Christen Buie, Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-IID) Program Manager
Christen joined KDADS in February of 2023. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from UMKC and has dedicated over 20 years to serving populations with disabilities. Early work experience includes clinical treatment for individuals with learning disabilities. Christen has experience in the roles of Direct Support Professional for adults with IDD, Manager of an Intermediate Care Facility, and Targeted Case Management.
Chris Cintron, Physical Disability (PD) Program Manager
Chris Cintron joined the KDADS team in January 2019. He comes to us from the education industry where for the past nine years he was instrumental in assisting prospective college students (from all walks of life) further their education. Chris says, "Nothing can compare to the joy and excitement displayed by students, who are just getting started on their educational journey, or have finally completed their journey, earning their degree; it really provided me with a true sense of purpose." He has a true passion for helping people achieve their goals. Chris spent 10 years in the United States Air Force and had the opportunity to see the world. He has a B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies and an M.S. in Performance Improvement from Grantham University.
Mark Dietzler, Workforce Employment First Specialist
Mark joined the KDADS team in May 2023. He has nearly three decades of education careers in Michigan, Florida, and Kansas as a teacher and counselor. He holds a B.B.E. from Eastern Michigan University. He provided summer enrichment programs in college and career preparation, coding and robotics, and math to disadvantaged populations. “The true value of a person’s worth is not what you do for yourself, it’s what you do for others.”
Kaitlyn England, HCBS Program Integrity Manager
Kaitlyn started with KDADS in December 2019. She is responsible for ensuring that all agencies that provide community-based waiver services follow all statewide licensing, program standards, policies and procedures established by KDADS. Kaitlyn has a bachelor's degree in human services from Washburn University with a victim survivors’ certificate. Kaitlyn has worked as a targeted case manager while providing direct support to adults in a residential setting. Kaitlyn has worked with at-risk youth in a psychiatric residential treatment facility.
Letha Farwell, I/DD Waiver Program Manager
Letha joined the KDADS team in January 2024. She holds a BA in Biology from Ottawa University, with a minor in Botany. She has dedicated over 37 years to insisting Person first to all those serviced under this waiver. She has worked in all areas as a Provider, which includes day, residential and case management. She has spent much of her time in a leadership role, focusing primarily on quality first. She is passionate about giving back to her community, family, and friends. She loves to garden and travel the nation and world.
Patrice Haley, AU/SED/TA Waiver Program Specialist
Sandra HestandPuett, HCBS Program Manager
Sandra Hestand Puett (she/her) has worked for KDADS as HCBS Project Manager since January 2022. With more than 15 years of experience in large-scale project management, community-based services, and program supervision, she is committed to making a positive difference in her community and helping others achieve their best possible life. Sandra holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Washburn University, the University of Kansas, and Emporia State University. However, she believes her children are her most compelling teachers. They are a daily source of lessons about what is most important in life and provide constant reminders that she is no longer cool or young.
Jamie Katsbulas, PD/IDD Waitlist and TCM Study Coordinator
Jamie works on the FMAP team as the PD/IDD Waitlist and TCM Study Coordinator. These projects utilize ARPA funds to gain a better understanding of current services and how to efficiently expand and improve future services. Jamie has a background in state and national programs and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Washburn University.
Seth Kilber, Assistant LTSS Commissioner
Seth joined KDADS in July 2022 as the Policy and Program Oversight Director. He started his career as a direct support professional before gaining additional expertise at a Community Developmental Disability Organization. Seth's commitment to the idea that a society's greatness is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members fosters in him a drive to continually deepen his knowledge and understanding of HCBS in an effort to bring inclusion and fulfillment to all Kansans.
Robin Lohman, Assistant I/DD Director
Robin Lohman joined KDADS in the Spring of 2023 after serving as a Director of Developmental Disability Organization Administration. She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science from Emporia State University and an Associates in Business from Neosho County Community College. After college, she traveled throughout the United States surveying power lines before entering into the I/DD and non-profit world in 2015 as a Targeted Case Manager. She serves on her local school board, on several non-profit coalitions, established an Oxford House in 2021, and plays the flute and oboe in the Iola Orchestra.
Morgan Loughmiller, Quality Assurance Manager
Morgan has been with KDADS since 2018 and received her BA from KU. Morgan oversees two Quality Assurance Teams who work in various locations across the Kansas. The HCBS Quality Management Specialist team completes the National Core Indicator Aging & Disability (NCI-AD) survey as well as conducts the audit for all 7 HCBS Waiver Performance Measures. The Aging Quality Assurance team surveys all 11 Area Agency on Aging (AAAs), focusing on the Older Americans Act (OAA) and Senior Care Act (SCA) programs, as well as the Client Assessment, Referral and Evaluation Assessment (CARE) Program. Throughout her career, Morgan has held management roles in both nursing homes and mental health facilities.
Jasper Lumadue, CARE Specialist
Nicole McKnight, PD/FE Waiver Program Specialist
Taquoshia Majors, HCBS Settings Coordinator
Taquoshia started with KDADS in August 2023 as the HCBS Settings Compliance Coordinator. She is responsible for ensuring all prospective and existing providers are capable and ready to service HCBS participants by being compliant with federal regulations, state regulations, and state policies. Taquoshia has an AAS in Business Administration from Bryan University and will soon be graduating with a B.S in Business Management. Over the past 10 years, Taquoshia has worked as a trainer and specialist for multiple Medicaid programs with the most training provided in elderly and disabled, I/IDD, PACE, MSP, HCBS, and SOBRA. Taquoshia also has experience working in foster care as a case manager and nursing for the elderly and disabled.
