Staff
Peter Moore
President and CEO
Over the past 25+ years Pete has been dedicated to improving the lives of people with IDD and the front-line professionals who serve them. His experience in the IDD system is diverse and has included working as a DSP, Case Manager, Director of Adult Services, Behavior Support Consultant for the State of Ohio, Chief of Staff for the Ohio Association of County Boards and an Administrator for ICF facilities. He is the co-founder of the Good Life Network. Pete is recognized by his peers for his abilities to exude principled leadership, build strong relationships, provide exceptional training and tackle complex problems with passion. Pete has a Master of Arts in Counseling from Heidelberg University and a BA from the University of Pittsburgh.
Read More >Scott Marks
Vice-President
Scott currently serves as OPRA’s Vice-President and is the lead contact for issues related to day and employment services. Scott manages various OPRA initiatives including C3PO, The OPRA Friday 5, and is the liaison for the Day Array, Day Service, and Employment Service committees. He also advocates for members' priorities in several state workgroups including the Single ISP, Blueprint for Adult Services, and BEST Implementation. He has a Master's in Social Work Administration from the Ohio State University and and lives with his family in Granville, Ohio.
Read More >Teresa Kobelt
Chief Innovation Officer
Teresa has spent her career pioneering, innovating, and improving the systems and services Ohioans with disabilities and their families rely on. From spearheading new initiatives to establishing award-winning partnerships, Teresa has the unique ability to turn remote possibilities into actionable plans. She is driven by mission and helps organizations operationalize their values, bring people together, and co-designs solutions. Over the course of her career, Teresa has run a large provider agency, led an Adult Services department, and served as Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, overseeing such key initiatives as Early Intervention, Family Engagement & Support, Trauma-Informed Care, and Employment First. Most recently, Teresa helped launch the Office of Policy at OCALI, a global leader in autism and disability. Teresa earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University where she was a Leadership Excellence in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellow. During this time, she also worked as a direct support professional. More than any classroom or professional role, however, Teresa’s greatest learning experiences have come from her kids — both of whom have multiple disabilities. Teresa likes to laugh, Google all the things she can’t remember or doesn’t know, and spend time with her family, especially in the woods.
Read More >Christine Touvelle
Director of Advocacy
Christine began her career in the system at 17 working as a day camp counselor at a summer camp for youth and young adults with developmental disabilities. After her work at this camp, she started to see how policy could impact the types of services available to Ohioans with developmental disabilities and sought out opportunities to learn more about the policymaking process. As a social work student intern, she spent her her senior year field placement at ORPA and was hired full-time after graduating in 2016. Now as Director of Advocacy, Christine helps coordinate OPRA's advocacy efforts at a state and federal level, monitors the rules and laws from various state and federal agencies, helps coordinate member feedback on the changes, and helps educate members on what the changes may impact their business. Christine leads our Advocacy Army advocacy training series and works closely with OPRA's contract lobbyists to influence legislation important to OPRA Members. Christine helps support all of OPRA’s committees, provides technical assistance on rules and regulations, attends state stakeholder meetings on behalf of OPRA Members, and helps coordinate OPRA's government relations efforts. Christine has her Bachelors of Science in Social Work from The Ohio State University, a Masters of Legal Studies with a specialization in healthcare law from the University of Oklahoma, and is currently attending night law school at Capital University Law School.
Read More >Melissa Fannon
Director of Events & Strategic Partnerships
Melissa is a key member of the OPRA team since February 2020. As a Certified Meeting Professional, Melissa brings a wealth of experience in orchestrating highly successful meetings, events, and conferences, adding significant value to our team. Melissa's role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including managing OPRA's Spring and Fall Conference, fostering vendor partnerships, coordinating OPRA Training, leading special events, and organizing OPRA PAC Fundraisers. Outside of her professional endeavors, Melissa enjoys exploring new destinations through travel, giving back to her community through volunteering, and creating cherished memories with her husband and two daughters.
Read More >Rachel Hayes
Director of Residential Resources
Rachel joined OPRA as the Director of Residential Resources in 2021, bringing over 20 years of experience in the field of Developmental Disabilities. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Leadership, which complement her extensive expertise in both day programming and residential services. Prior to her role at OPRA, Rachel served as the Director of Adult Day Services at ARC Industries and the Director of Programming at Heinzerling Community. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Rachel is the proud mother of Jackson, who will soon graduate from Ohio University and is pursuing further education in physical therapy. His dedication to his studies serves as a continued source of inspiration in Rachel's own commitment to excellence and service in the disability sector. Beyond her career, Rachel is also a self-proclaimed Game of Thrones lore expert, possessing an in-depth knowledge of the series' intricate history, as well as a WWII history enthusiast.
Read More >Sonya Summers
Member Communications Manager
Sonya Summers joined OPRA in April, 2016. Sonya currently serves as OPRA’s Member Communications Manager and is the lead contact for your membership questions. She is responsible for managing the OPRA membership database, OPRA website and various aspects of OPRA’s administrative needs. She helps support the OPRA Board and OPRA Governance Committee. She also co-chairs on the OPRA Member Services Committee. Sonya brings over 30 years’ of professional service experience to the OPRA Team. Before joining OPRA, Sonya worked 5 years as the Administrative Assistant to the League Commissioner for GameTimeSportz and Jr. NBA Basketball League in Pickerington Ohio. A non-profit organization that promoted leadership and teamwork activities for children ages 3-13.
Read More >Pete Thompson
Accountant
Pete Thompson joined OPRA in November 2013. With a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Interpersonal Communication from Ohio University. Prior to joining OPRA, Pete held Controller and CFO positions at several central Ohio companies. He also performs part-time accounting work for other non-profit organizations in the region. Pete began his career at Coopers & Lybrand in Columbus. He was born in Wisconsin and raised in New York State.
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