Lucinda Shannon,
Information Specialist II

As a member of the communications team, Lucinda Shannon assists with the promotion of ESPA products, services and events to both the transportation and disability communities through supporting the production of brochures, fact sheets, pocket guides, and newsletter and blog articles.

Lucinda Shannon has been a member of the Easter Seals Office of Public Affairs team since July 2003. Starting as a grant development associate in the government relations department she worked on several foundation and federal grants for Easter Seals national office. In the summer of 2006 Lucinda accepted a position with ESPA as an information specialist where she then transitioned to training and technical assistance specialist for the NCST for six years and now has transitioned back to the communications team at ESPA. Lucinda has a Master’s degree in public policy and administration from the University of Massachusetts.

Lucinda Shannon, 
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist

As a member of the communications team, Lucinda Shannon assists with the promotion of ESPA products, services and events to both the transportation and disability communities through supporting the production of brochures, fact sheets, pocket guides, and newsletter and blog articles.

Lucinda Shannon has been a member of the Easter Seals Office of Public Affairs team since July 2003. Starting as a grant development associate in the government relations department she worked on several foundation and federal grants for Easter Seals national office. In the summer of 2006 Lucinda accepted a position with ESPA as an information specialist where she then transitioned to training and technical assistance specialist for the NCST for six years and now has transitioned back to the communications team at ESPA. Lucinda has a Master’s degree in public policy and administration from the University of Massachusetts.

Cori Holder
Webmaster & Web Applications Specialist

Cori Holder is the webmaster and web applications specialist supporting the Easter Seals Transportation Group websites. He maintains the content posted to www.projectaction.org and www.seniortransportation.net. Cori possesses experience in CMS configuration and implementation, as well as key skills in HTML and CSS development. He also has extensive experience in customer support and IT management.

He became interested in working with the latest Web technologies and software applications during college. Throughout his career, he has continued his studies by taking various courses, including studies in Cold Fusion and database implementation and management. Cori is a graduate of Capitol College in Laurel Md. and has a B.S. degree in Software & Internet Applications.

Donna Smith,
Director of Training

Donna Smith is the Director of Training for Easter Seals Project ACTION. Donna has over thirty years experience as a professional in the field of disability advocacy with most of those years as a training and technical assistance specialist on disability-related laws and issues, and currently specifically on transportation issues. Her background related to accessible transportation include human service transportation coordination, ADA rights and responsibilities, coalition building, the transit experience from the customer's perspective, the increasing role of technology in transportation access, and the accessible pedestrian environment.

Her strongest skills are the ability to communicate clearly and to help diverse groups find common ground from which to seek and create solutions. Donna understands firsthand the essential role of accessible, affordable transportation in the lives of people with disabilities, and it is both her job and her passion to help find solutions to transportation needs. Donna is a graduate of Mississippi State University.

C. Marie Maus,
Assistant Director

Marie Maus initiates and directs communication, outreach and stakeholder activities, as well as the development of program and resource materials. In her role, Marie provides writing, editing, program management, educational resource/product development, stakeholder communication and stewardship. She has been involved with programs for people with disabilities for over 30 years.
 
She was a member of the Minnesota governor's first independent living services coalition; a consultant with People, Inc. where she was instrumental in establishing the first community living program in Minneapolis for young adults with epilepsy; and an associate director of affiliate affairs for the Epilepsy Foundation of America. Prior to joining ESPA, Marie was the director of Easter Seals’ National Agrability Project and Rural Solutions Initiative, programs that served farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers with disabilities and their families. She holds a B.S. in education from the University of Minnesota - Duluth and an M.A.T. in teaching from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

NiKette Banks,
Events Manager

NiKette Banks is responsible for the planning and management of events, training and meetings for Easter Seals Project ACTION and the National Center on Senior Transportation. She provides and facilitates registration coordination, and pre- and post-logistical activity for all internal and external events.

She has over fifteen years of experience with planning and coordinating meetings, trainings and events for non profit associations. She first became involved in meeting planning because of her enjoyment in working with other people and seeing all the pieces come together for a successful event. She has a B.S. in business management from Bowie State University.

Mary A. Leary,
Vice President, Easter Seals Transportation Group

Mary A. Leary, Ph.D., as Vice President for Easter Seals Transportation Group, leads and provides oversight on all transportation and mobility initiatives at Easter Seals most of which are primarily associated with U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Training and Technical Assistance Centers and related activities. These programs include Easter Seals Project ACTION, Person-Directed Mobility Management, Open Government, Veterans Transportation, and the National Center on Senior Transportation. Mary joined Easter Seals from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging in 2007 after working closely with the United We Ride Interagency Program from its inception.
 
