Introduction to Ticket to Work

Kathleen believes everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue meaningful work at their own pace and with the right support. She understands that returning to work after a disability can feel overwhelming, and she's passionate about helping people navigate that journey with encouragement, practical guidance, and respect.

​

With more than 15 years of experience in vocational rehabilitation and counseling, Kathleen has helped individuals with disabilities explore employment options, overcome barriers, and work toward their personal and career goals. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Case Manager (CCM), and Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE). She earned her bachelor's degree in Education and her master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling from Ohio University.

​

In addition to working directly with individuals, Kathleen serves as a vocational expert in Social Security Disability hearings and conducts vocational evaluations for organizations such as the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation and the U.S. Department of Labor. These experiences allow her to bring a deep understanding of both the employment process and the unique challenges individuals with disabilities may face.

​

When she's not working, Kathleen enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children in Ohio. She is committed to treating every person with kindness, respect, and the belief that meaningful employment is possible with the right support.

Michelle is no stranger to navigating different environments, cultures, and belief systems. Having been born in Atlanta and moving to multiple cities as a child due to her father working for the railroad, Michelle learned how to traverse through the unknown. New people, new customs, new places. This endowed Michelle with the ability to make people feel comfortable and at ease. 

While working as a single mother, Michelle obtained her undergraduate degree in Sociology from The University of North Florida. Years later she found herself drawn to Texas Tech University. Through dedication and commitment, she graduated as a Red Raider with a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. Over the past eight years Michelle has continued to assist those with disabilities, both work-related and not, obtain their goals in the workforce. She currently works with the Department of Labor injured workers, performs vocational evaluations, and provides Social Security Disability vocational expert testimony.

When Michelle finally steps away from her office, she enjoys the numerous outdoor attractions of North East Florida with her husband Bill and daughter Olivia. 

Rebecca is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse educational and professional background within the vocational rehabilitation industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Carroll University. Building on her passion for helping others, Rebecca pursued a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Adler University.

With over a decade of experience, Rebecca has established herself as a vocational rehabilitation evaluator and consultant. Her expertise and dedication have allowed her to assist individuals in overcoming barriers and achieving their vocational goals. Additionally, Rebecca holds certifications as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a board-certified Disability Analyst.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Rebecca finds joy in spending time with her two Shih Tzus, Yoshi and Quantum, who bring endless happiness to her life. She also shares a deep love for Disney World and traveling. 

Renee has a diverse educational and work background. She spent 20 years in United States Air Force (USAF). During that time, she worked as a pharmacy technician and as a recruiter. While in the military, she received her Master’s in Communications.  Once she retired from the USAF, she embarked on a new career path by landing a job with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation (MDRS).

As a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor, she pursued multiple night-time college programs to include a Post- Baccalaureate in Digital Design from Tulane University. After graduating from this program, she pursued a Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling. She also became a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. As a VR Counselor, Renee finally found her passion in working with people with disabilities. She was able to assist clients with overcoming barriers to employment by providing assistance with job placement, college, surgeries, vehicle modifications, and prosthetics. Renee was promoted to the position of Deputy District Manager. She is currently contracted with Social Security Disability as a vocational expert.

Recently, Renee and her husband (Mark) moved to central Florida. They are enjoying the Florida lifestyle. She enjoys Yoga, walking, swimming, painting, digital art, and clay sculpting.

Good day, y’all.  I am grateful for the opportunities being a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) has afforded me over the last 25 years!  I have the honor and privilege to work with individuals who face adversity and work hard to overcome and persevere.  It is a wonderful gift to be a small part of the positive changes in the lives of those individuals.  I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from my experience working in several vocational rehabilitation arenas.  My excitement remains high heading into the future while continuing headlong into this new venture.  I look forward to facilitating the changes you or your client desires.

Though there is no typical day, I generally find myself authoring Comprehensive Vocational Assessments used in medical malpractice, personal injury, product liability, and domestic relations matters.  In addition, I serve as a Vocational Expert during Social Security Disability Adjudication hearings, which involves classifying an individual’s past work, responding to several hypothetical situations regarding how limitations could impact an individual’s ability to perform work in the national economy.  As an Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) certified provider, I serve as a case manager facilitating services to assist Injured Workers return to work (e.g., Vocational Assessment/Testing, Job Seeking Skills Training, Job Placement, and Development).  As a BWC certified Transitional Work Developer, I work alongside Ohio employers to develop comprehensive return to work programs to bring employees back to work while they recover from a workplace injury.  I have competed hundreds of Job Analyses, an integral part of this program that provides detailed descriptions of each job and the physical exertion required to perform them.

My educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Akron and a Master’s Degree in Education from Kent State University.  Along with my CRC, I am a Certified Case Manager (CCM), and hold a current American Board of Vocational Experts/Diplomate (ABVE/D) status.  I belong to several professional organizations: International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP) and the ABVE.

I am very fortunate to have an adoring wife and a wonderful stepdaughter.  In my spare time, I enjoy time with my family, riding bicycles (and racing them on dirt tracks, too!), and caring for our three dogs and one cat.

Amy is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Vocational Evaluator, and Certified Case Manager with more than two decades of experience providing comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services across federal, state, private, and forensic settings.

She has served as a Rehabilitation Counselor and Vocational Expert assisting individuals with disabilities achieve financial independence by providing them with support and services to enter and maintain employment. Her expertise spans vocational assessment, individualized rehabilitation planning, expert vocational opinions, disability hearings testimony, and multidisciplinary case management. Amy has an extensive history supporting veterans through multiple VA programs, including Chapter 31 and Chapter 36, where she provides career counseling, independent living services, and employment readiness support to assist veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment.

Her career also includes leadership roles in disability services, specialized work in workers’ compensation and disability return‑to‑work programs, and forensic vocational consulting.

Amy is known for her client‑centered approach, strong analytical skills, and commitment to empowering individuals to overcome barriers, accessing meaningful employment, and achieving greater independence.

Farah is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with extensive experience helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and successfully return to work. Throughout her career with national third-party administrators, disability insurers, and vocational rehabilitation organizations, she has partnered with employees, employers, physicians, attorneys, and claims professionals to facilitate safe, sustainable return-to-work outcomes.

​

Her experience includes vocational rehabilitation, disability and accommodation management, employability analyses, labor market research, transferable skills analyses, vocational evaluations, and case management, supporting thousands of individuals through the return-to-work process. Farah also serves as a federally appointed Social Security Vocational Expert, providing impartial vocational testimony at Social Security disability hearings.

​

She holds a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, an MBA in Healthcare Management and Information Technology, and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).

​

Farah lives with her family in Malvern, Pennsylvania.