Kami Cothrun, founder, Pieceful Solutions

Cothrun is the founder of Pieceful Solutions schools, which opened in 2008 to offer children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental delays a comprehensive program from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Advice: “Never give up. I’m a believer in the saying, ‘Where there is a will, there is a way.’ No matter what hurdles I’ve come across, I have always refused to quit.”

Surprising fact: “Believe it or not, when I first started college I wanted to become an optometrist, but then somehow things took a massive turn and I fell in love with education.”

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