A Publication From

FirstLookA Look Inside:

Fall 2015

Megan worked with an IndependenceFirst Employment Consultant to find a job in her field (Library Sciences). Read her story on Page 23.

ADA 25 Recap Page 2Karen Avery Award Page 3Kennedy Exhibition Page 4President’s Corner Page 5Board Intros Page 6Innovation Awards Page 7Staff Honored Page 8NCIL Conference Page 9Mobility Store Page 10Youth Program Page 11Veterans Services Page 12Youth Summits Page 13Advocacy Skills Page 14Support Groups Page 15Dedicated Employees Page 16Staff Farewells Page 17Volunteers Thanked Page 19New Employees Page 20Employee Transitions Page 21Tinnitus Impact Page 22Employment Success Page 23

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At the Curative Care Network event, attendees were treated to the music of Johnny Crescendo, whose lyrics are about disability rights. The Adaptive Community Approach Program (ACAP) performed their original song “Life is a Rock, but the ADA Rolled Me.” Speakers included Curative Care Network President & CEO Candy Hennessey, Julie Alexander from IndependenceFirst and the Wauwatosa Committee for Citizens with Disabilities representing Wauwatosa Mayor Pat Ehley and IndependenceFirst Wisconsin Statewide Project Coordinator for SUD/Mental Health Services for Persons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind Denise Johnson.

he 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA) was marked across the country this year. In

Milwaukee, IndependenceFirst convened a group of over

60 community organizations to plan a summer (and beyond) of celebration.

There were many wonderful events celebrating the signing of the ADA and the progress that has been made. Events also recognized that much work remains for full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society.

The events that took place this summer would not have been possible without the generous support of the community. We thank sponsors BMO Harris Bank, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Transit Express, United Healthcare, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, The Threshold, Inc., UNICO Group, the Post-Polio Resource Group of Southeastern Wisconsin and the other individuals and organizations who donated in support of the 25th Anniversary celebrations, including many generous in-kind supporters.

The summer celebrations kicked off on June 26, when the ADA Legacy Tour “Road to Freedom” bus made two stops in Milwaukee. The bus was driven by a crew including

Tom Olin, famed disability rights photographer.

IndependenceFirst Board Member Jerry McCloskey coordinated both bus stops, which included a press event with dignitaries in the Harley-Davidson Museum parking lot and a lunch event with entertainment at Curative Care Network.

We thank County Executive Chris Abele, Mayor Tom Barrett, Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services Director Hector Colon, Enterprise Head of Affinity Groups (U.S./ Canada) for BMO Harris Bank Deirdra Copeland-Gonsalves, Transit Express Vice President John Doherty and Jim Santelle, who was then the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, for speaking at the event at the Harley-Davidson Museum. We also heard from advocates Mary Neubauer, Michelle Martini, Arvilla Rank and Cindy Bentley, some of whom were present at the signing of the ADA in 1990, who continue working for disability rights. We also thank Representative Jonathan Brostoff for attending.

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Looking back on the 25th ADA Anniversary CelebrationsBy Melanie Hupfer, Fund Development & PR/Marketing Coordinator

Government officials and disability advocates spoke at the event at the Harley-Davidson Museum.

Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force presents second annual Karen Avery AwardOn September 8, the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force presented the second annual Karen Avery Award at its ADA 25th Anniversary Celebration. Karen Avery, former IndependenceFirst Associate Director, was a champion for the disability community. She was a respected leader in the mental health consumer movement, and was known as a selfless, authentic and courageous advocate, mentor, peer, family member and friend. This award honors her legacy.

The 2015 Karen Avery Award Winner is Melissa Butts. Melissa is a Certified Peer Specialist who has been a strong advocate, support and mentor for mental health consumers for many years. Melissa currently works as the Coordinator of the Peerlink Program at NAMI Greater Milwaukee, where she serves peers who have experienced psychiatric hospitalization. Like Karen, Melissa works to educate the community about the urgent need for trauma-informed care.

The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force ADA 25th Anniversary Celebration, sponsored by IndependenceFirst, also featured speaker Darby Penney, co-author of “The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital.” The event began with a moving tribute to the thousands of community members with disabilities buried at the Milwaukee County grounds.

Melissa Butts was the 2015 Karen Avery Award Winner.

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Other events that were part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration were a Kennedy Center/VSA Art Exhibition & Reception at IndependenceFirst (see p. 4); The Ability Fest celebration on July 26, the official 25th Anniversary date; an ADA-themed obstacle course at the National Spinal Cord Injury Association’s Wheels and Heels: Rush on Festa event; a night of ADA stories through a collaboration between Ex Fabula and Broadscope Disability Services; an ADA Celebration at a Brewers Game; the Medical College of Wisconsin’s

EveryBODY Plays! Adaptive Sports & Rec Expo; the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force Celebration and Presentation of the Karen Avery Award (see story below); Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Spirit of the ADA Luncheon; the Tap the Potential Disability Awareness Month Arts Exhibition and Performing Arts

Events; and four fantastic IndependenceFirst Brown Bag Lunch educational events covering the ADA and transportation, employment, long term care and access/advocacy.

ACAP performed their song "Life is a Rock, but the ADA Rolled Me."

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Through showing “The Journey” and hosting the activities associated with it, IndependenceFirst was able to highlight the work of artists with disabilities while further educating the community about our mission and the services that we provide.

“The Journey” was presented by VSA, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with sponsorship from Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Local sponsorship of “The Journey” was provided by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

IndependenceFirst shows ‘The Journey’ Kennedy Center/VSA art exhibitionBy Tracee-Lauren Owens, Summer PR & Marketing Intern, with Melanie Hupfer, Fund Development and PR/Marketing Coordinator

ndependenceFirst’s 2015 annual art exhibition featured “The Journey,” a traveling VSA/Kennedy Center

exhibition featuring the work of emerging artists with disabilities. The exhibition showed June 22 through July 24 at IndependenceFirst, with a Gallery Night Reception taking place on Friday, July 24. The exhibition and reception were part of Milwaukee’s celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The Journey” is a poignant exhibition featuring the artwork of young artists with disabilities ages 16-25 who seek to promote understanding of their disability and speak to others living with a disability through their work. This year’s Gallery Night featured an artist talk with Jason Wellington, an artist featured in “The Journey” exhibition. Wellington highlighted his inspiration for creating the works of art featured in “The Journey” exhibition and shared other insights about being an artist with a disability. Earlier in the day, Wellington taught a youth art class to IndependenceFirst consumers.

