Western Representative (Board Member at Large)
Name:
Pam Redding
Description:
After sustaining a work injury in 1983, Pam went through the VR process, went back to school and then worked in the Aerospace Industry for 13 years during which time she opened a business with her husband, and then moved to Northern California. When the business started having financial trouble after 15 years, she re-entered the workforce, started working as a Benefits Counselor with an Independent Living Center in Klamath Falls in 2002. While meeting with clients, it was discovered many people needed business plans, as self-employment is a very viable option, so this service was added. Currently Pam works for Southern Oregon Goodwill and provides services for people who want to enter or re-enter the workforce. She does Benefits Counseling, PASS Plans, Business Plans and assists with finding wage employment. She is also managing the Individual Development Accounts (IDA) for people in Southern Oregon.
Mid-states Representative (Board Member at Large)
Name:
Juliet H. Fried, Ed.D., CRC, CVE
Description:
I am a Professor of Human Rehabilitative Services in the School of Human Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) where I have been employed for the past 24 years. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in rehabilitation counseling and vocational evaluation/assessment at UNC, I have been Project Director for various training and research grants, and served as Chair of the Department of Human Services and Executive Directive of the Rehabilitative Services Clinic. Prior to coming to UNC, my professional experience also included employment as a vocational evaluator, rehabilitation counselor, and director of a comprehensive career development center. My education includes a doctorate in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado and a master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation with a specialty in Vocational Evaluation from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. In addition to publishing a number of articles and making numerous presentations on a variety of rehabilitation topics, I have a lengthy history of involvement in professional organizations at the local, state, regional and national levels.
Regarding my interest in serving as a Board Member for NADBS, during the last few years I have developed a strong interest in the area of Disability Benefits Specialists thanks to John Lui. I served as major research advisor for his doctoral study on the role and function of benefits specialists, and have attended many conference sessions dealing with this topic. I believe that disability benefits analysis must be given a wider audience within the rehabilitation field, and hope to continue learning about this area and including it within curriculum at my university.
President - Elect
Name:
April Pierson, MS, CRC, CVE
Description:
Hello, I am the Online Training Coordinator and a Benefits Specialist at the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI). I obtained a Master of Science in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and then worked for SVRI as a Vocational Evaluator. I have completed the Tier III Benefits Specialist Training offered by Employment Resources Inc. (ERI) and currently provide benefits analysis services for people with disabilities as part of my position at SVRI. In addition, I have also obtained education in the field of e-learning and I apply my knowledge and experience in vocational rehabilitation to create online professional development courses. I have collaborated with PEPNet to create a series of online courses on deafness and currently am working with ERI on transforming their face-to-face benefits specialist training into a hybrid course (online and face-to-face). Having experienced first-hand the impact that benefits analysis services can have on people with disabilities, I understand the importance of quality assurance in this emerging profession. One of my goals is to provide online training opportunities to increase the number of skilled benefits specialists nationwide.
Vote Here - www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx Open until December 15, 2008
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