This is who we are

We are the creators of our life story, so why not make it a good one?

Starting Trellis has been one of my greatest achievements — next to being married for over 30 years and raising three amazing children! This company has provided challenges, personal growth, and the most amazing joy that I would have expected.

I am grateful each day to be surrounded by talented, awesome people and clients that are growing and reaching their goals.

It’s a good place to be.

Since that time, my passion for helping others has continued to grow along with Trellis’ employment department. I am inspired daily by our dynamic team of employment professionals and clients as they change perceptions by focusing on “abilities” and not the “dis” in disabilities.

I taught in South Texas for seven years. This experience gave me a wealth of learning opportunities and equipped me with transferable skills that I’ve been able to carry over into my work with Trellis.

When I moved back to Oregon, I found this fabulous organization and started as an Employment Specialist before I grew into leadership roles with Trellis while completing my master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

It’s been an amazing journey, and I absolutely love the people I am blessed to work with and the wonderful clients I have worked alongside on their path to finding meaningful employment.

I am passionate about being a matchmaker between businesses and our clients to build win-win relationships. I get to see lives change for the better every day and be a part of that transformation. How awesome is that?!

It’s a joy to serve as a facilitator helping our clients find work that aligns with their skills and strengths. In my role as Employment Manager, I truly love supporting our talented and tenacious employment specialists in doing this work with excellence.

My education in business via the classroom and longtime ownership of a business only mildly prepared me for my original role here as an Employment Specialist. What propelled me was the support of my coworkers and supervisors and their infectious attitudes rooted in our mission of changing perceptions and empowerment.

As we are a growing and dynamic company, I was presented with the opportunity to interview for the Job Coach Manager role, and I have been honored to fill that seat since December 2019.

Every day I get to work with a job coaching team that cares deeply about our clients’ success and their well-being. I’m also surrounded by a leadership team that accepts me, welcomes my opinions, and offers me more support than I ever thought possible in such a role.

Trellis has also honored my No. 1 priority, which is my family.

All of this together makes for one of the very best accidents I’ve ever experienced.

My passion for supporting adults with disabilities goes beyond my professional role, as I have personally supported my adult stepson with autism for over 13 years. This firsthand experience has deepened my understanding and commitment to providing the highest quality of care and support.

For the past four years, I've immersed myself in a field that ignites my soul: caregiving. It began as a Direct Support Professional, where my journey was paved with empathy and illuminated by the faces of those I cared for. During this time, my passion for this profession has blazed brighter, propelling me forward through the ranks of my company not once, but twice. Now, as the Salem community manager here at Trellis, I am entrusted with nurturing connections and fostering a sense of belonging within our community. While my experience may be modest, my dedication knows no bounds. With my gaze fixed firmly on the horizon, I eagerly anticipate the journey ahead, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that will shape our growth.

I happened upon Trellis as I was looking for a new direction in my career field back in 2019. Since then, I have worked as a job coach, supporting our clients in their jobs and helping them advocate for what they need to be successful. Then moving up to an Employment Specialist where I would help our clients identify what type of job they want, and support them through carving or customizing parts of the position to create a win-win for both the client and the business.

Since December of 2023, I’ve had the pleasure of helping develop our Salem Employment branch as the Employment Manager. I have been so thankful for my team with Trellis and the chance I’ve had to grow and develop my skillset through it all. I am eager to continue to support the Salem community as we work to help change perceptions of what is possible for customized and integrated employment.