Attendees viewed the exhibition on Gallery Night.

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ReminderBecause IndependenceFirst showed ‘The Journey’ in July, we will not be holding our Juried Art Exhibition this fall. We plan to resume the juried exhibition in 2016, so watch for the application in early summer.

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we offered a variety of ADA information including posters, display boards with ADA facts and photos, disability awareness resource materials and Person First Language handouts.

Due to the large number of materials taken, IndependenceFirst believes that this outreach opportunity was a huge success and many people were

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), staff at the IndependenceFirst Washington and Ozaukee county branch offices reached out to 10 local libraries to collaborate on raising community awareness of the ADA.

All 10 libraries collaborated with IndependenceFirst by offering space for us to showcase ADA materials. The partner libraries varied in size, so

Displays highlighted the ADA in Washington and Ozaukee countiesBy Tonya Villwock, Independent Living Services Coordinator–Branch Offices, and Katrina Twyman, Independent Living Services Coordinator

This summer IndependenceFirst collaborated with over 60 disability-related community organizations to recognize and celebrate the 25th anniversary of President George H. W. Bush’s signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. We were fortunate to have visits from the National ADA Legacy Tour Road to Freedom Bus and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts/VSA eight-city tour of the “The Journey” exhibition featuring artwork created by young artists who have disabilities.

I am happy to report that we were recently notified by United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha

County of an award of $50,000 for continuation of our Healthy Girls project headed by Alie Kriofske Mainella. Demand for our youth services continues to grow, so we continue to add services and seek additional funding. This is why the United Way support has been so important. That being said, I encourage each of you to participate, however you can, in the 2016 United Way campaign.

During the June annual meeting of IndependenceFirst’s Board of Directors, several new members were elected to the Board: Catherine Bulgrin, Anne Carroll, Judith Haugsland, Jason Ostrowski, Roxan Perez and Beth Schumacher. In addition, Judith Murphy and Felisa Parris were re-elected to their second terms. Sadly, we said goodbye to Gwen Jackson, who completed her two

President’s CornerBy Lee Schulz, President and CEO

terms, along with Dr. Robert Davis and Thomas Goulet.

The new Executive Committee now consists of Chair Mike Lipscomb, Co-Chairs Judith Murphy and Paul Wierzba, Treasurer John Lauber, and At-Large Officers Jerry McCloskey, Dean Muller and Judi Wisla.

On a final note, I want to emphasize that with the many successes of the ADA and our recent celebrations of its passage 25 years ago, we still have a long way to go to fulfill its promise of full inclusion for people with disabilities. Please let our staff know if you encounter discrimination or lack of physical access because of a disability.

educated on various elements of disability history and civil rights.

We want to take this opportunity to publicly thank the Washington and Ozaukee county libraries that participated for collaborating with IndependenceFirst and helping us raise awareness of this national legislation on a local level.

ADA informational displays were featured at 10 local libraries.

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Caty BulgrinCaty Bulgrin is the Research and Operations Analyst at Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, a regional association supporting grantmakers. Caty has over 15 years of experience working at nonprofits.

Caty previously worked for seven years at Curative Care Network. She was most recently the Director of one of Curative’s largest divisions, Adult Day Services, charged with overseeing a $5M budget, 12 direct reports and over 350 adults with developmental disabilities.

Caty has a true passion for working with and advocating on behalf of people with disabilities. Caty joined the Board of Directors because, “IndependenceFirst is leading the way for advocacy, services, accessibility and so much more for people with disabilities. I jumped at the chance to serve on the board of such an amazing organization.” Caty looks forward to learning more about the services offered, helping with fund development and assisting with moving IndependenceFirst forward.

Caty earned her Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-- Eau Claire. Caty is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. In her spare time, Caty enjoys spending time with her family, supporting her four wards and volunteering through the Junior League of Milwaukee.

We welcome new members to our Board of DirectorsIn this edition of First Look, we are pleased to introduce three of our six new Board Members. We look forward to introducing the next three in the Winter edition.

Judy HaugslandJudy Haugsland is sincerely honored to join the IndependenceFirst Board of Directors and contribute to the positive impact the organization has advocating for and enhancing

the lives of the individuals it serves. Her 25-year career in the nonprofit sector includes 18 years as President/CEO of the Arthritis Foundation and serving as the Director of Philanthropy for Vision Forward Association, two organizations that also focus on what individuals with disabilities can do with positive assistance.

Judy is the Associate Director of Development at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Previously, she served as the Assistant Vice President for Advancement at Cardinal Stritch University where she also managed fundraising staff and personally secured major and planned gifts.

Her community involvements include: TEMPO Milwaukee, Harvard Business School Club, Alpha Phi Alumni Association, Rotary Club of Milwaukee and she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Planned Giving Council of Southeastern Wisconsin.

Judy attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where she met Jim, her husband of 48 years. They live in Bayside and have three adult children and eight young grandchildren.

Beth SchumacherBeth Schumacher has spent the majority of her career in the real estate industry and is currently the CFO for Wangard, a real estate

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Mobility Store selected as finalist for Wisconsin Innovation AwardsBy Kathy Murtell, PR & Marketing Director

IndependenceFirst’s Mobility Store program was selected as a finalist for the Wisconsin Innovation Awards, which highlight and honor the development of groundbreaking and innovative ideas.

At an August 18 awards ceremony emceed by Wayne Larrivee and keynoted by Allen Edmonds CEO Paul Grangaard, 10 award winners out of 32 finalists were named in 10 categories. Winners were determined by a panel of 18 industry experts from around Wisconsin in multiple rounds of judging. Winners spanned all regions of Wisconsin, represented large, medium and small companies, startups, established businesses and nonprofit organizations, and nearly all industries.

What makes the Mobility Store innovative is that the program offers high-quality, low-cost, refurbished mobility and durable medical equipment (DME) to older adults and people with disabilities who cannot afford to purchase new equipment, while preventing used wheelchairs and medical equipment from filling space in landfills. Through a unique partnership with the Department of Corrections and Badger State Industries, inmates at the Redgranite Correctional Institution refurbish and sanitize donated equipment to like-new condition.

The inmates are certified in DME repair by Invacare, a leading DME manufacturer, giving them an employable skill for the future.

The refurbished equipment is then sent to our Mobility Store locations in Madison and Milwaukee. Our stores are open to the public and product inventory is available to view online. Mobility Store staff advise buyers about proper seating, positioning, comfort and safety to make sure their purchase is a good fit at a reasonable price.

It was an honor to be a finalist. Thank you to everyone who voted for us for the People’s Choice Award. We appreciate the support. Congratulations to this year’s Wisconsin Innovation Award winners!

For more information, visit one of the two Mobility Stores, 3720 N. 124th Street, Suite F in Wauwatosa or 2554 Advance Road in Madison, or visit us online at ifmobility.org or independencefirst.org.

developer in the Milwaukee area. She was previously on the board of a nonprofit that helped at-risk youth. That organization made a difference by helping to improve people’s lives, and that is the same reason Beth was attracted to IndependenceFirst.

“IndependenceFirst is an organization that is always looking at services it can provide to improve people’s ability to live independently,” Beth said. “IndependenceFirst fills a fundamental need because everyone wants to be able to take care of themselves. I am excited and honored to be on the Board of an organization with such a great mission.”

Beth appreciates that the IndependenceFirst leadership team is very focused and motivated to improve the organization and increase what it can offer to those it serves. As a member of the Board, Beth is looking forward to assisting the leadership at IndependenceFirst by presenting new ideas, helping with issues as they arise and working to help implement ideas that align with the organization’s mission. She looks forward to learning more about IndependenceFirst and finding ways to become more involved with the organization.

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SUD Coordinator receives Wisconsin Association of the Deaf AwardDenise Johnson, Statewide Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) and Mental Health Services Coordinator for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind was awarded the “Meritorious Service Award” from the Wisconsin Association of the Deaf (WAD) at their annual conference in June. This award was given to Denise for her meritorious service to WAD and to the Deaf community.

Denise was selected for this award for:

• Being strongly involved with WAD Miss Deaf Pageant program as director.

• Serving as WAD Secretary and serving on various WAD committees, most recently serving as registration chairperson for the 2015 WAD Conference.

• Setting up and presenting at all "Interpreters 101" workshops for WAD in 2014, and presenting other workshops for WAD in the past.

• Her role as the SUD Project Coordinator, and because she has been strongly involved in the SUD program for the State of Wisconsin for many years.

Denise was honored for her service.

Transition Coordinator receives award from Mount Mary UniversityOn October 9, Julie Alexander, Lead Independent Living Services Coordinator at IndependenceFirst, received the Madonna Award for Professional Excellence from Mount Mary University. The Madonna and Tower Awards for Excellence are awarded to Mount Mary Alumnae who have made an impact in the community. Julie received the award in recognition of her years of work on behalf of people with disabilities. In addition to her position at IndependenceFirst focusing on nursing home transition, Julie

serves as the Co-Chair of the Wauwatosa Committee for Citizens with Disabilities. Julie’s work helping people with disabilities transition out of nursing

homes into the community has allowed people to regain their independence. Nursing home transitions are complicated, with multiple factors involved including working with different service providers and funding sources. Julie is extremely knowledgeable and works patiently with people through the lengthy transition process. Through her work with the Wauwatosa Committee for Citizens with Disabilities, Julie is involved with numerous initiatives to increase accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in Wauwatosa.

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IndependenceFirst recently sent a group of employees to Washington D.C. to attend the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Annual Conference for state legislature policy training and to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The National Council on Independent Living is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including: individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States.

Each year, NCIL’s Annual Conference draws nearly 1,000 individuals of all ages and disabilities from all 50 states, including grassroots advocates, CIL and SILC leadership, and representatives from other major organizations that work for justice and equality for people with

disabilities. In July 2015, over 1,000 community members, leaders and advocates united in our nation’s capital to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the ADA.

“Keeping up with legislative policies is the best way to stay informed and to continue being a vital resource for consumers,” said Lee Schulz, IndependenceFirst President & CEO. “Attending the NCIL conference has proven to be a valuable hands-on experience and provides a positive opportunity for our employees.”

It was on July 26, 1990, that the ADA was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, and an entire generation of young

advocates with disabilities born in the 1990s has now grown up. Fondly referred to as the ADA Generation, these advocates continue to build authentic and lasting participation and leadership of young advocates in NCIL and throughout the Independent Living and Disability Rights Movements.

“Attending the 2015 conference was a rewarding experience. This year’s conference had a special focus on the generation that grew up under the ADA, the ADA25 Generation,” said Brian Peters, IndependenceFirst Community Access & Policy Specialist, and Member-at-Large for the NCIL Board. “NCIL was extremely successful in raising funds that assisted large numbers of youth to attend the conference, some who have never been exposed to the Independent Living philosophy before. It was very moving to see the next generation being inspired to become advocates.”

For more information, visit ncil.org.

Employees attend National Council on Independent Living conference to support 25th Anniversary of the ADABy Kathy Murtell, PR & Marketing Director

Attendees marched to the Capitol, rallied and met with legislators.

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ow can IndependenceFirst, Milwaukee's FIRST resource when people have questions regarding access and disability, increase access to low cost mobility

equipment and assistive technology, and serve as an alternative lending resource? The answer is to provide these services under the same roof, which occurred on June 22 when the WisLoan and Telework programs moved to the IndependenceFirst Mobility Store in Wauwatosa.

WisLoan is a statewide alternative loan program allowing residents with a disability to purchase assistive technology that helps them to live more independently and productively. WisLoan works with a total of eight Independent Living Centers in the state including IndependenceFirst, which serves Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties. Some of the more popular loans that are processed through WisLoan are modified vehicles, home modifications, computers and hearing aids. Telework is also a statewide program that helps Wisconsin residents with disabilities to purchase computers and other equipment needed to work from home or to assist with ongoing employment.

The Mobility Store serves the entire state and offers high-quality, low cost new and refurbished mobility and medical equipment to individuals who might otherwise not be able to afford the equipment they need. When you think of the Mobility Store, you think of mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, motorized scooters, modified bath equipment, medical beds and other medical equipment that can help enable independence. This equipment can help people be more productive and fully included in society. The great thing about the Mobility Store is it is not just a retail store; as a nonprofit, our mission is to make assistive technology available at low prices. We keep the equipment affordable for customers through sanitizing and refurbishing

IndependenceFirst’s WisLoan, Telework and Mobility Store programs now under one roof By Valerie Cornelius, WisLoan Coordinator

donated equipment and also offering low cost new equipment. It is a bit of a “thrift store” for mobility equipment with average pricing at 70 percent or less than retail pricing.

Too often mobility equipment can cost thousands of dollars for larger purchases like hospital beds or even power wheelchairs. When an individual has multiple needs, including equipment in a loan can save them a significant amount of money. For example, if a consumer decided to pursue a loan through a conventional bank, most equipment would be considered an “unsecured loan” and the rates would be upward around 12 percent. On average, the consumer would need a credit score of at least 650+ and the lending criteria are much more stringent than with WisLoan. WisLoan’s approval criteria are much more flexible and each loan is looked at with consideration to the individual’s situation. Also, WisLoan does not count medical bills against the applicant, which can be a breath of fresh air for individuals with disabilities looking for a loan.

WisLoan and Telework’s transition to IndependenceFirst’s Mobility Store enables the programs to be more publicly accessible since the Mobility Store is open to the public. The programs mesh so well together with a common goal of helping to meet each individual’s unique needs. The Mobility Store team partners one-on-one with every individual, offering access to affordable equipment, and now an alternative lending resource is just a few steps away. It’s lending for independent living! Visit one of the two Mobility Stores, 3720 N. 124th Street, Suite F in Wauwatosa or 2554 Advance Road in Madison, or online at ifmobility.org or independencefirst.org.

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Youth Leadership Program is G-R-O-W-I-N-G!By Alie Kriofske Mainella, Youth Leadership Program Manager

These services include:

• GirlsFirst girls’ support groups

• My Brother’s Keeper boys’ support groups

• Summer Youth Leadership Summits

• Bullying workshops

• Writing workshops

• Disability Mentoring Week

• Sexuality education and healthy relationships classes

• Independent Living Skills training

Ten years ago, I came to IndependenceFirst as a Trinity Fellow—a graduate school fellow from Marquette University—knowing only that I wanted to work with young people with disabilities. Thanks to the leadership at IndependenceFirst, I was given the opportunity to begin working with young people and develop youth programs. Fast forward to today, fall of 2015, and I am running a full-scale youth leadership program with five dedicated staff members providing services to youth with disabilities.

All of the staff in the Youth Leadership Program—Grant Heffelfinger, Harvey Ross, Katrina Twyman, Tonya Villwock and me—are dedicated to the empowerment of young people with disabilities through education, advocacy, coalition building and independent living services.

For more information contact me at 414-226-8112 V/Relay or akriofske@independencefirst.org.

GirlsFirst is one of the many programs the Youth Leadership staff run.

Share Your Heart! Heart of Canal Street is Potawatomi Hotel & Casino’s

signature community program. Half of each $3 Canal Street Bingo game purchased goes to the

Heart of Canal Street fund, which totaled more than $1 million last year and provided funding to children’s charities in southeastern Wisconsin. IndependenceFirst is in the running to be a 2015 charity. Help give the gift of a promising future by playing now through December 10.

Visit paysbig.com/heart

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IndependenceFirst adds new Veterans Coordinator positionBy Lois Hodges, Veterans Coordinator

IndependenceFirst has added a new Veterans Coordinator position and I’m very happy to say that the position belongs to me, Lois Hodges. I was previously an Employment Consultant at IndependenceFirst, assisting consumers who were looking for employment.

My new position will primarily focus on assisting veterans with enhancing their quality of life. I will be doing many outreach workshops within Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties and extending IndependenceFirst's services to all veterans with disabilities, especially the veterans who are not currently accessing the services they need.

Lois served in the military for eight years and she looks forward to assisting veterans with disabilities.

I am a veteran and it will be my job to inform veterans with disabilities of IndependenceFirst's services such as Independent Living skills training, assistance with locating accessible housing, benefits counseling, employment services, peer support and information and referral services, as well as the many other services that IndependenceFirst offers.

My mission will be to empower all veterans who want to find their voice, advocate for themselves and make choices of their own. The goal is for all veterans with disabilities to become independent and be part of a community that they can call home.

For more information, contact me at LHodges@independencefirst.org or 414-226-8373 V/Relay.

THANK YOU!

IndependenceFirst would like to thank the following foundations, companies and government agencies for recent grants that will help

sustain our programs. We are grateful for your support.

Jane Bradley Pettit FoundationMary Martha and Emmett J. Doerr Charitable TrustPublic Service Commission of WisconsinPuelicher Foundation

Wochinske Family FoundationWe Energies FoundationManpowerGroup FoundationGreater Milwaukee FoundationThe Ability Experience

United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County Healthy Girls InitiativeAdministration for Community Living – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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IndependenceFirst recently announced the transition of our Wheelchair Basketball Program to the newly formed collaborative Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association (WASA).

For the past 29 years, IndependenceFirst has provided consumers with a wide variety of adaptive sports, and integrated these programs to develop and communicate capacity for the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities as part of their overall mission.

“While we are very proud of how the wheelchair basketball team has grown, transitioning this program within the community supports our Independent Living philosophy,” said Deb Langham, VP of Independent Living. “We initially offered these programs to advocate for full inclusion, and because similar programs were not previously available in the Milwaukee area.

