CODSN Management Team
Dianna J. Hansen, Co-Founder, President and Treasurer
Dianna’s professional experience includes many different areas in the business management, marketing and accounting arena. She has been managing staff sizes of 20-30 people for the past thirteen years. She has formal training in all areas listed. Dianna is currently involved in the following;
Margaret Finestone, Vice-President
Margaret's college academic experience includes: United States Military Academy 1985-1987, Eastern Michigan University 1988-1991 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Physiology and Wayne State University 1992-1994 with a Post Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy.
Margaret's professional work experience includes: Working with adults in an outpatient occupational therapy setting at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona from 1994-1998. After working at Mayo Clinic for 4 years she received an opportunity to work in a very specialized area of occupational therapy for Cranial Technologies, Inc from 1998-2008. At Cranial Technologies, she treated infants (age 3 months-18 months) who were diagnosed with positional plagiocephaly or craniosynostosis (post-operativelorthotic dy) using a cranial remodeling device. She also worked with the parents and caregivers of the infants to educate them on appropriate exercises and developmental activities for their child. Many of the children also had positional torticollis along with plagiocephaly.
Since moving to Bend in 2008, Margaret began working for St. Charles Medical Center as a home health occupational therapist with a focus on the adult population.
Christina Carr, Family Events Coordinator
Prior to becoming a member of CODSN, Christina served as secretary for Rising Starts Alliance, Inc. for a year. She is the mother of four children, two biological and two step children, the youngest of which has Down syndrome.
She has been a Product Information Programmer for JELD-WEN for the past eight and a half years, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration of Information Systems/Operations Management.
Justin Finestone, Public Relations/Media Coordinator
Justin and his family moved to Bend in 2008 and have enjoyed becoming part of the community. He is the Communications Manager for the City of Bend, spearheading the city’s public information and media relations efforts. Justin has degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science from the University of Southern California and enjoyed a 16 year career in television news before moving to the public sector. He is also a volunteer board member for Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Academy.
Stephanie Utzman, Secretary and Adler's Voice, Program Director
Stephanie is a dedicated mother, wife, friend and advocate. She became an advocate the day her son, Adler, was born. At 32 weeks gestation, he had special medical needs that continue to this day. Learning to work with a variety of medical professionals and school personnel, meeting other parents of children with disabilities, and the blessing of parenting her two children has provided a great deal of education to Stephanie.
Aside from caring for her two precious boys, Stephanie is passionate about Adler’s Voice, a cause she created to provide communication aids to children with speech related disorders. Named in honor of her son, Adler’s Voice has a mission to help other families of a child with significant speech challenges obtain the resources, medical and therapeutic treatments, assistive technology, and educational resources their child needs to acquire expressive communication. It is a need that not only touches Stephanie’s family, but many families in this area and across the State of Oregon.
With over 20 years of management experience in both the legal and real estate fields, her professional career and educational background have prepared her for the path she has chosen to pursue. Stephanie is eager to help other families that are touched by a disability obtain the tools and education they need to become effective advocates for their loved ones, and strives for a world of inclusion and acceptance that will enable those with different abilities to become productive, contributing and valued members of our society.
Wendy Andrick, Board Member
In May 1997, Wendy received her BSW in Social Work at the University of Montana. For over 12 years she has worked with youth in crisis in a variety of settings. Upon the birth of her daughter, she resigned from her career and became immersed in the world of disabilities on a personal level. She began attending conferences when she was able.
In January 2009, Wendy completed her certification with Yoga for the Special Child; learning techniques and teaching methods to enhance the natural development of infants and children with disabilities. Shortly thereafter she continued to pursue a certification with YOGAcalm to gain more skills and techniques in working with children. Wendy's family has been able to participate in a variety of nonprofits and receive some wonderful services from the community and now is the time for her to embrace an opportunity to give back to the community as well as return to her career on a part time basis.
Michelle Harper, Board Member
Michelle Harper, who comes to us from Madison, Wisconsin, has her Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in English. Her background is in writing, having several articles published in the Midwest. She has two sons, one of which has Aspergers Syndrome, which led her to volunteer work in the Autism community. Currently, she homeschools her children while serving as the Autism Society of Oregon's Central Oregon Chapter Representative. Michelle facilitates a Parents Of ASD Kids support group in Bend and Redmond Oregon, and runs an online ASO sponsored support group for families affected by Autism (www.coregondevdisgroupaso.ning.com).
