Making it Work
Practical Approaches for Serving EPBC Specialized Populations
Bio’s – Day 1
Shelley Power – Motivational Approaches
Shelley Power is a Case Manager with Triangle Community Resources in the Avia ESC in Newton, Surrey. She has over 11 years of experience
providing employment counselling, case management and facilitation services to a variety of multi-barrier clients.
Shelley has worked with provincial and federal corrections, post-secondary colleges, as well as several community employment agencies. She
holds certificates in a variety of areas including Job Club Facilitation, True Colors, Labour Market Information, Life Skills, Critical Incident
Stress Management, Group Crisis Intervention, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Training, Legal Administration, and Working with Women in
Abusive Relationships.
Shelley has a passion for helping individuals discover their own potential and worth. She brings a great deal of personal experiences to her
approach with Clients, allowing her to relate to and support people in positive ways.
Dr. Debbie Samsom – Motivational Approaches
Debbie Samsom is a Clinical Psychologist, and President of Back in Motion. She has been with the organization since it opened its doors in
1993, when she started as a team psychologist, helping people with physical and mental health disabilities recover and return to work. As the
company grew, Debbie took on many new and exciting leadership roles on her way to becoming the President.
Debbie has always been focused on supporting people to achieve their employment potential. She is particularly passionate about serving
those with mental health disabilities, as they are among the most marginalized in our society. No matter what her role in the company, her
greatest sense of accomplishment comes from helping someone overcome personal challenges and land a job. This is life-transforming for
them, and Debbie considers it a privilege to contribute to this experience.
Dyani Simon – Survivors of Violence
Dyani Simon has been working with Northwest Training Ltd. in Terrace for the past 4 years. She has a background in Community Development.
Dyani coordinates services for the Specialized Populations in the Employment Services Centre (ESC), including cohort services for Survivors of
Violence and Abuse. She works in many local First Nations’ communities, providing employability and life skills facilitation. She is currently
working on a MEd in Adult Learning through UBC. Dyani approaches all of her work through a social justice perspective and believes in strength
and client-based service delivery.
This conference titled “Making It Work” is not in any way associated with the copyright protected (Copyright © 2009 PNGI)
training seminars of the same name presented by The Provincial Networking Group Inc., a BC based company. Use of this name
in no way implies endorsement of or involvement with the content of this event by PNGI.
Making it Work
Practical Approaches for Serving EPBC Specialized Populations
Una Marshall – Pathways
Una has been working at Pathways Clubhouse for almost nine years and is currently the Manager of the employment, volunteering, education,
and physical wellness programs. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, an Advanced Citation in Co-occurring Disorders, and is currently
completing her Master of Counselling. Her interests include supporting people achieve personal growth by working toward goals.
Jamie Cornish – Keynote Speaker
Jamie was born in Richmond, B.C., but spent much of his younger years in Bella Coola, B.C., where he was diagnosed with a mental
illness. After spending time in various psychiatric hospitals across the province, he returned to Richmond where he still calls home. Jamie
has been supported by Pathways Clubhouse throughout the years as he has pursued educational and vocational goals in the food industry.
Natasha Bailey – The Immigrant Lens
Natasha Bailey is a Vancouver-based researcher and organizational development consultant. She is the author of The Immigrant Lens; A
Framework for Emerging Best Practices in the Employment Program of British Columbia. The report is the result of original research funded
by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Development for MOSAIC. The Framework was developed using findings from interviews with
immigrant clients and staff in two ESC’s, as well as an analysis of research done on one-stop shops around the world.
Natasha’s recent work has focused on outcomes evaluation, and quality standards and best practices frameworks for non-profit organizations.
She began her career developing and facilitating personal development and pre-employment programs targeting a range of specialized
populations including single parents, newcomers and multi-barriered women. Her other projects include: the development of a quality
standards framework for organizations working with single parents; a national evaluation in Ireland of the outcomes of a type of adult learning
which aims to foster social justice and pre-employment skills; and researching about the professional career aspirations of children in a
marginalized neighbourhood in Dublin, Ireland.
Sherri Thomas – Specialized Assessments (Moderator)
Sherri Thomas, CCDP, has a rich history working with a wide range of Specialized Populations clientele having worked in the social service
industry for the past 25 years. Sherri has been an owner/operator and private contractor providing a range of services to barriered and
marginalized clients. Through her work for WCG International where she has been an employee since 2003, Sherri has held positions as
Vocational Coach, Job Developer and Case Manager; Sherri currently works as a Case Manager in the Avia Employment Service Centre in Port
Coquitlam. As part of her case management ‘Tool Box’, Sherry regularly refers her clients for formal assessments.
This conference titled “Making It Work” is not in any way associated with the copyright protected (Copyright © 2009 PNGI)
training seminars of the same name presented by The Provincial Networking Group Inc., a BC based company. Use of this name
in no way implies endorsement of or involvement with the content of this event by PNGI.
Making it Work
Practical Approaches for Serving EPBC Specialized Populations
Dr. Brenda Hogan – Specialized Assessments (Panel Member)
Brenda Hogan is a Clinical Psychologist, and Manager of Psychological Services at Back in Motion. She has been with Back in Motion since
2005, helping people with physical and mental health disabilities overcome their challenges and reach their vocational goals. For some
clients, this means helping them recover and return to a job they already had. For others, it means helping them develop a realistic and
meaningful plan to lead them to successful employment – a plan that takes into consideration their limitations and capitalizes on their
strengths. Brenda is dedicated to ensuring that Back in Motion provides outstanding psychological assessment and treatment services to all
clients – helping them move forward and achieve their work and life goals.
Dr. Hendré Viljoen – Specialized Assessments (Panel Member)
Dr. Hendré Viljoen is a Registered Psychologist, practicing in the area of clinical neuropsychology and rehabilitation. He is the Director of
HeadWise Rehabilitation, an organisation that provides services to individuals who experience brain dysfunction from head injuries,
neurological disorders, or a variety of other causes. Dr. Viljoen has over 20 years of experience working with people with brain injuries, both
in doing comprehensive neuropsychological assessments, and in providing treatment services. He is also involved in the training and
supervision of psychology interns, as well as having published and presented on brain injury-related matters to a broad range of audiences.
Ralph Cheesman – Specialized Assessments (Panel Member)
Ralph Cheesman is the CEO and Director of Operations of Back in Motion Functional Assessments Inc. He is an Occupational Therapist by
training. Ralph has spent the last 19 years specializing in Functional Capacity Evaluations with the purpose to assist individuals to identify
their abilities and limitations in an effort to enable them to take necessary steps towards employment goals. Functioning within the
constraints of a disability is possible and empowering. As an occupational therapist, Ralph understands the value of engagement in
meaningful activity. He believes participation in work contributes to the physical, psychological, and social health of an individual. As a
therapist, Ralph has witnessed the inspirational efforts of many individuals to overcome disability and regain their independence, inclusive of
their goals to return to work.
Roger Hur – Specialized Assessments (Panel Member)
Roger Hur is the Manager of the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) at the BC Institute of Technology and has worked in
credential evaluation and international education for more than 20 years. As a representative of the provincially mandated credential
evaluation service in British Columbia, Roger liaises with various employers, professional organizations, regulatory bodies, educational
institutions and internationally educated individuals. He also regularly gives presentations in the community about ICES and its services. He
has sat on many advisory committees, steering committees, working groups and has spoken to many different audiences about credential
evaluation in Canada.
This conference titled “Making It Work” is not in any way associated with the copyright protected (Copyright © 2009 PNGI)
training seminars of the same name presented by The Provincial Networking Group Inc., a BC based company. Use of this name
in no way implies endorsement of or involvement with the content of this event by PNGI.
Making it Work
Practical Approaches for Serving EPBC Specialized Populations
Bio’s – Day 2
Judi Huta, CCW, CCDP – Job Development
Judi Huta, CCW, CCDP, RTC blends her formal training as a Child and Youth Care Worker, Career Development Practitioner and Life Coach,
rooted in the model of Reality Control/Therapy, with 35 years’ experience working in the human services field. Whether Judi works with
at-risk youth, parents, job seekers with multi barriers and/or disabilities, immigrants or mature workers looking to return to the workforce,
her optimistic approach not only engages clients but most importantly offers hope of a place for them in the world of work. Since joining
WCG in 2001, Judi’s roles have included: Executive Director, Case Manager, Job Developer, Facilitator, Corporate Trainer, and Vocational
Coach. Judi draws on these diverse roles and her wide-ranging rich experiences to create unique plans and strategies with her clients.
Janice Huber - Job Development
Janice Huber is a Job Developer at Avia Employment Services. She has been working in the employment industry for more than 17 years,
accumulating a wide variety of experience from writing wage subsidies for youth-at-risk to analyzing essential skills assessments for clients
with low literacy skills. Through the years, she has performed various roles from Program Manager, Essential Skills Coordinator, Job Search
Facilitator, and Case Manager. After recently completing the Customized Employment Certificate at Douglas Collage, Janice has an abundance
of success strategies to support her clients. Having grown up with a close family member with a disability, Janice`s philosophy is everyone
deserves to find meaningful, paid employment. She has discovered that employers hire for a person’s ability, work ethic and attitude. Janice
motivates clients to “feel the fear and do it anyway”. In Janice’s words, “there is nothing more rewarding than establishing that win-win
between a client and employer.”
