Meet some of our staff

Shawna Cogar
Director

Shawna came to Paragon in 1996 with experience in both residential and day programs.  Prior to that she worked as a fitness coach creating individual and group fitness programs as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program for people who had suffered a stroke or heart attack.  Shawna holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She has an extensive and comprehensive record of creating, designing and operating successful programs for people with developmental disabilities, brain injuries and mental illnesses. Shawna's creative flair and the genuine compassion she feels for the people she supports and their guardians is evident in the programs that she has created and continues to run. 

"I have always found the work I do very rewarding because I think that people should be allowed to experience a quality life in the community-- A life that is filled with the fun and excitement that people without disabilities take for granted.  The people we support should have a voice in what they do.  They should lead a life filled with fun and not be constrained by what society believes they should do.  I believe that programs must remain flexible and respond to the needs of who we support.  Every program we run has a distinct personality that is created by the people there and the community they live in. 

I'm proud of the fact that we support people regardless of their physical or intellectual challenges.  When we meet someone new we don’t accept that they can’t be served.  We owe it to the people we support to exhaust every possibility to find the best way to assist them to lead a fulfilling life in their community.  We consider what others see to be impossible simply as a degree of difficulty."

Ann Fraiser
Area Director North
Green Bay; De Pere, P.A.C. & Plymouth

Ann is currently the Area Director for Paragon's North Region. She has been with Paragon since 1999, and started as a Program Coordinator at the Fort Atkinson site. A few years ago, she left the Paragon Fort Atkinson site to start Paragon's program in Green Bay. Shortly thereafter she expanded services to include a Paragon site in De Pere, and another in Plymouth, and has developed the P.A.C. (Paragon Activity Club) program at the Green Bay site.

Ann has a degree in Social Work, and a wealth of experience. Her educational background and experience enables her to easily assess the needs of the community and the individual clients. Many of Paragon's Green Bay clients are young, energetic, and express their needs and wants through challenging behaviors. Ann is proud of the quality of programming at the site and has a terrific working philosophy:

"I believe in making the program work for the person and not making people try to work into the program. A lot of what we do is social skills training, leisure activities, and activities off-site in the community.

The fact is that many of the individuals we support have been discharged from other programs because of their behavioral challenges. Our staff ratio is higher than most traditional day programs and work sites. This allows us to really individualize programming to cater to the person.

I believe in the ability of individuals to empower themselves and accomplish great things when given the right supports with high expectations. I am proud that not only are they doing "okay" at Paragon, they are learning, growing, and succeeding."

Ann and her husband are avid Packers fans. She enjoys spending time with her children and new puppy when not at work.

Andrea Lindsay
Program Coordinator
Green Bay; De Pere, P.A.C

Andrea has worked with adults with developmental disabilities for 8 years and says she has “never had a job that is more fulfilling.”  Andrea started with Paragon in July of 2003 as a Program Instructor, and was promoted to Program Coordinator of Green Bay Paragon in August of 2005.  In August of 2006, she took on the additional responsibility of the De Pere Paragon program site.

Andrea is currently going to school and will graduate in December with an Associate's Degree in Leadership Development.  She is also continuing on to finish her Bachelor's Degree in Public Service Administration with an emphasis on non-profit organizations.

Andrea’s favorite thing to do is to spend time with her husband and new baby girl! She says “the best thing about Paragon is seeing the smiling faces that greet me everyday.  It really brightens up my day and reminds me why I am here.”

Jackie Clark
Team Leader
DePere

Jackie has been with Paragon since October 2004, and initially began as a Program Instructor.  In August of 2006, Jackie was promoted to Team Leader of the newly opened DePere Paragon site, and continues to serve in that management capacity.  Early on in her career she realized that she could make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities, and in the community.

Jackie says “I have really grown from all my experiences, and I have learned a lot from the people I serve.  From the beginning, I have striven to continue to accomplish steps in improving my capabilities in working with people and take care of tasks designed to make the program and services better.  I really enjoy what I do and look forward to coming to work every day.”

Outside of work, Jackie’s primary interest is her family.  She also enjoys racing, camping, and outdoor activities.

Terri Berken
Team Leader
Green Bay

Terri Berken has been with Paragon since July 2003.  She started as a Program Instructor and accepted the position of Team Leader in March of 2006.  Terri enjoys the challenge of scheduling activities and group outings while still trying to meet each individual’s needs.

She says, "Nothing compares to those moments when a participant makes a connection with another peer, staff member or activity that they are engaged in.  All the smiles and excitement are truly rewarding.  I am thankful for the opportunity to work with an extended family filled with extraordinary people.”

