Celebrating 20 Years: Carla Hill’s Commitment to Creating Possibilities
For 20 years, Carla Hill has helped ALULA grow by asking one important question: What does this person need to move forward?
When Carla joined Transylvania Vocational Services in 2006 as Program Manager, the organization was navigating a major transition. Over the years, her role grew alongside the organization. Today, as Executive Director of Programs and Services, Carla leads a growing team and an expanding portfolio of programs focused on helping people build skills, gain independence and find meaningful work.
But after 20 years, what Carla enjoys most is still the same: the people.
“I love seeing people progress, gain independence and make progress,” Carla says. “Person-centered support is everything we do.”
That philosophy is at the heart of how Carla leads. Rather than asking people to fit into a program, she and her team look for ways to meet people where they are and create opportunities for them to grow.
“What stands out about Carla’s 20 years with ALULA is how much she has helped us grow without ever losing sight of why we do this work,” says ALULA CEO Lora Allemeier. “She has expanded programs, developed leaders and helped us find new ways to create opportunities for the people we serve. Carla doesn’t just ask what a program can do. She asks what a person needs, and then she works with her team to figure out how we can make it happen. That approach has shaped our Programs and Services team and, in many ways, the organization as a whole.”
Over the past five years, that approach has helped ALULA expand its programs and reach more people. Day program participation has increased 44%, while Employment Services and Pre-Employment Transition Services continue creating pathways to skills development, employment and greater independence.
In 2026, Carla also helped launch abilIT, a free technology training program for neurodivergent adults, adults with disabilities and disabled veterans. Now in its third cohort, the program is building technical skills and pathways toward industry-recognized certifications and careers.
“We have to build ways for an individual to grow and meet them where they are,” she says.
That willingness to rethink what is possible has helped ALULA expand its services while becoming recognized as a leader in the provider community.
Carla is just as passionate about developing the people behind ALULA’s programs. She has helped create opportunities for Direct Support Professionals (DSP) and other team members to grow through career pathways, leadership roles, expanded training and educational opportunities at Blue Ridge Community College.
“I can’t do anything without my team,” Carla says. “Investing in staff development is essential to building strong programs.”
That commitment to strong programs and strong teams was reflected in ALULA’s most recent CARF audit. For the second consecutive audit, ALULA received no recommendations for improvement, an accomplishment that reflects the work of the entire Programs and Services team.
Carla is still looking ahead, particularly to expanding how ALULA works with employers and creating more pathways to meaningful employment.
Her advice? “Wait to worry. It might not even happen,” she says with a chuckle. It’s a fitting philosophy for a leader who has spent her career navigating change, building programs, developing people and finding new possibilities.
