:

  • Naomi DuCharme, CHST, CPRC, CPC (Integrating Wellness Solutions)

Session 2

Alaska’s Workforce Future

 

View Description →

Speaker:

  • Mariko Selle, MPH (Alaska Workforce Alliance)
2:15 – 2:30 PM

Break

2:30 – 3:30 PM

Breakout Sessions

Session 1

Project SEARCH: A Model of Partnerships

 

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Speaker:

  • Joy Burress (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)

Session 2

Building the Job That Fits: Creating Opportunities for Yourself and Others

View Description →

Speakers:

  • Larrisa Cummings (UAA, Center for Human Development)
  • Ian Clark (Ian’s Game Paradise)
3:30 – 3:45 PM

Break

3:45 – 4:45 PM

Breakout Sessions

Session 1

Work and Benefits, AK Disability 101

 

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Speakers:

  • Larrisa Cummings (UAA, Center for Human Development)
  • Lisa McDonald, CWIC (Center for Human Development)

Session 2

AI as Workplace Accommodation: Practical Tools for Employees, Employers, and Support Systems

 

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Speaker:

  • Carlos Machuca, MBA (Alaska SBDC)

4:45 – 5:00 PM

Break
5:00 – 5:15 PM
Closing Remarks

Day 2 – Tuesday, October 13, 2026

8:00 – 8:45 AM

Registration and Exhibit Hall Open, Breakfast Served

8:45 – 9:00 AM

Opening Remarks

Speakers:

9:00 – 10:30 AM

Keynote Presentation: Maximizing Partnership and Data for Improved Outcomes for Alaskans

View Description →

Speakers:

  • Suzzanne Freeze, Masters in Public Administration (ICI at University of Massachusetts Boston)
  • Russell Thelin, M.S., CRC, CRL (ICI at University of Massachusetts Boston)

10:30 – 10:45 AM

Break

10:45 – 11:45 AM

Breakout Sessions

Session 1

Accessibility in the Workplace

View Description →

Speakers:

  • Tori Phipps (Assistive Technology of Alaska)
  • Tom Class, COTA/L (Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired)
  • Clara Baldwin, M.A. (Anchorage School District/Alaska State School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing)

Session 2

Rural Health Transformation Program Update

View Description →

Speaker:

  • Tricia Franklin, MPH (Alaska Department of Health)
11:45 – 12:15 PM

Break

12:15 – 1:15 PM

Lunch Plenary Presentation: The Heart of It All

 

View Description →

Speaker:

  • Maggie Winston, MPA (Independent Living Center)
1:15 – 1:30 PM

Break

1:30 – 2:30 PM

Breakout Sessions

Session 1

Alternatives to Guardianship: The Disability Law Center of Alaska

View Description →

Speakers:

  • Dave Berube, M.Ed. (Disability Law Center of Alaska)
  • Abigail Gurgiolo (Disability Law Center of Alaska)

Session 2

Seeing Through the Employer Lens: Hiring That Solves Real Business Problems

View Description →

Speaker:

  • Jenn Bozard, MA, CESP (Nadon Family Home)
2:30 – 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 – 3:00 PM

Employer Spotlight and Closing Remarks

Agenda subject to change.

Eric Boyer, MPH

Senior Program Officer
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
Eric Boyer is the Senior Program Officer for the Trust, based in Anchorage, AK. He oversees a program officer team responsible for providing leadership in the planning, advocacy, implementation, and funding of services and programs for Trust beneficiaries in Alaska. He has over 35 years of experience working in residential and community-based psychiatric services for children and adults. Eric serves on the Consultative Monitoring Board for the National Center for Mental Health Dissemination, Implementation, and Sustainment at Stanford University School of Medicine. He obtained his MPH from UAA.

Kathryn Duder, MA, CRC

Division Director
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Kathryn (Kate) Duder serves as the Director for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, providing strategic leadership for the division's core program areas. Kate is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology.

Throughout her career, Kate has demonstrated a commitment to advancing public service and improving outcomes for individuals. Her experience spans direct service delivery, program administration, strategic planning, policy development, and organizational leadership. She has extensive expertise in implementing federal and state policies, interpreting and applying applicable statutes and regulations, managing grant and performance reporting, and leading complex initiatives that strengthen service delivery.

