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 about the IRIS program. In a self-directed program like IRIS, you decide who provides your support and services and when they happen. You may have natural support from people in your life, or you may choose to purchase the support you need from an agency or someone that you hire directly. Your TMG IRIS consultant will be there to talk through these decisions with you, and will help you put a plan in place that reflects your choices.

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)

Prior to coming to TMG, I worked for a Wisconsin Behavioral Health Agency as a Residential Operations Supervisor, where I managed several Community-Based Residential Facilities (CBRFs). Additionally, I worked seven years for a company contracted by the government to manage a large-scale Residential Living Facility specializing in education and job training, which has given me extensive experience with Residential Living Case Management.

County/Region I'm familiar with

Milwaukee

Languages or Communication Skills

English

I'm comfortable with pets in the home

Yes

More about me

How do you Partner with people to 'clear the path ahead'?
Partnering means learning about you and your goals, then making an action plan you feel comfortable with to achieve them. I do this by first working with you to identify services or supports that are available now. This will help to stretch your IRIS budget and allow you to keep the resources you need to get the right care and reach your goals.

What's your favorite thing about being an IRIS consultant?
I'm a huge fan of helping people connect the dots to achieve their goals. Self-directed care is a great place to start because it keeps you in control of your life. Partnering with you and having a small part in helping you achieve your goals is very rewarding and exciting to me.

What past experience prepared you to become an IRIS Consultant?
I was fortunate to have studied under Instructors who all had 20+ years of experience in the Social Work field, and who after retiring taught their craft to aspiring Human Service professionals. My Instructors in the Human Services department at the Milwaukee Area Technical College laid the important groundwork that has helped to shape the professional I've become. To this day I still draw on the wealth of real-world knowledge that these individuals brought to their classrooms. They took helping people very seriously, and viewed themselves as gatekeepers of the Human Services profession. All of this has prepared me to be a knowledgeable and empathetic TMG IRIS Consultant, and I look forward to partnering with you.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family. Family gatherings and outings are simply the best. I grew up in a small family and always wanted to be a part of a bigger one. I enjoy traveling with my wife who took me on my first Cruise. I was afraid of flying and sailing, but I truly enjoyed facing those fears with her and overcoming them. When we're not traveling, Netflix is our best friend! I enjoy binge-watching TV shows with my wife, and trying to get my 4-year-old son to allow us to do it in peace!