About Us

1963 Founded as the Neighborhood House Day Activity Center to serve eight teens and
adults with developmental disabilities.
1965 Expanded to include a preschool.
1971 The Day Activity Center formed its own Board of Directors and incorporated into a
non-profit corporation named Kaposia Area Day Activity Center.
1981 Discontinued the preschool program and continued to expand the array of services
to adults.
1983 Began the conversion from a traditional day training and habilitation program to
a customized employment service.
1984 Implemented supported employment services as a new alternative in the area of
vocational training and employment.
1985 Focused on building new jobs and partnerships with the business community and
a name change was made to Kaposia Incorporated.
1986 Recognized by the Minnesota Department of Human Services as an Outstanding
Community Service and participated in Minnesota's Five-Year Supported Employment
Project.
1987 Featured in national publication on supported employment for serving as a model
program.
1988 Moved from the Neighborhood House into the Riverview Business Plaza at 380 East
Lafayette Freeway South, Suite 212, in Saint Paul.
1989 Won the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce's prestigious Walter and Lydia
Deubener Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as a nonprofit corporation for
achievement on becoming a customer-driven business. Recognized as an Exemplary
Program in the area of supported employment services by the Regional Rehabilitation
Exchange / Peer Review Advisory Council in Austin, Texas.
1990 Honored by the Developmental Disabilities Training Institute at the University of
North Carolina-Chapel Hill as one of the seven best companies providing supported
employment services in the United States. Received a Certificate of Commendation from
Governor Arne Carlson for the development of the Supported Employment Specialist
Apprenticeship Program.
1991 Became the first Day Training and Habilitation Center in Minnesota to
successfully receive CARF accreditation in the area of supported employment from the
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Created Kaposia Plus, a
community employment service to address the needs of persons with more significant
disabilities.
1995 Selected by Hennepin County to establish a new Day Training and Habilitation
Service to serve individuals moving out of Regional Treatment Centers. Featured in
national publication on supported employment - "Closing the Shop - Conversion from
Sheltered to Integrated Work," written by Stephen T. Murphy and Patricia M. Ragan,
published by Paul H. Brooks Publishing Co.
1996 Acquired Custom Contracts & Services, Inc. to further diversify services, from
employment and community supports, to senior services.
2000 Custom Contracts phased out; Created Kaposia Retirement Services
2001 Created the "One Step Ahead Legacy" (Kaposia's inaugural Planned Giving
Program) and the Kaposia Foundation. Contracted with Ramsey County to begin
providing "Supported Employment Services" (SES). Also formed a partnership with
Opportunity Partners to provide Extended Employment Services.
2002 Started Kaposia Transportation Service.
2003 Started Hennepin Employment Services; selected by Ramsey County to provide
supported employment services for persons with traumatic brain injuries and other
medical and cognitive disabilities; celebrated 40 years of serving persons with
disabilities. Selected by the City of Saint Paul as a community partner to maximize
inclusion for people with disabilities as part of its Minority Business Development and
Retention Initiative.
2005 Selected by Ramsey County as a new Employment and Alternative Service to
serve persons primarily from the Latino community.
2006 Selected by Dakota County as a Day Training and Habilitation Service and as an
Employment and Alternative Service provider. Secured employment for three
individuals with developmental disabilities on the construction of the Rondo Library
and Housing Project earning union-level wages, a first for the region and probably in
the nation. Persuaded the City of Saint Paul to set a 10% employment goal for
individuals with disabilities for contractors and city employees.
2007 Selected by Hennepin County as Employment and Alternative Service provider.
2008 Jackie Mlynarczyk retires as CEO after 35 years of service. Jon Alexander, the
former Director of Operations, becomes CEO on July 1.