Cathy Muñoz

Commissioner
Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Commissioner Cathy Munoz is a lifelong Alaskan, mother, grandmother, small business owner and former legislator. Appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner in 2018 and confirmed by the Legislature to the position of Commissioner in 2023.

Cathy Muñoz

Commissioner
Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Commissioner Cathy Munoz is a lifelong Alaskan, mother, grandmother, small business owner and former legislator. Appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner in 2018 and confirmed by the Legislature to the position of Commissioner in 2023.

Dave Berube, M.Ed.

Legal Rights Advocate II
Disability Law Center of Alaska
Dave Bérubé returned to the Disability Law Center of Alaska, also known as the Protection and Advocacy agency (AK P&A), in November 2020. He had previously worked there from 1996 to 2015 as a Legal Rights Advocate II and has resumed his work as the lead advocate on the Client Assistance Program (CAP), funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), and the Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program under the Ticket to Work, funded by SSA. He has been a member of the State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee (SVRC) for years and is currently the Chair.
Description:

Panel session featuring information on how to assure the hiring processes can be inclusive and how to use best practices to retain your workforce.

Samantha Vetter

Employment and Business Systems Coordinator
Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education
Samantha Vetter is an Alaskan at heart who moved away for a number of years during military service and returned. Samantha enjoys being outside in the beautiful Alaskan environment with family and dogs on a hike or kayaking.

Catherine Babuscio

Human Resources Director
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
Catherine Babuscio has worked in healthcare human resources for over 30 years. Her first experience working with individuals who experience disabilities began in 1991 with a program in Montana. In 2010 Mat-Su Regional Medical Center collaborated for a Project SEARCH program. This experience is one of the highlights of her career.

Katrena Betts

Director of Integrated Employment Services
The Arc of Anchorage
Katrena Betts has worked in vocational rehabilitation and disability employment services in Alaska since 2015. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of roles serving Alaskans with disabilities and has been affiliated with The Arc of Anchorage since 2006. Additionally, Katrena serves as a member of Alaska's Vocational Rehabilitation Committee and represents Professional Development/Disabilities on the Alaska Workforce Investment Board. Dedicated to expanding the local workforce, she works to provide training opportunities and professional development for direct care providers while advocating for equal opportunity and fair work practices for the individuals she serves.

Mariah Krueger, MA, CRC

Chief of Services
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Mariah Krueger is the Chief of Services for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of VR and 18 years in VR administration. Prior to working for DVR, she was the Project Director for Cook Inlet Tribal Council’s Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Mariah is originally from Galena, Alaska, a small, remote village along the Yukon River. She attended both UAF and UAA, and received her Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Western Washington University.

Dante Barganier

Courtesy Clerk
Carrs Safeway
Dante Barganier was a former student enrolled in Project Search who got the help he needed to gain employment. He would love to share his experiences with all of you.
Description:

Transition-age youth with disabilities are one of Alaska's most overlooked talent pools. This session makes the business case for hiring employees with disabilities, highlights the workforce-readiness programs available across the state — from soft skills to on-the-job training — and shows why investing in this talent now is smart succession planning for tomorrow's workforce.

Amanda Coelho, MBA

Assistant Executive Director
Statewide Independent Living Council of Alaska
Amanda S. Coelho, MBA, is the Assistant Executive Director at the Statewide Independent Living Council of Alaska, where she leads policy, education, and workforce development initiatives for Alaskans with disabilities. She brings a background in talent acquisition and employee development, with experience across teaching, corporate training, and banking. She is a strong advocate for transition-age youth with disabilities as an untapped talent pipeline, and works to educate employers and communities on the value of investing in that talent early.

Description:

Representatives from the UAA College of Health School of Allied Health, Project Search, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Project Search alumni will discuss various aspects of the healthcare workforce in Alaska.

Karen Heath, MS

Director
UAA Center for Human Development
Karen Heath, a lifelong Alaskan, is the Director of the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development (CHD). She has been at CHD for 20 years in various roles. She started her career in developmental disability residential and vocational services and served as one of the first job coaches in Alaska. Her favorite projects have been those that champion employment for individuals with disabilities. She is passionate about ensuring individuals with disabilities have opportunities and support that allow them to live their best lives.

