Team - CORNERSTONE VALLEY

Team

Cornerstone Valley believes that every member of our team is vital to our mission; helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities thrive in Community.

Cornerstone acknowledges the mission-critical role of our direct care staff in caring for our individuals. We believe in rewarding the dedication and hard work of our direct care staff by providing opportunities for professional growth and advancement. We are pleased to note that several members of our management team previously served as direct care staff.

FOUNDERS

Co-Founder

Nick Smith

Nick has dedicated 21 years to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He began his career as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) while earning his bachelor’s degree in Business, spending four years providing hands-on care and developing a deep understanding of the needs of the individuals and families he served.

After graduation, Nick worked for the county as a Case Worker and Eligibility Specialist, where he helped individuals access critical services and supports. While working full-time, he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Corban University, combining his passion for human services with a strong foundation in organizational leadership and business strategy.

Nick later partnered with his wife, Carly, to co-found Cornerstone Valley with a vision of building an organization founded on integrity, compassion and responsibility. From the beginning, his goal was to serve individuals with the highest support needs, creating opportunities for them to live meaningful lives as valued members of their communities. He also believed that exceptional care begins with exceptional people, and sought to build a culture that attracts compassionate, high-performing professionals, invests in their growth, and provides competitive compensation while operating an efficient, sustainable organization in a field traditionally dominated by nonprofit providers.

Today, Nick continues to guide Cornerstone Valley by embracing the principles outlined in the Evergreen philosophy: Purpose, Perseverance, People First, Private, Profit, Paced Growth, and Pragmatic Innovation. These principles serve as the foundation for the company’s long-term vision, ensuring that Cornerstone Valley remains focused on delivering exceptional care while building a resilient organization that will serve individuals and communities for generations to come.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service to others.” —Mahatma Ghandi

Co-Founder

Carly Smith

Carly has dedicated the past 19 years to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She began her career as a direct support professional (DSP) while earning her degree in Public Health, gaining invaluable hands-on experience that shaped her compassionate, person-centered approach.

After graduating, Carly partnered with her husband, Nick, to co-found Cornerstone Valley. As the organization grew, she embraced a wide range of leadership roles including staff training, Behavior Professional work, OIS class Instruction, human resources, and administrative operations. Her diverse experience has given her a deep understanding of every aspect of delivering high-quality care and building strong, mission-driven teams.

Throughout her career, Carly has remained committed to improving the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by fostering environments where people are treated with dignity and respect. Her passion for empowering both the individuals served and the professionals who support them continues to guide her leadership and vision.

Directors

Executive Director

Mackyle Little

Mack Little is the Executive Director at Cornerstone Valley Inc. He began his career with CVI in 2020 as a Direct Support Professional and has since advanced through multiple leadership roles over the past years. While working as a DSP, Mack earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Western Oregon University, further strengthening his foundation in organizational leadership and operations.

This hands-on experience across all levels of the organization has shaped Mack’s leadership approach, grounded in operational clarity, staff support, and high-quality care. He is committed to building strong systems, developing effective leaders, and ensuring that services not only meet compliance standards but truly make a lasting impact. Mack leads with clear expectations, integrity, and accountability, putting his team first and recognizing that strong leadership, lasting success, and a healthy culture require continual growth and collective efforts.

“Success isn’t owned, it’s leased — and rent is due every day.” – J.J. Watt

Human Resources Director

Megan Nelson

Megan Nelson serves as the Director of Human Resources at Cornerstone Valley Inc. where she oversees all HR functions. Megan began her journey with CVI in December 2021 as a volunteer and has since advanced into a Director role. Through her experience, she has developed a comprehensive understanding of both frontline operations and organizational leadership, allowing her to effectively support employees at every level of the organization.

Outside of work, Megan enjoys spending time with her little family and taking her son on new adventures!

In her In her position as the Human Resources Director, Megan is committed to leading with integrity and accountability to ensure that our people and our organization are safe, supported, and protected.

