This award is presented to an employee of The Arc in Administration/ Program Management at the state or local level who has made the greatest contribution to their organization and the mission of The Arc. Their professional and personal efforts inspire best practices for their organization and fellow staff members.
Ashley Viagbo, The Arc Prince George’s County
Ashley Viagbo exemplifies the spirit of “Limitless” through her visionary leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This year, Ashley’s voice reached a global stage as a TEDxLargo speaker, with her talk recognized as an Editor’s Pick by TED—an extraordinary honor that reflects both the power of her message and her ability to inspire others to think differently about inclusion, leadership, and possibility. She volunteered to join The Arc Core Leadership Team (ACLT), contributing her insight and energy to strengthening our organizational culture and advancing leadership across the agency. Ashley consistently seeks opportunities to grow—not just personally, but in ways that uplift those around her.
Her work on the Thome Aging Well grant through Enterprise Community Partners has been truly transformative. Over two years, Ashley helped implement a comprehensive health action plan framework that led to the remodeling of eight homes, significantly improving accessibility and reducing falls. Beyond physical changes, her work intentionally fostered sustainable improvements in residents’ mental, emotional, social, and physical well-being.
Ashley also brought these outcomes to life by sharing powerful impact stories with the grantor each quarter, demonstrating both accountability and the meaningful difference this work has made. Ashley’s limitless drive, creativity, and compassion have created lasting change within The Arc of Prince George’s County and the lives of those they support. She is a true leader and an inspiration to all.
Joanne Scott, The Arc Carroll County
Every organization aspires to be truly person-centered, ensuring that this commitment is not just a philosophy, but a lived experience reflected in its culture and the daily actions of its people. Joanne Scott is truly The Arc Carroll County’s “north star” when it comes to ensuring that every staff member understands and embraces The Arc’s commitment to person-centered practices.
Joanne began her journey at The Arc on the very day operations shut down due to the pandemic. Despite the challenges of onboarding in a fully virtual environment, she quickly immersed herself in The Arc’s mission, vision, and values. What could have been a barrier instead became an opportunity—Joanne demonstrated remarkable adaptability and a deep commitment to understanding the culture and the aspiration to continuously improve services through person-centered planning.
As The Arc reopened, Joanne played a key role in launching The Arc Carroll County’s “build back” efforts. She led the implementation and training of the Predictive Index, equipping staff with a valuable tool to better align their natural strengths with their roles. In addition, she developed and facilitated ongoing supervisory training focused on the essential practices of effective leadership. Both initiatives directly supported and advanced key priorities outlined in the organization’s strategic plan.
The impact of Joanne’s work has been transformational. She has helped cultivate a workforce that not only understands person-centered principles, but actively applies them in meaningful ways to support individuals in their daily lives. Beyond strategy and training, Joanne leads by example—she is consistently present at events across personal supports, residential, and day/employment programs. Whether engaging with individuals or even participating in themed events in costume, she demonstrates genuine connection, enthusiasm, and commitment. Simply put, Joanne has helped shape and strengthen the culture of The Arc Carroll County.