Smart Home Expo: Empowering Independence Through Technology

Cindy Ehlers, MS, LCMHC, brings 35 years of industry experience and currently serves as the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer for Trillium Health Resources. She focuses on improving access to healthcare and affordability through innovative solutions. She served as Chief Operations Officer and Chief Clinical Operations Officer for the past 30 years. Cindy has lead several major mergers and consolidations for Trillium during her tenure. Most recently, she was deeply involved in operationalizing the Tailored Plan for Trillium, creating true whole person care for the BH-IDD-TBI population. Cindy is a leader in innovation for behavioral health and IDD and the life-long supports needed by these populations in NC.

Cindy is a champion for the implementation of evidence-based practices. Cindy created Trillium’s Innovative Development department, which focuses on evidence-based approaches and innovative opportunities, to address healthcare needs and health disparities throughout North Carolina. She has worked in both in the public and private sectors. Cindy has developed many programs and services overcoming rural barriers and many health disparities to meeting service needs of the BH-IDD population.

Cindy offers a unique perspective in her role as an Executive in the NC system, as she is both a parent and professional. Cindy has six children- several who have special needs; she was a therapeutic foster parent and is an adoptive parent. Cindy understands the system from the perspective of the MCO, from inside out and as a parent of children with special healthcare needs from the outside in. Her lived experience is unique to find in healthcare at this level in an organization. Trillium is the only health plan in the state with a parent who has been a foster parent, adoptive parent and is the parent of children with IDD on the Executive team of the organization.

Sarah Grace Britton has a Masters in Special Education and over 15 years of professional experience teaching, developing programs, and advocating for individuals with disabilities. On top of her professional experience working with individuals with disabilities, she also has a lifetime of personal experience, due to both her brothers having Down syndrome. Sarah Grace is currently a Representative of SimplyHome, a company that designs and installs innovative technology solutions that empower individuals to live their own, self-determined lifestyle while addressing the concerns of caregivers. Before joining the SimplyHome team as an employee, Sarah Grace, in partnership with Easterseals PORT Health and Trillium Health Resources, developed a Smart Home using SimplyHome’s technology. As she watched her clients progress towards full independence, she knew that she wanted to help more people understand the benefit of having a tech-first mindset. Ultimately, this mission led to Sarah Grace’s transition to SimplyHome where she continues to spread the word about life-changing enabling tech.  

Paige Epley-Williams serves as the Innovations CM Manager at Vaya Health. With a total of eighteen years dedicated to working with individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Paige brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. She holds a Master’s degree in social work and is certified by the National Association of Dual Diagnosis (NADD). Throughout her career, Paige has undertaken various positions, including direct support professional, Qualified Professional, and Care Management support. In her personal time, she enjoys traveling, tasting different foods, and gardening.

Brian Hart is the CEO of Smart Living Systems and ShiftAbility, a Cincinnati-based agency focused on assisting I/DD agencies in transforming from typical caregiving models to technology-first models of service.  He has made it his mission to push the boundaries of what options exist for adults with disabilities.  He is never satisfied and believes there is always a better way to increase the independence of others and break down the systemic barriers that hold them back. He has been at the forefront of expanding services through the use of technology enabled supports and community clusters of services. Through his work, Brian has been able to assist agencies across the country to implement technology first and remote support to increase the number of individuals they support. Brian believes that technology enabled support is the solution to the problems facing I/DD and Mental Health support agencies, and he is excited to be at the forefront of assisting agencies in this change.

Leslie Lawrence serves as the Culinary Director for Culinary Connections at Easterseals PORT Health, an innovative program designed to make culinary arts more accessible to ALL. With more than 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry—including catering, food service, and event management—Leslie brings a deep well of lived experience that informs every aspect of the program’s design and delivery.

Her passion for food and people shines through in her work, blending warmth, creativity, and structure to create inclusive culinary experiences. Prior to Culinary Connections, Leslie helped lead and design the SensABLE Snacks Food Trucks in North Carolina, a forward-thinking model that employed individuals with disabilities and provided hands-on food service training. The lessons learned from that program laid the groundwork for Culinary Connections, shaping its mission and approach.

Leslie’s commitment to inclusivity and empowerment is the perfect recipe—combining heart, skill, and vision to serve up the transformative power of cooking for everyone, regardless of ability.

Laura is a co-founder and CEO of GrandCare Systems, a touchscreen and sensor-based technology platform designed to improve independence and enhance remote supports for individuals living with disabilities and older adults. She has over 20 years of experience in the remote monitoring and connected health industry. In 2015, she founded LMC, a boutique marketing and consulting agency with a technology and senior housing niche. Laura has been featured in Forbes magazine for social media, was a 2012 “Top 40 under 40”, Top 100 Women in M2M in Connected World, and a recipient of the ‘Flame Award for Innovation and Leadership’ in 2011. She was a 2020 Rotarian of the Year, WI Innovation Awards finalist, and a 2022 Women in Consumer Technology Legacy recipient. She frequently volunteers with the Carlsbad Rotary and Cal State San Marcos business program. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two boys, and three dogs.

Scott Feldstein is the director of US Sales and Training at GrandCare. In addition to 20 years of experience in technology, Scott has studied psychology, religion, education and computing. He holds a master’s in education from Marquette University.

Tom Keating, Ph.D., is the founder and CEO of Cognitopia, home of the Cognitopia Platform for Self-Determination for individuals with cognitive disabilities, including tools for IEP self-direction, goal management, task analysis, and team coordination. He is also a Courtesy Research Associate in the Computer and Information Sciences Department of the University of Oregon. Tom has been focused for the past 30 years on research and development of self-management and community living applications for individuals with cognitive disabilities including autism, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and cognitive decline due to aging. He developed the Picture Planner™ visual calendaring system and the ScanDo video modeling application and has been principal investigator on over 25 federally-funded technology development projects with over 10 million dollars in funding. His perspective in all of his work has been strongly influenced by his experience of over 30 years as a caregiver for a brother who experienced autism.

Originally from New York, Stephanie McDonald received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Albany with a concentration in Psychology and Biology. She started her career working at B.O.C.E.S. (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services) as an Emotional Support Para-Educator for children diagnosed with Autism from 1999-2003. From 2003 until 2005, Stephanie worked as a Residential Coordinator for individuals discharged from the infamous Willowbrook Institution. After moving to Pennsylvania in 2005, she worked as a Supports Coordinator (Case Manager), for individuals with disabilities from the life span of toddlers to senior citizens. Following such, Stephanie was a Behavioral Specialist for Adults and Senior Citizen diagnosed with Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health Disorders. From there, she worked for over 15 years at a very large Provider Agency in Northeastern PA as a Director of Residential and Life Sharing Programs for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism. Starting in 2022, she began my career at SafeInHome, where she has the absolute pleasure of working with individuals needing support in the form of Remote Supports Service and Assistive Technology. Here, she is able assist people from young adulthood to elder care in multiple settings safely achieve personal-centered independence. On a personal note, Stephanie is a mother to two lovely, energetic children, three lazy bulldogs and passionately root for the New York Yankees when she is not working to assist individuals in the human services field.