After an extensive national search, Easter Seals Crossroads  selected Patrick Sandy to lead the organization following Jim Vento's retirement in late March. Working hard to assemble his leadership team, Patrick recently tappedScott Fogo to serve as the organization's Vice President of Clinical Services and Community Outreach and Bruce Schnaith to serve as Vice President of Workforce Development Services and Business Development.

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Noble of Indiana is digging in for another year of planting, growing, and giving in their Giving Sum Garden The Garden provides opportunities for volunteers, persons served, their staff, and family members to work together to benefit the local community. 90% of the garden harvest will be donated to Old Bethel Community Outreach Food Pantry, located just down the road from Noble's East 21st Street location.

Each year, the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) works with the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community to gather data from Indiana providers of employment and day services. This data is used to inform policy makers about trends and issues related to how individuals with disabilities spend their day. 

In early May, sixteen members of the Training and Professional Development (TPD) Committee met for their annual conference planning retreat. This year's retreat theme channeled the excitement and passion of popular Broadway production "STOMP," with Committee members "STOMPing for Success," led by choreographers Holly Piggott and Patrick Sandy. The Committee activities included a review of the successes from the 2013 Annual Conference, opportunities for improvement for the 2014 Annual Conference, and identifying themes for INARF's 40th anniversary celebration.

INARF members make a difference every day, and this month we're proud to feature an inspiring story of success from Janus Developmental Services. Want to see your agency featured in the ONLINE newsletter? Contact Elizabeth Patel for details. 

Janus Work Experience Program Builds Success 
By Debbie Laird, Vice President of Development and Transportation. 

Kim Opsahl's career in human services began in college, when she took a position as a Direct Support Professional to earn extra cash while she pursued her psychology degree. What started as a job turned into a calling, with Kim continuing her career in the developmental disability service industry after college and later accepting a position at INARF as Director of Membership Support. Nine years later, Kim was named as the third President & CEO of INARF, continuing the work of Costa Miller and Jim Hammond.