Mary has over twenty-nine years of experience in federal programs and thirteen years in community and national human services projects. A career-changing boomer, Mary has worked in the private, public, and academic sectors, retraining as a gerontologist and policy analyst after a successful career in the information systems and solutions industry. Her primary areas of expertise and interest are accessible transportation programs, community-based systems change, open-government, the intersection between health/wellness and access to transportation, federal program management, information technology solutions, and innovations that promote independence, inclusion, and community-based living for everyone. Mary is from Virginia and holds a Ph.D. from George Mason University School of Public Policy, a Gerontology Masters Certificate from the George Mason University School of Nursing, a M.A.S. from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. from James Madison University.

Judy Shanley, Ph.D.,
Director, Student Engagement and Mobility Management

Judy is responsible for leadership, management, development, and implementation of student engagement and mobility management initiatives in the Easter Seals’ Transportation Group. Her initiatives include projects related to School-based Inclusive Service Learning and the Mobility Managers/Independent Living Coaches Program. Judy has over twenty-five years of experience in providing technical assistance and training to schools, districts, and State educational agencies to build capacity around inclusive education, with an emphasis on secondary transition and students with intellectual disabilities.

Her background includes helping educators identify, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve student post school outcomes. Her prior work experience includes rehabilitation counseling; project director of U.S. Department of Education-funded technical assistance centers; and improving access to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities. Judy earned her Ph.D. in Special Education with an emphasis on transition and educational leadership from the University of Florida, Gainesville. She has an M.B.A. and a M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling, both from Syracuse University.

Grozda Tisma,
Procurement and Special Project Coordinator

Grozda Tisma joined the Easter Seals Project ACTION team in 2005. She oversees, tracks and advises staff on procurement processes. In addition, Grozda maintains grant and vendor procurement files and supports compliance efforts for ESPA’s Federal Transit Administration projects. Additional responsibilities include tracking and processing invoices, supporting finance activities, performing general administrative duties, responding customer inquiries and coordinating special projects.

Grozda assists the Transportation Group vice president, directors and managers in maintaining smooth business operations at all times. Grozda came from Serbia, where she worked with the Serbian Business Systems IBM Subsidiary office for thirty years. She provided support to the Sales, System Engineers and Technical Assistance departments by administering contracts, invoices, and organizing trainings for customers and staff. She managed personal and financial duties at the SBS Data Center. Grozda has a B.D. in English from the College and University of Belgrade. She likes classical music and enjoys cooking for family and friends.

Stan Tibbs,
Administrative/IT Support Specialist

Stan Tibbs coordinates event registration activities, tabulates evaluation forms, maintain office equipment, and serves as onsite IT person. Stan is a technical sergeant retired from the U.S. Air Force.
 
His primary experience is in desktop applications, computer troubleshooting, office equipment troubleshooting and maintenance, and alternative format production. His skills are in military training and advanced computer training. Before joining Easter Seals Project ACTION, he began as a temporary employee.

Ken Thompson,
Coordinator, Technical and Information Services

Ken provides technical assistance on the ADA and accessible transportation. He provides support to a variety of ESPA efforts, including the 800 hotline. Ken attributes providing quality services to people by listening to the customer, learning from the customer and acting on their behalf. Ken has over 20 years experience with community-based disability services including 10 years managing a human service agency transportation system.
 
His experience includes hiring, training, and supporting drivers, as well as seeking funding for van/bus purchase and operations. Prior to joining ESPA, Ken worked as a technical writer on electrical systems for military aircraft. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy with experience in aviation. Ken has a MPA from Hood College in Maryland.

Rik Opstelten,
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist

Rik Opstelten manages distance learning opportunities for ESPA on a variety of topics for the disability community and transportation industry. He also provides support for the Accessible Transportation Coalitions Initiative (ATCI) teams’ implementation of their plans to improve accessible transportation in their communities through a long-range systems change effort. Prior to joining ESPA, Rik worked at the National Organization on Disability and the Rehabilitative Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. His background and experience include administering disability advocacy programs at the national and local levels; working with local government to improve accessibility in their communities; and working with programs around the country to promote the economic advancement of people with disabilities through micro-entrepreneurship.
 
