Connie Thrash McGoodwin, M.Ed.
Executive Director

   Connie Thrash McGoodwin has served as Executive Director of Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC) since 1981. Dale Rogers is Oklahoma’s oldest and largest community service provider that specializes in training people with developmental disabilities. DRTC trains or employs over 1,000 people. Starting with only a $100,000 budget in 1981, Ms. Thrash now oversees more than $14 million worth of programs and services for people with disabilities. 

            Ms. Thrash is a recognized leader across the Southwest for her innovative programs for people with disabilities as well as her business accomplishments.  She  completing a 10 year term as a member of the Mayor’s MAPS Oversight Board in 2003.  She has served on numerous boards including, the Workforce Oklahoma Tri-County Oversight Board, Delta Dental Charitable Foundation and Oklahoma Community Providers. In 1999, Ms. Thrash received a 30-year achievement award from the Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities. In 1992, Ms. Thrash was the first non-profit director to be named Executive of the Year by the Central Oklahoma Sales and Marketing Executives Association.  

            Ms. Thrash was in the 1990 Class of Leadership Oklahoma and in the 1987 Class of Leadership Oklahoma City. Also in 1987, she was a recipient of the Women in Communications By-Liners Award.  Ms. Thrash has chaired the Oklahoma Conference for Women through her United Methodist Church where she has served on their Charge Conference and as a volunteer deaf interpreter.  She is a past president of the Oklahoma Association of Workshops/Community Residential Facilities where she also chaired their legislative committee.

            In 1986, Ms. Thrash was installed in Oslo, Norway as the first female governor of the Oklahoma/Kansas District of Civitan International.  In 1987, in Washington, D.C., she became the first woman to win a contested race in an international men's and women's service organization.  She served a two-year term as a member of the International Board of Directors of Civitan representing Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri. 

            Prior to her current position at DRTC, Ms. Thrash was Executive Director of Dallas East Center for Developmentally Disabled and president of the Dallas Coalition of Agencies Serving the Handicapped.  She also spent two years in New South Wales, Australia, teaching and lecturing and taught in Brooklyn, New York.  Her bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology was received from Oklahoma State University and her Masters in Education from Texas. She has hours towards an MBA at OCU and is certified in all areas of disabilities.