About Us
An overview of the Rehabilitation Council of Texas, its mission, values, leadership, and members.
Overview
The Rehabilitation Council of Texas (Council) advises the state’s designated Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program on policy, scope, and effectiveness of services. The Council is federally mandated by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA.
The Council helps ensure that Texans with disabilities have access to effective VR services that result in competitive and integrated employment, greater independence, and community participation. Bylaws that are designed to support this goal govern the Council.
The Texas governor appoints Council members for three-year terms to represent a diverse range of individuals with disabilities and community perspectives. They are charged with being the voice of VR service recipients.
The Council participates in National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils to promote a nationally consistent vision for VR priorities, goals, and outcomes.
Mission
The Council’s mission is to partner with the state vocational rehabilitation program to advocate for Texans with disabilities in the vocational rehabilitation process.
Values
- The worth and dignity of each individual
- The right to choice, which is realized by access to full information
- Work opportunities, which open doors to individual independence and participation in community life
- Person-centered goals, service plans, and delivery systems leading to individual success
- Shared roles and responsibilities to improve customer satisfaction with the rehabilitation process and outcomes
- Collaboration and partnership with federal, state, and private agencies for system improvement
Members
Gennadiy Goldenshteyn, Chair
of Dallas is Managing Director of First Principles, LLC, a boutique management consulting firm. He has held leadership positions at Welbilt, Yum! Brands, UTC Aerospace Systems, and Ford, and has served numerous companies with McKinsey & Company. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Deaf Action Center. Goldenshteyn received a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Science in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Peggy Schmidt, Vice Chair
of Lucas is Program Administrator for Supported Employment at LifePath Systems. She has nearly twenty-five years of experience in the field of Supported Employment. She is a member of the Association of People Supporting Employment First. Schmidt received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Criminal Justice from South Dakota State University.
Karen Stanfill, Policy, Procedure and Personnel Development Committee Chair
of Houston is Advocate Supervisor for the Client Assistance Program, (CAP), for Disability Rights Texas (DRTX). Prior to her employment at DRTX, she worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the legacy Texas Rehabilitation Commission for 15 years. She is a member of the National Rehabilitation Association, the Texas Rehabilitation Association, and the Houston Area Rehabilitation Association. Additionally, she serves on the board of the National Coalition for State Rehabilitation Councils, which plans and provides training for state rehabilitation council members. Stanfill received a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation from Stephen F. Austin State University and Karen Stanfill of Houston is Advocate Supervisor for the Client Assistance Program, (CAP), for Disability Rights Texas (DRTX). Prior to her employment at DRTX, she worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the legacy Texas Rehabilitation Commission for 15 years. She is a member of the National Rehabilitation Association, the Texas Rehabilitation Association, and the Houston Area Rehabilitation Association. Additionally, she serves on the board of the National Coalition for State Rehabilitation Councils, which plans and provides training for state rehabilitation council members. Stanfill received a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation from Stephen F. Austin State University and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
Emily Robinson, Membership and Education Committee Chair
of Pflugerville is an Educational Program Specialist at the Texas Education Agency. She is a member of Texas Association of the Deaf. Robinson received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Sciences and Disorders and a Master of Science in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing from Texas Woman’s University.
Lisa Cowart, Customer Satisfaction and Needs Assessment Committee Chair
of Sour Lake is the TEAM Project Director for Partners Resource Network. She is an advisory committee member of SpedTex, a general member of the Society for Human Resources Management, and the chair of the Consumer Satisfaction and Needs Assessment Committee of the Rehabilitation Council of Texas. Cowart received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from Lamar University.