Terri and her husband, Jim, have recently purchased their first home and spend much of their time painting and renovating.  In her spare time, Terri also likes to read, write, go camping and listen to her husband's band, which is often hired to play.

Olivia Stevens
Team Leader
P.A.C

Olivia has been in the human services field for 7 years, and became part of our Paragon team in the summer of 2004.  She has held many positions at out Green Bay site, and recently took on the role of the Paragon Activity Club (P.A.C.) Team Lead. Her enthusiasm and fresh outlook about the field in general, and services specifically have also aided the development of both the DePere and Plymouth sites.

Olivia is currently completing her degree at the University of Wisconsin—Green Bay, majoring in both Psychology and Human Development. Upon graduation she hopes to continue to be an asset to Paragon’s team.

When asked about why she enjoys her work and vocation, Olivia says, “It is truly a joy coming to work every day! Paragon does wonderful things for our clients, and I am honored to be a part of that.”

Nicholas Verhagen
Program Coordinator
Plymouth

Nick Verhagen is the Program Coordinator at our Plymouth site. He joined Paragon in 2006, and has an extensive background in working with individuals with developmental disabilities.

A Human Services and Education graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Nick has held several positions in which he has demonstrated excellence in developing and implementing service plans, and supervised and instructed others in coordinating goal-related activities. Nick has a very strong passion for working in this field and sees his career as a vocation.

In his time away from work he very much enjoys spending time with his family. His wife Amy, son Casey, newborn daughter Addison (born in February of 2007!), and dog Lucy get all his attention when he is not at Paragon! Nick also is a great sports fan. His favorite teams to root for are the Badgers, Packers, Brewers and Bucks.

Halei Smith
Team Leader
Plymouth

Halei started in the Human Services field as a one on one Independent Living Assistant at a residential facility.  There were a number of people in the facility who were unable to attend a day services program for a variety of reasons.  Halei created such a program for these people and for the facility.  Her day program also incorporated activities related to community involvement and integration.

When Paragon opened in Sheboygan County, all of the people Halei worked with were slated to attend Paragon’s new Sheboygan site.  These people were transitioned to Paragon, and Halei transitioned with them!  In this way, she became a part of the Paragon team.  She currently functions as the Team Leader at the Paragon Sheboygan program.

Halei has many strengths, but particularly valuable in her role as Team Leader are the ability to assess the needs, desires, and interests of the people we serve, and the ability to “go with the ever changing flow” of what our participants want and need.

Halei tells us that her “passions and interests in life outside of work (you can't even call this work!!) include visiting museums, writing, painting, singing, and anything related to rock and roll.”

Ami Stutz
Regional Director
Burlington & Fort Atkinson

Ami comes to Paragon with a wealth of experience. She has supported adults with developmental disabilities, brain injury, Alzheimer's, dementia, and mental illness. Since 1996, she has been starting up programs, setting up systems, and establishing residences for adults with disabilities. Ami is a very detailed and safety conscious person. She is well prepared to support individuals who are medically fragile and have severe seizure disorders.

Ami has developed and implemented a seizure training that gives staff the tools to respond appropriately and confidently in the event of a severe episode. She feels it is essential for staff to have the right tools for the job and provides staff with the necessary training to address the high level of needs in her programs.

When asked what she feels helps her programs run so well, she says:

"Good communication between the family, the residential staff, and Paragon staff are essential to providing quality services. I recall a time when we had a woman who would occasionally put her fingers together with both hands as if to try to communicate something. I talked to the group home staff who happened to have talked to her Mom the day before and we found out that she was taught the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" by her Mom when she was a girl. When we started to sing the song and do the hand movements with her, she threw down her magazine and ran up to me and hugged me. That was a great day!"

Dawn Townsend
Team Leader
Burlington

Team Leader, Dawn Townsend, finds her work very rewarding.  Here’s what she tells us about an achievement of one of our many participants: 

“We had an individual who was physically capable of walking but was not doing so.  She would just barely stand on her feet when the Physical Therapist came out to our site to begin working with her.  We watched the therapist but she made little progress as he was only here a few days per week.

When she was discharged from formal therapy, we carried the plan over into her daily routine.  We introduced the walker to her several times per day.  At the beginning, she would throw it off to the side. 

After a few weeks, she was used to seeing the walker and would tolerate it.  So the next step was to have her stand and hold it.  She would do so for a second, then sit back down.  Over a few months, we progressively continued to introduce tiny but progressive goals. 

