Susan Martin is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) and accomplished human services senior executive with more than 30 years of experience in supporting people with a wide array of disabilities, helping them attain the life they desire. Susan currently serves as chief executive officer, overseeing and supporting five of Optimae’s six regions, as well as quality improvement, electronic health records, knowledge acquisition and transfer and risk management. Prior to her CEO role, Susan served as chief operating officer, Optimae Services. She also serves on the Optimae Board of Directors, which she joined in 2012.
Susan joined Optimae in 1998, when it operated as ResCare, Inc., as the director of central Iowa mental health services. She since has served in various roles including regional clinical director, associate vice president and associate regional director. She has also been a motivational and educational speaker for the past decade and continues to speak across the country.
Prior to Optimae, Susan worked as a psychiatric social worker at VAMC in Knoxville and as home health care social worker at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. She served as a medical social worker at Burlington Medical Center and Des Moines General Hospital and was an adjunct professor for the University of Iowa from 2003 to 2010.
Susan graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Social Work and the University of Iowa with a Master of Social Work.
