IRIS Consultant Biography

Care Responsibilities

Your TMG IRIS consultant is your partner as you create a plan that meets your needs and stays within your IRIS budget. Your TMG IRIS consultant can connect you to resources in your area, and will be a great source of information for any questions you have.

Educational Background

Credentials

Specialties (e.g., working with autism, the elderly, employment for people with disabilities or youth in transition, mental health, experience with assisted technology)

I have experience as a supervisor and at managing group homes. I enjoyed the staff development role of my director position, as it allowed me to encourage employee engagement while providing ongoing training and support. I currently hold certifications as an instructor for community based residential facility (CBRF) courses, which I also taught in my previous position.

County/Region I'm familiar with

Adams, Juneau, Sauk

Languages or Communication Skills

I'm comfortable with pets in the home

Yes

More about me

How do you Partner with people to 'clear the path ahead'?
I enjoy getting to know the people I partner with. I like to establish clear and attainable goals that take in consideration the person’s interests and abilities. I feel strongly that understanding the wishes and dreams of the people I support makes a huge difference. I have a “love them where they are at” philosophy that applies to all aspects of my life – including family, career and socially. Detours or roadblocks are more easily overcome if everyone is on the same page.

What's your favorite thing about being an IRIS consultant?
My favorite part of being a TMG IRIS Consultant is helping to make sure that the individuals we serve have a voice. Being able to advocate for you when you might not know how to or if you have not been allowed to advocate for yourself in the past. It’s a great feeling to see someone succeed in areas they never thought they could be successful in. It is meaningful to be a huge part of someone’s support system.

What past experience prepared you to become an IRIS Consultant?
I started out doing direct care for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities. I moved into a manager position and most recently was in a director role for a provider for people with a high need for services. I have gained much experience from all these rolls and feel they all possessed great value in my journey to where I am today. I provided hands-on and in person training to staff and supervisors to optimize the services they were providing. I have a wealth of information about the resources available in several area counties, and I am quick to look for how resources can be stacked for the best outcomes. I worked for several years as a case manager, which provided me with knowledge of the managed care systems. My case management experience included being a supported employment specialist and a career planner for individuals with barriers to employment. I am knowledgeable of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) programs as well as numerous other agencies and programs that can assist with reaching employment and training goals.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
My family is a priority in my life. Spending time with my children and grandchildren is the best time I can ask for. I love to travel and site see. We have five chickens, a dog, and two cats, and I am also into crafting. I am a member of the board of directors for a local homeless shelter, which allows my organizational and planning talents to shine.