She went from standing, to walking a few steps to walking with her wheel chair behind her.  Today she walks from one end of the site to the other!  Walking is now just part of her routine.  Watching the small, yet profound successes of the people we support is something I find personally rewarding.”

Pat Thoma
Program Coordinator
Fort Atkinson

With 30 years experience working with adults with disabilities, it's easy to say that Pat is an excellent addition to our managerial staff. Pat has spent most of her time managing and inspiring staff. She started out in the field as a direct-care aide and worked her way up. Her Bachelor's degree in Education has really prepared her for outstanding program development. Pat is able to effectively manage multiple responsibilities, an integral part of the Program Coordinator position. Pat has been with Paragon since 2003.

When asked what has kept her in the field so long:

"I simply find it satisfying to watch the participants and my staff learn, grow, and progress."

Pat is an avid Nascar fan. She enjoys any kind of sporting event and reads just about anything she can get her hands on.

Patsy Rader
Team Leader
Fort Atkinson

Patsy has been with our Fort Atkinson site since 1996. As a long-term employee, she offers individuals continuity of care and a working knowledge of their individual needs. She uses this skill in her managerial capacity working with adults with developmental disabilities and individuals who have experienced brain injury.

In the past, Patsy worked in the Fort Atkinson School District with kindergarten through grade five level children with special needs. When asked what was one of the fun things Fort Atkinson has done, she tells us:

"We contracted with Ernie Droessler, a famous healthcare entertainer, to provide a special one-day event for our participants. Ernie is multi-talented in singing, dancing, and music. The clients really just came alive and loved it! There were individuals who got up and danced for the very first time! Even the more passive people were engaged and responding in ways we had not seen before. It was a grand time and it really lifted everyone's spirits. We now count on this as an annual event and have incorporated some of his techniques into our programming."

Kevin Silkey
Regional Director New Berlin
New Berlin Calhoun & New Berlin Moorland

Kevin Silkey, Regional Director of Paragon Day Services in New Berlin, is a welcome addition to the organization.  Kevin has a background in caring for adults with disabilities, child welfare, family advocacy, program development and program supervision.  Kevin attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout where he received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies.  After some practical field experience, he returned to school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work with a certification in Marriage and Family Therapy. For 10 years, through his proven dedication to the field, Kevin has improved the quality of life for many people with whom he has had contact. In the past 4 years, Kevin has held leadership roles and assisted in the development of training in the areas of child and family team facilitation and conflict resolution.  Kevin’s professional passion is grounded in the belief of developing individualized plans to meet the specific needs of those he works with.

In his spare time, Kevin enjoys doing yard work and getting up early to go to the gym.  He has a passion for animals and is an active foster home for rescue dogs through the Wisconsin Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation. 

Karen Anderson
Program Coordinator
New Berlin Calhoun

Karen Anderson is the Program Coordinator for Paragon Day Services New Berlin Calhoun site. She has worked in the Human Service field for 9 years. Karen brings a great deal of experience which has included supervising Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Social Workers, QMRP's, Behavior Specialists, Program Assistants and Recreation Staff. In supervising these departments, Karen was responsible for ensuring that overall program consistency and compliance with applicable state and federal regulations along with the needs of the individuals were met and satisfied on a daily basis. She also assisted in the relocation of a large ICF-MR, working with the State of Wisconsin to place individuals into community-based settings. This involved working with a team to develop client-specific programs, completing comprehensive assessments of each individual to be served, including areas of behavioral, medical, and psychological needs. This also involved assisting in and ensuring that appropriate staff training had been completed.

When not at work, Karen enjoys coaching softball at Menomonee Falls High School in the spring, playing softball, volleyball and flag football. She also enjoys spending time at home with family.

Jennifer Dehler
Program Coordinator
New Berlin Moorland

Jennifer Dehler is a Team Leader supporting Paragon clients with developmental disabilities in the moderate range. Her dynamic and versatile skills are an outstanding match to the extensive range of needs of the individuals she serves. Jennifer works in our New Berlin location.

Jennifer's experience working with adults with autism started while working one-to-one with an individual in our Burlington site. That experience sparked her interest to continue her education in this area along with special communication needs. Her contributions were vital in opening up our Green Bay site.

On the side, Jen is a member of the Autism Society. She is often called the "Martha of junk" as she can recycle just about anything into a purposeful craft project. She enjoys camping, hiking, and snow boarding.

When asked what she likes about her job, Jen said:

"I feel that my ability to empathize with others aides me in supporting adults with challenging behaviors. I believe that most behaviors are communicating some type of need. I find it's very satisfying to investigate the circumstances and then look outside the box for the solution so we can make it work for the individual."