Mary Jean C. Green

As the director of the Southeast Regional Center, Mary Jean brings 30-plus years of experience in the non-profit sector including program development and grant management skills, with the last 25 years focused on children with special health care needs. She has a BA in Communications and a certificate in non-profit management from Marquette University.  In addition to the SE Regional Center grant, Mary Jean provides oversight for Parent to Parent of WI and the Katie Beckett program, the Children’s Hospital of WI Family Resource Center and co-chairs their Family Advisory Committee.

Prior to her position with the Southeast Regional Center, Mary Jean was the director of the Healthy Transitions Project and from 1992 through 1994, the coordinator of a statewide needs assessment for children with special needs. Mary Jean also brings personal experience to her position. She was the guardian for her adult brother with developmental delays who lived in a community group home and now enjoys time with her mom who is 98!

Mary Jean and her husband Alan have two children – Erin a bilingual speech and language pathologist working at a pediatric development center in Chicago and Bryan a software developer who lives in Denver.  Mary Jean loves her job and the opportunity to impact families lives in various ways.  She is also very lucky to work with wonderful colleagues who bring incredible passion and knowledge to the program.

Brad Holman

As the Service Coordination Specialist of the Southeast Regional Center, Brad brings 27 years of experience working with special populations. His experiences have included teaching, case management, service development and grant management, with the past 14 years focused on children with special health care needs.  Prior to his position with the center, Brad was the coordinator of the Children With Special Needs Project for Rock, Jefferson and Green counties from 1996 through 2000.  His Bachelor of Science is in Education/Special Education. Brad has a certificate in non-profit management from UW-Madison.

Brad is also a parent of children with special needs. Travis and Amber were born perfectly normal children, but were afflicted with a neurological degenerative disease called Batten disease at the age of 4 years old. This affected all aspects of their body and life and left them bedridden and very medically fragile. Travis passed away in 1993 and Amber in 1996. Brad has always said “they were and are my greatest teachers”.

Brad enjoys spending time with his wife, watching and participating in many different sports and caring for his dog, two cats, three birds and tank full of fish. He also enjoys the time he spends running a non-profit organization called  “Our Guardian Angels” that he and his wife started to assist families of children with life-limiting diseases and chronic disorders.

Karen Schaefer

Karen is a center assistant for the Southeast Regional Center and The Daniel M Soref Family Resource Center. She leads the Families as Partners Program for the hospital and supports the Family Advisory Committee. Karen also provides technical support to current and new support groups. She coordinates Center volunteer activities, assists with library responsibilities and helps families and staff in The Daniel M Soref Family Resource Center.

When he was young, Karen’s son struggled with anxiety, depression, fine motor skills delay and an auditory processing disorder. Working with staff at Children’s Hospital and her son’s school, he was able to overcome these challenges. As a former coordinator of volunteers for an HIV/AIDS program, and as a parent who has been there, Karen is passionate about her work with families.  Karen and her husband Kurt have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Meg Steimle

As an Outreach Specialist with the Southeast Regional Center, Meg brings 16 years of experience to the job. She is the parent of a teenaged son with Opitz Trigonocephaly Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects all aspects of his development. Meg has learned so much from her son who has a g-tube, severe cognitive delay, and orthopedic concerns and was recently diagnosed with diabetes. With all of those challenges her son brings great joy to her life and gives her a real sense of connection with other families.

Meg has previous experience as a service coordinator with a local Birth to 3 provider and enjoys the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with families who are just beginning the journey of parenting a child with special needs.

Meg has been working closely with many pediatric physicians in the Southeast Region of the state to provide technical assistance and support in their quest for establishing a medical Home for all of their patients.  Meg is very passionate about this work and is always ready to assist providers when they need support!

Meg holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Cardinal Stritch University. She is currently working on a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Helen Bader School of Social Welfare. Meg has facilitated several support groups over the years and finds her greatest satisfaction in supporting and empowering families.

Julie Turkoske

Julie Turkoske is a certified Information and Referral Specialist at the Southeast Regional Center. She enjoys helping families and providers find answers to their questions and the library materials they’re interested in. One of the key areas of Julie’s work is transition to adulthood.

Julie has an adult son and a teenaged daughter who attends Fairview South, a secondary school for children with special needs. As the parent of a child with a chromosomal abnormality, Julie has personal experience with many specialty areas, including deaf blindness, sensory integration, gtube feedings, communication, medical equipment (wheelchairs, standers, etc), and transition and advocacy issues.

Julie has her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and has almost 20 years experience working with children and families of children with special needs who range from infant to high school-aged youth. In addition to working at the Southeast Regional Center, Julie is on the board of directors for Team Up! With Families. Please give Julie a call with any questions or information you have to share!