Seth Nielsen, MRC, CRC

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III
State of Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Seth Nielsen is a seasoned Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with 23 years of experience empowering individuals and transforming lives across the country—from North Carolina to Colorado and Alaska. Having dedicated the majority of his career to the State of Alaska, Seth brings a deep, localized understanding of navigating complex rehabilitation landscapes. He holds a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Utah State University. This year, Seth is excited to share practical insights gained from over two decades in the field. A true Alaskan born and raised, Seth pairs his professional dedication with a passion for outdoor adventures and global travel.

Ashley Barth, Phlebotomist

Phlebotomist
Providence Laboratory Outreach

Providence Laboratory outreach is an outpatient department for routine lab work, it provides efficient care for all patients in our care.

Ashley Barth first came to the lab as a volunteer through Project Search. Fascinated by the processes behind the scenes, Ashley asked thoughtful questions to better understand the care and handling of specimens. Ashley was honored to spend both the first and final parts of the second semester at the lab. Lab Supervisor Misty Beatty offered Ashley an Apprenticeship for a Phlebotomy Technician position through Providence. Ashley became the second student to complete the program, finishing ahead of schedule in less than a year thanks to the strong support of colleagues and mentors along the way.

Bridgett Mayorga, MS Ed, RDMS, RVT, RDCS, RT (R)

Assistant Dean, School of Allied Health
University of Alaska Anchorage
Bridgett serves as the Assistant Dean for the School of Allied Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). The School of Allied Health includes programs such as Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Diagnostic Medical Sonography. With over 30 years of experience in Diagnostic Imaging and teaching, Bridgett brings a wealth of knowledge to UAA. She is a registered radiologic technologist, cardiac, vascular, and general sonographer, and holds a master's degree in education.

Joy Burress

Project SEARCH Program Manager
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Joy Burress believes that the best results come from strong relationships, clear communication, and a willingness to learn from others. As a Project SEARCH consultant, Joy loves connecting people, improving processes, and helping teams achieve goals. Teaching teams to follow Project SEARCH model fidelity will make a difference in the lives of those they serve.

Description:

Recruitment happened. Hiring and onboarding is done. Placements get made, accommodations get written, and then a supervisor and a new employee are left to work out the rest between them. Often, the person with the most influence over an employee's experience is their direct supervisor. We will look at four things a frontline supervisor needs to support their staff well:

• Knowing how to create a physically & psychologically safe work environment
• Knowing what the organization already has and how to use and share them: resources, benefits, processes (for physical injury, signs of mental health changes, signs of substance misuse and how to approach all of these with the intent to recover and return!)
• Knowing what to say when something changes with the plan or the person
• Creating the time to engage and problem solve with their team

Naomi DuCharme, CHST, CPRC, CPC

Founder, CEO
Integrating Wellness Solutions
Naomi DuCharme founded Integrating Wellness Solutions in Eagle River, Alaska, where she helps employers build the conditions that keep people at work: physical, psychological, and psychosocial safety, mental health, recovery, and the Alaska factors that shape them. She came up through construction and oil and gas in Alaska, from field safety to executive leadership. She is a Construction Health and Safety Technician, Total Worker Health® Facilitator, Certified Professional Recovery Coach, Certified Professional Coach, guest lecturer at the University of Washington, and a person in recovery herself. Her mission: make Alaska the model for workforce wellbeing.

Description:

Alaska faces significant workforce shortages, yet many qualified Alaskans remain underrepresented in the workforce. This session introduces Alaska’s Workforce Future, a cross-industry plan for strengthening career pathways, education and training, worker retention, regional coordination, and supportive services. We will explore how these strategies can expand meaningful career opportunities for Alaskans with disabilities and others whose skills remain underutilized, helping employers fill workforce gaps and strengthen Alaska’s economy.

Mariko Selle, MPH

Executive Director
Alaska Workforce Alliance
Mariko "Mari" Selle is the Executive Director of the Alaska Workforce Alliance, where she leads statewide efforts to strengthen career pathways and align education, training, and industry needs. She previously served as the Director of Workforce for the Alaska Primary Care Association and the Southcentral AHEC, overseeing apprenticeships, career awareness programming, and health workforce initiatives. Her earlier experience includes rural hospital leadership, quality improvement, and research. A lifelong Alaskan, Mari is passionate about building healthy, resilient Alaskan communities.

