Susan was born in Ohio and grew up with six siblings on a farm in rural Indiana. Susan attributes her childhood experience of growing up in a constant state of learning, as the catalyst for who she is today.  She and her siblings learned how to survive off the land, and do their part within their family unit. Susan learned the importance of caring for one another, your land, and animals, so that they can take care of you in return. She has utilized these gifts throughout her life, which have taught her unconditional love for her siblings, and how a strong marriage can hold everything together. She and her husband, Marc, have been married for over 20 years.

Susan is the fifth child in her family, and being born after three older brothers, learned most things from them. This innately created a fierceness in her, which she has positively channeled as passion in her adult life. Susan belongs to a large extended family, and her Catholic upbringing meant attending every birth, baptism, holiday, and related event. She learned to appreciate what you have, and are given, and that if you want something, you must work for it. In addition to digging potatoes, tasseling corn, and baling hay as a young person Susan invested much time as a babysitter, which she credits as a main reason for her career choice.

Susan’s mother, who has passed away, is someone Susan greatly respects for raising seven young children while managing a disability. Susan, her siblings, and their families embrace the uniqueness that contributes to their “perfectly imperfect” family, while appreciating their differences, building character, and becoming better people, through these experiences.

Education was paramount in Susan’s household, and all seven siblings are first generation college graduates. Susan received her BA in Human Development and Family Studies from Indiana University, and graduated from Arizona State University with her Master’s in Social Work. Susan has had an incredible journey of growth, and a career path that has beautifully built upon itself over more than 20 years, allowing her to strengthen her confidence to advocate for people, and efforts, she deeply believes in. Susan is open-minded, collaborative, and loves working alongside others who are like-minded, and have similar passions. She is energized by people and loves to instill hope through stories, experiences, and of course, knowledge, and expertise. As a natural leader, she enjoys bringing people together to coalesce around common issues, to forge new efforts, and to create strategic plans. She has studied, lectured, taught, and trained on a variety of topics related to employment, and youth in transition, for people who have disabilities. She has worked alongside, and/or educated and trained local, state, and national professionals, families, youth, and communities. Susan has extensive experience in state systems, and legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) rules.

Susan has served on numerous Boards, Committees, and Councils, and was recognized with the 2018 Association of People Supporting Employment First Rebecca McDonald Award, and the 2019 Raising Special Kids Family First award. She acknowledges the important people throughout her life who believed in her, who saw something in her, that she didn’t necessarily see in herself, and who encouraged, supported, and mentored her, as greatly influencing her journey.

Susan is honored to work as the inaugural Executive Director at Diverse Ability Incorporated, after supporting Arizona Youth Leadership Forum during its early days, and serving as an inaugural member of the Diverse Ability Incorporated Board of Directors. After a two decade career dedicated to learning, teaching, and supporting others to create an inclusive society, in so many different aspects, she believes that the greatest impact she makes is by working directly with individuals, families, and youth. Susan is a change agent, who genuinely wants people to have, and make the most of meaningful opportunities.

Susan is passionate about social issues such as inclusion and equality, environmental causes, children and education, and animals. She enjoys almost any outdoor activity, like hiking, whitewater rafting, and camping with her husband, family, and friends, and when it’s time to relax, Susan appreciates meditation, yoga, walking, cooking, baking, and journaling.