Leadership

Harriet Redman, M.S.Ed., Executive Director

Harriet Redman is Executive Director of WisconSibs and a founder of its predecessor organization, the Fox Valley Sibling Support Network.  A graduate of Valparaiso University, she has taught middle school and high school, developed family educational programs and marketing strategy for a Fortune 500 insurance company, and served as business manager of a non-profit, semi-professional choral organization.

She has a master’s degree from Purdue University in family life education and a passion for the needs of siblings.  She and her husband, Rich, have an adult son with multiple disabilities whose older sister is her mother’s inspiration and most honest critic.

Harriet’s work on behalf of siblings of people with disabilities and long-term illnesses has been recognized by several organizations:

• She received the Valparaiso University Alumni Community Service Award in recognition of outstanding service to her community (2008).
• She was presented Exceptional Parent magazine’s Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award for her work and advocacy on behalf of the 54.6 million people living with disabilities in the United States (2009).
• She was honored with a Fox Cities, Wisconsin Celebrating Abilities Award recognizing her leadership in enhancing the way people with disabilities develop and celebrate their abilities (2010).
• She received the Kasidhe Olson Distinguished Parent Award from the Elsie Shaw Foundation for her “outstanding effort to enrich the lives of children with disabilities and their families.”

Michelle Swenson, Sibshop Coordinator and SibDays of Summer Director

As a trained Sibshop® facilitator and the WisconSibs/Fox Valley Sibshop Coordinator, Michelle Swenson, develops the overall plan for 6-8 Sibshops each year in northeastern Wisconsin, coordinates facilitators and volunteers, and oversees each Sibshop.

As Director of SibDays of Summer, a week-long day camp that serves 45 sibs each summer, she develops plans, trains volunteers, and still has time for lots of fun with the campers.

A graduate of Lakeland College with a Master of Counseling, Michelle is a Licensed Professional Counselor and also is a therapist/group coordinator at the Sexual Assault Crisis Center in Appleton, WI.

Board of Directors

Edward Ruffolo, President
Miron Corporation

Cindy Piotrowski, Vice President
Portage County Aging and Disability Resource Center

Andrew Burg, Treasurer
SVA Certified Public Accountants

Karie Mindock, secretary
Fox Valley Lutheran High School

Ben Stern
Fox Valley Lutheran High School

Jenni Moore
Goodwill Industries

Michele Martin
Hortonville High School

Nancy Hidde
Appleton Area School District

For more information about how to join the WisconSibs, Inc Board of Directors, contact our office.  For expections, click WisconSibs Board Member Expectations

We continue to thank these people who served the Fox Valley Sibling Support Network (now WisconSibs) as board members from 1998-2015:

*Founding board member