Description:

Learn about Project SEARCH, an internationally recognized program that helps transition age students with disabilities achieve competitive integrated employment. This session provides an overview of the model, program outcomes, and the partnerships that make successful transitions to employment possible.

Joy Burress

Project SEARCH Program Manager
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Joy Burress believes that the best results come from strong relationships, clear communication, and a willingness to learn from others. As a Project SEARCH consultant, Joy loves connecting people, improving processes, and helping teams achieve goals. Teaching teams to follow Project SEARCH model fidelity will make a difference in the lives of those they serve.
Description:

Becoming self-employed can create opportunities not only for yourself, but for others as well—but it isn’t necessarily the right fit for everyone. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience running an independent business in Anchorage, Ian Clark shares lessons learned from the challenges and rewards of owning a business and hiring people from a variety of backgrounds. He’ll discuss how recognizing strengths that can be overlooked in traditional hiring helped him build a workplace grounded in trust, flexibility, and mutual investment. The talk will explore both the realities of self-employment and the value of building a trusted workforce in today’s economy, with a focus on a simple idea: successful employment often begins by seeing the person, not just the résumé.

Larrisa Cummings

Alaska WIPA Project Director
UAA, Center for Human Development
Larrisa Cummings is a Project Director at the UAA, Center for Human Development, and is on a mission to encourage competitive wage employment and self-employment as viable employment options for people who experience a disability. She is the Director of the Alaska Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA) Project. The WIPA Project provides benefits counseling to Social Security (SSA) beneficiaries and provides information regarding how benefits might be impacted by work. She maintains the AK DB101 website so that it continues to be an accessible tool for all Alaskans, providing access to information on employment, health coverage, and benefits.

Ian Clark

Manager/Owner
Ian's Game Paradise
Ian Clark is a longtime Anchorage business owner who has operated an independent video game store for nearly two decades. His experience as a small-business owner has given him first hand insight into self-employment, adapting to challenges, and creating opportunities outside traditional employment.

Description:

The Alaska WIPA Project and the Alaska Disability Benefits 101 website provide assistance to beneficiaries who are working at wage employment, self-employment, or who have a job offer pending. Assistance is offered to help understand the various work incentive programs that might be available and provide advice about how to manage one’s benefits during the transition to paid employment. We provide both initial and follow along assistance to beneficiaries. Benefits Counseling and a written Benefits Summary Analysis (BSA) are provided free of charge. Fear of losing benefits often keeps people from engaging in meaningful, well-paid work. Come learn about the free WIPA services and some basic SSA work incentives that may apply to your clients who are working or who may desire to work.

Introduction and overview of the Alaska Disability 101 website will also be provided, showing people how they can utilize this valuable tool to support employment efforts. Articles, estimators and videos will be introduced, showcasing the multiple ways this information can be accessed. Care providers can assist and support their clients using this great website.

Larrisa Cummings

Alaska WIPA Project Director
UAA, Center for Human Development
Larrisa Cummings is a Project Director at the UAA, Center for Human Development, and is on a mission to encourage competitive wage employment and self-employment as viable employment options for people who experience a disability. She is the Director of the Alaska Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA) Project. The WIPA Project provides benefits counseling to Social Security (SSA) beneficiaries and provides information regarding how benefits might be impacted by work. She maintains the AK DB101 website so that it continues to be an accessible tool for all Alaskans, providing access to information on employment, health coverage, and benefits.

Lisa McDonald, CWIC

WIPA CWIC
Center for Human Development
Lisa McDonald is the current WIPA Community Work Incentives Coordinator for the State of Alaska. She is also an advocate for disabilities in the state, serving on two councils: the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education, and the Statewide Independent Living Council. She looks forward to talking about all things work and disabilities. Anyone needing help setting up an ABLE account is encouraged to reach out to her.
Description:

This presentation explores how artificial intelligence can serve as a practical accommodation layer to reduce workplace friction and expand professional participation for employees with disabilities. Targeted at employers, employees, vocational rehabilitation professionals, and support partners, it outlines a comprehensive opportunity map spanning reading, communication, executive-function support, and simulation practice, while establishing clear implementation workflows, essential privacy guardrails, and actionable AI tool concepts designed to foster inclusive work environments.

