Shannon Perry
Chair
Disability Advocate
Shannon Perry is a disability advocate with a history of advocacy in the corporate world and in the community. She has led multiple employee organizations and received award recognition for her work in cultural change. She believes that everyone who wants meaningful work should have the opportunity to contribute to our society through employment and inclusion. Shannon identifies as proudly disabled and neurodiverse.
Shannon has a wonderful family with her husband David and their two children. Her introduction to disability advocacy came with the birth of their son Nico who was born with Down Syndrome and autistic. It quickly became apparent that Nico would need more supports than those offered and that getting those supports would require speaking up more than her Minnesotan background would have liked. Since then, she has spoken to legislators, rallied at capitals, written her representatives, called school districts, donated time and money to non-profits, advised on inclusion, and more, to make the world a more inclusive place for her children and herself. She is currently in Partners in Policymaking Class 43.
Amanda Yotty
Vice Chair
Land O’Lakes
Amanda Yotty joined Land O’Lakes in 2020, initially leading supplier quality and food safety for all ingredients and packaging across both the dairy foods and animal nutrition business units. After 17 years in food safety and quality, Amanda has expanded her expertise and now serves as the Regulatory Manager for Sustainability at Land O’Lakes.
Amanda holds a Master of Science in Food Safety from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Jurisprudence in Global Food Law from Michigan State University College of Law. Beyond her professional interests in quality and sustainability, Amanda is deeply committed to disability education and advocacy. She actively participates in her school district’s Special Education Advisory Council, co-leads the Disability Awareness Employee Resource Group at Land O’Lakes, and collaborates with state and local representatives at the Capitol to further her advocacy efforts.
Catherine Bintner
Treasurer
U.S. Bank
Catherine Bintner is Assistant Vice President and Employee Activation Manager for U.S. Bank’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. In this role Catherine oversees the work of U.S. Bank’s ten Business Resource Groups (BRGs) that provide employees across the corporate footprint with opportunities to connect, share and grow. In 2017, she launched U.S. Bank’s Disability BRG and has been engaged in internal and external efforts to increase disability inclusion. Throughout her 18-year career at U.S. Bank, Catherine has managed the company’s Ethics Line, Employee Assistance Fund, and organized employee engagement programs supporting the more than 70,000 employees who work for the company.
Catherine is a lifelong Minnesotan who has a BA in Philosophy and Theology from St. Catherine University. Catherine is actively engaged in the community and lives with her family in Eagan.
Deanna Ekholm
Secretary
American Academy of Neurology
Deanna Ekholm is an HR and DEI professional with over 20 years of experience, currently serving as the Chief People, Diversity, and Administrative Officer at the American Academy of Neurology. Driven by collaboration and commitment to continuous learning, Deanna brings a broad background in human resources, diversity and inclusion, and administrative operations across the nonprofit, corporate, and manufacturing sectors. She is passionate about cultivating inclusive workplace cultures where all individuals can thrive and is dedicated to advancing disability inclusion as a cornerstone of equitable organizational strategy.
Deanna holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a master’s degree in human development, and various HR and DEI related certifications. Deeply committed to community service, she currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless in Minnesota and joined the Disability:IN Minnesota Board in August 2025, where she continues to advocate for accessibility and opportunity for all.
Dr. Linda Chous
Member-at-Large
Twin Cities Eye Consultants
Dr. Linda Chous received her Doctor of Optometry Degree, Summa Cum Laude, from the Southern California College of Optometry located in Fullerton, California.
After obtaining her degree in Optometry, Dr. Chous relocated to the Twin Cities and began providing pediatric eye care in Minneapolis. Minnesota. She is past president of the Minnesota Optometric Association and has served on several committees for the American Optometric Association, and has co-authored the AOA Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Pediatric Eye and Vision Exam, Eye Care for the Patient with Diabetes Mellitus, and the Adult Eye and Vision Exam. She served as the Chief Eye Care Officer for UnitedHealthcare from 2009-2019, where she authored several studies regarding the importance of eye care in the identification and monitoring of systemic and chronic health conditions. From 20/19 through 2025, Dr Chous served on the board of directors of Prevent Blindness, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of sight through research, education and screenings. She continues to serve on their Public Health and Policy Committee,
Dr Chous is a recipient of the Beta Sigma Kappa Silver Medal Award, the Women in Optometry Theia Award for Innovation, the Mpls/St Paul Women in Business Award, the American Optometric Association Presidential Award, and the VisionMonday Most Influential Women in Optical. She is also a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. Her areas of special interest are pediatric vision rehabilitation, myopia management, and diabetic eye care.
