Kristin Rohrbeck, director of the Joanne & Ted Lindsay Foundation Autism Outreach Services (OUCARES) at Oakland University, was selected by public vote as the winner of Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 under 40 Class of 2019.

Rohrbeck is a Farmington Hills resident with an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in developmental psychology from Ohio State University. As director of OUCARES, she led the growth of OUCARES’ autism programs by 25% to offer over 100 programs to serve more than 2,300 people impacted by autism spectrum disorder in southeast Michigan.

Rohrbeck is a recent graduate of the Leadership Oakland Cornerstone program where she and her class built a recuperative garden at HOPE Recuperative Care Center in Pontiac. She is involved in multiple organizations that give back to the community, like 100 Women Who Care and MI Bright Future, and actively volunteers her time at Oakland University, serving on the Women’s Employee Resource Group Executive Board, the Administrative Professionals Association, and the Senate Committee on Campus Environment and Development.

Rohrbeck was revealed as the winner this evening at Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s State of the County address at United Shore in Pontiac. She introduced the county executive and shared,

“I am grateful to all of my family, friends and colleagues who supported me during the voting process, and during my professional and personal highs and lows that have led me to this point in my life,” Rohrbeck said. “It feels great to be recognized both professionally for the work that I love to do, and personally for my community involvement. Most people are not aware of the volunteer work I do, so it is really nice to share that with others as well.”

“We are fortunate to have talented and passionate leaders such as Kristin who are committed to their professions and improving their communities every day,” Patterson said. “She joins an outstanding class of ambassadors for Oakland County.”

About 250 applications and nominations were reviewed by a panel of judges, looking for the top 40 young professionals and thought leaders who live or work in Oakland County. The 40 honorees have achieved excellence in their field and contributed to the quality of life in their communities. Of that group, the three candidates who scored the highest were placed before the public vote to determine the 2019 winner. This is the eighth year of the Elite 40 program.

“I’m excited about this outstanding class of talented and passionate leaders who are committed to improving their professions and their communities every day,” County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. “These young leaders are wonderful ambassadors for Oakland County.”

Learn more about the Elite 40 Program at: Elite40.com.

Previous Elite 40 under 40 class winners include:

Dr. Lucetry B. Dalton, Clinical Psychologist, McLaren Health System; Class of 2018
Brooke Wilson Vitale, Owner of Love & Buttercream Bakery; Class of 2017
Ali Woerner, Oakland University Assistant Professor of Dance and co-founder and co-director of the non-profit professional modern dance company, Take Root; Class of 2016
Melody Arabo, Walled Lake Consolidated School District teacher and former Michigan Teacher of the Year; Class of 2015
Susan Kruger, President and CEO, SOAR Learning, Inc.; Class of 2014
Erica Coulston, Owner, Walk the Line to SCI Recovery; Class of 2013
Hajj Flemings, CEO/Founder of Brand Camp University; Class of 2012

Learn more about the Elite 40 under 40 program on the Advantage Oakland website. Keep up with the class and events using #Elite40 on Facebook and Twitter.

For more county news and events, visit our website and follow along with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram using #OaklandCounty.