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New Diverse Options President/CEO Susan Osteen stands between two consumers who are packaging silverware in the plant on Fenton Street.
For the first time in 27 years, Diverse Options has a new president/CEO.
Susan Osteen took over the position Tuesday, May 16 for Al Schraeder, who left in early March to accept a new position as the vice president of Mission Services for Opportunities, Inc. Mission Services for Opportunities has operations and divisions in Beaver Dam, Fort Atkinson, Oconomowoc, Jefferson, Watertown and Janesville.
Susan Osteen
Osteen, who now lives in Green Lake, is no stranger to nonprofits herself, working in the industry for the better part of the past three decades. She noted she is excited to build on what Schraeder and Diverse Options has established over the years, which has seen the organization evolve from the Ripon Area Service Center and adapt the new name to reflect its services to a broader area that encompasses four counties.
Diverse Options, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit organization that serves the vocational and independent living needs of individuals with varying abilities in east-central Wisconsin. Diverse Options exists to support, educate and empower individuals to reach their highest level of independence in their lives.
Board President Bill Boutwell noted that Osteen embodies the characteristics of what Diverse Options was looking for in a new president/CEO.
“She had the best background and the best fit to lead Diverse Options into the future,” Boutwell said. “It’s her background and enthusiasm [which made her stand out]. She’s a go-getter. We were impressed with her knowledge of the business and what she could bring to the future of Diverse Options.”
The Commonwealth caught up with Osteen to learn more about her and her goals for Diverse Options.
Here’s the conversation:
Q. Tell me a little bit about yourself and your background?
A. I have been in the nonprofit industry for about probably 25, 30 years. I am a registered nurse by profession. I went to school a long time ago, probably 44 years ago, and that’s where I started out. And then I got into more administrative work and then I got into the nonprofit world over time.
I have extensive experience working with nonprofits who serve underserved populations. I’m not 100% familiar with this industry and how it all works, but I do know all about nonprofits and leadership of nonprofits, and how to help nonprofits make shifts and changes in this changing world in this changing industry.
Q. What attracted you to the position and what made you a good fit?
A. What attracted me to Diverse Options, primarily, is the population of people that get served. I have a passion for underserved people. … My philosophy is that all people deserve the best quality of life they can possibly have.
When the position came available, honestly, I just applied never thinking I’d get the job because I thought I was too old; they wouldn’t hire me because I’ve already retired twice. … I figured, “Well, I’ll just apply; see what happens.”
I’ve been working with the United Church Camps Inc. in the state of Wisconsin as their development director for the last three years, so I thought, “What the heck?” And I live in Green Lake now and this is where my new home is out here, so I will apply [and] see what happens. And lo and behold, two and a half months later I got the job. I didn’t have any attraction to the job. I just thought if I can come, help in the organization I would, so that’s what I did. Why did they hire me? You’d have to ask the board of directors why they hired me; I’m not quite sure.
Q. What do you feel you bring to the table as the new president/CEO of Diverse Options?
A. I think what I bring to the table is a fresh pair of eyes and a new passion and an ignited passion to look at the organization differently. I already met with the board president this morning, and he’s like, “Wow, it’s a whole new vision of how you see this organization.” And I think that’s what I bring [and] anybody would have brought that. It’s a new look. It’s looking at it differently and also looking at it from the world today and how nonprofits need to operate in the new world, post-COVID, which is totally different from how we operated prior to COVID; like everybody else is looking at their nonprofit differently.
Q. What are your hopes and/or goals as the new president/CEO of Diverse Options?
A. My goals are many. The industry from what I have already learned is changing from the way we used to do business. We all know our state Legislature is changing; how our managed-care organizations have now all been purchased by other organizations, larger organizations, so everything is going to start to change. So my goal is to take Diverse Options into the new industry world that’s going to be coming in 2024-25 and look at how we do production, how we do day services. From what I understand now is happening, and what I’m learning is that the push is to get our consumer, our clientele, more into the community, working and being a part of more of the community. We have a community program that we’re going to work on and to start building on more than we have in the past and make those changes; working with our partners in all the counties — Waushara County, Green Lake County, Marquette County, Fond du Lac County — to shift. That’s what we’re going to do.
Q. What are you looking forward to in your role with the company?
Susan Osteen stands next to a Diverse Options consumer Monday afternoon.
A. I’m looking forward to [getting our consumers in the community more]. I like to build new programs. I like to build upon those kinds of things and I like to see the people that we serve have new experiences. That’s what I’m looking forward to; creating something different for them so that they can continue getting the help that they need in this state. Making Diverse Options that choice for people; that they see that we really care about what’s going on. And not that they don’t care today; they do, but that’s a legacy we need to continue. They come first; they always come first, so that’s what I’m looking forward to is continuing that.
Q. What do you see as a challenge(s) and how do you anticipate tackling it/them?
A. The way that we get reimbursed is slated to change; our state Legislature as they change [alters how we operate]. Those are two major challenges in how we get funded. I don’t have a plan for that yet; it’s only day five, I don’t know yet. But I have a plan to make some changes in this organization right now and that’s what we’re going to start doing first.
My biggest plan is to build up this one program and put a lot of our energy over here; getting the consumers back into the community again and doing these pre-vocational community services. But those are our greatest challenges is how we’re going to get reimbursed in 2024. It’s going to change the entire industry and how we do business.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or Diverse Options?
A. Diverse Options is a wonderful organization. They’ve done great work since its inception. Al Schraeder did a great job building this organization. We just need to continue and now we need to shift. … The people who work for it are dedicated, hardworking, valuable; they all have value, they have great ideas and they’re just great people who are really passionate about what they do. But most importantly is the people that we serve. They’re just wonderful. They’re absolutely wonderful. They’re a joy to work with. They’re appreciative and they deserve this. They deserve everything we have to give them.
