Maddison excels in streamlining workflow and executing efficient project management to foster collaboration among centers in pursuit of common goals. Her instincts and skills for fostering communication, organizing initiatives and turning challenges into results make her an invaluable asset to the First Place Global team. Areas of focus include working to shape public policy, advancing research and increasing awareness of and opportunities for an often-overlooked community.
Maddison studied political science with a focus on comparative politics, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego. After graduation, she pursued a career as a paralegal in civil litigation, working in New York and Portland, Oregon for 10 years. A longtime advocate for disability awareness and acceptance—particularly surrounding mental health—Maddison decided to make a career move to the nonprofit sector to follow her passion and to expand her education and outreach.