Carlos Machuca, MBA

AI Resource Program Director
Alaska SBDC
Carlos Machuca is the AI Resource Program Director for the Alaska SBDC, where he helps small businesses, general organizations, and advisors understand, adopt, and use AI in practical, impactful ways. With over 28 years of business development experience, including roles as Business Advisor and Anchorage Center Director, Carlos brings deep expertise in AI strategy, training, and research. He designs advising tools that help entrepreneurs uncover hidden competitive advantages, strengthen operations, make better decisions, and grow in a rapidly changing business landscape. Carlos holds a BBA in Finance and an MBA emphasizing entrepreneurship from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Description:

As an Employment First state, Alaska has recognized the vital contributions people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are making now and want to expand in the future. Through a data lens we will explore Employment First in practice: national and Alaska trend data, cross-agency collaboration, and the partnerships that improve competitive integrated employment outcomes. Participants will leave with insights for stronger collaboration and better individual outcomes.

Suzzanne Freeze, Masters in Public Administration

Project Director
ICI at University of Massachusetts Boston
Suzzanne has been in the system of publicly funded support for people with IDD since 1993, and alongside that as a twin to her sister with IDD. She has worked for the State of Ohio and ICI/UMass Boston seeking to improve how our available services meet and exceed expectations for individuals and families. Driven by a deep belief in human potential and an understanding of complex systems, Suzzanne’s professional journey and personal commitments illustrate creating avenues for people and communities to flourish with today's resources as we seek tomorrow's incredible opportunities.

Russell Thelin, M.S., CRC, CRL

Senior Policy Fellow
ICI at University of Massachusetts Boston
A 36-year vocational rehabilitation professional, Russ Thelin, M.S., CRC, CRL, is a Senior Policy Fellow with the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Russ holds a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Utah State University and is both a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Leader. Prior to the ICI, he had a 25-year career with the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, holding several roles for that agency, including Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and agency Executive Director. Russ is the co-founder and co-director of the National Center on Evolutionary Leadership.
Description:

Creating an accessible workplace starts with understanding that access looks different for everyone. This panel brings together Deaf, hard of hearing, blind and low vision, and cross-disability perspectives to explore workplace accessibility, accommodations, assistive technology, communication, and removing barriers to employment. Designed for both employers and employees, the discussion will focus on practical solutions and how we can build workplaces where everyone has the tools and access they need to succeed.

Tori Phipps

Operations Manager
Assistive Technology of Alaska
Tori Phipps has been with Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA), a non-profit organization enhancing Alaskans' quality of life through assistive technology, for over 10 years. She received her BBA in Management and Marketing from UAA in 2017. Since then, she has been working as ATLA's Operations and Outreach Manager, getting excited about finding new opportunities to share how transformative assistive technology can be for Alaskans in need.

Tom Class, COTA/L

Activities of Daily Living Instructor and Rural Outreach Specialist
Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
A lifelong Alaskan who is legally blind, Thomas enjoys the outdoors and everything Alaska has to offer, especially drowning hooks and shooting arrows. He began his career in skilled nursing as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant before transitioning into low-vision and blindness rehabilitation. Thomas has a unique connection to the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, having first received services as a client. Five years later, he returned as a staff member, using his professional experience and personal understanding of vision loss to help other Alaskans build skills, independence, and confidence.

Clara Baldwin, M.A.

Assistant Director of Special Education
Anchorage School District/Alaska State School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Clara Baldwin has called Anchorage home for more than 14 years. She currently oversees the Alaska State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Clara also serves the community as the Vice President of the Alaska Deaf Council and sits on the External Disability Advisory Board for Alaska Airlines. Furthermore, she is honored to be the first Deaf Fur Rondy Queen for 2026.
Description:

Join us for an update on Alaska's Rural Health Transformation Program year one successes, lessons learned and the road ahead. Highlights will include projects of interest to employers, employees, and access to services.

