Blog

Dan Okenfuss is CFILC’s Public Policy Manager. Based in Sacramento, Dan’s role is to ensure CFILC’s voice is heard in the halls of the State Capitol.

Dan has an exciting career in public service and was honored to have worked for many distinguished legislators, including current Assembly Member Tim Grayson and former Assembly Members Susan Bonilla, Jared Huffman, Ted Lieu, and Dario Frommer. Dan has also worked for former State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and served on the department’s Disability Advisory Council.

Before moving to California, Dan worked in Washington, D.C. for U.S. Congressman David Mann, and later for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and State Net. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Dan attended college nearby at the University of Dayton (“Go Flyers!”).

Outside of CFILC, Dan is a board member for Little People of America – a nonprofit organization for people with dwarfism. In his spare time, Dan also loves to play golf, swim, ride bicycles, and even brew beer. Dan lives in Sacramento with his wife, two sons, and two dogs.

Karla Leon is a CFILC Program Coordinator. Karla joined the CFILC team in July 2022. Karla’s role is to provide cross-programmatic support of Disability Disaster Access and Resources (DDAR) Digital Access Project (DAP), Ability Tools (AT), and any other areas in need.

Karla has worked for a variety of different companies, closely working with our community. Her Latin roots have taught her the importance of hard work and compassion. She is super excited to work for the community and bring her knowledge of marketing and administration to CFILC.

Kathrine is the Deputy Director of CFILC. Her role is to oversee our organization’s programs, work with our Executive Director to build the capacity of our network, and ultimately improve outcomes for Californians with disabilities.

Kathrine attended University of California, Davis (UCD) and obtained bachelor’s degrees in sociocultural anthropology and English with a minor in psychology. Before attending UCD, her early life and career was spent participating in and advocating with the Disability Community. At UCD, she was able to continue her passion by participating in various activities impacting marginalized communities. She studied and interviewed a wide scope of groups, ultimately studying abroad in Ecuador. She lived with indigenous communities and learned about their struggle for autonomy in the wake of government and corporate attempts to strip and mine their lands. This experience taught her much about the strength of community organizing and what a collection of determined individuals can accomplish together.

Kathrine enjoys traveling, with the goal of visiting all seven continents in order to beat her father’s record of having visited six. She enjoys hiking, white-water rafting, swimming, reading, solving puzzles and playing board games with her husband, sisters, nephews and niece. She and her husband have adapted many of their board games in order to make family game night a seamlessly accessible event for her sister Becka, who has Down syndrome and niece and nephew’s Neurodivergencies and vision-based disabilities.