Vista Care acquires Lori Knapp, Inc

The landscape of services for disabled persons in southwestern Wisconsin changed dramatically when Vista Care (VC), a human services provider headquartered in Sheboygan, WI, acquired Lori Knapp, Inc. (LKI) on Oct. 16, 2023. Both companies are utilized by people with emotional, physical and behavioral health barriers for a variety of residential and community service programs.

LKI was founded in 1971 by Don and Bette Knapp. Its story is inextricably tied to a woman with whom the agency shares its name: Lori Jane Knapp. Born in Prairie du Chien in 1959, Knapp was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and developmental disability. At age 13, her parents moved her into the first “Lori Knapp Home,” which allowed her to move back to her home community after several years in a state institution where she had struggled with the environment.

Since 1972 LKI has been a resource for disabled youth and adults for services, such as in-home care, residential community living, vocational services and day habilitation.

VC stated the deal would expand the services Vista Care provided to their consumers. As part of the acquisition, Liz Olive, Vista Care Chief Executive Officer (CEO), confirmed Vista Care acquired Lori Knapp, Inc. which provides residential services, supportive community care, self-directed co-employment and person-directed services such as Support Broker and Housing Counseling. Lori Knapp Choices, a separate entity, was not part of the acquisition.

“Ever since the Knapp family created the first residential group home in Wisconsin to support individuals over 50 years ago, Lori Knapp, Inc. has strived to work together to help the most vulnerable in our society,” Tami Wedgeworth, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Lori Knapp, Inc. said. Wedgeworth is expected to continue her current duties under Vista Care COO Dave Sneddon.

Vista Care has expanded their footprint in the industry; the company has provided services for individuals in Wisconsin since 1994. In 2019, the company began expanding to other states, including Illinois (2022), South Dakota (2019) and Nevada (2020). LKI will add more than 500 new individuals to VC’s care and support services. LKI has consumers in Ashland, Crawford, Fond du Lac, La Crosse and Richland counties in Wisconsin.

“Lori Knapp, Inc., has been committed to improving people’s lives for more than 50 years and is a wonderful addition to Vista Care,” Olive said.

VC has a mission to “serve more people better, while keeping them in our hearts and action at all times” and has promised to uphold LKI’s own mission statement to “make a difference in the lives of people.” 

Olive stated VC has not implemented changes to LKI’s operations that would affect the day-to-day lives of the people who have relied on the agency for support. Moreover, she stated services for both agencies would not be changed. A statement produced by Olive said, “we will continuously evaluate what services best meet the needs of the people of Wisconsin.”