OFFICERS
President
Kimberly L. Johnson
Kimberly is a disability/legislative advocate, grassroots community leader, who believes in leadership through systems change, creating, pursuing goals, and achieving a vision of shared values about people living with disabilities. Through her work as President, Board of Directors of Chicagoland Autism Connection (CAC), The Arc of Illinois (Ligas Family Advocate and later as Board Treasurer), The Office of Diverse Learner Supports & Services (ODLSS) Parent Engagement Specialist of Chicago Public Schools, Kimberly’s work, and passion to support families living with disabilities with a specific focus on marginalized communities has supported hundreds across Illinois.
Professionally, Kimberly works as a Regional Coordinator (Cook County), Community Residential Services Authority (CRSA). This position provides technical assistance to families, service providers, educators, and other professionals to help plan and implement appropriate, effective services for children with severe emotional disturbances and/or behavior disorders (SED/BD), in Illinois.
She received her formal education in Business Marketing from Indiana Wesleyan University and has received various certificates awards and acknowledgements as a disability Advocate including REST respite training (2018) and customized employment through Marc Gold & Associates. Kimberly has also served as a speaker for quite a few community and professional organizations sharing tips on parent/caregiver advocacy, service coordination, financial wellness, the benefits of employment (customized), Direct Support Person training and navigating resources within the State of Illinois.
Currently, Kimberly serves on several boards and committees including her recent appointment as Board President of The Arc of Illinois; former Arc of Illinois board Treasurer (2021-2023); the State of Illinois Development Disability Advisory Council; Immediate Past-President of Chicagoland Autism Connection (CAC); Founder of CAC’s A-Team & Trailblazers-Self-Advocate groups and Past Board Member of the Community Residential and Services Authority for the State of Illinois. She also serves as part of the Illinois Criminal Justice Task Force; Q Source Kidney Advisory Board and is a Faculty Advisor for Illinois Partners and Policy Making (2018-2023), Caring Across Generations Fellow (2023), and National Kidney Advocacy Committee (2023). She is a certified trainer with NAMI as a Mental Health First Responder (2017) and the Train the Trainer National Disability Institute Financial Wellness Training for families living with disabilities (2021). Most notably, Kimberly created and implemented the Parent Engagement Training Portal for the Chicago Public School’s Office of Diverse Learners Supports and Services.
Lastly, Kimberly is the devoted mother of an adult son living with Autism, speech and cognitive delay and gained her lived experience through their journey navigating support services in Chicago and surrounding suburbs of Illinois. Kimberly believes grassroots advocacy is the heart and soul of advocacy and her mission to support families with children and adults living with disabilities began when she realized that state and federal funding, resources, supports and services were limited or non-existent in her community and other underserved/ marginalized communities.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
– Barack Obama
Regional Coordinator (Cook County), Community Residential Services Authority, Chicago, IL
Vice President
Kim Zoeller
Kim Zoeller is the President and CEO of Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities. Ray Graham Association (RGA) supports more than 2,000 children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities through DuPage County and the surrounding communities. RGA provides a variety of services and supports that include residential, life skills development, recreation, and family support that empower people to reach, grow, and achieve. With more than twenty-five years of experience, Kim has worked to create positive change with a focus on innovation and transformation. Kim is the managing Board member for Life’s Plan, a pooled trust option for people with disabilities. Presently, Kim is a past Chair of the Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities and continues to serve on the executive committee. Kim is a founding member and leader of They Deserve More which unified advocacy efforts in IL around the DSP crisis and need for increased rates. She serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, she is a past chair of The Arc of Illinois Executive Forum, and Vice Chair of The Arc of Illinois Board of Directors. For years, she chaired the Statewide DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities Quality Committee. Kim also worked for CQL for more than fifteen years as a Quality Enhancement Specialist. Kim holds a BS in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
President & CEO, Ray Graham Association, Lisle, IL
Treasurer
Randall Ramey, CPA
Randall is a Principal with the firm and serves as KYR’s President. Randall is a data-driven Senior Executive and Consultant with more than 30 years of success in the financial services and real estate industries. Leveraging extensive experience in financial leadership for service-focused organizations, Randall is a valuable asset for startup to established companies seeking guidance in numerous areas such as regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, international business, due diligence, regulatory investigations, internal controls, privacy, RFPs, among others, specializing in investment advisor and broker dealer regulations throughout the globe.
As an experienced Board Member, Randall has held various officer level positions including Treasurer of The Arc of Illinois and the President of Community Support Services, Inc. Randall participates on ExecRanks’ International Expansion Advisory Council and the Real Estate Advisory Council. Randall has also received ExecRanks’ Certification for Continued Board Education. Randall is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society. Randall obtained his degree from the University of Iowa specializing in Accounting and Finance.
President, KYR Global Consulting Services, Plainfield, IL
Secretary
Amy Newell
Executive Director, The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties, Rockford, IL
Director At Large
Vincent Smith
Hi everyone! My name is Vincent Smith and I am a graduate of Chicago Public Schools. I am an outspoken advocate and have served in a variety of settings including the PACE ADA Paratransit Advisory Board and as a past member of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) Board of Directors. I have presented in Illinois (Speak Up and Speak Out Summit, Going Home Rally, DDD Provider Webinars) on supportive housing, assistive technology and transportation. I have also presented for self-advocates in Ohio on rights. I am passionate about supportive housing and present often about my experience. In my free time, I enjoy traveling to visit family in Virginia, California, Minnesota, and North Carolina.