Christopher “Mark” Baird
of San Angelo is a Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor for the Texas Workforce Commission. He previously served as a Unit Support Coordinator and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and as a Community Supervision Officer for Concho Valley Community Supervision and Corrections Department. He is a member of the Concho Valley Workforce Development Board. Baird received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Texas Tech University and a Master in Rehabilitation Counseling from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Glenda Born
of Austin is a retired Assistive Technology Specialist for the Texas Workforce Commission. During her 40-year career, she served as Director and Qualified Mental Retardation Professional at Marbridge Foundation Intermediate Care Facility for developmentally challenged women, a Rehabilitation Teacher and Team Coordinator for the Texas Commission for the Blind and a Work Adjustment Specialist for the Travis Association for the Blind. Additionally, she holds a professional counselor’s license. Born received a Bachelor of Science and Master’s in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Jennifer Clouse
of Temple is Inclusion and Diversity Manager for McLane Company, Inc. She is a board member for Disability IN: Central Texas. Additionally, she was recognized as a Champion of Change for Disability Employment in 2014. Clouse received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Midwestern State University and a Master of Science in Leadership and Management from Western Governors University.
Cheryl Fuller
of Austin is the Vocational Rehabilitation Division Director for the Texas Workforce Commission. She is a member of the executive committee and co-chair of the management services committee for the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. She has nearly thirty years of experience in state and local workforce development programs. Fuller received a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Angelo State University.
Norine Gill
of Taylor Lake Village is the founder and executive director of Imagine Enterprises, which guides individuals with disabilities in benefits planning, employment services, and consumer directed services. She is a member of the Association of Business and Professional Women and the Association of People Supporting Employment First. Gill received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin.
Michelle Harper
of San Marcos is the president and CEO of United Way of Hays & Caldwell Counties. She serves as vice chair of the San Marcos Academy Bear Network, board secretary for the Master’s School of San Marcos Foundation, board member for the First United Methodist Church of San Marcos Foundation, and a volunteer assistant tennis and basketball coach for San Marcos Academy. Harper received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Public Relations from Southwest Texas State University, as well as a teacher certificate from Texas State University.
Kiffany Jefferson
of Rowlett is a transition specialist with Mesquite ISD. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Sharing Life, Creative Kids Learning Center, and the Thompson Rehabilitation Center. Additionally, she is a board member and president of an Abundance of Love Enterprises, LLC. Jefferson received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Special Education from Southern University and A&M College and a Master of Arts in Special Education from The University of Texas Permian Basin.
Michele Norris
of La Porte is a Regional Blind Services Specialist at Texas Workforce Solutions. Previously, she served as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Dobbins received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Saint Vincent College and a Master of Science in Clinical Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Texas Tech University.
Joseph Powell
of Dallas is the President and CEO of the Association of Persons Affected by Addiction, Dallas. He is an Allied Health Professional and Peer Chair of the Texas Certification Board. Additionally, he is an advisory member of the National Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center. Powell attended Eastfield College and Amber University for social work and substance use studies.
Jordan Smelley
of Burleson is a former mental health peer specialist with co-occurring intellectual and developmental differences with the Association of Persons Affected by Addiction. He is a member of the National Association of Peer Supporters, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Phi Theta Kappa International College Honor Society. Additionally, Smelley is a volleyball referee with the Special Olympics of Texas and a graduate of Burleson High School. Jordan is also the recipient of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Texas Chapter 2023 Empowerment Award for Excellence in Promotion of Self-Advocacy.
Daniel Solcher
of Allen is the President at Northampton Growth, LLC and the Director of Latin America Hearing Aid Mission. He is a board member of Be An Angel Foundation DFW Chapter. Additionally, he served as a volunteer for Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf, Ability at AT&T, and San Antonio Deaf Action Center. Solcher received a Bachelor of General Studies from Texas Tech University Daniel Solcher of Allen is the President at Northampton Growth, LLC and the Director of Latin America Hearing Aid Mission. He is a board member of Be An Angel Foundation DFW Chapter. Additionally, he served as a volunteer for Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf, Ability at AT&T, and San Antonio Deaf Action Center. Solcher received a Bachelor of General Studies from Texas Tech University.
Patrick Sturdivant
of San Antonio is vice president and principal strategy consultant with Deque Systems, where he promotes digital inclusion for people of all abilities by guiding global organizations to develop or maintain digital accessibility programs that foster a culture of equality. He is a member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, where he is a certified professional in Accessibility Core Competency, a former board member of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, and former president of his homeowner’s association. Sturdivant received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from St. Mary’s University.