Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee has representation from professionals with experience in Vocational Rehabilitation program administration, quality and performance management, as well as State Rehabilitation Council and consumer perspectives. In addition, their expertise extends to workforce program partnerships and performance outcome measures, as well as return on investment and program impact research.

The committee will play a critical role in shaping model development and its implementation. Information provided to the Advisory Committee will enable advisors to evaluate and make recommendations on the development and practical application of the intensity of service measure in areas such as the allocation of VR resources and the feasibility of the simplified model. In addition, the Advisory Committee will provide recommendations on strategies for knowledge translation of key findings and the practicality of the enhanced VR-ROI model for program improvement, resource allocation, and consumer informed choice.

More About Us

Dr. Chaz Compton, Project Director

Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management
Interwork Institute at San Diego State University

Dr. Compton currently serves as Project Director for the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management (VRTAC-QM) located at the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University. Dr. Compton has been working in the field of Human Services for over 35 years. He has been an Administrator of a large Community Rehabilitation Program and worked as a Counselor, Supervisor and Administrator in the public VR program in California for over 20 years. Chaz has been providing technical assistance and training to VR programs through the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University for eleven years. Dr. Compton has a Doctorate in Education through San Diego State University. He has a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from SDSU, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and has a post-graduate certificate in Rehabilitation Administration. Chaz has been teaching in the Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling program at SDSU for 22 years.

Mr. John Connelly, Director of Research and Grants

Council of State Administrators in Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)

Mr. Connelly has over 40 years of experience in the field of public vocational rehabilitation. After graduating from law school in 1980, he was hired as a staff attorney by the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. He worked for a year as a staff attorney with the Commission and in 1981 was promoted to General Counsel. In 1993 he was promoted to deputy director with expanded duties including responsibility for the preparation and maintenance of the agency’s over $260 million annual operating budget. From 2001 until July of 2009, he served as the Executive Director of the Commission. John is currently the CSAVR Director of Research and Grants and has primary responsibility for the development, negotiation, and maintenance of research and grant projects. In this capacity he serves on and/or facilitates grant advisory committees; reviews requests for grant application endorsements and surveys; drafts and/or edits letters of support; and partners with researchers and others in the development of grants and their implementation. He also supports several CSAVR Communities of Practice and Professional Networks.

Dr. Kevin Hollenbeck, Research Economist and Vice President (retired)

W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Dr. Hollenbeck serves as Vice President and Treasurer of the Pine Lake Fund, a 501(C)3 organization supporting the postsecondary technical education of individuals with disabilities at the Michigan Career and Technical Institute, is a recognized expert in the evaluation of workforce development and career and technical education programs. He has expertise and interest in programs leading to competitive, integrated employment for individuals with disabilities. Since retiring as the Vice President of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, he has worked on projects estimating the return on investment for employers engaging in apprenticeships for the U.S. Department of Labor, evaluating workers compensation structured settlements for the Washington Department of Labor & Industries, and evaluating the Columbus (Ohio) Promise program. Prior to retirement, he led a team of Upjohn Institute staff members in an analysis of Michigan’s school funding mechanism on student achievement funded by the Kellogg, Skillman, and Steelcase Foundations. Dr. Hollenbeck has authored books, numerous technical reports, and his most recent peer-reviewed publications are in the Journal of Rehabilitation Administration and Economic Development Quarterly.

Mr. Tom Jennings, Board Member

National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils (NCSRC)

Mr. Jennings serves as a board member of the National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils (NCSRC). He was employed with the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for forty-two years, the last fifteen, as State Director. He served in direct service, administration, and leadership roles. Experience gained while serving in a wide range of positions has given him a strong background and expertise in vocational rehabilitation administration and services. He has been a long-term member of the Council of State Administrators for Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), serving as president. As state Director, he served as ex-officio member of the State Rehabilitation Council, the State Independent Living Council, and was Chair of the Disabilities Issues Committee of New Jersey’s Workforce Investment Board. He chaired the 27th IRI-Providing Rehabilitation Services in a Workforce Environment. He served as a member of the Olmstead Act Committee, Region II RCEP Advisory Board, and the Advisory Board of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey master’s in vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Program. He served on the Writing team-36th IRI-SRC-VR Partnership.

Mr. Bill Robinson, Director

Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
Past-President – National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB)

Mr. Robinson is the Director of the Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP). He began his tenure as director on September 26, 2016. As Director of BSBP, Robinson is responsible for the State agency that provides vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and employment training services to Michigan’s blind and visually impaired residents. Mr. Robinson is an appointed member of the Detroit Workforce Board. In addition, he has served on the Poverty Task Force and the Education Task Force addressing Covid-19 for the State of Michigan. Nationally, he serves as an Executive Committee member and Past President of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) and represents Vocational Rehabilitation as a member of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) WIOA Information Technology Support Center’s Steering Committee. He is an active member of the steering committees for the VRTAC-QM and VRTAC-QE as well as serving on the advisory committee for Mississippi State University’s RRTC on Employment of People Who are Blind or Have Low Vision. He is Co-Chair of the Performance and Accountability Committee of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Kathie B. Smith, Division Director

North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Kathie B. Smith is the director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS). She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Public Manager. Smith began her career in rehabilitation as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for DVRS in Pitt County. Over the past 25 years she has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, vocational evaluator, adjunct professor, rehabilitation supervisor and specialist in public, private, medical and wellness settings.

In 2008, Smith relocated to Raleigh and began serving as the Chief of Field Rehabilitation Services and Assistant Director for the NCDHHS Division of Services for the Blind, prior to her appointment as Director of DVRS in March 2019. Smith’s special interests lie in the pursuit of the principles of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and seeing the potential of that legislation being realized on behalf of those with disabilities in North Carolina.

Smith has a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Pathology and Audiology and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling and Vocational Evaluation from East Carolina University. She was born in Richmond, VA and raised in eastern North Carolina.

In her free time she volunteers with the ALS Association and enjoys time with friends and family as well as walking and jogging outdoors in the beautiful North Carolina landscape.

Ms. Cynthia Speight, Director

North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind

Ms. Speight serves as the Director of North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) and is passionate about DSB’s mission to provide high-quality services that help blind, visually impaired and deaf-blind individuals achieve their employment and independent living goals. She started her career with the DSB in 2000 as an Independent Living Rehabilitation Program Specialist, focusing her efforts on program enhancements and service expansion. In September 2009, Speight was promoted to the Chief of Rehabilitation Programs and Field Services, serving in that role until October 2012, when she was promoted to Assistant Director. She was appointed Division Director in March 2017 and since then has been dedicated to expanding opportunities for consumers and effectively partnering with the division’s stakeholders and associations.