WASA will now manage the competitive youth wheelchair

IndependenceFirst transitions Wheelchair Basketball Program to WASABy Kathy Murtell, PR & Marketing Director

basketball team, the Milwaukee Heat (now known as the Wheelchair Jr. Bucks).IndependenceFirst will continue to provide families with the unique opportunity to borrow a DUET wheelchair bike as part of the Biking Buddies program.

For more information on the Biking Buddies program, contact Alie Kriofske Mainella at akriofske@independencefirst.org or 414-226-8112 V/Relay.

Record summer for Youth Leadership SummitsBy Alie Kriofske Mainella, Youth Leadership Program Manager

It was a record-breaking year for IndependenceFirst's Youth Leadership Program. Every summer for the past 10 (…10!) years we have held a summer program, the Youth Leadership Summit, for high school students with disabilities. The Youth Leadership Summit is an opportunity for students to learn self-advocacy and Independent Living skills and to meet other youth with disabilities from all across the metro-Milwaukee area.

This year’s June Summit was 30 youth strong including the youth mentors—alumni from last year’s Summit who came to facilitate group activities. This is the most youth we have ever had at any of our summer programs! The highlight of this year’s June Summit was a show performed for and with our youth at Comedy Sportz.

The Mequon Nature Preserve hosted us for the third year in a row for the July Summit, and again we had more youth come to that location to be part of our program than ever before. The July Summit boasted 20 youth including youth mentors. One of the days we were involved in a partnership with Urban Underground, and 25 of their Youth Leaders came

out and led the Youth Summit participants in an activity on social justice and advocacy.

In both the June and July groups, new friendships were formed, consciousness about disability issues was raised and a group of young people walked away feeling more confident and able to talk about their disabilities and about themselves with pride.

Thanks again to Comedy Sportz, Mequon Nature Preserve, Urban Underground and all those who were part of our Youth Summits this year.

For more information contact me at 414-226-8112 V/Relay or akriofske@independencefirst.org.A record 30 youth attended the

June Youth Leadership Summit.

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We can help you be an awesome advocate!By Leah Simmons, Lead Independent Living Services Coordinator

IndependenceFirst offers numerous workshops and classes on disability-related topics to increase a person’s independence. One of these workshops in particular is relatively new and has become very popular. Our Social Skills Workshop teaches individuals with disabilities how to use assertive communication skills, expand their comfort zones and identify inappropriate versus appropriate social behaviors. TTI Industries of West Bend hosted a Social Skills

Speak up! Speak out! What are you waiting for? Come on! Aren’t we tired of people speaking for us? Aren’t we tired of people putting us down? Aren’t we tired of inaccessibility? Aren’t we tired of being treated unfairly? Speak out!

We can all be advocates. We are all different kinds of advocates with varying backgrounds and personalities. There are outstanding, good and even bad advocates. How can we all be better and even great advocates?

At IndependenceFirst, we offer Advocacy Series Workshops to help every advocate or aspiring advocate be an effective one. In these workshops, we talk about what advocacy really means and how we might best use it. We will also figure out how we can communicate better, using our assertiveness the right way and keeping our anger in a cooling mode. We will look into and understand different advocacy styles and methods, and learn what works and what doesn’t

work. We can even try actually doing our own advocacy together! It’s never too late to be an awesome advocate.

Watch for upcoming Advocacy Series Workshops. For more information, contact me at 414-937-5913 VP/Relay or LSimmons@independencefirst.org.

Social Skills Workshops continue to be popularBy Tonya Villwock, Independent Living Services Coordinator–Branch Offices

Workshop in August and several of their employees participated. Each of the five sessions was interactive, lively with discussion and activities, and informative.

If you would like to host a Social Skills Workshop, please contact IndependenceFirst at 414-291-7520 V/Relay.

Topics covered in the workshops include communication skills, expanding one's comfort zone and much more.

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In our support groups, individuals with disabilities have an opportunity to meet with others with disabilities to talk about common experiences and learn from each other. The groups are facilitated by IndependenceFirst staff members who sometimes offer a topic for the group to explore together. At a recent meeting of the Washington County Peer Support group, we explored the topic of advocacy.

When asked to describe what advocacy means to them, the Washington County Peer Support members began to correlate advocacy to animals in the wild. The discussion that followed was inspiring as we identified animals that are bold, aggressive, fearless, big in size and loud. The animals that we compared our advocacy efforts to the most were lions,

Support groups are an opportunity to make friends and growBy Tonya Villwock, Independent Living Services Coordinator–Branch Offices

alligators and eagles. These animals are symbolic and remind us that in this “jungle” of a world where many barriers still exist for people with disabilities, we should remain focused and strong in our mission of inclusion and independence.

If you or someone you know would like to make new friends and support other people with disabilities, please contact IndependenceFirst at 414-291-7520 V/Relay to learn about joining a peer support group.

Participants support one another and learn.

Hunger Task Force location changeHunger Task Force will no longer have an outreach office at IndependenceFirst, but we are pleased to continue our collaborative relationship with them as a referral source. The Hunger Task Force staff who were located at

IndependenceFirst can be reached at 910 W. Mitchell St., Milwaukee, WI 53204 or 414-384-6456 V/Relay.

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We thank and congratulate staff celebrating anniversariesIndependenceFirst is lucky to have so many dedicated employees who have devoted their careers to our mission. We honor the following individuals who are celebrating anniversaries this year.