From 1991 to 2022, Dr Chous was the owner of a pediatric eyecare and eyewear practice in Uptown, Minneapolis. She currently provides pediatric and adult strabismic eye care as well as general pediatric eye care at Twin Cities Eye Consultants.
Dr. Chous resides in Shoreview, Minnesota. She has three grown children who live in the Twin Cities area. She enjoys spending time with her family and hiking, canoeing, and traveling.
Patrick Decker-Tonnesen, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Member-at-Large
Mayo Clinic
Patrick Decker-Tonnesen, Ph.D., M.S.W. (he/him) is a Belonging Advisor in Human Resources at Mayo Clinic, and an adjunct lecturer in the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Decker-Tonnesen holds a Doctorate in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago, and his research focuses on belonging and inclusion in nonprofit organizational governance systems. Dr. Decker-Tonnesen also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Mount St. Mary’s University, and a Master of Social Work, as well as certificates in Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy and Measurement & Quantitative Methods, from Loyola University Chicago.
Jeanne Eglinton
Member-at-Large
Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI)
Jeanne Eglinton has been the Director of Employment Service at Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI) since 2014. She has spent more than 35 years in the human services field, supporting people with disabilities. Jeanne’s passion for making a difference in the lives of others led her to support people with disabilities who were interested working. In 2017, Jeanne was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Unified Work program, helping MDI achieve its vision: Meaningful employment for all people with disabilities. Unified Work provides classes in several formats, including in-person and virtual, throughout Minnesota, helping people with disabilities gain the soft skills that are needed to be successful in the workplace. Additionally, MDI assists businesses with a desire to become more inclusive of people with disabilities by providing consulting services to help businesses change their systems and policies as well as provide disability training for businesses.
MDI is a trusted Minnesota manufacturer and nonprofit social enterprise with the mission to provide employment opportunities and services for people with disabilities. We create high-quality plastic containers to ship, pack and store products and offer unparalleled product assembly and packaging services for organizations across the country, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. By offering an inclusive workplace that allows employees to build confidence, independence and purpose, MDI’s work results in dedicated employees and satisfied customers.
Kassia Janezich
Member-at-Large
Rise
Kassia Janezich brings more than a decade of nonprofit leadership experience in the Twin Cities to Disability:IN. As Vice President of Vocational at Housing Services with Rise, Kassia lead Rise’s community employment programs, which supported more than 1,700 people last year. Prior to Rise, Kassia worked for Tasks Unlimited, where she served as Director of Strategic and Operational Initiatives. In that role, she expanded programs, increased funding, and strengthened community partnerships to enhance services for the people they support. She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hamline University. Janezich is also active in the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation (MOHR), where she recently chaired the Extended Employment Committee.
Cecilia Laube
Member-at-Large
STORMICO – Strategic Transformation Consulting
Cecilia is a highly experienced strategic transformation and organizational development expert with 20+ years of global experience driving impactful change across LATAM, European, and US markets. She helps organizations achieve organizational alignment, build essential business capabilities, improve team effectiveness, develop change leadership, and reshape cultures.
Cecilia has held senior positions with companies like BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota, Best Buy, Land O’Lakes, Cargill, GMAC-RFC, Palladium Consulting Group, and MoneyGram International where she consistently delivered impactful results.
Driven by a profound personal commitment, Cecilia actively champions improving employment opportunities for neurodivergent individuals, as she believes that “employment is more than a job; it represents human dignity and an opportunity to create a sense of belonging”. Her dedication stems from a desire to reverse the stark statistics affecting countless individuals worldwide, advocating for a future where people with disabilities achieve equitable employment opportunities.
Cecilia holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Economics from her native University of Concepción, Chile. In addition, she holds certifications in Six Sigma Green Belt and Change Management. She is fluent in Spanish and English with basic knowledge of Portuguese and Dutch.
Ann Macheledt
Member-at-Large
State of Minnesota-DEED/Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Ann Macheledt has worked in vocational rehabilitation and the disability arena for 30 years. She currently is a Staff Training and Development Specialist for the Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) division. In addition to her training role at VRS, Ann supports the organization as an Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator (IDI QA), a certified Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador, and co-leads person-centered initiatives. Prior to this, Ann led UnitedHealth Group’s Accommodation and Return to Work Program for 5+ years. She also worked at RESOURCE, Inc. for 15 years as an ADA Consultant and Employment Retention and Evaluation Program Manager. She has extensive experience providing ADA consulting and training to businesses and agencies throughout Minnesota to help meet their ADA/ADAAA compliance, hiring, and retention needs.
Ann has a strong passion for disability inclusion and intersectionality work. In her role as a board member of Disability:IN Minnesota, she has had a long history in contributing to the organization’s initiatives. Ann also serves as a board member for Upstream Arts, whose mission is to use the power of the creative arts to activate and amplify the voice and choice of individuals with disabilities.
