MEET THE STAFF
Maggie Koziol - Chief Executive Officer
Maggie Koziol joined CSAVR as Chief Executive Officer in January 2026. She brings more than 20 years of experience leading workforce, education, and disability-inclusive systems across government, consulting, and the nonprofit sector. Maggie has worked at the intersection of vocational rehabilitation, workforce policy, and systems reform at Deloitte, Alvarez & Marsal, USAID, and the World Bank, and most recently served as Executive Director of a community-based mental health provider in Washington, DC.
Throughout her career, Maggie has partnered with federal and state agencies, employers, and advocates to strengthen public systems, advance inclusive employment, and improve outcomes for people facing barriers to opportunity. As CEO, she is committed to championing the national VR system, supporting state agencies, and advancing CSAVR’s role as a trusted leader in policy, partnerships, and workforce innovation.
John Connelly - Director of Research and Grants
John Connelly joined CSAVR in 2009 and has served at the Director of Research and Grants since his hiring. On August of 2025 he was also asked to fill the role of Interim CEO for the organization to lead CSAVR through a transition period.
John Connelly joined CSAVR in 2009. He has over 30 years of experience in the field of public rehabilitation. After graduating from law school in 1980, he was hired as a staff attorney by the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. He worked for a year as a staff attorney with the Commission and in 1981 was promoted to General Counsel. In 1993 he was promoted to a deputy director with expanded duties including responsibility for the preparation and maintenance of the agency’s $260 M plus annual operating budget and public relations. From 2001 until July of 2009 John served as the Executive Director of the Commission. Among his accomplishments at the Commission was the creation of the agency’s first dedicated employer services unit. During his tenure with the Commission, John served on the Family and Children First task force, the State Use Committee, and the Governor’s State Workforce Policy Board. John’s VR experience and
legal background bring great value to CSAVR.
At CSAVR John has primary responsibility for the development, negotiation, and maintenance of our research and grant projects. In this capacity John serves on and/or facilitates grant advisory committees; reviews in conjunction with the Research Committee requests for grant application endorsements and surveys; drafts and/or edits letters of support; and partners with researchers and others in the development of grants and their implementation. Another major area that John assists with is legislative working with our Assistant Director on reviewing legislation that might impact our members; drafting responses to legislative inquiries, and formulating our positions on various legislative issues. Like other CSAVR staff, John supports assigned CSAVR standing committees. He is our primary staff liaison to SSA. When needed, we tap his legal expertise.
Kathy West-Evans - Director of Business Relations
Kathy West-Evans, the CSAVR Director of Business Relations is from the State of Washington. She joined CSAVR in this role in August 2005 where she leads the National Employment Team (NET). She had the opportunity to work with disABLEDpersons on the development of the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) Kathy has her MPA from Seattle University, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington, and is a CRC who is fluent in American Sign Language. She has been in the field of vocational rehabilitation since 1978 working at the community, state, federal and national level during her 45+ year tenure.
Kathy started her professional career working as a vocational consultant and manager of the Projects with Industry (PWI) program at the Hearing, Speech, and Deafness Center in Seattle. She moved into the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) in 1983 as a VR counselor for customers who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or late deafened. Kathy held several positions within DVR during her 14-year tenure with the state agency. In addition to her time as a VR Counselor, she worked as an Assistant Regional Administrator, a Regional Business Relations Specialist, and the Statewide Manager for Business Relations and Marketing. In 1997, Kathy moved to the federal level with the Region X Office of Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) where she worked until July 2005. Kathy was employed as an RSA VR Program Specialist, serving as the State representative to Oregon and Alaska as well as the regional specialist in the areas of employment and business relations, the ADA, training, CSPD, PWI, and services to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing.
Kathy served on the planning committee for the RSA – CSAVR National Employment Conferences in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004. Kathy is the past Chair and member of the Veterans Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation and a former Commissioner on the CRCC Board. She has written and co-authored articles on business development strategies and employer relations within VR agencies and had the opportunity to write draft language that is now in WIOA and the Rehab Act that expanded the work of VR with business. Kathy is frequently requested to speak and present on topics related to business relations and the employment of individuals with disabilities.
Dr. Tonia D. Ferguson, Esq. - Director of Legislative Affairs
Dr. Tonia D. Ferguson, Esq. joined the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) as Director of Legislative Affairs in 2022. A nationally respected policy leader and advocate, Dr. Ferguson brings more than a decade of advancing outcomes for individuals with disabilities and their families across federal, state, and community systems while having lived experience herself being diagnosed with anxiety disorder and having a son with Down Syndrome and Autism.
A former Joseph P. Kennedy Fellow, Dr. Ferguson has held senior leadership roles at the intersection of health, disability, and public policy, including serving as Chief of Staff at the Maryland Department of Health and as Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Autism Society of America. Her work is grounded in system transformation, coalition-building, and strategic policy advocacy that drives meaningful, sustainable change at the local, state, and federal levels.
At CSAVR, Dr. Ferguson provides staff leadership and strategic support to the LEAD (Lead, Engage, Access, and Development) Professional Network, the Policy Committee, and the Transition and Youth Committee—advancing inclusive workforce policy and strengthening the vocational rehabilitation system nationwide.
In recognition of her lifelong commitment to service, Dr. Ferguson received the 2023 Joseph R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest distinction of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, honoring individuals whose sustained service has made a profound impact on their communities. In 2025, she was further honored with the National Rehabilitation Association’s E.B. Whitten Award, recognizing exceptional leadership in dismantling environmental and legal barriers and combating discrimination against people with disabilities.
Dr. Ferguson earned her Honorary Doctorate in Christian and Business Leadership in late 2025. Her career reflects an unwavering dedication to justice, access, and opportunity—ensuring that disability policy is not only inclusive in principle, but transformative in practice.
Antionette Gardner, Ph.D. - Project and Operations Manager
Antionette Gardners, Ph.D. joined CSAVR in December 2023. She has 30 years of experience in the field of public rehabilitation. Previously, she served as Chief of Field of Services at the Florida Vocational Rehabilitation General Agency and Deputy Director at the Florida Vocational Rehabilitation Blind Agency, as well as served as Executive Staff Director for the Florida Division of Technology and Innovation. Her combined experience with the general and blind VR agency afforded her the opportunity to advance through the ranks; holding positions in various capacities within the rehabilitation agency management structure.
Dr. Gardner holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Rehabilitation Services, Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Policy, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Human Services. Dr. Gardner has served on meaningful boards and councils advocating for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Her expertise encompasses leadership, organizational change, strategic planning, contract and audit management, policy development, case management planning & implementation, management training and partner engagement. She is committed to promoting vocational rehabilitation, organizational development and success by providing strategic support to individuals with disabilities through strong partnerships among VR agencies, stakeholders and program compliance.
Theresa Hamrick - Operations Coordinator
Theresa Hamrick is our Operations Coordinator. She has worked in the field of rehabilitation for 24 years. Her experience includes working with the Rehabilitation Continuing Education program in Region 6, state rehabilitation council in Oklahoma, and is a founding member of the National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils. She volunteers with numerous non-profits in the rehabilitation field.