FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2007

GUTSELL JOINS S.O.R.T.A. BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CINCINNATI - Peg Gutsell has been appointed to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority's nine-member board of trustees. SORTA operates Metro and Access public transportation services in Greater Cincinnati.

Gutsell serves as executive director of the Inclusion Network, an organization committed to promoting and supporting efforts to include people with disabilities in the community. Gutsell was one of the organizers of the INclusion 2000 Self-Study Project, a voluntary, community-wide effort to help organizations review their inclusive practices. She also helped to develop the organization's "inclusion audit" service that assists organizations in creating a welcoming environment for people with disabilities.

Gutsell holds a B.A. in psychology from Michigan State University, an M.A. in rehabilitation counseling and an Ed.D. in special education from the University of Cincinnati with concentrations in human development counseling and administration. At the university level, she has taught and published training reference material on creating inclusive school communities; promoting individual self-determination; communicating effectively in meetings; and building collaborative partnerships that include families, professionals, and individuals with disabilities.

Gutsell was appointed to the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council by the governor, where she served two years as vice chair.

Gutsell and her husband, Jeff, reside in College Hill.

Metro and Access are non-profit public services of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, providing almost 22 million rides per year in the Greater Cincinnati community.

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