Meet the Team
Mother-Son Co-Founders
Maria McWhirt PhD, CEO
Daniel Mills, CTO
Dr. Maria McWhirt and her son, Dan Mills, co-founded M Power Me in 2017 after he developed the first MyGuide version for them to connect with and better understand his little brother who has autism. They successfully avoided institutionalization for him, went on to test MyGuide, and today they all work for MPower Me to equip and train professionals and families to customize MyGuide to better connect with and understand the people they serve.
Maria McWhirt, Ph.D
Co-Founder & CEO
Dr. Maria McWhirt has over 30 years of experience in Medicare and Medicaid policy, quality, and integrity, including advisory consulting for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). She’s a fierce advocate for empowering the voice and choice of individuals through technology and practice that overcomes long-standing barriers. Along with her role as co-founder and CEO of MPower Me, she serves on the board of VaACCSES, a provider association in Virginia. She consults with providers and county Boards across several states to translate evidence-based practices into customizable multimedia tools that reduce risk, improve outcomes, and ensure consistent supports and services amidst an industry-wide staffing crisis. Dr. McWhirt directs several grants, pilot programs, and system-level integration demonstrations, including public and private programs for aging adults, such as the PACE programs. Dr. McWhirt also presents at state, national, and international conferences about advancing technology parity and universal access to information for aging adults and people with neuro-diverse conditions, such as intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental health, dementia, substance use, and stroke.
Dan Mills
Co-Founder & CTO
Born with vision impairments, accessible technology became an important personal mission for Dan. Inspired by his younger brother who has autism, Dan built MyGuide to empower users and make technology more inclusive for everyone, regardless of age, condition, and ability. With over 10 years of experience in developing, testing, and shipping software, Dan brings his technical expertise and insight to every project he develops for MPower Me through his software development company, Arcane Arts, established in 2017.
Kevin Winslow
Sr. Director of Development
Kevin joined this mission in 2019 with background studies in psychiatry, and 15 years of experience supporting children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kevin educates communities about MPower Me and MyGuide, including families seeking technology solutions, and the providers who serve them. He builds relationships with our partners, develops their capacity with inclusive technologies, and organizes feedback from the community in order to influence the direction of technological development. He also maintains the MPower Me brand, including material and resource development, event planning and implementation, and collaborative branding opportunities with partners. Kevin also participates on the vaACCSES Conference and Collaborations Conference Steering Committees as an advisory member.
Kristine Bengen
Sr. Director of Client Services
Kristine Bengen joins MPower Me with over 20 years of experience in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Assistive Technology (AT), and Durable Medical Equipment (DME). Kristine is dedicated to leveraging innovative technology solutions that enhance communication, mobility, and quality of life for people with disabilities. At MPower Me, she ensures healthcare providers, caregivers, and families have access to MyGuide and other MPower Me integrated solutions.
Kevin Forde-Nihipali
Partner Solutions Lead
Kevin Forde-Nihipali joins MPower Me after 15 years of experience working in the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) field, and over 20 years working with people with disabilities. He specializes in AAC support, training, and sales, helping veterans and individuals regain communication and independence. Leveraging his expertise in assistive technology, he collaborates with professionals to expand AAC access and education. Passionate about advocacy and innovation, Kevin is dedicated to improving communication solutions for those who need them most.
Amyrose Intico
Associate TechMentor
Amyrose joins MPower Me with three years of experiencing as an online ESL Teacher, followed by over seven years as a Virtual Assistant, where she has specialized in administrative tasks and process management. Through Outsource Access Philippines, she contracted with MPower Me in 2024. In addition to her administrative duties, she is utilizing her experience in education to build libraries of cognitive support guides to empower people with disabilities.
“Helping these people find their voices is, without a doubt, the most rewarding work I’ve ever done.”
Jeseca Adarne
Reimbursement Specialist
Jeseca Adarne is an experienced accountant with over 15 years in the industry. In 2020, she transitioned from corporate work in the Philippines to virtual support through Outsource Access. She has been contracted with MPower Me since February of 2024, where she is responsible for reimbursement and bookkeeping.
"I love working with MPower Me because I believe I am fulfilling my life purpose, that is to be of service to the community, especially the less fortunate brothers and sisters who have different ways of thinking!”
Gary Grenter
Senior Advisor
With more than thirty-five years in Senior Executive positions in several companies, Gary has founded three Medical Device Field companies and founded his consulting company, Alpha-Flow Management Consulting. He holds a B.S. in Production Management, and an M.B.A. in Management. He provides strategic guidance to MPower Me through team building, organizational development, and strategic planning.