Dianna’s professional experience includes many different areas in the business management, marketing and accounting arena. She has been managing staff sizes of 20-30 people for the past thirteen years. She has formal training in all areas listed. Dianna is currently involved in the following;
- Chair of the State Interagency Coordinating Council, advisors to the Governor on early childhood special education
- Fourth year as treasurer for Rising Stars Alliance, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3), serving children with disabilities
- Board Member for ARC Oregon
- A member for the past three years on the Central Oregon Coalition for Access (COCA)
- Class of 2010 graduate, Partners in Policy Making
- OTAC certified in Person Centered Planning
- Volunteer for Growing Tree Children’s Center, Alyce Hatch Center, and Tumalo Community School
- A Member of the Deschutes County Local Interagency Coordinating Council
Margaret Finestone, Vice-President
Margaret's college academic experience includes: United States Military Academy 1985-1987, Eastern Michigan University 1988-1991 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Physiology and Wayne State University 1992-1994 with a Post Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy.
Margaret's professional work experience includes: Working with adults in an outpatient occupational therapy setting at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona from 1994-1998. After working at Mayo Clinic for 4 years she received an opportunity to work in a very specialized area of occupational therapy for Cranial Technologies, Inc from 1998-2008. At Cranial Technologies, she treated infants (age 3 months-18 months) who were diagnosed with positional plagiocephaly or craniosynostosis (post-operativelorthotic dy) using a cranial remodeling device. She also worked with the parents and caregivers of the infants to educate them on appropriate exercises and developmental activities for their child. Many of the children also had positional torticollis along with plagiocephaly.
Since moving to Bend in 2008, Margaret began working for St. Charles Medical Center as a home health occupational therapist with a focus on the adult population.
Christina Carr, Family Events Coordinator
Prior to becoming a member of CODSN, Christina served as secretary for Rising Starts Alliance, Inc. for a year. She is the mother of four children, two biological and two step children, the youngest of which has Down syndrome.
She has been a Product Information Programmer for JELD-WEN for the past eight and a half years, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration of Information Systems/Operations Management.
Justin Finestone, Public Relations/Media Coordinator
Justin and his family moved to Bend in 2008 and have enjoyed becoming part of the community. He is the Communications Manager for the City of Bend, spearheading the city’s public information and media relations efforts. Justin has degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science from the University of Southern California and enjoyed a 16 year career in television news before moving to the public sector. He is also a volunteer board member for Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Academy.
Stephanie Utzman, Secretary and Adler's Voice, Program Director
Stephanie is a dedicated mother, wife, friend and advocate. She became an advocate the day her son, Adler, was born. At 32 weeks gestation, he had special medical needs that continue to this day. Learning to work with a variety of medical professionals and school personnel, meeting other parents of children with disabilities, and the blessing of parenting her two children has provided a great deal of education to Stephanie.
Aside from caring for her two precious boys, Stephanie is passionate about Adler’s Voice, a cause she created to provide communication aids to children with speech related disorders. Named in honor of her son, Adler’s Voice has a mission to help other families of a child with significant speech challenges obtain the resources, medical and therapeutic treatments, assistive technology, and educational resources their child needs to acquire expressive communication. It is a need that not only touches Stephanie’s family, but many families in this area and across the State of Oregon.
With over 20 years of management experience in both the legal and real estate fields, her professional career and educational background have prepared her for the path she has chosen to pursue. Stephanie is eager to help other families that are touched by a disability obtain the tools and education they need to become effective advocates for their loved ones, and strives for a world of inclusion and acceptance that will enable those with different abilities to become productive, contributing and valued members of our society.
Wendy Andrick, Board Member
In May 1997, Wendy received her BSW in Social Work at the University of Montana. For over 12 years she has worked with youth in crisis in a variety of settings. Upon the birth of her daughter, she resigned from her career and became immersed in the world of disabilities on a personal level. She began attending conferences when she was able.
In January 2009, Wendy completed her certification with Yoga for the Special Child; learning techniques and teaching methods to enhance the natural development of infants and children with disabilities. Shortly thereafter she continued to pursue a certification with YOGAcalm to gain more skills and techniques in working with children. Wendy's family has been able to participate in a variety of nonprofits and receive some wonderful services from the community and now is the time for her to embrace an opportunity to give back to the community as well as return to her career on a part time basis.
Michelle Harper, Board Member
Michelle Harper, who comes to us from Madison, Wisconsin, has her Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in English. Her background is in writing, having several articles published in the Midwest. She has two sons, one of which has Aspergers Syndrome, which led her to volunteer work in the Autism community. Currently, she homeschools her children while serving as the Autism Society of Oregon's Central Oregon Chapter Representative. Michelle facilitates a Parents Of ASD Kids support group in Bend and Redmond Oregon, and runs an online ASO sponsored support group for families affected by Autism (www.coregondevdisgroupaso.ning.com).
