Senior Vice President of Programs, Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain
Easter Seals 2012 Lou Lowenkron Program Innovation Award

Providing services in 35 communities across a four-state region: Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming, Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain covers a lot of ground. 

Just as broad-sweeping is the impact Shelley Oksness, senior vice president, Programs, has had on the organization – which served more than 25,000 people with 

$50 million in annual revenues in 2011. Oksness has developed 80 percent of the 58 programs Easter Seals offers, including new Elderly and Acquired Brain Injury Adult Day, Home Care and Personal Care programs.

“Shelley is very creative and entrepreneurial in developing programs and, when she does, they’re quality programs with quality outcomes,” says Michelle Belknap, president and chief executive officer, Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain.

Belknap points to just a few of Oksness’s many successes in the area of children’s services. She expanded pediatric therapies into new disciplines and geographic areas, and introduced the P.L.A.Y. Project – providing in-home training and support for parents and families of children living with autism. She forged a partnership with the State of Idaho to provide case management for children. In 2009, she launched early intervention services under contract with the State of Utah. She’s developed autism support groups that serve three communities and enrichment programs for children with disabilities of all ages.

Oksness is relentless about discovering community needs and filling these needs by creating and expanding programs; she is tireless in forging productive partnerships to ensure the programs she develops are sustainable.

“Shelley always looks at all the different avenues to fund a program, whether through traditional government services, private foundations or private pay,” Belknap adds.

She also is a respected advocate for people with disabilities. In Montana, Oksness served on a task force to implement statewide services for children with autism and their families, and was instrumental in securing legislation requiring health insurers to cover autism services.

A registered nurse, Oksness brings care and compassion to her work. She’s also a mentor to her staff.

“People have the ability to grow a lot,” Belknap says. “She really is a shining example of living our mission, vision and values. Shelley has such passion for our organization. She’s someone we say has a lily stamped on her forehead.”

Learn more about Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain.