Dear STARS Families & Friends,
This summer, my 8-year-old daughter Ryan and I made a pact: we would try things that scare us just a little. Enter: cold plunging (yes, my soul briefly left my body), and indoor rock climbing (where my legs realized heights are no joke). But each time, Ryan looked at me with those big eyes and said:
“We’re up for the challenge, right?” And of course, we were.
That same mindset is lighting up STARS as we begin our new fiscal year. We are saying yes to change. Yes to trying new things. Yes to being uncomfortable if it means we grow stronger. And above all, yes to showing up boldly for our participants.
Here’s what “being up for the challenge” looks like this year at STARS:
A New Era for DTA | We’re breathing fresh life into our Day Training for Adults (DTA) program. That means more meaningful community outings, experiential learning, and connection to real world opportunities. We want participants out in the world, building confidence and joy in every step.
At the heart of this relaunch is Jakie Walker, our new DTA Supervisor and longtime STARS team member. Jakie brings grit, grace, and genuine care to this role. After spending the past two years working remotely while focusing on motherhood (twin toddler boys), she’s back on site and fired up. Her email said it all:
“This has been a long time coming… I couldn’t think of a better starting point than in a program that’s near and dear to me. I will not disappoint.”
Jakie, we know you won’t. And we are so glad you’re here!
Meet Cate Holcomb: Tech-Powered Trailblazer | We’re also proud to spotlight one of our own rising stars, Cate Holcomb, who is now helping lead our Digital Production Lab, a social enterprise rooted in purpose and powered by innovation. Cate brings a rare combination of creativity and technical brilliance. With a degree in Computer Science, experience as an SSD Test Engineer at Micron Technology, and roles in IT support and digital mapping, Cate is turning this STARS digital lab into something remarkable. If you are ever in our front lobby at Osborn during one of her shifts make sure to say “Hello!”.
Under Cate’s guidance, participants will gain real-world digital skills while delivering high-quality scanning and archiving services to the community. This isn’t just a program, it’s a launchpad. And Cate is helping build the runway.
Strategic Leadership + Infrastructure Renewal | We’re also thrilled to have Lindsay Henning on board as our new Operations Director. Lindsay’s resume reads like a blueprint for transformational leadership. With an MBA in HR Management and a career built on revitalizing HR and operations across industries, she knows how to bring structure, culture, and clarity to even the most complex systems.
From scaling up people operations at startups to leading HR teams through mergers and acquisitions, Lindsay is the calm in the storm. She’s now overseeing facilities improvements, helping professionalize systems, and ensuring we’re building a long-term foundation for sustainability. We’re lucky to have her leading the charge.
Workforce Innovation on the Horizon | And we’re not stopping there. We’re currently recruiting a Director of Workforce Solutions — a bold, outward-facing role designed to:
- Launch and scale our Work Adjustment Training (WAT) service line,
- Design a scalable Group Supported Employment (GSE) program model,
- Secure new community work contracts that align with participant career goals,
- And expand partnerships across the business and nonprofit sectors
This new leader will be focused on sustainability, innovation, and inclusion, helping STARS become a statewide model for supported employment. We are looking to fill this position by the end of July!
So yes, STARS is stepping into the unknown. But we’re doing it with intention.
We’re reimagining old programs, launching new service lines, building modern infrastructure, and creating meaningful job opportunities. Most of all, we’re investing in people our staff, our participants, and our community.
Like Ryan always reminds me: “Let’s try new things—we’re up for the challenge.”
STARS is ready. Bring on FY26 – Let’s go!
With Gratitude,
Claudia Chavez, STARS Executive Director