Ann has a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology from UW-Madison and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UW-Eau Claire. She is a national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).
Maria McFarlane
Member-at-Large
Best Buy
Maria McFarlane brings over 20 years of diverse experience, focusing on service delivery, transformational change management, marketing, sales, and product development across various sectors including retail, healthcare, financial services, and agribusiness. In the past 4.5 years, she has been building a supportive and advocacy driven community within Best Buy as the Chair and now Champion of the disABILITIES Employee Resource Group (ERG). She is responsible for program management of key strategic initiatives including planning and scope definition for business technology roadmaps in a highly matrix and cross-functional environment.
Jamie Rudolph
Member-at-Large
U.S. Bank
Since joining U.S. Bank in September of 2010, Jamie has held various positions within the Technology and Operations Services division and is currently Vice President, Senior Business Transformation Lead within the Operations Services team.
Jamie holds a BA in Business Communication, and a BA in Leadership and Management with a focus in Financial Management. In May 2018, she received a Master of Business Communication from the University of St. Thomas.
Jamie is the Women in Technology and Operations Services Business Resource Group President for U.S. Bank and the Community Liaison for the Disability Business Resource Group for U.S. Bank.
Jamie has a passion for empowering adults with disabilities to achieve career goals. In 2016, Jamie partnered with U.S. Bank Human Resource to evolve and expand the disability hiring program. She is proud of the work U.S. Bank has done and continues to do within the disability community.
Jamie credits much of her career success to the mentors and sponsors she has had over the years. This drives her to pay it forward by being actively involved in mentor roles both within and outside the bank. Her personal interests include fishing, anything Disney, and dance parties with her daughters.
Todd Schuler
Member-at-Large
TALENT Software Services
Todd Schuler is the Business Development Director at TALENT Software Services, Inc. TALENT, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Staffing Company that has provided IT, Engineering and Professional staffing services for over 34+ years. Todd has over 30 years of experience in market development and team management. Throughout his career, Todd has always been passionate about working with business leaders, understanding their business challenges, and finding creative solutions. Todd is proud to have served in the Army National Guard/Reserve for 10 years.
Dawn Swiers
Member-at-Large
Mayo Clinic
Dawn Swiers is a Human Resources professional with over 14 years of recruitment and talent acquisition experience between Mayo Clinic and Rochester Public Schools. In her current role as Diversity Recruitment Specialist, she develops and maintains successful strategic relationships with local, regional, and national organizations/associations with the objective of providing Mayo Clinic a more diverse talent pipeline. Dawn is the Project SEARCH business liaison at Mayo Clinic. Her experience includes expertise in optimizing organizational processes and developing educational materials. She is the past Chair of the disABILITY Mayo Clinic Employee Resource Group as well as the Chair for MaxAbility. Both these teams are moving the needle to increase awareness and acceptance for people of all abilities while maximizing the success for people with employment barriers.
Keeri Tramm
Member-at-Large
Lifeworks Services, Inc.
Keeri Tramm, Director of Disability Initiatives at Lifeworks Services, Inc., is an Autistic professional and passionate advocate for disability inclusion. Keeri blends her lived experience and professional expertise across nonprofit and for-profit sectors to advance equity, belonging, and empowerment for the disability community. She leverages her skills in business and data analysis to champion impactful, community-driven outcomes for people with disabilities.
At Lifeworks, Keeri leads the development of disability inclusion training and consulting solutions for businesses, organizations, and employee resource groups. Under her leadership, Lifeworks has trained thousands of people in an effort to make disability inclusion the standard, not the exception.
Zabrina Watkins
Member-at-Large
Prime Therapeutics
Zabrina Watkins is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Prime Therapeutics, where she has served for over 12 years. In her current role, Zabrina leads enterprise-wide strategies to embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into the organization’s culture, talent practices, and leadership development. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the Prime Together Foundation, a 501(c)(3) employee-led nonprofit dedicated to addressing inequality and injustice in all its forms.
A passionate advocate for inclusive environments, Zabrina is committed to creating spaces where all individuals can thrive. She holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management.
Jodi West
Member-at-Large
Land O’Lakes
Jodi West has worked at Land O’Lakes for three decades, currently as a Business Analyst for Global Dairy Ingredients. In 2018, she co-founded Land O’Lakes’ DisAbility Awareness Employee Resource Group. Jodi’s passion for working with people with disabilities started with her son, Alex, who has cognitive disabilities. Jodi’s experiences advocating for her son — from ensuring his educational needs were met in the classroom to obtaining guardianship and securing employment — have driven her to become a fierce advocate. Outside of work, Jodi enjoys antiquing, reading and spending time with her family.