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Celebrate NDEAM with us! Hear from Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Sheehy, Office of Disability Employment Policy and Lou Orslene, Director of Employer and Workplace Policy, Office of Disability Employment Policy. Our Board of Directors will share their stories of their NDEAM activities. Join us to share yours!
Jennifer Sheehy is the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor. The mission of ODEP is to develop policy that increases job opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities. In 2016, she was also appointed by the President to the AbilityOne Commission. Prior to her current position, Jennifer spent ten years at the US Department of Education in many roles, including acting Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, acting Deputy Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Jennifer came to the Department of Education from the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities where she was Senior Policy Advisor and served a detail as Associate Director in the White House Domestic Policy Council. Before she joined the task force staff, Jennifer was Vice President of the National Organization on Disability and Director of its CEO Council.
Jennifer earned a B.A. from Cornell University and graduated with honors from Georgetown University, where she received her MBA. While in graduate school, she worked in marketing research with Anheuser-Busch Companies in St. Louis. Before graduate school, Jennifer also worked in marketing and management for Sheraton and Marriott.
Jennifer has received many civic and achievement awards including the 2019 Presidential Rank Award, the Accenture Women in Government "Rising Leader" award, and the Diet Coke/Glamour magazine "Women at Their Best" award. Jennifer lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband
Louis Orslene, MPIA, MSW, serves the Office of
Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, as the Director for the
Employer and Workplace Policy Team. The Employer Team examines the policy
issues and barriers facing employers as they seek to recruit, hire, retain, and
advance individuals with disabilities in the workplace. The Team fulfills its
mission by encouraging adoption and implementation of disability employment
policies and practices that meet the needs of private and public employers and
individuals with disabilities.
Prior to joining ODEP, Lou served as a
Disability Policy Advisor supporting the Department of Defense Office of
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Lou has also served as the Co-Director of the
Department of Labor’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN). He has extensive
knowledge of workplace accommodations, Title 1 of the Americans with
Disabilities Act as amended in 2008 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Lou has
more than 20 years of experience developing and implementing disability-related
public sector initiatives and 15 years of experience providing customized
training to private industry, public agencies and nonprofit
organizations.
Lou graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
with Master's degrees in Public and International Affairs and Social Work. Lou
also holds a certification in Disability Management as well as a certificate in
Managing Public and Non-profit Organizations. He holds an undergraduate degree
in Human Resource Management.
Lou’s presentations are informed by 25 years in
the field of disability employment and through collaborations with groups such
as the Disability:IN, Disability Management Employers Coalition, Society of
Human Resource Management, National Business and Disability Council, Assistive
Technology Industry Association, and the American Association of People with
Disabilities, among others.
Lou is committed to increasing the employability
of individuals with disabilities. This commitment is continuously deepened
through the exploration of the nexus between the needs of employers and
abilities of individuals with disabilities
Lori Golden is Ernst & Young’s Abilities Strategy leader, driving efforts to build an enabling, inclusive environment for people of all abilities. She advises the firm’s over 1,000 member AccessAbilities professional resource network and its Abilities Champions leaders network. Lori leads initiatives to enhance ergonomics and accessibility in Ernst & Young offices, communications, meetings, trainings and technology, educate EY people on abilities-related issues and create new diverse abilities recruiting strategies and employment models. She also consults on accommodations and career development issues for EY people working with differing abilities.
Lori serves on the US Department of Labor’s Circle of Champions, the NYC Mayor’s Office People with Disabilities Business Development Council, the NYC Mental Health Alliance, served on the Board of Directors of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN), serves on the USBLN Corporate Advisory Board, and is Vice Chair of the Board of TransCen.
She’s been with Ernst & Young 17 years and is a graduate of Harvard University.
Renee serves as ODEP’s Director of Policy Communication and Outreach where she oversees outreach and education campaigns to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities, while engaging employers in creating disability inclusive workplaces. Key initiatives led by Renee include the Campaign for Disability Employment, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Workforce Recruitment Program, the Job Accommodation Network and ODEP’s Alliance Program.
Before joining ODEP, Renee directed communications for DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. She initiated a community-based public information program to connect employers to pipelines for hiring minorities, veterans and people with disabilities. Renee began her federal service with DOL’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP) advising DOL leadership on workplace drug policies and coordinating a nationwide outreach initiative to help employers develop drug-free workplace programs. Before coming to DOL, Renee served in various communications management and consulting capacities for several government and non-profit organizations, educational institutions and private corporations, where she coordinated educational campaigns focused on the environment, energy conservation and agricultural workers.
Renee earned a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication from the University of Florida.
Natale Monroe is a dedicated Diversity & Inclusion Operations Specialist at
General Dynamics Mission Systems. With over 12 years of service, she plays
a pivotal role in supporting the company’s Diversity & Inclusion initiatives,
Military Recruiting, and University Relations programs.
Natale’s multifaceted responsibilities include coordinating Employee
Resource Groups (ERGs), leading a local Employee Engagement team, and overseeing the company intern program. She is a proud member of the PRIDE, DAISE, and Employee Multi-Cultural Coalition
(EMC2) ERGs.
Natale’s professional journey is marked by her commitment to excellence and a strong educational foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a focus on Human Resources Management from Bay Path University. Additionally, Natale has earned a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the
Workplace certification from the University of South Florida.
Natale’s dedication extends to community engagement and event planning. She takes the lead in various site-wide celebrations, picnics, holiday parties, and employee appreciation initiatives. Her passion for
building collaborative relationships and fostering trust with government customers, partner organizations and local community leadership is evident in her work.
Natale’s comprehensive experience, extensive skills, and unwavering commitment to Diversity & Inclusion contribute significantly to the organization.
