2022 Conference Speakers

Tuesday, September 20th

Headshot of Jason Swain in a suit coat and patterned light button up shirt, wearing dark rimmed glasses. Pacific Northwest employment forum www.pnwef.org. keynote. Carrie Davis Vice President of Patient Experience Hanger Clinic. Tuesday September 20th 8:30am pst. APSE Logo

Carrie Davis is a nationally-recognized leader in patient experience, disability advocacy and organizational transformation through empathy and servant leadership. As the Vice President of Patient Experience at Hanger Clinic, the nation’s largest prosthetics and orthotics provider, she designs, implements, and manages programs to help bring about positive outcomes for patients, families, and employees. 

Born without her left arm, Carrie has worn a prosthesis since she was 9 months old and learned how to thrive in the face of challenge.  She believes whole-heartedly in the power of human connection and service and strives to create the best life for herself, her family, and for the people and patients she serves.

headshot of Julie Christensen Executive Director APSE, Wednesday September 21 8:30am PST. Pacific Northwest employment forum. www.pnwef.org

Julie J. Christensen, LMSW, PhD, is the Executive Director at APSE – the Association of People Supporting Employment First. Julie had served as Director of Public Policy and Advocacy since January 2019. Prior to this, Julie served on APSE’s National Board of Directors and co-chaired APSE’s Public Policy Committee from June 2017-December 2019.

Before joining APSE, she was the Director of Iowa’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), at the University of Iowa. Julie’s background encompasses work in schools, not-for-profits, government and higher education. For the past 15+ years, her career has centered around improving quality of life outcomes for at-risk youth, including youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, through promoting employment and access to leisure and recreation opportunities in inclusive settings. She currently maintains an adjunct faculty appointment in the University of Iowa School of Social Work. Her research and policy work has focused in the areas of transition, employment, quality of life, and leisure and recreation participation of people with disabilities across the lifespan. Julie also currently serves as the Senior Disability Policy Fellow for the Harkin Institute at Drake University.