Parkwyn Training & Consulting founders, Abby Kirkman and Suzy Sodergren, bring over 30 years of combined experience in training, technical assistance, and systems-level support for the SOAR model. We offer a full range of in-person and virtual services to sustain SOAR implementation and increase access to life-changing benefits.
Who We Are
Abigail Kirkman, MA
Co-founder
Abby is an expert in SOAR, training and technical assistance around Social Security Disability Benefits, homelessness, and housing. She is the former Assistant Director of the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Technical Assistance (TA) Center. In her thirteen years at the SOAR TA Center, she served as the liaison to several states, managed the SOAR Online Courses, developed content and curriculum around timely access to Social Security Disability Benefits. She has experience working closely with federal and nationwide partners, statewide representatives, and local communities to successfully coordinate the statewide implementation and sustainability of the initiative, as well as develop national and statewide guidance on issues related to homelessness, housing, income stability, and Social Security.
Abby has a B.A. from the College of William & Mary, an M.A. from the University at Albany, State University of New York, and has received comprehensive SSI/SSDI benefits training through Cornell University. She resides in Upstate New York with her husband Adam, and (very) cute dog, Wilson. She is an avid quilter, novice gardener, and takes great care to regularly feed her sourdough starter.
Suzy Bloch Sodergren, MSW
Co-founder
Suzy worked for the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Technical Assistance (TA) Center from its inception in 2009 to its closure in 2025. As a Senior Project Associate, she was the TA Center’s Online Application Tracking (OAT) Coordinator and was responsible for OAT training, quality control, and technical support for all users. She provided coordination and technical support for virtual events and maintained internal databases to track all training and TA activities. Suzy maintained the TA Center website and SOAR Online Courses, keeping them up to date, creating content, and identifying ways to improve their functionality. She also served as editor of the TA Center’s written products and created substantive content to enhance existing and develop new materials.
Suzy has a B.S. in Psychology from Union College and earned her MSW at the University of Kansas. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband Dave, and equally cute dog, Max. She has two amazing grown daughters and loves to travel with friends and family.
