Directory

FMPTIC Board of Directors

  • Anita Balgopal - Champaign, IL
  • Heather Besch - Mahomet, IL
  • Dr. Meghan Burke - Urbana, IL
  • Brock Bush - Urbana, IL
  • Kellie Call - Polo, IL
  • Emily Chetty - Williamsville, IL
  • Rob McClain - Olney, IL
  • Vaibhav Shah - Peoria, IL
  • Melanie Stith - Belleville, IL
  • Ning Weng - Makanda, IL

 

INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR BOARD?

This questionnaire is for individuals who have expressed an interest in participating as a member of the Family Matters Board of Directors.  Please answer each question in the space provided and return the questionnaire by email or mail to:

 Debbie Einhorn
Family Matters PTIC
1901 S. 4th St. Suite 209
Effingham, IL 62401
deinhorn@fmptic.org

The Nominating Committee will review the completed questionnaires of all potential applicants and will contact you by phone to discuss possible Board member positions.  Board candidates will be selected according to federal requirements for Board composition of parent training and information centers, to fulfill demographic needs including geographical locations, parent representation of disability types, representation of age ranges, gender, and diversity, related professional interests, and volunteer experiences.

 Thank you for your interest in our organization! Click here for the questionaire.

FMPTIC Staff
 

Debbie Einhorn, M.Ed.

Executive Director
1-866-436-7842, x8016
Email deinhorn@fmptic.org

Deb Einhorn has been advocating for students with disabilities since1990. Her educational background includes Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Special, Secondary, and Elementary Education.

Past experience teaching students with disabilities from pre-school through high school ages provides Deb with the educator's perspective during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Her experiences as the Director of the Family Support program provides insight on family and student perspectives at IEP meetings, while additional experience supporting adults with disabilities also provides Deb with a familiarity of the issues of transition planning and self-advocacy.

Deb promotes the wisdom and values of parents while representing their children with disabilities during advocacy for the most appropriate and most inclusive services in schools.

Deb took training to be a Board Certified Educational Advocate. This required the completion of 12 courses of study and six hours of examinations on regulatory and special education principles. 

 

Rachel Watkins

Project Coordinator
1-866-436-7842, x8015
Email rwatkins@fmptic.org

Rachel Watkins is the Project Coordinator for the Family Matters Parent Training & Information Center. Her educational background includes an emphasis in Business Management. Rachel is responsible for recording statistical data, assisting with preparations for trainings, budget monitoring, and maintenance of the program's database.

Rachel began her employment with Family Matters and has coordinated the PTIC project since 2022..  

 

Karrie Potter

Information Specialist
1-866-436-7842, x2968
Email kpotter@fmptic.org

Karrie is employed as an Information Specialist at Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center. She began her employment in July 2005.

Karrie is the mother of a child who has been through the Early Intervention Program, Early Childhood Program, and received Special Education services. She is knowledgeable in navigating different sides of the surgical and medical diagnostic fields due to her child's lengthy medical history. She is a source of support to parents who are navigating the same fields. She draws upon her own experiences when helping parents with each and every one of their concerns.

Karrie took training to be a Board Certified Educational Advocate. This required the completion of 12 courses of study and six hours of examinations on regulatory and special education principles. 

 

Abbi Mars, AA

Information Specialist
1-866-463-7842, x3519
Email amars@fmptic.org

Abbi is employed as an Information Specialist at Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center. She began her employment in July 2020.

Abbi is a graduate from Ohio Christian University majoring in Human Services and Religious studies. She is the mother of four children and lives in rural Shelby county. Abbi’s oldest child was diagnosed with severe autism at age two. As a young adult, he is currently attending the Hope School in Springfield, Illinois. She is no stranger to advocating for services for children. She spends most of her time volunteering with different organizations and promoting inclusion for special needs children within those organizations.
 
Kaylei Atteberry
 
Admininstrative Assistant
1-866-436-7842 x3516
 
Kaylei is Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center's Administrative Assistant and began employment in January 2023. Kaylei's professional background includes expierence in Sales, Marketing, and Office Support. At Family Matters she supports staff with anything they might need, runs the Social Media pages, and keeps the office organized. 
 
 

FMPTIC Trainers

Consuelo Puente, Retired Attorney

Multicultural Trainer

Email: cpuente@fmptic.org

217-718-3355

Consuelo Puente has retired from the active practice of law and now has a part-time position with Family Matters as their Multicultural Trainer. Although Consuelo has been an advocate for many years for individuals with disabilities and their families, her enthusiasm end energy has focused on supporting families through training.

Consuelo enjoys the interaction of providing trainings to diverse audiences and is committed to being a life long learner and sharing her knowledge.

Consuelo began her journey in special education when her now two adult sons were identified as having Autism when they were in preschool. Consuelo is still on the journey with her sons and continues to be inspired by them.

 


Rose is a parent of two adults with significant disabilities and wonderful abilities.  She works as Family Resource Specialist with STARnet Regions 1 and 3; and is also a licensed massage therapist.  She has a Bachelor degree in Child Development, but 38 years of on the job training, which is much more valuable.  She is also the President of Illinois Advocates for the Deafblind, and works collaboratively with the Arc of Illinois on the Family to Family Health Education and Information Center as a consultant.  She conducts parent trainings for Family Matters in the northern region of Illinois.

 

Megan Mutti, MA, CT, LCCE

Megan is an experienced advocate and parent of a young adult with a developmental disability.  Her experience on the Supportive Counseling Team at Children's Hospital of Illinois included patient and family-centered care and advocacy for families parenting children with complex healthcare needs.  She is a Ligas Family Advocate for the Arc Ligas Family Advocate Program.  Her Bachelor's Degree is in Family Studies and her Master's Degree is in Human Development and Family Studies.  She conducts parent trainings for Family Matters in the central region of Illinois.