Annette Borrows – Customized Employment
Annette Borrows is an Employment Specialist at the Langley Association for Community Living, Delta Community Living Society and Community
Futures. She has been serving persons with disabilities to gain employment for the past 16 years. Ten of those years she worked with people
that had significant mental health issues. Being an Employment Specialist for people who have a variety of abilities can be challenging but
extremely rewarding when you apply the appropriate supports and career direction methods. Annette’s teaching style is down to earth, filled
with success stories, practical tools to glean important information from the people you are serving and a realistic, successful approach to the
world of employment counselling that results in real work for real pay for job seekers.
This conference titled “Making It Work” is not in any way associated with the copyright protected (Copyright © 2009 PNGI)
training seminars of the same name presented by The Provincial Networking Group Inc., a BC based company. Use of this name
in no way implies endorsement of or involvement with the content of this event by PNGI.
Making it Work
Practical Approaches for Serving EPBC Specialized Populations
Kirsti Inglis – Customized Employment
Kirsti Inglis is the Assistant Director of Employment Services for the Developmental Disabilities Association of Vancouver and Richmond (DDA).
The DDA has been in operation for over 60 years and provides more than 50 specialized programs and services for individuals living with
developmental disabilities and their families.
In her role at DDA, Kirsti is responsible for employment initiatives which include: Supported Employment Services, the specialized services
subcontract with WorkBC Richmond / Avia Employment Services, Transition Programing and Social Enterprise. Kirsti has worked in the field of
Supported Employment for the past 12 years and has extensive experience in both service delivery and program development.
Bruce Mesman, M. Ed. – Assistive Technology
Bruce Mesman has been drafting and implementing assistive technology assessments and plans for the past decade with Assistive Technology
BC (ATBC). Prior to working with ATBC, Bruce worked in the post-secondary system for ten years, referring students to ATBC. As a user of
assistive technology, Bruce focuses on strategies for its use, as much as its features.
Vince Tomassetti – Assistive Technology
Vince Tomassetti is the Program Manager for Assistive Technology BC (ATBC). He has 20 years’ experience in providing expertise and
resources for making learning and working environments accessible for persons with disabilities in urban as well as in rural areas. Being a user
of assistive technology in the workplace, an employer of persons with disabilities, and a provider of assistive technology services to clients,
Vince has a unique 360 degree perspective on providing access and accommodation through technology.
Alex Bell, BA - Youth
Alex Bell, BA, CCDP, is presently working as the Community and Business Engagement Coordinator at Vancouver Midtown ESC for Pacific
Community Resources Society (PCRS). He has more than twenty years’ experience working with youth in International Development Programs
(Canada World Youth), as a Youth and Adult Community Service Supervisor, in Secondary Alternate Education programs with the Richmond
School District and as a Manager of the Skills Link Employment program for youth with multiple barriers, A Chance to Choose. Alex was
recognized two years in a row with a “U-Rock” award in Richmond for mentoring youth.
This conference titled “Making It Work” is not in any way associated with the copyright protected (Copyright © 2009 PNGI)
training seminars of the same name presented by The Provincial Networking Group Inc., a BC based company. Use of this name
in no way implies endorsement of or involvement with the content of this event by PNGI.
Making it Work
Practical Approaches for Serving EPBC Specialized Populations
Rune Mikkelsen - Youth
Rune is the Manager of the YWCA’s Career Zone and Strive Youth-in-Care Program. The YWCA Career Zone is a satellite serving youth for three
WorkBC catchment areas in Vancouver in partnership with Family Services of Greater Vancouver. The Career Zone has a high number of the
clients who are at-risk youth, homeless or facing other barriers which makes it difficult for them to find or maintain employment. The MCFDfunded YWCA Strive Youth-in-Care Program is a 12 week life-skills program assisting youth aging out of foster care to transition into
independent living.
Rune has a Master’s Degree in History of Fine Arts from the University of Aarhus, Denmark; the University of Limerick, Ireland; and the
University of Rome.
Rune has worked as a College Teacher and Career Counsellor. Before coming to Canada, he founded a vocational school for incarcerated youth
under the age of 20 to support them in the transition from prison to work which has been used as a model for two similar teaching institutions
in Barcelona, Spain.
This conference titled “Making It Work” is not in any way associated with the copyright protected (Copyright © 2009 PNGI)
training seminars of the same name presented by The Provincial Networking Group Inc., a BC based company. Use of this name
in no way implies endorsement of or involvement with the content of this event by PNGI.