Meet the CSS Staff
Lance M. Elwood, M.Ed.
I have been working in the rehabilitation field since graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1983 with a BS in psychology. Since then, I have been very lucky to have worked with, and learned from, numerous leaders and innovators in our field, including my business partner Joanne Ellis. Joanne and I met in graduate school at VCU and we often reflect on how we came up with the idea to start CSS to serve folks who were without the supports they needed to succeed in the workforce. To this day, I remain very passionate about creating new services where they are needed and I take great pride in the fact that our staff help our customers each and every day to establish and meet their personal employment goals.
Joanne L. Ellis, M.Ed.
I have been working in the field of disabilities services since 1983. I started in the field as a teacher and administrator working with transitioning students with special needs. From that experience I moved directly into training rehabilitation professionals, individuals with disabilities and family members on the topic of Social Security. I helped professionals and individuals understand the benefits of knowing how the system works so they could work and achieve a greater level of economic self-sufficiency. In 1993, I partnered with another colleague in the field to start our own Supported Employment Company. The initial vision behind the formation of our company was to assist individuals who were underserved in the rehab service delivery system. We started out with 2 employees serving a small geographical area to an organization of 55 employees, serving a large geographical area across the state of Virginia. My passion for this work has been fueled over the years by seeing the direct correlation between providing the right types of supports to individuals so they can achieve their vocational goals increase their self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life.
Stephanie White
I currently serve as the Regional Manager in the Central Region of Career Support Systems, Inc. which includes Richmond, Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, Goochland, and Powhatan. I have held positions with Career Support Systems, Inc as Quality Assurance/Training Coordinator and Senior Employment Consultant. I am also the Health and Safety Chairperson for CSS. I have been with CSS, for 9 years. I have worked as an Employment Consultant with customers with a variety of disabilities some of which include Brain Injury, Mental Health and Autism. My consumers also have held a variety of interesting positions such as Phlebotomist, Occupational Therapist Assistant, Woodworker, Warehouse, Restaurant, Retail and Hotel positions to name a few. I also work at Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems part time in the general rehab and brain injury rehab units as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.
I currently attend classes at Virginia Commonwealth University working towards a Master’s Degree. I graduated from J. Sargeant Reynolds in May of 1999 with an Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistance. I received my Certification in Occupational Therapy Assistance (COTA) in October 1999.
Kathyrn Moore
I am a native of the Richmond area, blessed with a close-knit family including my mother, father, two brothers and my son. I always knew that I wanted to play some role in helping people to obtain a higher quality of life. It has been a long road toward finding my niche. However, I feel that I have had to travel that road in order to cultivate the necessary insight and empathy required for working with persons who have disabilities.
As a young adult, I worked as a receptionist and an administrative assistant raising my son, who I am very proud of, as a single parent. At the age of 40, I returned to college to obtain my Associates degree in Social Science from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and my Bachelors degree with a double major in Psychology and Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University. I am currently enrolled in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Masters program for Rehabilitation Counseling. Before returning to college, I volunteered in my community by serving as a court advocate and counselor for victims of domestic violence and other crimes. This experience was very rewarding and provided tremendous growth for me personally and professionally. It encouraged me to move forward in my educational pursuits in order to become more effective and to broaden my career options.
I am proud to be part of a team and network of individuals who genuinely care about and understand the difficult and complicated circumstances that some folks find themselves in, and who also have the desire to go to great lengths to take the necessary steps in providing those individuals the assistance that they need in order to move forward and achieve a higher quality of life for themselves.
Carol Lindstrom
Although I entered the field of supported employment fairly recently, I have had an interest in the field of disability all my life. It all started with my dad. He was born in 1905 with a disability. My dad was middle aged when I came along and died when I was very young. Mom wanted me to know him so she raised me with stories about him. A lot of those stories had to do with him overcoming obstacles caused by the societal prejudices of the time against people with disabilities. Those stories influenced the course of my life. In 1970, I graduated with a BA in Special Education. For over twenty years I worked with children with and without disabilities from high school age to preschooler in Head Start. Then a life changing event occurred, my husband of 28 years died. It made me think about my own life and what did I want to do with the rest of it. I got out of teaching and returned to college after thirty years. I graduated from VCU with a MS in Rehabilitative Counseling. It has been 100 years since my dad’s birth and great strides have been made to embrace people with disabilities thanks in great part to the Americans with Disability Act. There is still much to be done and I am proud to do my part to advocate for people with disabilities and to help others overcome obstacles so they can achieve their goals.
Wayne Pearson
My name is Wayne Pearson. I am an Enclave Supervisor and I oversee 6 workers under a contract with Pizza Hut. We work 5 days per week placing advertising door hangers in local neighborhoods. It’s a great advertising tool to get more people to buy pizza from Pizza Hut.
I have been working in Human Services for over twenty years helping with people with disabilities.
Jen Kessler
My name is Jen Kessler. I have been with CSS since Feb. of 2005 as an Administrative Office Assistant. I moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia 3 years ago with my 23 year old son, Corey, who has a disability. Before moving to VA, I worked for 14 years as a Production Supervisor in a sheltered workshop for individuals with disabilities. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, 4-wheeling and taking care of my pets, 4 cats and 1 cockatiel.
