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Photo of two young people sitting around an office conference room table talking and laughing. One person's wheelchair is visible.

About Us

Our History

The Starkloff Disability Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities participate fully and equally in all aspects of society.

Founded in 2003 by Max & Colleen Starkloff and David Newburger, the Starkloff Disability Institute works on changing societal attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities through activities that send a positive message about living with disability in order to create a world that welcomes disabled people.

The Starkloff Disability Institute is the Workforce, Workplace Disability Advisor. The Starkloff Career Academy prepares candidates for competitive employment, and Starkloff Workplace Advisors prepares companies to welcome them.

READ about Max & Colleen Starkloff

Staff

Lori Becker Chief Executive Officer lbecker@starkloff.org
Read Colleen's Bio
Brian Chao Chief Financial Officer bchao@starkloff.org
Read David's Bio
Maggie Mahoney Director of Development mmahoney@starkloff.org
Katie Fields College Outreach Coordinator and
Disability Inclusion Consultant kfields@starkloff.org
Steven Foelsch, M. Ed. Disability Policy Advisor sfoelsch@starkloff.org
Tom Giles Executive Coordinator tgiles@starkloff.org
Danielle Giuffrida Dream Big Coordinator dgiuffrida@starkloff.org
Paul Gruber Program Support Coordinator pgruber@starkloff.org
Jason Hartsfield, MSW Disability Inclusion Lead Consultant
and Career Advisor jhartsfield@starkloff.org
Karyn Houston Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Outreach Coordinator
Video Phone: (314) 766-4636 khouston@starkloff.org
Debra Mize Career Academy Associate dmize@starkloff.org
Susan Menhard, MSW Disability Policy Advisor smenhard@starkloff.org

Board of Directors

Board President

Steve Degnan Vice President and Chief HR Officer, Retired
Nestlé Purina PetCare North America

Board Members

Dave Baker

Assistant Superintendent, Retired
Special School District of St. Louis County
Amy Bird

Director, Access & Student Success
St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley
David A. Blanton, III

Community Volunteer
Dr. Gerard Buckley

President
National Institute for the Deaf

Vice President and Dean
Rochester Institute of Technology
November Champion, Secretary

Accessibility Program Team Lead
Edward Jones
Kevin Erbs, Treasurer

Consultant
Guidehouse
Harriet Felman

Community Volunteer
Jacqueline Jefferson, MA, SHRM

Systems Leader
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion COE
SSM Health Care
Kara Kopplin, Vice Chair

Director of Regulatory Science
Permobil Seating & Mobility
Christina Lawrence

Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Nestlé Purina PetCare North America
Kathy Lovell

Disability Services and Outreach Manager

Regions Bank
Dan Nielsen

Vice President — Global Talent Acquisition
Reinsurance Group of America
Bryan Parrish

Recruiter
Bayer
Adewalé Soluade
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Centene
Luke Terrell

Founder

Restless Productions
Allison Zuck

Architect

PGAV Destinations
Get Involved
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Volunteer Almost weekly, we’re looking for volunteers that are actively working in a professional setting to help educate, advise or partner as part of our adult and youth candidate programs.
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