Meet Jenny Stonemeier | Chief Executive Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny Stonemeier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
At its core, the work we do is about dignity, independence, and access. At REACH, we support people with disabilities, older adults, and Veterans to live the lives they choose… whether that’s staying in their own homes, finding a meaningful job, managing their finances independently, or having their own voice reflected in decisions that affect their care.

What makes our impact meaningful isn’t just the services and support we provide, but how we provide them. We operate from a person-directed model, which means the individual, not the “system”, is in charge. We help to remove the barriers that are often invisible to people who don’t have to navigate them every day, and we do it with respect, accountability, and humanity.

The ripple effect is real, too. When people are supported well, families stabilize, communities become more inclusive, and systems work better. That’s the impact I am most proud of… consistent change that improves the lives of those we serve and beyond.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career hasn’t been linear, and it hasn’t been easy… but it’s been intentional.

I came into leadership through direct service, operations, problem solving, and a deep belief that organizations can do better by the people they serve and the people who work to serve them. I’ve spent my career building systems that actually function financially, operationally, and culturally.

What sets me apart is that I don’t separate the mission from execution. Caring without structure doesn’t scale, and structure without compassion doesn’t last. I’ve learned how to hold both.

I’m most proud of leading through periods of real change… navigating compliance challenges, rebuilding trust, strengthening governance, and helping organizations grow without losing their heart. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that leadership is about asking better questions, staying accountable, keeping my own self-care in check, and constantly learning.

What I want people to know about me and my work is simple: I believe ethical, people-centered leadership is not optional. It’s the whole job.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I was born and raised in Dallas. I was a teenager in the late-80s and early-90s when we were feral kids. I was lucky to have a job at 14 and my own transportation when I turned 16 because it allowed me to explore so much of what the region had to offer. I left to go to college in the Midwest and spent much of my adult life there and in Washington, DC. Texas feels more like home now than it ever did when I was growing up and I love being back here as an adult.

If my best friend came to Dallas for a week, I’d want them to experience both the energy and the heart of our region. We’d start with a coffee at La La Land and enjoy a conversation on their beautiful patio. It’s a place where you can sit, think, and people watch. After a long morning, we’d stroll through the Mandalay Canal Walk in Los Colinas and check out the Mustangs Sculptures & Museum along with some of the great shops along the way.

Before dinner, we’d head to one of my favorites, Mexican Sugar for their incredible happy hour and abundant gluten free options (and another great patio). We’d stay for dinner because it’s just too good not to, before making our way over to Deep Ellum for a nightcap and live music at Dada Dallas or maybe one of Dallas’ speakeasies like Bourbon & Banter.

We’d split our time and be sure to enjoy all the fun, culture, and totally different vibe that Fort Worth has to offer. The Stockyards and cattle drive, the Kimbell Art Museum (my friends and I used to skip school and go there when I was in high school), the beautiful outdoor oasis of Joe T. Garcia’s and back to BillyBob’s for some live music! I love seeing how Fort Worth has embraced its heritage and history and become a true destination and not just the hidden gem that it’s been for so long.

If the weather was great, we’d head down to Cedar Hill State Park and check out their incredible collection of trail-accessible mobility equipment. I’m so proud that our State Parks systems have invested in insuring that our natural resources are accessible to everyone!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This work has never been a solo effort. I owe a tremendous amount to the people who showed up before me and show up now, alongside me.

First, the advocates leading the Disability Rights and Independent Living movements, many of them disabled themselves, who pushed for autonomy, accessibility and civil rights laid the groundwork for everything we do today. People like Ed Roberts, Judy Heumann, Lois Curtis, and Bob Kafka.

I also want to shout out to our staff, management and leadership teams, and Board of Directors at REACH. This work is complex, emotional, and often invisible. Our team, most of whom are disabled, choose to care deeply, stay curious and hold themselves to a high standard even when it’s hard.

I’m really proud of the work that I am engaged in as a Board Member of the National Council on Independent Living. This membership association is leading the coalition building work that keeps our work centered in national policy conversations. Collaboration is hard work, but the members, staff, and Board of NCIL are doing it every day.

And finally, I want to recognize the consumers we serve. They are not passive recipients… they are teachers, partners, and leaders. They constantly remind me why this work matters and why listening matters more than assuming.

Website: https://www.reachcils.org

Instagram: https://reach.tx

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-stonemeier-mj-9200607/

Facebook: Reach,tx