Kathy West-Evans
Director of Business Relations
Kathy West-Evans, the CSAVR Director of Business Relations is from the State of Washington. She joined CSAVR in this role in August 2005 where she leads the National Employment Team (NET). She had the opportunity to work with disABLEDpersons on the development of the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) Kathy has her MPA from Seattle University, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington, and is a CRC who is fluent in American Sign Language. She has been in the field of vocational rehabilitation since 1978 working at the community, state, federal and national level during her 45+ year tenure.
Kathy started her professional career working as a vocational consultant and manager of the Projects with Industry (PWI) program at the Hearing, Speech, and Deafness Center in Seattle. She moved into the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) in 1983 as a VR counselor for customers who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or late deafened. Kathy held several positions within DVR during her 14-year tenure with the state agency. In addition to her time as a VR Counselor, she worked as an Assistant Regional Administrator, a Regional Business Relations Specialist, and the Statewide Manager for Business Relations and Marketing. In 1997, Kathy moved to the federal level with the Region X Office of Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) where she worked until July 2005. Kathy was employed as an RSA VR Program Specialist, serving as the State representative to Oregon and Alaska as well as the regional specialist in the areas of employment and business relations, the ADA, training, CSPD, PWI, and services to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing.
Kathy served on the planning committee for the RSA – CSAVR National Employment Conferences in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004. Kathy is the past Chair and member of the Veterans Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation and a former Commissioner on the CRCC Board. She has written and co-authored articles on business development strategies and employer relations within VR agencies and had the opportunity to write draft language that is now in WIOA and the Rehab Act that expanded the work of VR with business. Kathy is frequently requested to speak and present on topics related to business relations and the employment of individuals with disabilities.