The Inspire Award is given to an exemplary leader who improves the lives of people living with disabilities through leadership, stewardship and collaboration. The recipient does not have to be a MOHR member or work for a MOHR Member Organization.
The 2025 MOHR Inspire Award Winner is Lori Schluttenhofer, CEO of Services for Opportunity Partners in Minnetonka.
MOHR President Robin Harkonen, left, presents the 2025 MOHR Inspire Award to Lori Schluttenhofer, CEO of Services for Opportunity Partners in Minnetonka.
St. Paul, Minn. - Lori Schluttenhofer, CEO of Services for Opportunity Partners in Minnetonka, by multiple nomination, has been awarded the 2025 MOHR Inspire Award. The Inspire Award recognizes an outstanding individual whose leadership, dedication, and collaboration have meaningfully improved the lives of people with disabilities; who has made a lasting impact in the field of disability services; and who motivates others to take action in support of inclusion and equity.
Growing up alongside a sister with developmental and intellectual disabilities, Schluttenhofer developed a deep, early awareness and compassion for people with disabilities. This personal connection inspired a lifelong commitment to person-centered services and advancing quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
Schluttenhofer currently serves as CEO of Services at Opportunity Partners, where she oversees Day, Employment, and Residential Services for over 1,000 individuals with disabilities in the Twin Cities. She has been with Opportunity Partners for 13 years, previously leading Quality, Learning, and Education initiatives, and was promoted to Vice President of Vocational & Habilitation Services in 2015. In March 2023, Schluttenhofer was named CEO of Service, marking a historic shift to a co-CEO model at Opportunity Partners for the first time in its 70-year history. She now leads alongside Bill Schultz, CEO of Operations & Strategy.
Schluttenhofer’s influence extends beyond her organization. She serves on the MOHR Board of Directors and represents MOHR on key state committees, including the Task Force on Eliminating Subminimum Wages and the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule Transition Advisory Committee, helping to align services with federal HCBS regulations. A respected subject matter expert, Schluttenhofer works tirelessly to understand and respond to policy changes at both the state and federal levels, particularly those affecting the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She provides guidance and education to MOHR members, peer organizations, staff, families, and the broader community on complex regulatory and service issues.
A passionate advocate, Schluttenhofer frequently testifies before the Minnesota Senate Human Services Committee and the House Human Services Finance & Policy Committee. During the most recent legislative session, she spoke multiple times on the impact of proposed budget cuts, emphasizing the vulnerability of service providers and the importance of equitable funding for disability services. Reflecting on her work this session, Schluttenhofer remarked that it had been a challenge, marked by a newly seated group of legislators - many of whom were navigating the complexities of budget negotiations amid a deficit for the first time. Schluttenhofer worked closely with lawmakers to ask the difficult but necessary questions, advocating tirelessly on behalf of providers and the people they serve. Behind the scenes, she dedicated countless hours preparing detailed testimony in response to the Governor’s proposed budget cuts and their projected impacts on disability services.
Throughout the session, Schluttenhofer and her team have remained committed not only to advocacy, but also to empowering others. They’ve worked to demystify the legislative process, helping individuals with disabilities and their families learn how to share their stories effectively with legislators. Schluttenhofer often emphasizes that lawmakers want to hear directly from constituents - the single most impactful voice in this process. It's not about policy jargon or political agendas, but about humanizing the impact: telling the real stories of how funding decisions affect individuals, families, and communities. This year, Schluttenhofer is especially proud of the collaborative spirit between MOHR’s leadership and its Government Affairs Committee, the strong turnout for Disability Services Day at the Capitol, and the success of “Mini Days at the Capitol”- strategic, collective efforts that showed how impactful MOHR can be when working together with a unified voice.
Schluttenhofer’s unwavering dedication, tireless advocacy, and deep-rooted compassion make her an extraordinary leader and a powerful force for positive change in the disability services sector. Her ability to navigate complex policy, mentor peers, amplify the voices, and foster meaningful collaboration across organizations exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose. Schluttenhofer embodies the spirit of the Inspire Award - not only through her professional accomplishments, but through the hope, strength, and inspiration she brings to the people and communities she serves. We are proud to honor her work as this year’s Inspire Award Winner.
