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Greetings VRS Team Members and Partners:
After a broad search and extensive process, I am pleased to announce that we have hired Lori Thorpe as our new Contracts/Partnerships (CP) Director! Lori was chosen from amongst 30 highly qualified candidates that included first round and second round interviews with an interview panel of eight people from across DEED including:
- Dee Torgerson, VRS Director
- Abdullahi Mohamed, DEED Deputy CFO, WOOC
- Christina VanDell, DEED Contract Coordinator
- Jeri Werner, Regional Director, Northern Region
- Carrie Marsh, Manager of Data and Quality Control
- Mohamed Mohamud, Manager of Communications and Special Projects
- Janeen Oien, Interim CP Director
In addition to successfully navigating the HR screening process and first and second interviews, the successful candidate also had to complete a written exercise and make a presentation to the interview team addressing a major opportunity facing our contracts/partnerships work.
After all of this, Lori clearly emerged as our strongest candidate for several reasons. Lori brings to this important leadership position formal education including a B.S. in psychology and a Masters in Rehab Counseling. Lori also brings almost 30 years of professional experience in rehabilitation services including five years at a nonprofit organization and more than 24 years at VRS. During her tenure at VRS, Lori first served as a Rehab Counselor before serving as a Training Specialist on the Training/Development team and then becoming a Rehab Area Manager, a role she has served in for more than 10 years.
Lori brings to this role a deep passion and commitment to vocational rehabilitation services as well as proven experience building a strong team that together, can achieve exceptional outcomes. Her deep experience in the field will be perfect for building a stronger bridge between all areas of VRS as well as within our entire community of partners.
During my time so far at VRS, I have had two opportunities to hire and similar to my colleagues on the VRS executive team, I have been intentional about bringing in people outside of VRS who bring a fresh, new perspective with Mohamed Mohamud as our Manager of Communications and Special Projects and leveraging internal talent and promoting from within with Lori Thorpe. In both of these cases and approaches, our work and mission is strengthened.
During the interim, Janeen Oien agreed to step into the important role of CP Director on an interim basis. In this capacity, Janeen has impressed me and many others. She has been smart, strategic and amazingly calm stepping into a lot of work and keeping everything running smoothly during the transition. Thank you Janeen for your willingness to serve as interim and the outstanding job you have done!
Lori will be transitioning into her new role on August 2nd. Please join me in welcoming and congratulating her on her new role at VRS!
Michelle Basham, She/Her, MPA/ESQ
Deputy Director
What is the DEED-Vocational Rehabilitation Services Community Partner and Stakeholder listserv?
The Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) Division of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) comprises the public Vocational Rehabilitation program, the Minnesota Extended Employment program, Independent Living services, Individual Placement and Supports grants, and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing grants.
The DEED-VRS Community Partner and Stakeholder listserv is the communication platform for current VRS Community Partners, potential VRS Community Partners, and other interested stakeholders in Minnesota’s disability employment services system. We encourage you to subscribe if you are an interested stakeholder in Minnesota’s disability employment services system.
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