Board of Directors

Kristie Witte

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

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.

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!

Jennifer Price

HONORARY BOARD MEMBER

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.

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.

Karen Ferrero

BOARD MEMBER

I am originally from Coal City in Grundy County and have made Morris my home since 2004. My husband, Ray, is also from Coal City and we have two boys, Dominic (19) and Nicholas (18). Dominic was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. I have learned a lot over the years.

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.

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.

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.