Martha Garber, Project Director, comes to the Region VI CRP-RCEP with a wealth of experience in vocational rehabilitation working in both the public and private sectors. Having participated in a number of roles including consumer and provider, she brings a unique perspective to the RCEP.

Martha has been around or involved in rehabilitation for most of her adult life. She first encountered rehabilitation as a youth transitioning from school to work. Her professional experience began as a vocational evaluator/rehabilitation teacher in a state-operated community rehabilitation program in Arkansas . From there she moved into state and federal settings working as a VR counselor, employment specialist, manager and administrator. Most recently, she served in the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Dallas regional office.

Martha is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) whose private practice maintained a focus on individuals with disabilities and chronic illness. She also worked for several years as an Organizational Consultant and Mediator and has several successful negotiations under her belt.

No matter her position, Martha's focus has always been on improving employment and independent living outcomes for individuals with disabilities, which makes her a perfect job match for the RCEP!

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linda l. holloway

Dr. Linda Holloway is the Principal Investigator for the Region VI CRP-RCEP. Linda has over 25 years experience in rehabilitation program development and grants management. Her professional background includes extensive work with persons with severe disabilities, having worked in a number of community rehabilitation programs providing employment services, psychosocial rehabilitation, and community mental health services. Previous employment settings include the ARC, UCPA, Goodwill, and a community mental health center. She is a certified rehabilitation counselor and a licensed chemical dependency counselor. She has established a reputation as a staunch advocate for the employment of people with disabilities.

Dr. Holloway is an assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work and Addictions at the University of North Texas, and is an adjunct faculty member with San Diego State University. She serves on several national and regional boards and advisory committees including the National Council for Rehabilitation Education (where she was selected as the Rehabilitation Educator of the Year in 2003), REACH - Independent Living Center, Disability Law Resources Project, University of Wisconsin-Stout Research Center, the Institute for Rehabilitation Research at the University of Texas - Pan-American, and the editorial board of the Journal of Rehabilitation. Linda has gained a national reputation as a speaker and conference presenter.

nancy dysinger

Nancy Dysinger came to the Region VI CRP-RCEP at the height of planning for the regional employment conference held December 2001 in Dallas, Texas. In fact, her stellar organizational skills made a significant contribution to the success of that conference and she has been putting those skills and many others to work for the grant ever since.

Nancy started as a temporary employee here in the Fall of 2001 and we realized she was a keeper right away. Her extensive background as a programmer, database manager, and small-business owner set her apart from other applicants and we figured, hey if she's willing to stay, lets make her an offer! Fortunately for us she said yes and then immediately set to work reconfiguring our database, organizing our files, upgrading our technology and reassessing our office structure and ordering processes. Nancy is in large part responsible for bringing our trainers into the 21st century with the introduction of personalized laptops, which she configured for the LCD presentations that are now commonly used by our training staff.

margaret j. cortez

Margaret started with the Region VI CRP-RCEP as a student employee when she returned to UNT in the summer of 1997 to pursue a degree in the fine arts. Her initial work with the RCEP was as a student secretary, fulfilling the administrative tasks necessary to get our trainers to community rehabilitation programs in Region VI.

With an extensive background in marketing communications and customer service, it soon became apparent that Margaret, like all our employees, might be able to help the grant in other ways. She initiated an upgrade of our training manuals, presentations and conference materials and eventually landed in the position of web developer and graphic designer for the grant -- her current position. In this role, Margaret has utilized her artistic background and technical skills to revamp our website. Through the collaborative efforts of the grant's leadership, she has also worked on graphic design and marketing projects for other organizations with complimentary goals.

marcy s. haag

A prime example of management and leadership in action, Marcy Haag wears these two and several other hats as she administers the day-to-day operations of the Region VI CRP-RCEP. She has been with the RCEP since 1996 and has been instrumental in several major projects, including the regional employment conferences hosted by the Region VI CRP-RCEP. Her marketing and publishing background add yet another dimension to the CRP-RCEP and that experience enhances the overall quality of the project. As project coordinator, Marcy is the point person for many of the initial contacts made to the CRP-RCEP. She also serves as events coordinator. In addition to her work at the CRP-RCEP, she is currently working on her PhD at the University of North Texas.

james l. humes

Jim Humes is a training manager and consultant with the Region VI CRP-RCEP where he has developed and refined several training programs that are now considered essential for newly-hired and veteran employment specialists. His Certificate in Employment Services training program has set the standard in the region for enhancing employment outcomes for people with disabilities. This training examines the real issues in employment which, according to Jim, have nothing to do with the disability! Recently, Jim took on the issue of Substance Abuse in a training module that is now available throughout the region. Substance abuse among individuals with disabilities is very prevalent and needs to be clearly understood by the employment specialist in order to best represent their client. Tackling the fear that some employment specialists have of "selling" their clients to potential employers is Jim's latest project. In Marketing Basics, Jim demystifies this entire process and presents practical, common sense solutions for community rehabilitation personnel.

Jim's background as Chief Executive Officer of a psychiatric hospital and Executive Director of community mental health centers prepared him well for his work with the Region VI CRP-RCEP. Since he began his career with us in 1995, Jim's training evaluations have consistently characterized him as fun, sometimes frightening, irreverent, always entertaining, and highly informative.

Zach Sneed

Zach Sneed is a recent addition to the Region VI CRP-RCEP staff. A former graduate of UNT, he's returning home after pursuing his PhD in Rehabilitation at Southern Illinois University to be one of our new training providers.

