Advocacy, leadership, collaborative impact, and commitment to direct service excellence are among the many reasons Work Incentives Coordinator Latosha Olinger was awarded the Mary Ridgely Distinguished Direct Service Award in Denver, Colorado, on October 7, 2025.

The National Association of Benefits and Work Incentive Specialists (NABWIS) is an association of professionals who provide assistance to individuals who receive disability benefits and are working or considering work. The association honored Olinger with the first-annual Mary Ridgely award for demonstrating excellence in the direct provision of benefits counseling services at the 2025 NABWIS conference.

The award was named after Mary Ridgely who was among the first professionals in the nation to provide benefits and work incentives counseling to Social Security beneficiaries. She was a trailblazer in the field of disability employment and a founding member of NABWIS. 

Olinger, who is the only work incentives coordinator at the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities and has worked at the agency for 23 years, said she was both surprised and honored when it was announced that she won the award. 

“I’m grateful to be recognized by the NABWIS board. The comments Angela shared were heartwarming. I really appreciate the recognition and nomination. It means a lot to me,” Olinger said. “My main goal is to make sure the people who are receiving benefits get the information they need to know to make informed decisions as they move throughout their employment journey and to assist those who provide support to them, as well.”

The criteria for the award, which was presented by Mary Ridgely herself, included advocacy beyond the role, institutional leadership, collaborative impact, commitment to direct service excellence, innovative contributions, and leadership in policy or practice.

Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities Human Resources Manager Angela Dean nominated Olinger for the award. In the nomination, Dean said Olinger has been a long-time champion of promoting education so those receiving benefits can make informed decisions about work, benefit management, and maximizing their full potential.

For the past 9 years, Dean said Olinger has been a devoted work incentive coordinator, obtaining her Community Work Incentives Coordinator training and certification from Virginia Commonwealth University and providing benefit consultation and analysis for those enrolled in services in Warren County.

“Since obtaining her certification, she has become a common name throughout the state,” Dean wrote in the nomination. “She has devoted her career to being an advocate, friend, and mentor to those she serves, their families, and her co-workers.”

She regularly trains new Service and Support Administrators through the Southwestern Ohio Council of Governments as part of their new hire orientation to provide them with an introduction to public benefit systems. She is also an integral part of developing F.E.A.R. Factor training, online trainings breaking down the fears and stigma associated with working and receiving benefits, so recipients and professionals can build a foundational knowledge and make informed decisions. 

Olinger also presents information on public benefits and working each year at Student to Adult Life Transition Series (SALTS) in collaboration with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and other county boards of developmental disabilities. This educational series is aimed at providing students who receive services and their parents education on the next steps after leaving high school. 

In addition to the Mary Ridgely Award, Olinger was also honored with the Partners in Excellence Award for her work with F.E.A.R. Factor at the Ohio Association of County Boards 42nd Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio, on November 20, 2025.

“I’m thankful and fortunate to be involved with these groups and initiatives. It has provided me with a platform to collaborate with others in the field to help provide education on benefits and employment,” Olinger said. “The collaboration has also contributed to my professional development. I have gained so much knowledge from other professionals.”

The Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities is proud to recognize Latosha Olinger for her decades of service and her lasting impact on individuals, families, and professionals across Ohio and beyond.

For more information, contact Megan Becker at megan.becker@warrencountydd.org or (859) 653-7445.