Founded in the early 1970’s, ADVANCE is a private non-profit organization that supports more than 160 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Brookings and surrounding communities. We promote self-direction through person-centered plans and offer a wide range of services to support people at home, work, and in their communities. Our team is committed to helping individuals achieve their desired life outcomes. We actively foster community connections, volunteer engagements, and educational experiences, all aimed at fulfilling our mission to "offer opportunities for people to live their lives to the fullest."
MEET OUR
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Brian Ardry
President/CEO
Brian joined Advance in 1990 as Direct Support Professional while attending college and became a Residential Instructor in 1991. He was promoted to Residential Supervisor in 1994, then Support Coordinator in 1996. In 2007, he became Director of Residential Services, and... Read More
Jessica McGehee
Director of Finance
Jessica joined Advance in 2013 as the Director of Finance. Her prior accounting experience includes Assistant Business Manager of the Brookings School District, and various accounting roles at Daktronics. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance and... Read More
Paige Jorgensen
Director of Human Resources
Paige joined Advance in 2007 as an intern. She soon moved into the role of the HR Specialist. In 2019 she was promoted to the Director of Human Resources. Paige holds a Bachelor's degree in Consumer Affairs with an HR emphasis and minors in Business, Spanish and... Read More
Matt Simet
Director of Career Advantage
Matt began working in Human Services in 1996 and has been employed by Advance since 2000, currently as the Director of Career Advantage. He achieved national accreditation as a Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP) in April 2015, and... Read More
Ramona Kauk
Director of Admissions & Support Services
Ramona began her career as a Direct Support Professional at Advance in 2012 while completing her Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Music. She then became a Job Coach at Career Advantage in 2017 while pursuing her master’s degree in Rehabilitation and... Read More
Nicole Cochran
Director of Residential & Medical Services
Nicole joined Advance in 2004 as a Direct Support Professional at 509. Over the years, she has taken on various roles within the organization, including Residential Services Supervisor in 2007, Support Coordinator from 2008 to 2012, and Quality Assurance Specialist from 2013 to... Read More
Amanda Hemmestad
Director of Day Services
Amanda began her career at Advance as a Director Support Professional at SLA in 2003. While attending college at SDSU, she took on the supervisory role there in 2005. In 2014 she started as a Support Coordinator for ALA and SLA. With the shift to external case... Read More
MEET OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RYAN
SCHILLER
CHAIR
CASEY
BELL
VICE CHAIR
CATHY
CHAPIN
TREASURER
MELISSA
WAGNER
SECRETARY
NANCY
SCHADE
MEMBER AT-LARGE
TEREE
NESVOLD
MEMBER AT-LARGE
ALAN
DAVIS
MEMBER AT-LARGE
TRISH
STERUD
MEMBER AT-LARGE
JODY
OWEN
MEMBER AT-LARGE
LYNDA
MULLER
MEMBER AT-LARGE
SCOTT
KWASNIEWSKI
MEMBER AT-LARGE
NATE
SCHAEFER
MEMBER AT-LARGE
NON-DISCRIMINATION
STATEMENT
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.