His professional background includes work experience with students with disabilities in postsecondary settings, counselor training, and addiction counseling. He is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Zach has also established a reputation for delivering useful and relevant information, and easy-to-use materials during presentations at a variety of national and regional conferences and training events. Zach also currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Teaching in the Addictions.

Currently, Zach is working on two training programs for the RCEP. Be sure to look for an online program on Substance Abuse and Employment, and another focused on Individualized Assessments in Spring and Fall of 2006.

Zach has always believed firmly in improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities, increasing opportunities for community inclusion, and devising ways to combat stigma and negative attitudes.

Yvonne Raffini

We are delighted to announce the addition of Yvonne Raffini,  Ed.D., NCC, LPC, our  newest Organizational Consultant. Yvonne comes to us straight from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) where she worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for one-and-one-half years specializing in the Division of Blind Services. Prior to that she lived & worked in Wisconsin at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, in mental health as a case manager at Children and Family Services, and as a Guidance Counselor (District AODA Coordinator), and Project Director/ Instructor at Benito Martinez Alternative Middle School.

Among the areas she will be training are Supported Employment and Job Coaching. With her impressive credentials, we believe Yvonne will make an excellent addition to our already talented staff. We hope you think so too!

Paul Leung

Dr. Paul Leung chairs the Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work & Addictions where the Region VI CRP-RCEP is housed. He is a subject-matter expert on diversity and rehabilitation and was instrumental in developing and promoting products for the grant's Diversity Project.

Dr. Leung is currently working with the grant to conduct an extensive project evaluation. He also monitors our online continuing education course, Diversity for CRPs available through the University of North Texas' eCampus

Click here for a complete list of his interests & accomplishments in a long and distinguished career as a rehabilitation professional.

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Instructors

Norine Jaloway

Executive Director of Texas CRP Imagine Enterprises, Norine Jaloway has contracted with the RCEP to share her expertise on marketing and job development with other CRPs in Region VI who work to enhance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Norine has been providing leadership in the development of new and innovative approaches to employment services for people with disabilities for 30 years. Technical assistance, self-directed planning, and advocacy are just some of the activities she has been involved in over the years at various agencies and conferences across the US. Most recently, Norine has narrowed her focus to the Gulf Coast area and Western regions of Texas.

In addition to supervising seven staff members, Norine provides consultant services in numerous communities and schools across Texas . She has been a member of The Arc for more than 30 years, currently serving as Co-chair of the organiization's Texas Governmental Affairs Committee. She is also a member of the Arc's Texas Legal Affairs Committee, President of the Lone Star Association for Persons in Supported Employment, Advisor to the WorkSource Disability Program Navigator, Member of the Disability Policy Consortium, Advisor to the Texas Advocates President, and Chairperson of the Association of Business & Professional Women - Schools Committee.

Mary Katherine Long

Mary Katherine Long, MHR began working in the Disability Rights field as an Independent Living Counselor at Progressive Independence in Norman, Oklahoma . She has also worked as an Advocate/Investigator for the Protection and Advocacy agency in Arkansas and spent 12 years as a Program Development Specialist at the University of Oklahoma National Center for Disability Education and Training. In that capacity she provided direct services in supported employment programs, and developed and delivered supported employment training programs including Job Club, Mental Health Job Coach and Employment Specialist training. She also managed the statewide Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach program.

Timothy Owens

Currently serving as the University Training Manager in the Human Resources Department at the University of North Texas and the Associate Director of the North Texas chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute, Mr. Owens is responsible for helping develop and deliver presentations having to do with issues related to relationship management including such topics as: Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Resolution, Diversity Management, Team Building, and Customer Service.

Mr. Owens brings to his position a wealth of knowledge and experience gained through his more than ten years of experience in higher education and over 8 years experience as a presenter/speaker/consultant in this field. He earned his Master of Science degree from the University of North Texas in Rehabilitation Counseling. His Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism/Public Relations is from the University of Oklahoma .

Mr. Owens' service to community/professional associations and boards include: UNT Discovery Advisory Board, UNT Tapestry Council, National Coalition Building Institute, UNT Ally Program, Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education, Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education, and the Tomas Rivera Elementary School Campus Leadership Team.

Mr. Owens is also an accomplished speaker, trainer, and facilitator. He is frequently requested to speak to groups concerning: Personal Motivation and Empowerment, Diversity Management, Conflict Resolution, Team Building, College Admissions, Financial Aid, and College Success.

Ray Williams

Ray Williams, the co-instructor, is a graduate of the Certificate in Employment Services training. Impressed with what he and his staff learned, he returned to his agency and implemented the model. It has worked. Ray proudly notes that 85% of the clients who have applied for employment services are successfully employed . . . some for as long as 8-10 years.

Ray has a long history of work in human services. Most recently, he has been employed by Job Link, the employment services division of the Betty Hardwick MHMR Center in Abilene, Texas. Prior to that, he was Director of Employment Services for the West Central Texas Council of Governments, and Assistant Director of Community Services, City of Abilene. In these capacities, Ray has worked with at-risk youth, seniors, persons with mental illness, and persons with developmental disabilities.

Ray is not only a firm believer in the benefits of community-based employment for persons with disabilities, he is a hands-on employment consultant. In short, he is a person who not only talks about employment services, he does it!

Ray is an excellent speaker and trainer; an individual whose keen sense of humor punctuates his commitment to helping the participants of this training to become even better in their jobs.