[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E262-E263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF KAREN RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and thank an 
extraordinary leader, Karen Russell, for the incredible impact she has 
had on individuals, families and communities in the 10th Congressional 
District of Virginia.
  Every Citizen Has Opportunities, Inc., or ECHO, for short, is 
dedicated to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental 
disabilities to achieve their optimal level of personal, social and 
economic success. ECHO accomplishes this by providing comprehensive 
vocational assessments, supported employment, extended employment 
services, medically fragile day support and training in work skills and 
socialization.
  In 1975, ECHO opened its doors offering services to 8 adults and 41 
years later, the non-profit's accomplishments are extraordinary. It has 
served more than 550 individuals and currently has contractual 
arrangements with 14 business partners at 17 worksites. ECHO also has 
30 community partners and 15 community volunteers.
  One person whose extraordinary leadership was essential to ECHO's 
success was Marketing Manager, Karen Russell, who retired on December 
1st, 2016, after nearly 40 years in that critically important role. A 
native of Lovettsville, in Loudoun County, Karen started as ECHO's 
Secretary, Bookkeeper and Transportation Manager in 1977.
  Karen Russell's marketing success has been derived from her belief in 
the dignity and worth of every individual and her passionate appeal to 
prospective employers, on behalf of ECHO participants. Karen has taken 
great pride in the accomplishments of this skilled and reliable 
workforce of 140 persons with disabilities, as they fulfill their 
responsibilities to commercial and government customers every day. Her 
tireless efforts advocating for ECHO participants has resulted in a 
profound change in public perceptions. Society has come to realize that 
people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are actively 
contributing members of the community who, when they are given a chance 
to work, have a profound impact on the effectiveness and morale of 
individual businesses and government agencies.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in recognizing 
and thanking Karen Russell, the Marketing Manager at ECHO, for her 
tireless and passionate advocacy on behalf of those with disabilities 
and her exemplary leadership of an organization that has been highly 
successful in empowering them to overcome barriers to employment and in 
achieving their optimal levels of personal, social and economic 
success.

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