Aubrey Mentis Jr., MFP and Institutional Project Manager
Aubrey comes to us from the Sedgwick County Department on Aging, where he served as the Program Coordinator for The Going Home Program, a federally funded program that assisted persons in long-term care facilities transition back into the community. Mentis holds a master’s degree in the field of gerontology from Kansas State University, and a Bachelor of Arts and an associate degree in the field of Occupational Therapy from Newman University. He is an inaugural Fellow of American Society on Aging’s ASA RISE.
Paula Morgan, HCBS Administrative Manager
Paula is the HCBS Administrative Manager, first joining the KDADS HCBS team in February 2017 as IDD Program Manager before taking on the HCBS Administrative Manager position in October 2022. She holds a master’s degree in French Language and Literature from the University of Kansas. Her 13+ years of experience in the HCBS system initially started in IDD direct supports, then transitioned into working for a CDDO before KDADS employment. Prior to I/DD services, she spent several years working in Special Education services and with at-risk populations. Paula also has experience working in foster care services, first as an SRS foster care employee, then as a foster parent, and later as an adoptive parent of four.
Mohammad Nahid Ul Islam, Senior Administrative Specialist
Mohammad, a Master of Science in Information Technology graduate from Emporia State University, excels in cybersecurity, system management and administrative management. He likes to blend technical prowess with strategic business insights.
Sam Philbern, TA/SED Program Manager
Sam joined the team in April 2024. He holds a BS in Psychology from Fort Hays State University. Sam has an extensive background in children’s mental health from direct care, MCO case management, and former State program work.
Jessica Schadel, Community Supports Waiver Program Manager
Jessica has a long history in social services and quality assurance for both FE and IDD populations. Her background includes employment services, case management, day services, hospital, LTC, and assisted living. She spent several years working as a property manager connecting vulnerable seniors with resources to help keep them in their homes. Jessica is excited to be a part of a program that advocates for individuals to live in the home of their choosing and to help navigate that decision.
Jason Sheets, I/DD Program Specialist
Susan Segelquist, Brain Injury (BI) Program Manager
Inspired by an aunt with developmental disabilities, Susan has always been a champion for the opportunity for a full and quality life for all. She began working at KNI and went on to work in the community I/DD service system. Over a 38-year span she was privileged to work with people of all ages within residential, day habilitation and case management I/DD services in the Topeka community. She has served as a foster parent to several youth with unique needs and has been an active supporter of Special Olympics. Susan attended Kaw Valley Vocational Technical School and Washburn University. However, the people she has had the privilege of working with continue to be her best resource for her own personal growth throughout her career. With the desire to be a positive resource to others, she served as a Disability Determination Examiner. Her commitment to the Home and Community Based Service system has lead Susan to her current position supporting those whose lives have been affected by a brain injury, or are in need of supports to remain in their home in their senior years.
Todd Segraves, ADRC/ACM/FE Program Manager
Todd joined KDADS in November 2018 as the ADRC Program Manager. He comes to us having previously worked for KDHE as well as the Department of Labor. He has several years of experience working with different levels of health of insurance. Todd is now also the Administrative Case Management (ACM) Program Manager, managing a soon to be released program that will provide case management services to recipients of HCBS waiver services.
Megan Shepard, Policy and Program Oversight Director
Megan (she/her/hers) has worked for KDADS since May 2022. Her previous work experience includes non-profit work at a poverty-fighting organization and gender-based violence coalition. She has worked for 10 years within various Kansas state agencies including the Kansas Department of Children and Families and the Kansas Department of Corrections. Megan is a lifelong resident of Kansas and strives to make her state a better place for all individuals.
Theresa Singh, Policy and Program Project Manager
MPA candidate at KU. Theresa has worked for State of Kansas for 12 years and spent 6 years as an HCBS field practitioner. In her graduate coursework, she has focused on researching the 1915 waiver and Final Rule rollout. Additionally, she has served on several committees advocating alongside individuals from protected classes such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Self-Advocacy, and Policies and Procedures. Theresa has been at KDADS since 2023.
Leigh Smith, HCBS Director
Leigh joined the KDADS team in February 2023 as the Money Follows the Person Program Director. She has worked intensively with the HCBS waivers and institutional transitions. She is passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities to have person driven services that support a life of their design. Leigh began working in the field while a student at the University of Kansas which sparked a lifelong passion for disability advocacy and working in service to the aging and disabled populations.
Mitzie Tyree, Director of HCBS Initiatives
Mitzie joined KDADS in May 2021 and has an MBA from Baker University. Has worked at all levels in LTSS: direct care, case management, workshop program coordination, CDDO Funding Coordinator, Director of Self Determination, Regional Manager at Sunflower Health Plan, KDADS LTSS QA and now Director of HCBS Initiatives. Mitzie has spent her entire 32 year career serving individuals with disabilities in government subsidized health care and LTSS.
LaTonia Wright, HCBS Training Specialist
LaTonia started with KDADS in October 2018 as the Program Integrity and Compliance Specialist for Northeast Kansas. In October of 2019 she became the HCBS Project Manager. She is currently responsible for providing project support for KDADS’ HCBS programs and training initiatives. LaTonia attended Washburn University where she received a Bachelor of Social Work and the University of Kansas for a Master of Social Work Administration. She has worked in the service areas of intellectual/developmental disabilities, elderly, homelessness, physical disabilities and brain injuries.