Speaker Bios
Bevan, Ann – is the DOJ Settlement Agreement Senior Advisor at the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). In her current position as the Settlement Advisor, Ann monitors the Commonwealth’s progress towards meeting the goals within the Settlement Agreement with the Department of Justice. Ann has more than 30 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities in a variety of settings including case management, residential, day support, hospice, behavioral health, substance abuse and crisis services. Prior to moving to DMAS, she worked with NHS Human Services for 14 years where she was charged with oversight of all programs in Virginia to include supervision of up to 200 employees, all IDD day and residential, TDO, crisis stabilization, and short-term co-occurring residential treatment programs. She is also a member of the Virginia Network of Private Providers where she has served on their Board of Directors for 8 years and President for 3 years. During the early 90s, she worked with Valley CSB, where she was tasked with initiation and implementation of the case management and residential components of their Mental Retardation Waiver program (now the ID Waiver) from scratch. Ann received both her BS in Psychology and Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from VCU/MCV.()
Booker PsyD., Cleopatra “Cleo” – is a licensed clinical psychologist and has been the Director of Licensing for the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) since February 2016. She had served in this position on an acting basis since July 2015, having come from the behavioral health division at DBHDS where she was an acute care specialist with oversight responsibility for the Virginia Psychiatric Bed Registry among her many duties. Previous experience includes leadership roles as a Clinical Psychologist for the Department of Defense, Director of the Clinical Assessment Center at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington, and the Appeals and Utilization Review Coordinator at the same location.()
Clements, Ronnitta - is a graduate of Old Dominion University.She has worked with individuals with disabilities for over 23 years.Ms. Clements experience ranges from working 2 years at an ICF for children to working 19 years at a CSB as a direct care staff, residential supervisor, case manager, and a SC Supervisor. Ronnitta has worked with DBHDS for almost 2 years as a CRC.()
Cochran, Connie – is the Assistant Commissioner for Developmental Services at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). Mr. Cochran has extensive experience serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Since 1995, Mr. Cochran served as the CEO of Easter Seals UCP North Carolina and Virginia that provides mental health and developmental services to over 20,000 individuals and their families. During his time at Easter Seals UCP, he oversaw program and training development, fundraising, advocacy, volunteer engagement, and strategic planning. Previously, Mr. Cochran led two chapters of The Arc (Albermarle, NC and Charlottesville, VA). He also served at the national level for the board of the Council for Quality Leadership (CQL) and as the interim executive of United Cerebral Palsy Associations. Mr. Cochran earned his undergraduate degree in Special Education from the University of Virginia and his Masters in Educational Administration from VCU. ()
Coleman, Andrea is a Community Resource Consultant (CRC) with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). She is a graduate of Howard University where she majored in Psychology and received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). In addition to her work at DBHDS, Ms. Coleman is a practicing real estate agent at Exit 1st Reality and the owner of Innovative Consulting, an image and skin care consulting company. ()
Fidura, Jennifer - has owned and operated Fidura & Associates since 1990, a company providing a variety of community supports for persons with intellectual and mental disabilities across the Commonwealth. She has been providing supports in one capacity or another for individuals who are DD/ID for more than forty-five years. When she came to Virginia in 1981, it was as Director of what is now Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg. She left state government in 1990 as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (now the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services). She is the Executive Director of the Virginia Network of Private Providers (VNPP), serves as a member of the State Association Executive Directors for ANCOR; both are trade associations for community providers on the state and national level. Jennifer works actively for VNPP as their lobbyist with both the Executive and Legislative Branches of Virginia government. ()
Greenfield, Rebekah - is the newest member of the CRC team. She was first introduced to the field of Developmental Disabilities in her early 20's where she work the graveyard shift in a small group home near Broadway, VA. Since that time, Rebekah has provided support to men, women & children with varying levels of need in a public middle school, an ICF and numerous residential and day settings. Most recently, Rebekah was a case manager with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board where she provided support coordination to children and adults. ()
Hamner, Lynn – has been an Analyst for the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) since 2014. Lynn does Quality Management Reviews for the ID/DD/DS Waivers. Lynn has a background in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Old Dominion University in Health Sciences with a concentration in Health Services Administration; Minors in Management and Public Health. Currently Lynn is working toward a Master’s Degree from Southern New Hampshire University in English and Creative Writing. Lynn has two grown children and currently resides in Richmond. ()