30 Years Cindi Pichler Assistive Technology Program Manager

20 YearsKathy Altman Independent Living Services Program Director

Ginger Reimer VP of Personal Assistance Services

20 Years/ Personal Care Workers Josie ArmourEmma Curtis-Moore

Vitaliy Gorelik

Valeriy Gozenpud

Oce Miller

15 YearsWendy Huot Director of Finance

Brian Peters Disability Rights & Access Specialist

Kristin Stern Employment Consultant

15 Years/ Personal Care WorkersLyudmila Chaban

Brenda Dotson

Nataliya Glushchenko

Alva Goldberg

Tasha Holley

Debra Johnikin

Renee Keltesch

Olena Kuts

Irina Levin

Anna Linden

Lyudmila Litvina

Alisa Morrison

David Reimer

Larisa Rimer

Maria Rodriguez

Val Sigal

Marina Sokolinskaya

Nikandr Sokolinskiy

Patricia Watson

Liliya Yaruskaya

Olga Vaynshtok

ADA 25 & Transportation Brown Bag Lunch Event

Tuesday, November 17 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. IndependenceFirst 540 S. 1st Street, Milwaukee

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),

please join the IndependenceFirst Transportation Consumer Advocacy Team for this FREE event to learn about the ADA and civil rights issues

related to transportation.If you have questions please contact

Lauren Grudzinski at 414-226 8197 V/Relay or lgrudzinski@independencefirst.org

First Look 17

IndependenceFirst. She had a couple of mottos that helped her and those she worked with stay focused, get creative and see what needed to be done: “Whatever it takes!” and “How easy can we make this?”

Diana said her favorite part of her time at IndependenceFirst was working with so many people—coworkers, volunteers, families, politicians and government officials—who were dedicated to making change happen.

We will miss Diana and wish her the all the best in this new chapter of her life.

Change and new direction for Kathy Mohar, CTRSBy Kathy Murtell, PR & Marketing Director, with Kathy Mohar

The transition of IndependenceFirst's Milwaukee Heat Wheelchair Basketball program to the newly formed Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association (WASA) has resulted in saying goodbye to our devoted Wheelchair Sports and Adaptive Recreation Coordinator of nearly

20 years, Kathy Mohar. We value Kathy's tenure with our agency, including her commitment to providing our consumers with innovative adaptive recreation opportunities.

Diana Sullivan on to next chapter in life: retirementBy Melanie Hupfer, Fund Development and PR/Marketing Coordinator

We would like to congratulate Diana Sullivan on her retirement after nearly 20 years at IndependenceFirst. Diana held a variety of roles in her time with us, most recently serving as Disability Rights and Access Specialist. Over the years, Diana provided training on advocacy and advocated for and with people with disabilities; worked with and educated businesses, nonprofits, governmental agencies and individuals on numerous issues including accessibility, accommodations and disability rights laws; developed curriculum to train Milwaukee County supportive home care workers and much more.

Though she faced numerous challenges in her work, Diana didn’t let the hard parts of her job weigh her down. She could sometimes be found singing while washing a dish

in the kitchen, and said that keeping her sense of humor throughout hardships was the accomplishment she was most proud of from her years with

See "Mohar," continued on page 18

18 First Look

empowered them to discover they could enjoy sports—some for the first time, and some becoming active sports participants for many years to come. Examples include her work with the Schooner Project, turkey hunting, scuba diving, water skiing and many team sports.

Kathy’s future goal is to secure another rewarding part-time job that fits with her school schedule while she pursues her new direction in life of becoming a licensed massage therapist. We wish her well, and appreciate her work supporting the mission of IndependenceFirst.

Kathy energetically led numerous programs by identifying needs in our community and offering innovative opportunities to meet the interests of youth and adults with disabilities. Kathy has a talent for communicating with participants that instilled trust and sparked their interest in trying something new. Our consumer satisfaction surveys repeatedly indicated that Kathy was respectful, friendly and met individual needs.

Kathy said that her fondest memories are of every “first”

Thank you to Kathy Acevedo for 15 years!By Kathy Murtell, PR & Marketing Director

We would like to wish Kathy Acevedo all the best in her new position as the Director of Human Resources for the Milwaukee Art Museum. Kathy began working at IndependenceFirst as an Outreach Volunteer Coordinator in August 2000. She was promoted to Human Resources Assistant in 2001 and progressed to HR Coordinator a year later. Between 2003 and 2007, she worked as a Personal Assistance Services Quality Assurance Manager until her promotion to HR Director upon earning a degree in Business Administration and Human Resources from Alverno College.

Throughout Kathy’s 15 years with IndependenceFirst, she gained many fond memories.

“What I enjoyed the most was being part of a movement that empowered people,” Kathy said. “I will be taking what I’ve learned into the workforce, and my efforts will be focused toward educating employers on the importance of employing people with disabilities… I was proud to work alongside such a knowledgeable and prestigious group of people.”

she was privileged to experience, such as a 10-year-old girl’s first bike ride; when parents trusted her to take a risk and allow their child to water ski for the first time; a snow skiing participant’s first chairlift ride and the first true friendship made among teammates.

“The most impactful statement I’ve heard from program participants is that their experience was the first time they felt ‘normal’ since their accident,” Kathy said.

Many of our consumers felt they could not participate in sports due to their disability, but Kathy

"Mohar," continued from page 17

First Look 19

Saying farewell to two longtime volunteers By Ana Kleppin, Volunteer Manager

At IndependenceFirst, we are fortunate to have volunteers who have been with us for five, 10 and even 15 years. These special volunteers become like family to us. So it is a sad day when a volunteer moves away or is not able to volunteer any longer.

In the past few months we have said goodbye to longtime volunteers Suzy Klump and Tom Siekert.

Suzy Klump was an important part of our newsletter volunteer group. She came in once a month for the past eight years and helped assemble the mailing of a

newsletter to our personal care workers. In addition to the newsletter, Suzy also helped at special events like

the Night for Independence, and helped with data entry and other clerical projects.

Tom Siekert volunteered for nine years in our Computer Recycling Program. He was in charge of the volunteers that came in to the computer lab on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tom could do it all, from fixing computers to helping consumers learn how to use their refurbished computer. We estimate that Tom gave out over 1,500 computers during his time here.

While Tom and Suzy are not able to be IndependenceFirst volunteers any more, we think about them often and have been keeping in touch.

Save the DateStride & Glide for IndependenceFirst

Saturday, February 27, 2016

At the Milwaukee County Zoo

5K Run & Wheelchair Races, 5K Walk, Zumba at the Zoo, Scavenger Hunt & Kids’ Activities

Mark your calendars for this day of physical activity and fun in support of IndependenceFirst.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information on sponsoring contact Melanie Hupfer at 414-226-8386 V/Relay or mhupfer@independencefirst.org.

Suzy (center) with the newsletter volunteers.

