Board of Directors

Brian S. Dennis has worked in disability and human services for the past 27 years. His career includes residential care, mental health case management, local housing services; and for the past 12 years in education/training, and employment services through Iowa's implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Mr. Dennis has worked on both the local and state level, serving individuals with significant barriers to employment and education. Including leadership positions in both Business Engagement and Vocational Rehabilitation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in counseling; as well as his CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor) licensure and is a certified SSDI/SSI benefits planner. Mr. Dennis has served on various boards related to the inclusion of individuals who experience Brain Injuries, the state of Iowa’s Assistive Technology Council, the statewide Disability Access Committee; as well as the board of Central Iowa Center for Independent Living (CICIL). He is also an adjunct professor where he has taught courses related to Counseling Diverse Populations, Disability Policy, Family Counseling, Medical Aspects of Disability and Psychiatric Disorders which integrate the concepts of intersectionality and cultural humility as well as steps to creating more open systems and services around the persons we serve.

Annie Giudicessi is the owner and creativity behind HeyGiud Communications. Her background includes over 13 years in social media management and marketing, a degree in Communication Studies from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and an online Social Media Marketing Specialization Certificate from Northwestern University.
After years of working full-time jobs and freelancing in social media, Annie took the leap into self-employment and founded HeyGiud Communications in June 2016. HeyGiud allows her to combine her passion for helping small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals with her knowledge and expertise in social media marketing, helping them not only grow their businesses but also conserve their most precious resource: time.
Annie was named FuseDSM Ambassador of the Year for 2016 and also served one term on the FuseDSM Board of Directors. She has served as Secretary of the Board of Directors for Central Iowa Center for Independent Living since September 2017. Her passion for Disability Rights Advocacy and Awareness began long before Annie joined CICIL’s board or experienced disabilities herself. During her four years in college, she was a volunteer at the Christian Opportunity Center in Pella, Iowa; her involvement there was inspired by an uncle who lived most of his life with physical disabilities and mental illness. 
In the rare times she disconnects, Annie enjoys spending time with her family, reading and writing, and continuing to explore the great things Des Moines and Iowa have to offer, usually with her camera by her side. You can often find her in a bookstore, coffee shop, or a local record store, adding to her large collection of vinyl records. She’s also an avid sports fan, so you’ll often find her cheering on her favorite teams and athletes, especially her niece and nephew.

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Ruth Thompson has 30 years of experience, either in, or adjacent to state governments working to create Medicaid waiver programs. Her goal was to bring people with disabilities to the table to build and serve as advisers to those programs.
Ruth has served as the Executive Director of a statewide Disability Advocacy organization in Illinois and has served on the SILCs (Statewide Independent Living Council) of West Virginia and Illinois.
Ruth currently serves on the Access Advisory Board for the City of Des Moines and is a program specialist with Polk County Crisis and Advocacy. 

Katie Ringstad is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with a background in disability advocacy, mental health, and systems navigation. With over a decade of experience across nonprofit, education, and state systems, Katie brings a justice-centered lens to her work, championing access, equity, and self-determination for people with disabilities.Katie holds a master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from Drake University and has served in roles spanning from Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to Program Coordinator for transition-aged youth. She has a particular interest in intersectional approaches to accessibility and has supported individuals navigating systemic barriers to employment, education, and wellness.Katie works for Drake University as part of the rehabilitation counseling program. She is also working towards her LPCC certification in a private practice. She is passionate about bridging the gap between disability services and mental health care, with a focus on creating culturally responsive, person-centered systems. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with her children, her friends, losing track of time in a good book, traveling or trying out new recipes to share with her loved ones.Katie is honored to serve on the CICIL board and is committed to supporting the organization's mission of advancing independent living and community inclusion across Central Iowa.