Karen Michalski-Karney has been Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Independent Living Center (BRILC), Roanoke, since it started in 1989. Karen serves on the board of the National Council on Independent Living, as vice-president of the Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living and as chair of the Statewide Independent Living Council.  Locally she serves on the board of the Greater Roanoke Transit Company and as Treasurer of the Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board.  Karen holds a Master’s in Public Administration from James Madison University.