Tom received an award for his dedication.

20 First Look

New Employees Amy Clementi RN Care CoordinatorI have many years of nursing experience working in

home care. I am excited to be part of the Personal Assistance Services department serving consumers and helping them to maintain their independence.

Valerie Cornelius WisLoan CoordinatorMy background is in banking and the mortgage

industry. I am very happy to be here at IndependenceFirst. My role as WisLoan Coordinator is to assist consumers with our statewide loan programs WisLoan and Telework.

Julie Blundon RN Care Coordinator I have many years of RN experience from acute to end-of-

life care. I am very excited to be here and to use my nursing experiences to assist consumers in obtaining the services needed to

maintain their independence. This is done through assessments and developing appropriate plans of care. I am also responsible for providing direction and evaluating performance of personal care workers.

Sara Hader RN Care CoordinatorI have been a nurse for more than 16 years in many different nursing roles from

cardiac nursing to hospice. I look forward to working with all the staff, PCWs and consumers here at IndependenceFirst.

Grant Heffelfinger Youth Leadership CoordinatorIt has been a passion of mine to assist individuals with

disabilities in becoming more independent and increasing visibility of all ability levels in the community. I have lived in Milwaukee for eight years and have assisted individuals of all ages with varied levels of disability. With my experiences in assisting individuals with disabilities with their personal wellness and exercise goals, I hope to bring a new perspective and balance to all consumers at IndependenceFirst.

Kathy Murtell PR & Marketing DirectorMy background is in marketing and internal communications

for multimillion-dollar companies in diverse industries including healthcare. My most recent roles include developing comprehensive internal communication plans at SC Johnson and Harley-Davidson, and I gained a majority of my marketing experience at Columbia St. Mary’s Health System. My goal is to continue implementing strategic marketing initiatives to increase public awareness and name recognition for IndependenceFirst and the Mobility Store.

First Look 21

Employee TransitionsPhillip Corona Resource Center Coordinator

I have been with IndependenceFirst for more than 13 years. I was an Independent Living Coordinator and transitioned to doing Information and Referral, where I thought I found my niche. When the position of Resource Center Coordinator came along, I felt it would be a perfect fit for me, since I was already working with resources. I look forward to keeping those resources up-to-date so we can make the best possible referrals.

Danene Garrison-Neeley Employment Consultant

After working at IndependenceFirst for two years in the Human Resources department as an HR Assistant, I recently took a position in the Benefits and Employment Services department as an Employment Consultant. I am thrilled to be a part of an organization that supports and promotes its staff, and does so much for the community.

Lois Hodges Veterans CoordinatorLearn more about Lois and this NEW position

serving veterans with disabilities on page 12.

Brian Peters Community Access & Policy Specialist

After working as the IndependenceFirst Housing Policy Coordinator, I will expand my duties to include much of the disability rights work that Diana Sullivan covered. I have been taking workshops and online trainings to deepen my understanding of the ADA and other disability laws. I look forward to continuing to serve the community in this expanded role.

Jeanette Torres Payroll & Exceptions Coordinator

I am the new Payroll & Exceptions Coordinator. I previously worked as a Receptionist at IndependenceFirst for three and a half years. I am happy to have the opportunity to continue working with IndependenceFirst PCWs and consumers in my new position.

Marlo Van Doren PAS RN Coordinator

I've been at IndependenceFirst for more than two years, first as an RN Care Coordinator and, since May, now as one of the PAS RN Coordinators. The biggest differences between my new position and my previous position are the kind of consumers I most often work with and the training capacity of the position. I now focus on intakes and help new consumers through the assessment process, in addition to orienting new Care Coordinators and providing trainings for all of the nurses as needed.

22 First Look

A word about tinnitusBy Julia Loritz, Independent Living Services Coordinator

Huh? What did you say? I’m sorry. Could you repeat that? I can’t make out what you’re saying… These are words I find myself saying more and more these days. I have tinnitus.

According to WebMD, tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing or whistling in the ears. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant and it affects one in five people, an estimated 50 million adults in the United States. It is most common in people older than age 40 and affects more men than women. WebMD further reports, “The most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss that occurs with aging (presbycusis) but it can also be caused by living or working around loud noises (acoustic trauma).”

The two main types of tinnitus are:

• Pulsatile (like a heartbeat) tinnitus, which is often caused by muscle movements near the ear, changes in the ear canal or blood flow in the face or neck. You may hear sounds such as your own pulse or the contraction of your facial muscles.

• Nonpulsatile tinnitus, which is caused by problems in the nerves involved with hearing. You may hear sounds in one or both ears.

I suspect my tinnitus is a combination of both getting older and exposure to loud noises (all those rock concerts in my misspent youth) and that I have both types of tinnitus. My doctor explained that tinnitus that occurs with hearing loss should be viewed as the body responding to hearing loss. It does not cause the hearing loss; rather it is an adjustment to the loss. Whatever it is, it’s an annoyance. Important: If you have any concerns or questions about tinnitus, ask your doctor to help you address them.

At this time I cannot reveal my age (it’s on a need-to-know basis for national security reasons); however, I first began noticing my tinnitus, after age 40. I can most accurately describe it as that searing sound that crickets make in the afternoon of a scorching hot summer day. With time, my condition has become

constant and has increased in volume, making hearing a genuine challenge. If a person speaks quickly, or softly and even-toned, I am sure to miss some, if not all, of the message they are voicing.

And this gets to the heart of my message, a request: Let’s all be more mindful of the sometimes invisible challenges of the people we encounter each day. Try not to be annoyed if asked to repeat something or explain something again. It’s not the intent to be bothersome. It’s the need to communicate effectively. You should consider it a compliment: that the person truly wants to know what you have to say. Hearing-related disability can be a challenge for both sides of a conversation: the sender and the receiver. That could be you on the other side of the conversation someday.

And get ready ‘cuz the Baby Boomers are here, we’re past 40 and there are a whole bunch of us!

