Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Steven Ditschler, Kathleen Hagen, Jeff Mihelich, Felix Raymond Montez, Craig Roisum, Jamie Taylor, and Lisa Vala; and the reappointment of Janice Bailey, Fannie Primm, Tom Scanlan, Coralmae Stenstrom, Kenneth Trebelhorn, and Jeffrey West to the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind. In addition, Richard Strong, director of the State Services for the Blind, serves as an ex-officio member of the council.

Bailey, of Rochester, has 31 years of experience as a rehabilitation counselor with the State Services for the Blind in Rochester. Bailey earned her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Utah State University in Logan, and her bachelor of arts degree from Southwest State University in Marshall. She is a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota Board of Directors, president of the Rochester Chapter, and a member of the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Advisory Council. Bailey, who has been a member of the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind since 2006, is reappointed to a position for a vocational rehabilitation counselor to another three-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Ditschler, of Eagan, is the chief executive officer of Pro-Act, Inc., a private, non-profit human services organization that provides a variety of services to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Ditschler earned his master of arts and bachelor of science degrees from Minnesota State University – Mankato. He has been a member of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council since 2006, is past chair of the Minnesota State Rehabilitation Council, and the National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils. Ditschler replaces Rod Haworth on the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind as a representative of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council, and is appointed to a three-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Hagen, of Minneapolis, is a staff attorney with the Minnesota Disability Law Center where she works in its client assistance program. Hagen earned her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, and her bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead. Hagen replaces Bonita Kallestad on the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind as a representative of a client assistance program, and is appointed to a three-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Mihelich, of Minneapolis, is a customer service representative with JLC Services Inc. in Minneapolis. Mihelich earned his bachelor of science degree from Bemidji State University, and has done graduate work in human development at St. Mary’s College in Minneapolis. He is a member of the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota. Mihelich replaces Rebecca Kragnes on the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind as a representative of the American Council of the Blind, and is appointed to a three-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Montez, of Minneapolis, founded REI Inc. property management agency. Montez earned his bachelor of science degree online from Excelsior College in Albany, New York, earned an addiction studies certificate from the University of Minnesota, and is pursuing his doctorate of philosophy in addiction counseling psychology online from Breyer State University in Los Angeles, California. Montez replaces Jane Toleno on the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind as a representative of business and industry, and is appointed to a three-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Primm, of Minneapolis, is the chief executive officer of Vanguard Realty in Minneapolis. She was a teacher and advisor to at-risk students at Folwell Middle/Green Central Community School in Minneapolis, and is active in numerous professional associations and community organizations. Primm earned her doctorate degree in educational administration from Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, master’s degrees in education and social work, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. Primm, who has been a member of the Rehabilitation Council since 2006, is reappointed as a representative of business and industry to another three-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Roisum, of Brooklyn Center, is the chief shift engineer at Fairview Medical Center in Maple Grove. Roisum, who has Ushers Syndrome, is a member of the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota, where he serves on the Board of Directors, National Federation of the Blind Minnesota, and has served as a member of the State Services for the Blind Deaf/Blind Committee. Roisum replaces David Johnson on the Rehabilitation Council of the Blind as a representative of business and industry, and is appointed to a three-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Scanlan, of Minneapolis, is retired after a 37-year career in state service in a variety of positions. Scanlan earned his bachelor of arts degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He is the treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. Scanlan, who has been a member of the Rehabilitation Council of the Blind since 2007 and chairs its Blind Vendor Outcomes and Measures Committee, is reappointed as a representative of the National Federation of the Blind to another three-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Stenstrom, is retired after a career in nursing in a variety of settings. She is a member of the United Blind of Minnesota Inc. Board of Directors, Christian Fellowship of the Blind, and serves as a volunteer peer counselor for people with macular degeneration. Stenstrom, who has been a member of the Rehabilitation Council of the Blind since 2005, is reappointed as a representative of United Blind of Minnesota to another three-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Taylor, of St. Paul, is a technology and access specialist with the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans, where she designed and implemented a DeafBlind VoteRide pilot project. Taylor earned her master of education degree in deaf education as well as her bachelor of arts degree in deaf studies from the University of Minnesota. She is a trustee with the Minnesota DeafBlind Association. Taylor replaces Lynette Boyer on the Rehabilitation Council of the Blind as a deafblind representative, and is appointed to a three-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Trebelhorn, of Faribault, is an assistive technology specialist at the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind in Faribault, and a vendor with the State Services for the Blind. He volunteers with his local National Federation for the Blind chapter, teaches technology to State Services for the Blind customers, and volunteers with Lions Club International, where he reconfigures donated computer systems and distributes them to clients in need. Trebelhorn, who has been a member of the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind since 2008, is reappointed as a community rehabilitation program provider to a three-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Vala, of Plymouth, is a principal engineer with General Mills where she has worked for 25 years. Vala earned her engineering degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She is the parent of two children with visual impairments, is a member of the National Association of Visually Impaired and Arc of Hennepin County, where she served as an IDEA parent trainer, and previously was a member of the Minnesota State Special Education Advisory Panel. Vala replaces Elizabeth Bruber on the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind as an advocate, and is appointed to a three-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

West, of Golden Valley, is a private residential drafter and designer. He has also been a store drafter and designer with Super Valu Stores, a block tender with Shoreline Cement, and a 911 emergency dispatcher with the Golden Valley Police Department. West earned his associate of arts degree in architecture from North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park. He is a member of the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota, where he serves on its Board of Directors. West, who has been a member of the Rehabilitation Council of the Blind since 2007, is reappointed as a representative of business and industry to another three-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

The Rehabilitation Council for the Blind provides advice and makes recommendations to the State Services for the Blind and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development on products and services for the blind. The council consists of 19 members appointed by the Governor, as well as an ex-officio member from the State Services for the Blind.