Professionally, Debbie has served Armour Pharmaceutical Company, Uarco, Inc. and State Farm Insurance in various managerial and administrative roles.  She is currently tutoring through Kankakee Community College in the Trio Talent Search Program.  She has completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in business through Olivet Nazarene University and a Masters of Organizational Development through University of Phoenix.   

   Debbie's volunteer experience includes fundraising, assisting the YMCA with activities for children, religious education, Christmas in April and mentoring local high school youth.

Carol Gocken, Vice President

   Carol is a recent addition to the Options Center for Independent Living Board, joining in 2007. She was born in Crescent City, Illinois, where she attended grammar and high school. She also attended Kankakee Community College.

   Carol managed a home business for 15 years and also worked for Carson Pirie Scott. While at Carson’s, she was the co-chairperson of the storewide effort for the annual March of Dimes campaign.

   She has been a volunteer at Options since 2005 and has been awarded Volunteer of the Year for 2006 and 2007. She also participated in organizing the Vision Impairment Awareness Day held in 2007.

   In addition to Options, Carol gives her time to the local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind and resides in Bourbonnais with her daughter, Amber.

Carolyn Domont; Secretary

   Carolyn is a social worker with Riverside Medical Center.  She has brought to the Board the 'hands on' experience of assisting persons with disabilities in staying independent since 2003.

   She has volunteered for Hospice and also stays busy with her young daughter.

Dale Gerretse; Treasurer

   Dale is a life long resident of Kankakee County. He lives in Bourbonnais with his wife Kimberly. He has two adult children and one grandson.

   He is a manager at Payne, Gray, Groskreutz & Schmidt, Accountants and Consultants in Kankakee, Illinois. Dale has been in public accounting since graduating from Illinois State University in 1981.

   He has been on the Board of Options CIL since 2003.  In addition, he serves on the Development Board of Provena Heritage Village, the Board of Directors of the Kankakee Railroad Museum and the Finance Committee of Asbury United Methodist Church. He has spent a week during the past several summers accompanying youth from Methodist Churches from Kankakee County on a mission trip to the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee.

Barry Baron

  Barry came onto the Board in 2009.  Having served on the Bourbonnais Village Board and the Kankakee County Board, he brings a unique perspective to the Board.  He has also volunteered for United Parents and has a passion for being an advocate for persons with disabilities.

Therese Cardosi

  Therese is a life long resident of Kankakee County.  She lives in Saint Anne with her husband of 21 years, Craig. They have two adult children: son Zach & daughter Leigh. She attended Bishop McNamara High School and Kankakee Community College. She has been employed with the Kankakee Arthritis Foundation for the past 10 years where she currently serves in the position of Director of Programs & Services.

  Therese's volunteer experience includes fundraising, coaching girls& boys basketball & girls softball. She is a member of the Zonta Club of Kankakee where she served on their board and chaired both the Empowerment Walk & the Take Back the Night Rally. She also served as secretary for United Way of Kankakee County.

  Having had experience working with a segment of the population with disabilities, Therese brings a different perspective and a big heart to the Board.

Jennie Emery

   As a long-time singer/musician, Jennie Emery’s career has included studio singing, song writing, television and radio appearances, and performances for numerous special events, in venues ranging from jazz clubs, to churches, to show rooms and concert halls.

   Having moved to Kankakee, IL, in 2005, this Vancouver born musician enjoys performing a variety of musical styles, including inspirational, pop, country, and jazz. Whether singing at the piano at America’s Bistro in Kankakee, fronting a band at a night club, or performing for hundreds of delegates at a convention centre, Jennie Emery is at home on any stage.   

   With her Bachelor of Music Degree, Jennie has worked as a vocal instructor, and also as music director for a series of summer programs for students from Japan.

   Blind since birth, Jennie Emery is personally experienced with disability-related issues. In her original home of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Jennie volunteered with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, where she was a member of the CNIB Speakers’ Bureau, as well as of the Peer Counseling and Braille Mentoring Programs. Previous volunteer committee experience includes serving on the board for Advocates for Sight Impaired Consumers (ASIC), and on the organizing committee for 2 Vancouver-based National Dog Guide Conferences. She recently served on the organizing committee for Options Vision Impairment Awareness Day, here in Kankakee. As a performer, Jennie has volunteered her time to appear at numerous charitable events including fundraisers for Aids Research, The Cancer Society, The Breast Cancer Foundation, Random Acts of Kindness, and BC Guide Dog Services, as well as the Variety Club Telethon (Vancouver), and the Easter Seals Telethon (Kankakee). She also recently performed at the YMCA’s National Peace Day ceremony in Kankakee. Jennie is honored to be serving as a member of the Options board, and looks forward to working with fellow-board members to continue expanding the opportunities for those with disabilities in our community.

Mary Ann Molnar

   Mary Ann has represented Iroquois County on the Board since 2007.  As a person with a disability herself, she has a special intere in accessibility issues.

   She is the Accounts Payable Clerk for Iroquois County.  Mary Ann has been a Speech Judge/Timer for Watseka High School, chaired the Gooseberry Festival and served on the "Save our Station" committee.

Dina Raymond 

  Dina joined the Board in 2008.  A former employee of Options, Dina has a great respect for the organization and the people involved.  She has an understanding of persons with disabilities and the barriers that are faced on a day to day basis.  She understands the programs and what the funding sources require making her unique perspective a valuable addition to the Board.

Susan Wolfe

   Sue Wolfe joined Options' Board in 2006. She has been an Educational Interpreter for Deaf students for 14 years.  She cites that the reason she wanted to become an Options' Board Member is a passion she has to assist and advocate for others, especially the Deaf community.

   Sue and her husband, Rod, reside in Chebanse.  They are the parents of three children: son Luke and twin daughters Hope and Holli. 

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Advisory Board

John Fulton

Paul Meyer

Tinker Parker