200 E. Cramer Street
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
Phone: (920) 563-2437
arelations@oppinc.com
This year marks a notable milestone for Opportunities, Inc. as Barb LeDuc celebrates 40 years of leadership and service. From her start on December 18th, 1984 as a student intern, Barb LeDuc has been making an impact at Opportunities, Inc. She began as a day camp counselor before being hired full-time as a Placement Specialist for persons with disabilities, placing participants in community integrated employment sites. In August of 1988, LeDuc developed a business plan and successfully launched Diversified Personnel Services, a full-service staffing agency located in Watertown. Additional locations currently include Fort Atkinson, Oconomowoc, and Janesville communities.
LeDuc was then promoted to Vice-President of Opportunities, Inc. where she continued oversight of Diversified Personnel Services, supported Community Employment services, Project JOIN, Workforce Development contracts and Human Resources. In 2000, Opportunities, Inc. broke ground and underwent the first of many facility expansions. Along with then President/CEO Spence Jensen, she lead a community fundraising campaign “Building for the Future” to raise donations for the renovation.
In 2002, LeDuc officially became President/CEO of Opportunities, Inc. when Spence Jensen retired. The organization continued to grow and in 2011, they built a 90,000-square-foot to enhance services to Nestle/Purina Corporation providing a safe, clean, quality environment for those they serve with diverse abilities.
Growth continued through her vision for program expansion, as Opportunities, Inc. acquired Green Valley Enterprises in 2022, so the organization could continue to serve Dodge County and ensure employment and training services in the region. This last year, she was also recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Milwaukee. She has also served on both local and national Board of Directors which include but are limited too; Workforce Development Board of South-Central Wisconsin, SourceAmerica, RFWinAction, CCLS-Residential, United Way, Criminal Justice Coalition, and the Police and Fire Commission.
Opportunities, Inc. Board Chairman, Jeffry Theder says this of Barb, “Her leadership, dedication, and innovative direction over these 40 years have seen the continued growth of the company and most certainly the positive impact on the lives of the individuals with disabilities that the mission serves. With utmost respect and admiration, I would like to congratulate Barb on her past and future service.
Through Barb’s leadership, tenacity and passion, new Mission Services and Social Enterprise programming has expanded through her tenure serving 3000 individuals with diverse abilities annually. Under Barb’s direction, through public and private partnerships, Opportunities, Inc. has raised over 1M in donations from annual fundraising events to help support individuals and programs with limited funding, ensuring those pursuing training have an opportunity for advancement.