Tricia Franklin, MPH

RHTP Project Coordinator
Alaska Department of Health
Tricia Franklin, MPH, has served in the Alaska Department of Health since 2001, bringing deep experience in quality improvement, rural health systems, and cross-sector collaboration. From 2018 to 2026, she directed the State Office of Rural Health and led the Office of Healthcare Access Unit, managing federal HRSA programs that advanced rural health capacity, workforce, and system performance. She now serves as Project Coordinator for Alaska’s Rural Health Transformation Program, applying her statewide experience to strengthen rural healthcare delivery through policy development, strategic guidance, and initiatives that improve access, quality, and long-term system resilience.
Description:

Employment is about so much more than a paycheck. It's also about belonging, purpose, contribution, and having the opportunity to hold up your end of the log. Drawing from her own experience as a person with a disability, along with years of supporting people with disabilities and transition-aged youth, Maggie Winston gets to the heart of what meaningful employment and real inclusion actually look like. Through stories, humor, and a little fire, this session will tackle social role valorization, accessibility, accommodations, advocacy, inclusion, and tokenism... because being invited into the room isn’t the same as being valued once you’re there. We’ll talk about raising expectations, creating genuine opportunities, and building workplaces where people with disabilities aren’t just included, they’re needed.

Maggie Winston, MPA

Co-Executive Director
Independent Living Center
Maggie Winston is the Executive Director of Outreach and Advocacy at the Independent Living Center and has more than a decade of professional experience in disability advocacy, policy, and systems change. With a Master's in Public Administration and lived experience with a disability, Maggie is a fierce advocate for independent living, self-determination, and empowerment. She believes people with disabilities belong everywhere, especially in the workplace, and that employment should be driven by choice, opportunity, and the right supports, not assumptions about ability. Maggie brings a little fire, a lot of humor, and an unapologetic perspective.
Description:

Presentation on the ADA law as is currently being in law and types of accommodations and examples of accommodations. Discussion on other resources that can be used such as JAN.

Afterwards, there will be time for a Q&A.

Dave Berube, M.Ed.

Legal Rights Advocate II
Disability Law Center of Alaska
Dave Bérubé returned to the Disability Law Center of Alaska, also known as the Protection and Advocacy agency (AK P&A), in November 2020. He had previously worked there from 1996 to 2015 as a Legal Rights Advocate II and has resumed his work as the lead advocate on the Client Assistance Program (CAP), funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), and the Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program under the Ticket to Work, funded by SSA. He has been a member of the State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee (SVRC) for years and is currently the Chair.

Abigail Gurgiolo

Legal Rights Advocate II
Disability Law Center of Alaska
Abigail Gurgiolo has worked at the Disability Law Center of Alaska (DLC) for four years as a Legal Rights Advocate. Currently, her work is focused on monitoring a variety of facilities across the state of Alaska and advocating for the rights of Alaskans with mental health disabilities. Earlier in her time at DLC, Abigail worked as an advocate on the Client Assistance Program (CAP), funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) grant, funded by the Social Security Administration.

Description:

Every business is carrying strain somewhere — a bottleneck that costs it money, a task that keeps pulling a skilled person away from higher-value work, a shift that never quite stays covered. Most employers know exactly where it hurts. What they're unsure about is whether inclusive hiring is a solution to that, or a separate thing they're being asked to do out of goodwill.

It's a solution. But only when the match is built on the strain, not on enthusiasm.

This session lays out the Employer Lens: a Lean-informed approach to job development that starts by seeing clearly from the employer's seat. Jenn Bozard walks through the VALUE framework — verifying the real constraint, aligning strengths to strain, limiting waste, understanding variability, and establishing ownership before day one — drawing on years of building inclusive workforces inside businesses with real margins and real consequences.

For employers, it's a look at what a well-built match actually returns, and what to expect from a partner worth working with. For job developers, it's a discipline for finding that value and saying it in language a business can act on. Both sides leave with the same picture of what a good placement looks like — and why it holds.

Jenn Bozard, MA, CESP

Chief Programs Officer
Nadon Family Home
Jenn Bozard came to disability employment services by way of manufacturing. After earning a master's in Educational Psychology, she spent seven years at a South Carolina packaging plant learning how work actually moves. A move to Alaska brought both halves together. As Chief Programs Officer at Nadon Family Home, she builds inclusive workforces inside real businesses — golf courses, restaurants, contract work — with real margins and consequences. She is the author of Seeing Through the Employer Lens, which argues the biggest barrier to employment is rarely ability — it's uncertainty, and most of it sits on the employer's side.
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