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The State of Maine, Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Aging and Disability Services announces its keynote speakers for the 2025 Innovation Summit May 19-20, 2025 in Portland, Maine.
This state and national-level conference will provide a chance to showcase innovations in delivery of services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or autism as well as those with conditions such as cerebral palsy, or seizure disorder, or other similar conditions. It will also feature a Tech Expo with vendor exhibits, and assistive technology demos where people can try out new equipment.
Keynote Speaker Monday May 19th: Hope Dittmeier, Executive Director of Mattingly Edge, Service provider in Louisville, KY.
Topic: Choosing the Leading Edge of Innovation
Mattingly Edge has transformed itself into an agency supporting people to live their best lives based on a person’s goals and support needs - without a building. Hope will provide concrete examples of how her organization accomplishes this and will share the positive benefits that have been derived from their practice – for the people they support, for the people working at the agency, and for the community.
Bio: Hope Leet Dittmeier earned a master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling in 1983 and continues to be a lifelong learner. Her 40-year career has focused on helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities access the good things in life that are typically denied to marginalized people – homes of their own, good jobs, a robust network of family and friends. Hope has served in a variety of roles including family member, Personal Futures Planning Facilitator, Regional Administrator, Early Interventionist, Family Support Specialist, trainer, and Executive Director. Hope developed an SRV-derived curriculum for practitioners, Endeavor for Excellence, that she taught in Ireland for three years. Her proudest accomplishment is leading the transition of a large, congregated adult day program into a service that only provides individualized, customized support that empowers disabled people to live typical lifestyles. She was recently honored to receive the Nonprofit Visionary Leadership Award in Louisville. Hope is a fierce advocate for full inclusion. When not working, Hope’s favorite thing to do is to spend time with her five-year-old grandson, Axl
Keynote Speaker Tuesday May 20th: Stacy DiStefano, CEO of Consulting for Human Services, Inc.
Topic: Innovation and Managing Change in Human Services
Bio: Stacy DiStefano is a seasoned Human Services Executive with extensive experience as a mental health clinician, business strategist, and operations leader. As a trained solution focused therapist, and a trusted strategic advisor, Stacy is a passionate leader who built a career inspiring teams as VP of Innovation for Resources for Human Development, COO of Open Minds, and COO of Chimes International. Stacy has led high revenue multi-state service lines, including behavioral health, substance use disorder, intellectual developmental disabilities, autism, and supported housing.
In addition to leading CFHS, Stacy is an Advisory Board member for RxDiet, Floreo, and Bluebird Leaders. Stacy holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology, and a Master’s in Counseling, and is a highly regarded public speaker, and board and executive team facilitator.
More about the Summit:
For more information: HOME | Maine Employer Summit (innovationsummitme.com)
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