We are here to serve you. Our team is experienced, knowledgeable and connected.
OUR TEAM
Darla Wilkerson
Chief Executive Officer
dwilkerson@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org
Darla has has over 35 years of experience connecting businesses to people with disabilities for employment. She has owned her own consulting business, the CSI Network, since 2010 and continues to provide consultation and training specific to the employment of people with disabilities. In 2014 Darla contracted with the Center for Disability Inclusion, becoming CEO in 2019. She drives the direction of the organization and works with business and community partners to help them advance their disability inclusion efforts in the workplace, and marketplace. Darla self identifies as a person with a disability since acquiring a brain injury in 2006. She holds a master’s degree in public administration with a non-profit emphasis from University of Missouri-Kansas City and has served on many national and statewide boards focusing on increased employment for people with disabilities. Darla was recognized as one of the 2021 Ace Award winners and Champions of Diversity. The Ace Awards honor up-and-coming senior level managers who are advocating for expansion of their company's DEI efforts. Partnering with businesses to assist in elevating inclusion in the workplace is Darla's passion.
Chief Executive Officer
dwilkerson@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org
Darla has has over 35 years of experience connecting businesses to people with disabilities for employment. She has owned her own consulting business, the CSI Network, since 2010 and continues to provide consultation and training specific to the employment of people with disabilities. In 2014 Darla contracted with the Center for Disability Inclusion, becoming CEO in 2019. She drives the direction of the organization and works with business and community partners to help them advance their disability inclusion efforts in the workplace, and marketplace. Darla self identifies as a person with a disability since acquiring a brain injury in 2006. She holds a master’s degree in public administration with a non-profit emphasis from University of Missouri-Kansas City and has served on many national and statewide boards focusing on increased employment for people with disabilities. Darla was recognized as one of the 2021 Ace Award winners and Champions of Diversity. The Ace Awards honor up-and-coming senior level managers who are advocating for expansion of their company's DEI efforts. Partnering with businesses to assist in elevating inclusion in the workplace is Darla's passion.
Brenda Perkins
Director of Business Relations
bperkins@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org
Brenda spent her career as a small business owner in the employee benefits and communications arena working with business
and HR leaders to improve employee appreciation, engagement and retention. She was co-founder and senior communications consultant of Joshua Communications and holds the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation. She has extensive volunteer leadership experience with SHRM-KC and Missouri SHRM, serving as President and State Director respectively. She then
served on the SHRM national Membership Advisory Council, reporting to the SHRM CEO. Brenda understands the challenges of disability inclusion and talent acquisition. Having two nephews with a developmental disability was the catalyst for her role as a founding board member and past president of the Greater Kansas City Business Leadership Network, later changed to Disability:IN GKC and now the
Center for Disability Inclusion. As Director of Business Relations, Brenda is the liaison with corporate partners and leads our
partnership and communications efforts.
Director of Business Relations
bperkins@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org
Brenda spent her career as a small business owner in the employee benefits and communications arena working with business
and HR leaders to improve employee appreciation, engagement and retention. She was co-founder and senior communications consultant of Joshua Communications and holds the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation. She has extensive volunteer leadership experience with SHRM-KC and Missouri SHRM, serving as President and State Director respectively. She then
served on the SHRM national Membership Advisory Council, reporting to the SHRM CEO. Brenda understands the challenges of disability inclusion and talent acquisition. Having two nephews with a developmental disability was the catalyst for her role as a founding board member and past president of the Greater Kansas City Business Leadership Network, later changed to Disability:IN GKC and now the
Center for Disability Inclusion. As Director of Business Relations, Brenda is the liaison with corporate partners and leads our
partnership and communications efforts.
Meaghan Fitzgerald Walls
Director of Business Relations | Nebraska
mwalls@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org
Meaghan is responsible for partner acquisition and communications for the Omaha region. She is also the President/CEO of
Assistology, LLC, in Omaha, Nebraska which provides Assistive Technology (AT), Rehab Engineering, Accessibility and Universal Design
consultation that enable an individual to have increased participation in activities that improve functional abilities for daily living, as well as
overall quality of life, as well as help businesses increase their ability to create inclusive spaces, services, products and practices.
Previously, Meaghan served as Director of Rehabilitation Services at Children’s Respite Care Center in Omaha. Her career also includes
positions as a Biomedical Sales Engineer at ADInstruments in Boston, and as an Assistive Technology Specialist, Assistive Technology
Regional Center Coordinator, project leader and researcher for Easter Seals Massachusetts. Most recently, Walls was elected to serve as a
member of the Board of Directors for the Omaha Children’s Museum. She was an award recipient of the Midland’s Business Journal 2019
40 Under 40. In 2019 Walls was appointed to the Mayor’s Advisory Commission for Citizens with Disabilities and in 2020 was elected as
the Vice Chair of the Commission. She is also the elected Board President of Angel Guardians, Inc. Meaghan is a certified Assistive
Technology Professional (ATP) who holds a Master of Science in Bioengineering with an emphasis on Rehabilitation and Assistive
Technology from the University of Illinois-Chicago under a 2 year Rehab Technology Fellowship. She earned a Bachelor of Science in
Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana.
