Katia Ablanese is the founder and principal of Kappa Strategies, a consulting practice that helps organizations turn policy priorities into meaningful action through education and partnership building. A strategic communications and government affairs professional, she has 25 years of experience advancing workforce development and disability employment policy at every level of government, as well as across the private and nonprofit sectors.

Throughout her career, Katia has directed dozens of initiatives focused on policy education and stakeholder engagement, as well as technical assistance and partnership development. Her portfolio includes work for multiple offices within the U.S. Department of Labor and a range of state agencies, including vocational rehabilitation agencies. For more than a decade, she served as project director for the nationally recognized State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED). In this role, she led policy education and technical assistance across all 50 states and five territories while building and expanding a network of more than 30 national organizations.

Katia brings particular expertise in employer engagement, with additional experience in career readiness and emerging technologies. She has built public-private partnerships that address employer workforce needs while expanding competitive integrated employment and career pathways for people with disabilities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in finance from American University and is a member of the National Association of Government Communicators.