Page Robinson
My name is Page Robinson and I have been with CSS as the Office Manager for since March 2000. I have a BS in Managerial Accounting from VCU. I love my job with CSS because everything we do results in improving the quality of life for individuals.
My husband, Charlie and I have a daughter and three sons. Our lives revolve around sports our children are participating in and carpooling .My personal interest include gardening, reading novels, scrap booking, and fishing. I love to share these with my family and friends.
Stephanie Treynor Carter
I am Stephanie Carter, Regional Manager for the Blue Ridge Region of Career Support Systems, Inc. The area covered under my supervision is: Waynesboro, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Covington, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Farmville, and all surrounding counties. I began my career with CSS as Employment Consultant June 2006; I worked a year as a consultant and then became Regional Manager for the area. I also work part time as Vocational Case Manager with the Family Outreach Program at the Shenandoah Valley Department of Social Services. I have worked that employment program since the beginning of the grant in 2008. Eventually, Career Support was written into the grant to serve the individuals that participated with the Family Outreach Program/View Program
I hold an Associates Degree in Mental Health and Human Services and a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Mary Baldwin College.
Together we work hard to make each person self-sufficient and independent.
My heart and soul is based on serving individuals with employment barriers. Everyone has something they are good at: It is my job to find it and then market it!
Helen Kimble
Helen creates an uplifting atmosphere that motivates those around her. She continually demonstrates her dedication to provide the best job matches for her customers in the Charlottesville area. She works closely with consumers to assist them in choosing the top work environment for them and then crafting the best strategies for job seeking, job finding, and job retention. And, she not only helps them to find and keep their position, but is committed to teaching them how to find their own jobs effectively in the future.
Raymond Watson
I have been working for Career Support Systems since July 06. Prior to my employment here, I have served as a substitute school teacher in Montgomery County, Business Director for a multi purpose center for the Salvation Army in Minneapolis, MN., an Associate Pastor for a church in Chicago, IL., and an Eligibility Worker for the Radford Social Services. In addition to working with CSS, I presently serve as a Pastor in Lyndhurst, VA. I have been married to my wife Darlene for 25 years and have two daughters, Danielle (husband Tony and daughter Zariyah) and Adrian. YES, I'm a Grandpa! My wife and I currently reside in Christiansburg.
Ginny Stanley
I have been working with individuals with disabilities since 2001 and particularly enjoy working with individuals with mental illness and/ or emotional disorders. Observing customers reach life goals through employment motivates me to continue to work hard on their behalf and to help develop more opportunities within the community for future customers. I currently have a B.S. degree in Human Services Counseling with a minor in Psychology from Old Dominion University and hope to obtain my M.Ed in the very near future.
Pam Wolford
Ms. Wolford has worked with people with disabilities for approximately 20 years, beginning her professional career with the local community services board in 1984. She has worked as enclave supervisor at the CONSOL Coal Enclave site since 1990. Ms. Wolford holds an A.S. Degree in Management and Accounting from Southwest Virginia Community College. In her current role with CSS, Ms. Wolford is an enclave supervisor, providing training and supervision to a staff of 2 supervisors and 21 customers who provide janitorial services to an industrial mine site in rural Buchanan County, Virginia.
Teresa Mullins
I am Teresa Mullins, an Employment Consultant in Southwest region of Virginia. Most of my professional time has been spent serving individuals who are Deaf and hard of hearing. This unique culture group has taught me so much about equality and perseverance. For the last six years, my husband and I have traveled annually to different locations in the Caribbean and worked with the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf. There our team provides ministry, drama and construction. I look forward to serving on the CSS team.
Sandra Shumate-Rhymer
I started working for CSS in 03/07. My prior employment was with Highlands Community Services in which I served as an employment specialist for 9 years. In 2006 I received an award from VA APSE as “Supported Employment Provider of the Year” for the state of Virginia. I worked at SWVMHI for almost 10 years as a psychiatric aide.
I have 7 brothers and sisters and parents that I love dearly. My desire to help people comes from the love and compassion that I was shown as a child and throughout my life. I attended VHCC for 2 years. I have a daughter and a son. A lot of my time is spent with them and all the animals that we have. I have a side business of making very unusual jewelry that I sell at local festivals.
I am a true believer in Supported Employment. I love to help people that want to help themselves. It is a wonderful feeling to get up every morning knowing that I am going to a job that I love do and to actually get paid to do it. That is what I remember when I am assisting people in finding a job, one they will be happy to get up and go to.
Sara Tolley
I am Sara Tolley, Regional Manger for the Roanoke Region. I began working for CSS in March 2005 as an employment consultant. I am a Roanoke native. I graduated from Salem High School and Radford University. I work with a wonderful staff of 5 employment consultants everyday to help our Customers fulfill their goals to become employed. I feel blessed and honored everyday to work with and for so many wonderful people- consumers, co-workers, employees, employers, counselors, and the list goes on!