“Just stay on track and never look back.” -Dolly Parton

Accounting Director

Carl Martin

Carl grew up in a rural farming community in eastern Oregon and, when not in school, I loved to go hunting, fishing, and played sports–my favorite being golf. After graduating, I served in the US Marine Corps before returning to Corvallis to go to school. I worked for several years in the contracting field in Corvallis and Salem in accounting and as an office manager before finding a home with Cornerstone Valley. What I found most appealing about Cornerstone is the commitment to supporting and serving the young people in our care.

Carl loves the outdoors–hiking and camping regularly–and golfing as often as he can. Carl also loves searching for that little out of the way place that may not even appear on a map.

In his position as the Director of Accounting, Carl is committed to keeping the company and all of its departments financially transparent.

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” — Yogi Berra

Behavior Professional Director

Braden Fuszek

Braden Fuszek serves as the Director of Behavior Services at Cornerstone Valley, where he oversees a team of Behavior Professionals and leads the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of positive behavior supports across the organization. His leadership style is shaped by his background in athletics and personal development, including playing collegiate football while pursuing a degree in Psychology at Western Oregon University, years of coaching high school sports, mentoring middle school students, and his experience as an older brother, where he developed strong values around responsibility, patience, and leading by example. Over the past 7 years, Braden has supported over 50 individuals across roles including Direct Support Professional, House Manager, Behavior Professional, and now Director, contributing to the organization’s growth while helping build team culture and person-centered practices.

Braden is committed to aligning teams around a shared mission of improving quality of life, expanding meaningful opportunities, and ensuring supports evolve with current best practices. At the root of it all, Braden’s work is anchored in his commitment to person centered supports that expand opportunities, protect dignity, and improve quality of life.

” If you want to be good, then rely on yourself. If you want to be great, then rely on yourself and others” – Rex Ryan

Services Director

Farron Dowdy

Farron Dowdy is the Director of Services at Cornerstone Valley. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Farron worked for over five years with the State of Oregon as a Residential Specialist, supporting and case managing children, many of whom she now continues to serve in her current role. Driven by a desire to make a more direct and meaningful impact, Farron transitioned to Cornerstone to become more involved in the day-to-day lives of the children in care. She is passionate about building relationships and creating positive, lasting change at a deeper level.

Farron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and is also a proud mother. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time outdoors, especially fishing, which reflects her appreciation for patience, connection, and nature.

In her position, Farron is committed to enhancing the quality of life for the children served by creating a safe, nurturing environment and providing structured, positive experiences that foster growth and create meaningful, lasting memories.

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” –Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie

Operations Director

Omari Dixon Land

Omari Dixon Land is the Director of Operations at Cornerstone Valley, where he has grown within the organization over several years. He began his career as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) and, after graduating from Western Oregon, transitioned into an administrative internship, gaining experience across multiple departments before stepping into his current role where he oversees the organization’s day-to-day systems and infrastructure, ensuring that technology, maintenance, and core operational processes run efficiently

In his position, Omari is committed to optimizing core operational practices and improving efficiency across the organization. His focus is on strengthening internal systems to better support staff and ensure the individuals served by Cornerstone Valley may thrive.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it” -Peter Drucker

Quality Assurance Director

Taylor Jones

Taylor brings a meticulous eye and a passion for complex systems to his role as Director of Quality Assurance. His professional journey is rooted in the physical sciences, driven by a lifelong fascination with minute details and a love for solving the puzzles found within manifold interactions. Taylor graduated with honors from the University of Oregon, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology with specialized certifications in Neuroscience, Genetics, and Developmental Biology. This rigorous scientific background provides the foundation for his precision-oriented approach to quality management.

In his role, Taylor is commited to helping all departments stay ahead of regulatory changes and compliance shortcomings that may hinder our mission of providing a high quality of life to our clients and team members.

“If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” — Suga Free