Board of Directors

Kelly Thompson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I have worked with people with disabilities for more than 20 years. I taught for 14 years in the REACH Program at Minooka High School for the Grundy County Special Education Cooperative, before becoming a full-time mom to twins, Anna and Ben.

Kristie Witte

BOARD MEMBER

I am a Special Education teacher at LaSalle Peru Township High School. I have been in the teaching profession for 15 years and have been working with people with disabilities for 20 years.

Karen Ferrero

BOARD MEMBER

I am originally from Coal City, attended Bradley University, and have now lived in Morris since 2004. My husband and I have two boys, Dominic (15) and Nicholas (14). Dominic was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 and later diagnosed with IED at the age of 12.

Rob Fisher

BOARD MEMBER

I am an attorney with Hanson & Fisher Law Offices and focus on giving social security disability clients the voice they so deserve in a process that can be difficult.

Jennifer Price

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

I am the Director of Trinity Services- North Central Illinois and serve as the Board President for Special Connections. As one of the founding members of Special Connections and a parent of a child with special needs I knew that the services here in Grundy County and throughout Illinois were not sufficient.

Jeff Rzasa

BOARD MEMBER

I am the Market President Busey Bank, overseeing Will/Grundy Counties. I have been a board member with Special Connections since 2011.

Stephanie Kessler

BOARD MEMBER

I am a surveyor for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Executive Director at Illinois Valley Industries... an organization that, like Special Connections, empowers individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Megan Henze

BOARD MEMBER

Megan is entering her 14th year of teaching special education for Coal City Unit One District. She started the first self-contained, special education program for 4th and 5th grade, after a couple of years, began the life skills program for 9-12 year old's.

Kelly Dransfeldt

BOARD MEMBER

Special Connections is an extremely important part of my life. I have an uncle and a niece that benefit from all the great activities and services that Special Connections has to offer.

Jeremy McNabb

BOARD MEMBER

For the last 8 years I have coached Special Olympics. I have coached basketball, bowling, and bocce ball. I became involved with Special Connections because I love working with our special needs community.

Valerie Frazier

BOARD MEMBER

Special Connections has helped to give me the opportunity to serve those in our community who are differently abled by letting me share my love of a healthy lifestyle and fitness training!

Brent Newman

BOARD MEMBER

Brent is a passionate advocate of people with disabilities and has served on the Boards of Directors for numerous national, state and local non-profits, focusing his efforts in the areas of civil rights, economic empowerment, the alleviation of poverty, and the provision of social services.