Krista Mobley
Krista is an employment consultant in the Roanoke Region. She began working for CSS in May 2007. Krista has lived in the Roanoke Valley since 1993 and graduated from Cave Spring High School and from Roanoke College with a BBA. Krista’s past work experience is as a Professional Dancer Instructor and Business Manager and as an Accountant. Krista most recently spent seven years as a stay-at-home mom and advocate for her three sons, Jeremy (15), Brandon (11), and Sam (6). Krista returned to college in the Summer of 2005 and graduated from Mary Baldwin College in 2007 with a Master of Arts In Teaching. In her spare time Krista likes to spend time with her children and friends and secretly dreams of becoming a roller derby girl! Krista is excited to be back in the corporate world and is eager to apply her teaching skills and experience to the task of addressing employment issues that challenge people with disabilities.
Melinda Collins
I have been employed with the Roanoke Career Support office since 8/2007. My career thus far has been in the healthcare field and long term care. With my most recent position, I worked primarily with people with SMI, short-term rehab and the geriatric population. I enjoy being an Employment Consultant with Career Support Systems not only for the great services we provide to our customers, but the awesome teamwork and support of everyone within the company.
My husband, Scott, and I live in Montgomery County, VA and raise 3 children. Scott (13), Ryann (10) and Allison (8). In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors, reading and ANYTHING fun!
Amy Miley
I have been working as an employment consultant for Career Support Systems, Inc. since September of 2007. My previous experience in working with people with disabilities included volunteer work through the YMCA buddy program which lead to employment with the Virginia Tech On Campus Transition program and Montgomery County Public Schools as a special education aide and job coach. My passion is in serving and helping others to be more successful. I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Development from Virginia Tech in December of 2006. I love to travel and I have recently developed a passion for salsa dancing. In my spare time, I am extremely involved in personal relationships with International students and serving in various ways at my church. I love the fact that each and every morning, I am able to invest myself in other’s lives and truly make a difference.
Katie Winters
I have always been interested in working with adults who have disabilities. This interest started at an early age while growing up with my twin sister, Emily, who has Down syndrome. I have always wanted to make a difference in someone’s life that has specials needs, and working with CSS has helped me do just that. I am currently a senior at Radford University and will graduate in May, 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Science. Then I will continue my education at RU and work towards my masters in High Incidence, Special Education. In my free time I like to spend time with my family and friends, and volunteer with Leisure Directions of the NRV. I also enjoy reading, running, swimming in Clayton Lake, and pursing my obsession with the Food Network. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with CSS and to help people with disabilities find employment opportunities that are exciting to them as well.
Jolie Hutcheson-Rice
I am Jolie Hutcheson-Rice. I came to Career Support Systems in April 2005 from the Chesterfield County government where I worked as an enclave supervisor for people with disabilities. I love working at Career Support Systems, because the staff is dedicated to customers, but also dedicated to each other. I enjoy working with people with disabilities not just because of what I can teach them as their job coach, but what they can teach me about life.
As a Regional Manager of the Tri-Cities Region, I work closely with persons of all kinds of backgrounds – customers and counselors alike! The Tri-Cities office is located in the Petersburg District 19 Community Service Board, and since being housed there, I have been able to serve a much larger variety of customers. I supervise a staff of five very gifted and dedicated Employment Consultants, and we always seem to be growing!
I attended the University of Arkansas, then I worked mostly in retail and restaurants, so I have a strong appreciation for the work that is done behind the scenes in those fields. For this reason, I know I can create good job matches for the customers I serve, and their prospective employers.
Ronda Tate
My name is Ronda Tate, an Employment Consultant for the Tri-Cities region. I have been a Consultant with Career Support Systems since July 2007. I enjoy assisting people secure employment because of the fulfillment it gives -- not just to my customers, but to me as well!
I was born and raised in Chesterfield, VA. I recently graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor's of Science in Human Services. I currently attend Virginia Commonwealth University and am seeking a Master's of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling. I plan to continue educating myself because I enjoy learning new things and challenging myself. This is something I know that I can give back to my customers and my colleagues at CSS.
Amy Herrmann
My name is Amy Herrmann. After twenty (plus) years in the IT field, much of which was spent an instructor, where I taught people how to use technology to improve their careers, I returned to college. The same year my grand-daughter turned one-year old, I graduated from Bluefield College with a B.S. in Behavioral Science.
One of the reasons for my desire to shift careers is based on the experiences I’ve learned from my husband – a combat veteran with disabilities. As the spouse of a disabled vet, I have spent a lot of time advocating for, and assisting him and other veterans with disabilities overcoming the obstacles they face on a daily basis. It’s not always fun but it is always rewarding.
Based on my personal experience, I’ve learned that there are three things everyone needs when they have barriers placed in front of them. Those items are: persistence, optimism, and networking opportunities! Career Support Systems has found the unique blend of these three elements that works. I am proud to be part of a team that is “putting talent to work”.
Keith Piercy
I'm an Employment Consultant with the Career Support Systems, Inc. Tri-Cities team. I'm a native of Petersburg, Virginia. I began working with Career Support Systems, Inc. in June of 2007 after seven years of teaching English with The Petersburg Public School System. I have a passion for helping people and making their dreams become a reality.