Director of Business Relations | Nebraska
mwalls@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org
Meaghan is responsible for partner acquisition and communications for the Omaha region. She is also the President/CEO of
Assistology, LLC, in Omaha, Nebraska which provides Assistive Technology (AT), Rehab Engineering, Accessibility and Universal Design
consultation that enable an individual to have increased participation in activities that improve functional abilities for daily living, as well as
overall quality of life, as well as help businesses increase their ability to create inclusive spaces, services, products and practices.
Previously, Meaghan served as Director of Rehabilitation Services at Children’s Respite Care Center in Omaha. Her career also includes
positions as a Biomedical Sales Engineer at ADInstruments in Boston, and as an Assistive Technology Specialist, Assistive Technology
Regional Center Coordinator, project leader and researcher for Easter Seals Massachusetts. Most recently, Walls was elected to serve as a
member of the Board of Directors for the Omaha Children’s Museum. She was an award recipient of the Midland’s Business Journal 2019
40 Under 40. In 2019 Walls was appointed to the Mayor’s Advisory Commission for Citizens with Disabilities and in 2020 was elected as
the Vice Chair of the Commission. She is also the elected Board President of Angel Guardians, Inc. Meaghan is a certified Assistive
Technology Professional (ATP) who holds a Master of Science in Bioengineering with an emphasis on Rehabilitation and Assistive
Technology from the University of Illinois-Chicago under a 2 year Rehab Technology Fellowship. She earned a Bachelor of Science in
Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana.
Andy Traub
Director of Corporate Disability Inclusion
atraub@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org
Andy is the Director of Corporate Disability Inclusion and provides customized consultation that aligns business goals with best practices in disability inclusion. He is also President of Traub & Associates Consulting and co-host of Winning Workplaces podcast. He most recently served as VP of Human Resources and created/ led Allied InclusionWorks at Allied One Source. He's an internationally recognized leader
in disability and diversity employment with 25+ years of experience. Andy has developed/ implemented talent acquisition/management
strategies for numerous entities including Google, Best Buy, Walgreens, Office Depot, Amazon, Starbucks, Sodexo, Kroger and several European-based companies, and consulted with government entities in Russia, Scotland, Germany. As lead consultant on the Workplace Initiative Team for Poses Family Foundation he developed disability inclusion strategies for national employers receiving foundation funding.
At AMC, Andy led strategic recruitment initiatives as Dir. of Recruitment and created “AMC F.O.C.U.S.”, an award-winning ground-breaking
program in hiring and retaining large numbers of individuals with disabilities. At National Organization on Disability he was Managing
Director and created innovative programs including the Disability Employment Tracker. Andy has been invited by two different
administrations to present at the White House on best practices in disability employment. Invited by the US Embassy, he presented
multiple keynotes at an international disability employment conference in Moscow. Andy recently co-authored curriculum on global best
practices in disability employment for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation, with public access in May 2022.
Director of Corporate Disability Inclusion
atraub@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org
Andy is the Director of Corporate Disability Inclusion and provides customized consultation that aligns business goals with best practices in disability inclusion. He is also President of Traub & Associates Consulting and co-host of Winning Workplaces podcast. He most recently served as VP of Human Resources and created/ led Allied InclusionWorks at Allied One Source. He's an internationally recognized leader
in disability and diversity employment with 25+ years of experience. Andy has developed/ implemented talent acquisition/management
strategies for numerous entities including Google, Best Buy, Walgreens, Office Depot, Amazon, Starbucks, Sodexo, Kroger and several European-based companies, and consulted with government entities in Russia, Scotland, Germany. As lead consultant on the Workplace Initiative Team for Poses Family Foundation he developed disability inclusion strategies for national employers receiving foundation funding.
At AMC, Andy led strategic recruitment initiatives as Dir. of Recruitment and created “AMC F.O.C.U.S.”, an award-winning ground-breaking
program in hiring and retaining large numbers of individuals with disabilities. At National Organization on Disability he was Managing
Director and created innovative programs including the Disability Employment Tracker. Andy has been invited by two different
administrations to present at the White House on best practices in disability employment. Invited by the US Embassy, he presented
multiple keynotes at an international disability employment conference in Moscow. Andy recently co-authored curriculum on global best
practices in disability employment for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation, with public access in May 2022.
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