Our TEAM

In providing exceptional services and supports to people with disabilities, no one element is of more critical importance than the quality of our staff. Successful habilitation and supports of people with developmental disabilities requires specialized training and knowledge. Developing Potential staff are trained in all areas of personalized supports.

Our commitment to quality is seen in not only the sources of our training, but also in the number of trainings we hold each year. Far exceeding state and accreditation requirements, Developing Potential staff attend approximately 25 trainings each year. Topics range from American Sign Language and uses of assistive technology to positive behavioral supports and crisis intervention. We host presenters from outside our agency as well as employ a staff development specialist in house.

“When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.”

— Howard Schultz

Our Board of Directors

Board Meeting on TBD at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

Please email rcase@developingpotential.org for link.

Sheryl Malloy - Chair

Ms. Malloy has been a Board Member for over 25 years. She has 29 years’ experience working in Special Education in the Independence, Grandview and Kansas City Public Schools districts. Recently retired after serving as the Director of Special Services.

Malloy also worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor for the State of Missouri. Extensive background in all areas of identified disabilities and the legal aspects of educating students with disabilities. She is dedicated to the needs of both students and adults with disabilities while also supporting families.

Melissa Pulis - Secretary

Ms. Pulis, MSM, CCLS (Certified Child Life Specialist) has worked at Children's Mercy over 26 years, she is currently the Director of Child Life, Creative Arts Therapies, and Education. Melissa and her husband Matt own Summit Turf Services, a lawn care company based in Lee's Summit, MO. Melissa's training and passion is in Child and Family Services, and she feels privileged to be able to serve the wellbeing of individuals and families in both professional and personal roles.

Brooke VanHoutan - Member

Serving as a board member just over a year, Ms. VanHoutan holds a BSBA in Marketing from Missouri Southern State University, 20 years of insurance experience on both the carrier, retail and wholesale side. Positions held include agency owner, regional sales manager, and VP of Sales.

Her support of DPI’s mission is personal as she has a child with autism that has been one of the biggest blessings of her life.

Brent Caswell - Treasurer

Mr. Caswell, Certified Financial Fiduciary® (CFF) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®), brings a unique background and lifetime of experiences to DPI. As a young child, he lived for 10 years with his parents and brother in Seoul, Korea. He also worked as a professional fundraiser for 16 years in the Kansas City area raising funds for numerous non-profit organizations.

A licensed financial advisor since 2010, he has taken his interest in people, their life stories, and those elements which are important to them, to being a partner in clients’ financial planning. His long-held dream was realized when he and his business partner started Normandy Investment Advisors.

Married for over 30 years to his wife Michele, they have a grown son and daughter who live in the area and with whom they get together and travel with frequently.

Cathleen Karr - Member

Is a Designer and Illustrator at her own company, SugarDog Designs. She retired as an artist for Hallmark Cards, Inc. in 2020. Cathleen graduated with a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and was honored with the Thomas Hart Benton Scholar Award.

She is currently the President for The Kansas City Hunting Retriever Club and spends much of her free time training dogs, running field trials, or volunteering at Tower Shoots. When asked about some of her favorite life experiences, she mentions carriage driving, coffee bar tending, and her work as a camp counselor during the summer months for youth and the disabled.

Leadership Staff

Rebecca Case, Executive Director - Email - DPI Extension 101
Rebecca Case founded Developing Potential, Inc. in 1993 with only eight individuals at the downtown site. Today, there are three locations for day services and the community employment department was added in 2012 and named DPI Employment Connections. DPI now serves an average of 150 people in all programs. Rebecca holds a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and a Masters Degree in Administration from Oakland City University. She is a member of the Missouri Association of Residential Facilities.

TBD - RN

*DPI’s Registered Nurse position is partially funded through the generosity of the Greater Kansas City Heath Care Foundation.

Brittian Rhodes - Community Engagement Director - Email - DPI Extension 201

Brittian has been with Developing Potential since 2012 and currently serves as the Community Engagement Director & Quality Assurance, providing support, training, and oversight to all of the programs at DPI. She has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities for over 17 years and enjoys the relationships she shares with individuals and their families to help each person reach their fullest potential. She is passionate about the difference that quality services and supports can make in the lives of individuals supported and their families. She is a member of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and is a Certified Gentle Teaching Mentor. Brittian serves as the Missouri-Arkansas District Advisor for Kiwanis Aktion Clubs, and is an advisor to the Kiwanis Aktion Club of Lee’s Summit at DPI. She holds a degree in Business Administration from Drury University.

Mary Palmer - Independence Site QDDP - Email - DPI Extension 201

Mary is a member of the management team at Developing Potential, Inc. Having most recently worked in public school special education, Mary has a unique background blending her leadership at Public Radio Management, education, and media. Currently at the Lee’s Summit site, she enjoys creating and facilitating an empowering environment for self-directed discovery, adaptive learning, and personal growth. Mary has a liberal arts degree in English and Theatre with an emphasis on secondary and adult learners.

Kassandra Andersen - QDDP Community Employment/Lee’s Summit Day Services - Email - DPI Extension 203

Kassie has been with Developing Potential for seven years and currently serves as the Lee’s Summit Site and Employment Connections Program QDDP. Kassie’s passion for helping and advocating for others comes from her family, as she has three brothers who have special needs. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Graceland University in 2019. Her capstone research project focused on Missouri’s Employment First initiative for adults with development disabilities. Kassie currently serves as an advisor for the Kiwanis Aktion Club of Lee’s Summit at DPI.

Leslie Patterson-Lynn - Yoga Instructor

Leslie has been passionate about teaching yoga since 2005. She is a E-RYT 500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with 500 continuing education hours) and a YACEP (Yoga Alliance Certified Educational Provider). The accumulation of her yoga education has most recently resulted in the title of "Certified Yoga Therapist" through IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapy). The way she Leslie sees it, shifting from yoga teacher to yoga therapist gave her occupation of choice the dignity it deserves, and it gives her true joy to be able to work with the individuals at DPI.