Kentucky Rehabilitation Association

08/26/2026

Registration for KRA virtual conference is open.

03/17/2026

12/04/2025

💥KRA Board Spotlight 💥

Past-President Brenda Eadens

Brenda Eadens has over 39 years’ experience in the field of Rehabilitation and has worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor, Job Placement Specialist, Assistive Technology Specialist and Bioptic Driving Instructor. She is employed by the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Blind Services Division as a Bioptic Driving Instructor a position she has held since August of 2005. She earned her Master’s in Rehabilitation from the University of Kentucky in 1997. Brenda is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS). Brenda is an active member of the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (ADED), and the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) including its state affiliate Kentucky Rehabilitation Association (KRA)

Brenda enjoys giving presentations about Bioptic Driving and Sunshields for driving. She has presented on these subjects for ADED, KRA, KAER, KATPO, and the Kentucky State Police. Brenda believes she has the best job in the state teaching people with visual impairments to drive. The people she helps obtain their driver’s license state it gives them freedom and independence.

11/17/2025

💥KRA Board Member Spotlight 💥

2025 Board Member at Large - Deana Wilson-Kimbler

Deana Wilson Kimbler – began employer with KYOVR September 2012 as a VR Program Specialist / Job Placement staff in the Danville & Somerset offices. March 2019 was promoted to Statewide Branch Manager over Employer Services which was a completely new branch formed in October 2018 and currently has 15 staff. Deana is a wife, mother of two sons and a grandmother to 3 grandsons and 2 granddaughters ages two to six years. Deana holds a degree in Human Services Therapy & Counseling from Lindsey Wilson College. Previous experience includes working as a supervisor and medications administrator in a private residential mental health facility, a middle school therapist, home resource /case manager / MAPP trainer for therapeutic foster care, and intake coordinator / case manager in private mental & behavioral health for juveniles. Deana also worked as an Assistant Manager for an Amazon fulfillment center and in Sales for Tarter Gate / Neat Companies. These experiences work together to provide a wealth of skills when working with KYOVR. Deana is on the KRA Board and is photographer for in-person KRA annually. She also owns a small photography business operating on weekends. Favorite hobbies include – riding horses, gardening and crafts. Favorite quote - "Storms make trees take deeper roots." ~Dolly Parton

11/13/2025

💥KRA Board Member Spotlight 💥
Vanessa Castle- Board Member at Large

Vanessa Castle is an Employment Specialist with Vocational Rehabilitation with a bachelor’s degree in business. She is the current KJPD President- Elect 2025 and has been a KRA board member since 2024. She has been assisting the people of eastern Kentucky in job placement since 2014. Her favorite motto to live by is “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not” (Dr. Seuss)

11/12/2025

💥KRA Board Member Spotlight 💥

Sharon Duke- Member at Large

Sharon Duke, CRC, CVE
Director of Compliance, Career Services | Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
With more than 34 years of dedicated service to Goodwill Industries, I currently serve as the Director of Compliance for Career Services, ensuring adherence to career services policies, regulatory requirements, and best practices in service delivery. Throughout my tenure, I have held multiple leadership roles including Director of Career Services, Workforce Development Manager, Human Services Manager, and Vocational Evaluator.
Prior to joining Goodwill, I served as Program Director at The Opportunity Center in Owensboro, Kentucky, where I led programs focused on vocational evaluation and work adjustment for individuals with significant disabilities in a structured work environment.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services and a master’s degree in Human Services Counseling from Murray State University. I am also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and a Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE).
In addition to my role at Goodwill, I have served as a CARF Surveyor for more than 20 years, conducting on-site reviews to assess and promote quality standards in rehabilitation and human services organizations across the country. As a CARF Surveyor, I contribute to the continuous improvement of services by evaluating program effectiveness, accountability, and adherence to internationally recognized best practices.
Professionally, I am an active member of the Kentucky Rehabilitation Association and the Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Professionals (VECAP), where I contribute to the advancement of workforce development and rehabilitation services across the state.
I live in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, with my husband. We have three daughters, one son-in-law, a granddaughter, a grandson, and two dogs—Sami and Ace. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, crafting, gardening, camping, and watching my granddaughter play softball.

11/05/2025

💥KRA Board Member Spotlight 💥

Guy Huguelet- Board Member at Large.

Guy Huguelet: The Job Guy - A Champion for Second Chances
Guy Huguelet is a seasoned human resource professional and dedicated advocate with over
35 years of experience in human capital management, workforce development, and
community leadership. He is best known as "The Job Guy" through his work with G.
Alexander HRG – The Job Guy, an organization dedicated to creating social impact
through job placement.
A Passion for People and Reentry
Huguelet's career and personal passion are centered on providing opportunity, recovery,
and hope, particularly for "second chance" people. He specializes in:
• Supported Employment
• Reentry Second Chance Employment
• Workforce Innovation Opportunity Investment
• Second Act Career Job Placement
• Executive Search and Recruitment
His commitment is evident in his founding of Jubilee Jobs of Lexington, one of Central
Kentucky’s first Second Chance employment nonprofits. He is a key figure in workforce
development, training, and placement for individuals transitioning from prison, jail, or
residential recovery treatment back into the community and supported employment
assisting individuals with most significant disabilities, driven by the purpose of "Creating
jobs, changing lives and making a difference in community."
Career Highlights
For the majority of his career, Huguelet owned and operated a full-service staffing and
human resource company in Central Kentucky. This firm specialized in a wide range of
recruitment and placement, including clerical, light industrial, professional, technical
staffing, and direct-hire recruitment across sectors such as IT, Healthcare, Engineering,
Financial, C-level, and Nonprofit business.
Additionally, Huguelet served as the President and CEO of the Public Safety Institute of
Kentucky (PSI). PSI was the sole provider of the Drive Safe Kentucky Traffic Safety
Education Program and the Take the Pledge and Save a Life Prevention and Intervention
Program. His work at PSI was focused on saving lives through safety awareness programs
dedicated to drug and alcohol prevention, distracted driving, and traffic safety awareness.
Through G. Alexander HRG – The Job Guy, he continues his mission, focusing on
innovative reentry employment programs that provide opportunity, sustenance, dignity, and hope to those seeking a second chance.

11/03/2025

💥KRA Board Member Spotlight 💥

Kari Skaggs- Publication Committee Chair and Member at Large

Kari Skaggs has been with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation since 2013, starting as an Administrative Specialist and now serving as an IT Business Analyst Senior. She brings a well-rounded background from the private sector, with experience in office administration, employment services, and manufacturing going back to her first job at 16. Her passion for inclusive employment and workforce development extends beyond her day job—she currently serves on the board of KRA as the Publication Committee Chair and is the Secretary for KY APSE.
In her personal life, Kari has two children ages 21 and 10. She enjoys spending time with family and friends.

10/31/2025

KRA Business Meeting is November 5th at 2:45pm. The link has been sent out to current members. If you haven't received the link, please contact [email protected].