Madison, Kim – is in the Marketing & Outreach Manager with the eVA Bureau, Division of Purchases & Supply in the Virginia Department of General Services. Ms. Madison joined the eVA program in August 2009 bringing with her more than 11 years of marketing and communication experience in the private sector. Along with managing eVA's Outreach & Marketing efforts, one of Kim’s primary objectives is to educate businesses on the benefits of eVA and how to leverage its many tools, as well as, help businesses navigate Virginia’s purchasing process. ()
Leabough, Eric – is the Housing Services Manager at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). Mr. Leabough has more than 18 years of experience in the management of housing and commercial revitalization projects. He began his housing career as a planner managing both the Community Development Block Grant and the HOME Investment Partnership programs for a local government. In 2000, he continued this work when he joined the Henrico County as a Planner, managing community redevelopment initiatives and neighborhood planning efforts. He became a Project Manager for the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) in 2004, with a promotion to Assistant Vice President of Redevelopment in 2009 and Interim Vice President in 2010. While at RRHA, Mr. Leabough managed a number of residential and commercial revitalization projects that not only transformed challenged and neglected neighborhoods into communities of choice; but also improved the lives of the people impacted. Mr. Leabough serves as a Planning Commissioner for the County of Henrico. ()
Lochart, Deb – is the Director of the Office of Human Rights. Ms. Lochart holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work and has a many years of leadership in human rights roles in both community and institutional settings. She served as an internal advocate at RACSB for 7 years and then as a regional advocate at NVTC before becoming the Director of the DBHDS Office of Human Rights in 2014. She is passionate about ensuring that people are respected, informed, and assured their rights while receiving supports. ()
McSweeny, Kate- is Vice President Government Affairs and General Counsel of ACCSES, the Voice of Disability Service Providers. Kate joined ACCSES after more than twelve years of law practice, primarily in the areas of reinsurance law and litigation. Law school was a mid-career investment, however. Prior to law school, Kate had a successful career in broadcasting, including seven years as Vice President of Programming and Development for Turner Broadcasting. During the two decades spent in broadcasting, Kate had the opportunity to hone her management, marketing, and business development skills. Kate is a cum laude graduate of Boston College, and magna cum laude graduate of George Mason University School of Law, where she also taught for ten years. She is a long-time resident of Virginia and continues to be an active Mason alumna. She recently completed her tenure as President of the Law School Alumni Board and she is the current Vice President-Advocacy for the George Mason University Alumni Board. ()
Milburn, Jessica - has been with the Commonwealth of Virginia for almost 10 years and currently serves as a Procurement Management Account Executive with the Department of General Services (DGS). She has prior procurement experience with various State agencies and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from VCU.()
Morrison, Marilyn – is the statewide Project Coordinator for the vaACCSES Work Incentives, Planning and Assistance (WIPA) cooperative agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA) which provides benefit analysis & assistance to SSI and SSDI beneficiaries. She works extensively with Employment Service Organizations, Community Rehabilitation programs, local DARS offices, school districts and many non-profit organizations assisting people with disabilities achieve their occupational objectives while utilizing their federal and state entitlements. She has served on the Fairfax County Schools Disability Advisory committee, the DARS WorkWorld Development Team, The Arc of NOVA Advisory Committee and the Northern Virginia Area Jewish Community Center's Special Needs Committee. Marilyn is a SSA certified Work Incentives Counselor, a certified Work Incentives Counselor for the SSA Benefit Offset & Demonstration (BOND) Project, and a Benefits Counselor for the Maryland Department of Rehabilitation Services. Marilyn has presented at The National Organization of Social Security Claims Reps, The Virginia Transition Conference, The National Autism Society Conference, and many other conferences. ()
Mullins, Teresa - Since 2009, Teresa has been a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Community Work Incentives Coordinator, (CWIC) in Far SW Virginia. Ms. Mullins has a bachelor degree from Kaplan University in Human Services, Child and Family Welfare. Teresa is also a six year veteran of Medicaid as a former eligibility worker, specializing in Long Term Care. Ms. Mullins is a sign language interpreter, foreign missionary to the D/deaf, foster parent, and has been a job coach. ()
Norton, HeatherMSW - is the Director of Community Support Services for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). She has worked in the field of intellectual disabilities for the past twenty five years and currently sits on the Virginia APSE Board as well as the Virginia Autism Council. She started her career in Pennsylvania at a summer camp for individuals with intellectual disabilities and worked for two children’s behavioral health programs supporting children with various mental health diagnoses and autism. She relocated to Virginia in 2004, at which time she started working for Southside Virginia Training Center as the Director of Program Services where she oversaw the vocational, habilitation, and program centers. Prior to working at DBHDS, she worked for Chesterfield Community Services Board, first as the services manager for Community Employment Services and then as the Assistant Director of Community Services. ()
