Brain Injury Services, Inc., (BIS) announces the election of Kendel Paulsen as chair for the Board of Directors. Ms. Paulsen joined the Board of Directors in 2015 and replaces Rick Ferarro, of Deloitte, who served as chair for 9 years.

Ms. Paulsen is committed to being a servant leader and to volunteerism. In her two years of service at BIS she has represented its mission at many community-based events and has been a vocal state and county advocate for people with traumatic brain injury.

When asked why she joined Brain Injury Services, Kendel says, “I believe in the mission of this agency’s work and support their dedication to a community that is misunderstood and underserved. Brain Injury Services has been around for 28 years and there still continues to be opportunity to raise awareness about traumatic brain injury and to increase programs that serve children, women and men who have suffered a TBI from a concussion, stoke or even a sports-related injury.” She continues, “BIS is about bringing people from the darkness into their life.”

“Kendel has committed so much to our mission,” says Denise Hyater, executive director for Brain Injury Services. “She has been a strategic resource for fundraising and furthering the mission of BIS and we look forward to her leadership.”

Ms. Paulsen’s history of service includes volunteering with the American Red Cross, the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Children’s Haven, Quigley House, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Melanoma Research Foundation and is a co-founder Miles for Melanoma, co-founder of Children’s House of Old Town; as well as, a variety of smaller initiatives with Burke Presbyterian Church, Lake Braddock Secondary School, Commonwealth Academy and ECHO.

Ms. Paulsen holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Management. She has her own business, Purpose Driven Life Coaching, LLC. She lives in Burke VA with her husband Kevin Stenstrom and their three children Jacob, Ronan and Avery.