Kenosha has a new accessible playground, the “Dream Playground,” for kids with and without disabilities. The amazing story of how the playground came to be was told in the October 14, 2015, edition of the Kenosha News. The driving force behind the playground, Tammy Conforti,

Woman mobilized community to build ‘Dream Playground’By Lee Schulz, President & CEO

visited an accessible playground in another community and decided Kenosha also needed one. It took Tammy three years, beginning with her own $300, to raise $1 million for the completion of the Dream Playground, which is located in Petzke Park, 1700 29th St. in Kenosha. Get a copy of the

October 14 Kenosha News or visit thekac.com/content/dreamplayground-history for additional information. This is an unbelievable story of what a single person with energy, drive, advocacy and collaboration can accomplish for the benefit of an entire community.

First Look 23

Three years after I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Information Science, my journey to become employed has been full of ups and downs and new experiences. I gained knowledge in an internship at a library, as well as through volunteering at a museum, county attraction, historical society and another library.

During those years, not only did my interviewing and job skills improve, but so did I. Like a butterfly, I've come out of my cocoon. Every difficulty was a test and I learned from each of them. During this journey, I had support from family, friends and, of course, my Employment Consultant at IndependenceFirst, who helped me from day one to find a job and improve my skills.

As a woman with ADHD and limited job experience, it was difficult to find employment in various fields (retail, office work, etc.), but no matter how hard it got, I never gave up.

The door opened when I was called in for an interview at a library for a Shelver position. Although I was a little nervous, I did a good job. After a couple weeks, I followed up. I didn't hear back until the week before my birthday when I was offered the job. You wouldn't believe how happy I was when I heard those words. I wanted to cry tears of happiness. I wanted to shout because I finally got a job in the field I wanted to work in. It was

the greatest early birthday gift I could imagine. I dreamt about working in the library since college and finally have the opportunity.

During my first week at the library, I met the staff, and they’re so nice. Training was fun and easy, with a few challenging parts. I find it all exciting. I'm doing what I love to do and am surrounded by books every day, sorting and organizing, taking a curious look at a few. I am now part of a team that ensures safety and educational assistance to library patrons when they come to conduct research, find new books or study. I'm honored to be a part of the library and want to thank the staff for making me part of their community. I promise to do my best and help make the library a more magical place than it already is.

Worth the readBy Megan, IndependenceFirst Consumer (Featured on the Cover)

Megan put in three years of hard work to find a job in her field after graduating.

My goal is to continue working at this library and to move up to the position of Library Assistant, spreading the love of reading and knowledge to all ages. As I enjoy my library career, I'm hoping to publish my first poetry book sometime in the future, along with children’s books. I write poetry and stories to inspire and help people who have disabilities or feel like they aren't special. I hope my words can help change their lives in a small way.

I once heard that the future is never set in stone; that nobody can write how our story ends. Every one of us has our own story within us and we hold the quill. We can make the story extraordinary or ordinary; dare to dream or live simply, it is up to us.

For me, if I had to describe my book, I guess it would be worth the read: A butterfly, who people never believed in, who was different from the others because she flew to her own beat, who overcame the most difficult trials and circumstances to grow and become majestic, strong and confident—proving that nothing is impossible if one never gives up on what they believe in.

Keep the faith and keep moving forward for a bright tomorrow.

For more information on IndependenceFirst's Employment Services, call 414-291-7520 V/Relay.

Don’t forget to check us out on the web at independencefirst.org, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

Mike Lipscomb – Chair Director - Enterprise Accounts - UPS International Services

Judith C. Murphy – Vice Chair Retired Senior Vice President - BMO Harris Global Asset Management

John Lauber – Treasurer President - LauberCFOs

Jerry McCloskey – At Large Retired Executive - Miller Brewing Co.

Dean Muller – At Large Vice President & Financial Advisor - Morgan Stanley

Judi Wisla – At Large Retired Executive Sales Associate - First Weber Realtor Group

Catherine BulgrinResearch and Operations Analyst - Wisconsin Philanthropy Network

Anne M. CarrollAssociate Attorney - Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Judy HaugslandAssociate Director of Development - Milwaukee School of Engineering

Ron Jodat Retired Executive, Retired Professor - Maritime Savings Bank, Marquette University

Lee Za Ong Assistant Professor, Director of Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling - Mt. Mary University

IndependenceFirst Board of DirectorsJason Ostrowski Retired - WE Energies

Felisa Parris Graduate Academic Advisor - Marquette University

Roxan PerezCommunity Advocate

John Schmid Project Specialist - WE Energies

Beth L. SchumacherCFO - Wangard Partners

Martha Valerio – Persona EmeritusRetired Vice President - Information Systems - Northwestern Mutual

Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDMilwaukee, WIPermit # 1008

IndependenceFirst Inc.540 S. 1st StreetMilwaukee, WI 53204-1605

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Don’t forget to check us out on the web at www.independencefirst.org, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

John Schmid – Chair Project Specialist - WE Energies

Judith C. Murphy – Vice Chair Retired Senior Vice President - BMO Harris Global Asset Management

Judi Wisla – Secretary Retired Executive Sales Associate First Weber Realtor Group

Paul Wierzba – Treasurer/At LargeRegional Vice President - Mutual of America

Robert Davis – At LargePresident and CEO - Zoological Society of Milwaukee

Thomas Goulet - At Large Vice President of Human Resources - Johnson Controls

Gwen Jackson Retired Human Resources Vice President - American Red Cross

Ron Jodat Retired Executive, Retired Professor - Maritime Savings Bank, Marquette University

John Lauber President - LauberCFOs

Mike Lipscomb Director - Enterprise Accounts - UPS International Services

IndependenceFirst Board of Directors

Jerry McCloskey Retired Executive - Miller Brewing Co.Dean Muller Vice President & Financial Advisor - Morgan Stanley

Leeza Ong Assistant Professor, Master’s Program in Counseling, Mt. Mary UniversityFelisa Parris Graduate Academic Advisor - Marquette University

Martha Valerio Persona EmeritusRetired Vice President - Information Systems - Northwestern Mutual

Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDMilwaukee, WIPermit # 1008

IndependenceFirst Inc.540 S. 1st StreetMilwaukee, WI 53204-1605

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