Early in his career, Rik administered a nation-wide competition for local governments, the Accessible America Award, which examined best practices in overall community accessibility. Many communities saw the importance of accessible transportation and the full inclusion of citizens with disabilities in all aspects of community life. As a result of working with such localities, Rik became involved in advocating for accessible transportation. Rik has a B.S. in Business Management and a M.P.A. with a concentration in Nonprofit Management both from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

Kristi McLaughlin,
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist II

Kristi McLaughlin leads a number of training initiatives for Easter Seals Project ACTION. Kristi is an experienced trainer with extensive knowledge of the transportation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her background includes travel training, coordination planning, writing training curriculum and providing technical assistance regarding accessible transportation.
 
Kristi began her career in transportation as a scheduling clerk at Bloomington Transit in Bloomington, Indiana. She has since worked as the manager of BTAccess, the paratransit system in Bloomington and as the general manager of the Niles Dial-A-Ride in Niles, Michigan. Kristi has a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of North Carolina – Charlotte and a M.S. in Applied Health Science from Indiana University in Bloomington.

Julia Kim,
Online Engagement Manager
 
Julia Kim is the online engagement manager where she oversees the websites and manages the online engagement strategies for Easter Seals Project ACTION and the National Center on Senior Transportation. She also manages the social media and interactive technologies for ESPA and the NCST, which includes the development and launch of the blog, Twitter, online communities and dialogues. Her primary experience and skills are in public policy, web development, and writing.

She has over fifteen years of experience in project management, event planning, and web development for government and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining ESPA, Julia worked in state government relations for Easter Seals Office of Public Affairs. Her background includes experience on the Hill and work in environmental consulting developing training programs, environmental compliance programs, and public participation briefings for clients that included EPA, DOE, HUD and NASA; web development consulting; program development for a 90,000+ professional membership organization. Julia is an alumna of Tufts University in Medford, Mass.

Whitney Gray,
Communications Specialist

As a member of the communications team, Whitney Gray assists with the promotion of ESPA products, services and events to both the transportation and disability communities through supporting the production of newsletters, brochures, fact sheets, web pages and curricula. Before coming to Easter Seals, Whitney interned in public relations at Stratacomm, a Fleishman-Hillard company with a specialty in transportation, as well as the Kreeger Museum in Washington, D.C.

She also worked at The George Washington University School of Business Career Center where she designed posters for events, ran the Facebook and Twitter pages, and managed other aspects of the office. Whitney has a B.A. in American Studies and Theater Arts with a minor in French from Brandeis University with majors in American Studies and Theater Arts and a M.A. in strategic public relations from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Tony Brown,
Administrative Assistant and Materials Handling Clerk

Tony Brown is responsible for the operations of the ESPA Store and NCST Library, as well as administrative duties. Tony prepares and ships publications and materials for various conferences, meetings, exhibits, and customer product orders. He also maintains the inventory and tracks products orders for all resources and publications. Tony also coordinates with UPS, FedEx, and the U.S. Postal Service for fulfilling all materials for ESPA and NCST events and product orders.

Tony also helps develop strategies for improving the operations of the ESPA Store and NCST Library. His primary experience is in office administration and graphic production. His skills include inventory management, mailing and shipping. Tony has several years of graphic design training, military training as a personnel records specialist, and four years of college in criminology from the University of the District of Columbia.

Krystian Boreyko,
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
 
Krystian joined Easter Seals Project ACTION training team where he supports a range of activities including facilitating ATCI events, providing follow-up technical assistance to ATCI teams, organizing the Introduction to Travel Training workshops, and planning webinars on a range of topics that help raise awareness about current events in accessible transportation. Prior to joining ESPA, Krystian came from the nonprofit workforce development field having worked for both ReServe, a New York City based nonprofit that connects older adults with part-time service opportunities at area nonprofits, and also with the International Rescue Committee where Krystian supported a program that helps refugees find their first jobs in the United States. Krystian has a B.A. in English from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Rachel Beyerle,
Resources and Publications Manager

As the resources and publications manager, Rachel Beyerle manages the development of publications and resources through three stages: writing, editing, and final publication. In addition to serving as a content writer for both print and electronic communication, she collaborates with designers and printers to bring ESPA and NCST products to completion. In addition, she represents ESPA at national conferences and consortia, in particular focusing on the accessible transportation component of livable communities.

She has over 15 years experience in transportation planning, writing, and program management. Her transportation industry experience dates back to a co-op internship while attending the University of Louisville. Prior to joining Easter Seals, she held the positions of multi-state technical assistance program coordinator with the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials and the associate planner with the City of Janesville, Wisconsin. She has a B.S. with a geography/urban analysis concentration from the University of Louisville; M.A. with a concentration in transportation from the University of Kentucky as a U.S. Department of Transportation fellow.