Pennington, Sarah –joined Virginia529 this year as Senior Marketing Communications Associate. Her role is primarily focused on the implementation and marketing of Virginia’s ABLE savings program, ABLEnow. The program opens for nationwide enrollment in late 2016. ABLEnow is being developed and will be administered by Virginia529, the country’s largest college savings plan, which now has an expanded mission to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Since passage of the ABLE Act, Virginia529 has actively worked alongside disability advocates to advance amendments to proposed U.S. Department of the Treasury regulations and Social Security Administration requirements in several key areas. Nationally, these efforts helped pave the way for ABLE programs that are flexible, customer-friendly and cost-effective. Virginia529 is committed to bringing ABLEnow to life, while ensuring the program addresses theneeds of participants and meets the high standards the agency adheres to in its successful college savings programs. Sarah’s professional background includes experience in both private and public-sector roles, most recently in the communications office of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the brand marketing department of Capital One. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and master’s degree from West Virginia University. ()
Rodgers, Kimberly - is the Region 5 (Hampton Roads) Housing Specialist with the State Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. In this position, she serves as a technical resource for support coordinators/case managers as they help individuals with ID/DD transition into their own housing. Ms. Rodgers has more than 20 years of experience in the case management field. She began her career in case management, working at a Day Program and Training Center, as well as for HomeAgain, Inc., a homeless shelter program and long term transitional housing program for men, women and children. Mrs. Rodgers has also worked for the Department of the Army in various positions. She has worked with Wounded Warriors and their family members as well as Army Recruiters and their family members to ensure they were linked to appropriate resources within the military and local community. ()
Sasnett, Genni - is an independent consultant with expertise in community employment and other fully integrated community services for people with disabilities, systems change and provider transformation as well as decentralized program management and agency asset reallocation. She has provided consultation to a broad array of entities from state governments and private provider agencies, to the US Department of Defense Overseas Schools and the government of Bahrain. She has been project director on a number of grants directed towards systems change, both federally and privately funded. Before her retirement in January 2014, she was the COO for St. John’s Community Services headquartered in the District of Columbia serving people with disabilities in 100% community based services in DC, NJ, TN, VA and PA. She is currently an Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) national Subject Matter Expert for the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) of the Department of Labor. She is also a consultant for the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston, assisting with the implementation of the Massachusetts Blueprint. Genni also provides consultation to a number of public and private entities including the state of Maryland as they endeavor to make change towards community-based services. Genni’s passion is working directly with private providers, assisting them with conversion from sheltered work and segregated services to community integrated work and community based day services that support the acquisition, retention and advancement of community integrated employment. Genni earned her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University and holds a Master’s degree in Transitional Vocational Special Education from George Washington University. ()
Seaver, Barry - has worked with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities for 29 years. Currently, he is working for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) in the Office of Provider Development. As a Person Centered Thinking (PCT) Instructor, PCT Coaches Instructor, PCT Plan Facilitation Instructor and PCT Mentor-Trainer, he has provided extensive training and mentoring to numerous organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. ()
Weber,P. Michael- Mr. Weber is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) with an excess of 30 years in the insurance industry. Prior to joining RCM&D, he had been with Liberty Mutual for sixteen years specializing in large property & casualty accounts in the San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Richmond regions. In his various capacities, he was responsible for underwriting and risk services (claims and loss prevention) along with sales/marketing. For the past 10 years, he has held senior positions within the brokerage community specializing in construction, transportation & logistics, international risk and non-profit service organizations.Mr. Weber received his degree from James Madison University and achieved his CIC designation in 2006. He serves on the Board of Directors as President of Community Brain Injury Services, serves on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Home Society of Richmond and is actively involved with the Special Olympics. ()