On Wednesday, 27 staff from Living Well drove to Rochester for the ARRM Forward conference, and to help celebrate Talasia Riley and Alejandro Castro, as they were named ARRM Cares Award finalists.

ARRM Forward 2025 was a resounding success, with over 600 disability services professionals convening for professional development and networking. ARRM brought together over a dozen speakers to present on topics ranging from AI and technology, to burnout and imposter syndrome, to legislative updates and grassroots advocacy. Amidst a packed schedule of industry-leading presenters, attendees also visited over 30 exhibitors and enjoyed a keynote from comedian and activist Maysoon Zayid.

During the luncheon the ARRM Cares Award finalists were brought on stage and recognized for their hard work and commitment to the work. Alejandro was unable to attend, but Talasia was there with her manager, Madyson Fairhurst, and both had a great time meeting new folks and learning more about the industry. After the conference Talasia texted a few coworkers saying it was a great experience and thanked them for supporting her. ARRM will announce winners in September. Alejandro and Talasia, we are rooting for you!!

Beth Tollefson, Senior Director of Program Service, has been with Living Well for over 30 years and has attended many ARRM conferences over the years. She says, “The annual ARRM conference is a yearly highlight. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about best practices, network with other providers, understand the impact of recent legislative or regulatory changes, technological advancements, or how best to support people and DSPs as they do such critical work. I love the opportunity to connect with others from across the state to hear about the gifts and opportunities facing us as services providers. A real bright spot is seeing the ARRM Cares finalists walk across the stage as we anticipate hearing more about their success stories.

Megan Peterson, Manager of Communications at ARRM said, “We are so grateful to all our attendees, sponsors, speakers, and exhibitors for making ARRM Forward the meaningful and powerful experience that it is each year. We’re excited to hear how you’re applying the insight you gained from the conference to your day-to-day work in disability services. ARRM appreciates Living Well’s consistent support and attendance at our events, and we can’t wait to see you back at Mystic Lake for ARRM Forward 2026!

At Living Well we believe in continuing education, supporting staff with access to opportunities to network and grow, and providing support that makes staff feel seen and engaged. Thanks to all who attended and thanks to ARRM for hosting another successful and engaging event.

Join our mailing list and never miss out on invites and information. Click here to get a weekly email! Email Adrienne at [email protected]  for more information about house openings.