Self Advocate, Chicago, IL
Immediate Past President
Leanne Mull
Leanne has been supporting people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to achieve their dreams since 1999. In her previous career as a corporate trainer and business manager Leanne hired someone who used a job coach and that experience completely changed the course of her life. She spent the next 15 years at a traditional agency in a variety of roles ranging from job coach to QIDP, Day Services Manager to Director of Employment and Advocacy, and everything in between. Leanne believes that the key to meaningful lives for people who receive services is to encourage, empower and enlighten the staff who work for them. As co-director of Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. Leanne fulfills that dream as a national speaker, writer and consultant improving organizations and systems supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and serving as President on the Board of The Arc of Illinois. Additionally, Leanne works as a Quality Enhancement Specialist for The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). Leanne holds a BA in Psychology and Master’s in Healthcare Administration.
Blue Tower Solutions, Inc., Park Forest, IL
BOARD MEMBERS
Anna Cronin
As a board certified behavior analyst, Anna consults with CILA agencies and provides behavior support services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities all around Southern Illinois. In 2020, she co-founded Fern Leaf ABA to further pursue her values of contributing to and shaping the field of behavior analysis and adult services in Illinois. She specializes in trauma-informed care and loves to support the unique values and needs of each of her clients.
Anna’s life has been shaped in big ways by her big brother Daniel, who has developmental disabilities, and her mom Charlotte, who worked in disability advocacy and family support.
Anna earned her Master’s in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2014 and became a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) in 2015.
Sibling, Carbondale, IL
Michael Glanz
Michael Glanz currently serves as the Executive Director for The Arc of the Quad Cities Area. The Arc of the Quad Cities Area provides services and supports to people with disabilities by empowering them to believe in their own unique abilities and achieve their full potential. Currently over 250 staff provide unique opportunities for 400 people to live, work and play together in the Quad Cities Area. Previous to The Arc Michael Glanz served as the Vice President, Community Services for Melwood. Melwood is dynamic nonprofit serving more than 2,000 people in the greater Washington DC area by empowering them to transform their own lives through employment, various community services and recreational opportunities. Michael currently lives in Rock Island, Illinois and serves his community by being an active board member with the Kiwanis Club of Rock Island, The Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF), The Arc of Illinois, the Autism Society of the Quad Cities and The Quad Cities Open Network. Michael provides leadership to agencies by ensuring they deliver person-directed services while fostering a culture of growth and innovation.
Michael earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s in Nonprofit and Association Management from the University of Maryland University College, a BS degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Iowa, a Certificate in Leisure Studies from the University of Northern Iowa and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.
Executive Director, The Arc of the Quad Cities, Rock Island, IL
Nora Fox Handler
Nora is a committed sister to her brother Marty who is on the Autism Spectrum. She honors the memory of her brothers Patrick and Michael who were also on the Autism Spectrum. Michael also had a serious mental illness. She shares the story of her family’s experience and the consequences of their lack of future planning.
Nora is a founding member and board member of S.I.B.S., Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters. S.I.B.S. Is the Illinois Chapter of the Sibling Leadership and she serves on their board. She is a member of Consumer Advisory Committee of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities (RRTCADD) and The Institute on Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Sibling, Chicago, IL
Sherelle Sparks, CRC, LCPC
Vienna Correctional Center, Metropolis, IL
Tavarus Wesley
Tavarus Wesley is a former President of the self advocacy group PossABILITY Partners and chair of the Illinois Self Advocacy Alliance. Tavarus is a member of The Arc of Illinois board of directors, executive committee and also served on the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. Tavarus is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking-IL. Tavarus is an accomplished presenter regularly speaking at the Illinois Speak Up and Speak Out Summit, and has presented at the National Self Advocates Becoming Empowered Conference, and at the Tennessee Mega Conference. In addition to his advocacy work Tavarus is a long time staff member on the maintenance team at New Star in Chicago Heights IL.
Self Advocate, Lansing, IL
Susy Woods, Ed.D.
I am Susy Woods and I have done educational advocacy for 42 years. I have also worked for Early Intervention, as disability coordinator at University of Illinois Springfield for 8 years, and for IATP doing policy and education for 18 years. My son was born with lung and heart problems and an intellectual disability so because of him I became involved in educational advocacy and in supporting families.
I also have a grandson with autism who is doing so well in school because of the supports he is getting. I serve on The Arc of Illinois Board and also on ISAC, the EEOC council both of which are governor appointed. I also serve on the board of Impact LIC and Springfield Disability Commission.
Public Policy and Education Liaison, Illinois Assistive Technology Program, Springfield, IL
Executive Forum Chair
Lore Baker
Lore Baker is a highly respected supportive housing and homeless services expert. Ms. Baker is currently the President and CEO of the Association for Individual Development (AID) headquartered in Aurora, Illinois and serving Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, McHenry, Northwestern Cook, DuPage and Will Counties. Since 1961, AID has served individuals with developmental, intellectual, physical and/or mental health challenges, those in crisis situations and those at risk. Vital, life-enriching services that promote the highest level of independence and community immersion include: autism programs; permanent supportive housing; in-home support; developmental and vocational training; job placement and on-the-job coaching services; crisis intervention; victims services; mental health treatment; behavioral intervention; health and wellness; community education; and advocacy. Operating in the greater Fox Valley area and other western suburban counties, AID is a leading provider of services that address the unique needs of individuals throughout every stage of their lives. Serving over 6,400 children and adults, AID operates community day centers in Elgin, Aurora, Batavia and Yorkville; mental health outpatient clinics throughout the Fox Valley; supports over 1,000 individuals living in their own apartments; and more than 200 individuals in Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) scattered throughout the greater Fox Valley.
Association for Individual Development, Aurora, IL