I started at Passageway in October, 2005. I am a Staff Generalist currently focused on the Clerical area,
which I think is the hub of activity at our clubhouse. I regularly work with members on our attendance tasks, editing and
publishing the daily and monthly newsletters and on our billing process through a Medicaid program called Habilitation.
Like all of our staff, on any given day I could work in any area of the clubhouse. But you can often find
me washing dishes after lunch, assisting with our four Transitional Employment positions at Iowa Finance Authority, or helping
conduct our newly-organized sessions to help the community learn more about our program, “Gateway to Clubhouse”
lunch-and-learn sessions.
I attended the Mid-States Clubhouse Conference, in Sept., 2006 in St. Louis, where I was one of the Passageway
team of members and staff that presented about our play VOICES. And I led a session, with Passageway member Marla Ozinga and
folks from a clubhouse in Milwaukee, on social activities in the clubhouse. I look forward to additional training and conference
participation. I have been involved in helping Passageway plan and execute the “Gateway” lunch-and-learns, have
been the placement manager on several T.E. jobs, and helped plan and implement our computer classes, which I continue to teach,
with help from several members.
I first learned about Passageway as a potential member – I suffer from Depression. I went through
the membership process 5 or 6 years ago and was accepted, but never became active. Later, I learned that Tom Perrine was leading
the VOICES project, and let him know I’d love to be involved. Tom asked me to be a part of the original VOICES cast,
and also the cast that presented at the Fringe Fest in the summer of ’05. At that time, I learned that there might be
an opening at Passageway, which led to my working here.
I have a Masters in Business Administration from University of Iowa, and a B.A. in Economics from University
of California at Davis. I am a California native, but have lived in Iowa now for 20 years. My career in business includes
5 years in sales with IBM, a couple of years as V.P. of Marketing and Sales and then President of a start-up software company,
3½ years with Pella Corporation doing business plan consulting with Pella distributors and as the National Account Manager
who worked with setting up Pella’s relationship with The Home Depot, plus sales and marketing positions with several
technology consulting firms and working as a self-employed business consultant.
Social services is a new career path for me, and I am really enjoying it so far. I have become a big advocate
for the clubhouse model, and a big supporter of Passageway.
(more to come…)
