Meet the WorkLink Team!

Sara Murphy, M.S.Ed. - Program Director

Sara is the Director of WorkLink, TransCen's San Francisco-based employment services office. For the past fifteen years, she has been involved in establishing fully integrated transition and employment services for people with significant disabilities. She has established transition services for the San Francisco Unified School District, developing and implementing classroom and district-wide programs, as well as piloting an interagency service model that combined funding and resources from the schools, adult service providers, the Department of Rehabilitation and the Department of Developmental Services. Ms. Murphy has established employment services for both TransCen and the United Cerebral Palsy Association. These programs provide exclusively community-based, individualized vocational services for individuals with significant disabilities. She has been instrumental in creating some of the most innovative employment programs in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Sara has presented job development techniques and TransCen's "Business First" Marketing Approach at numerous local, state, and national conferences. She has also organized and led international study tours for Scandinavian and Europe legislators and administrators. These tours focused on full-inclusion schooling, transition, consumer-driven employment services, legislative issues and administrative policies. Her Master's degree includes a Certificate in Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling.

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Project Advance & Competitive Employment: This pilot program provides job search assistance to individuals who have professional experience, graduate and undergraduate degrees, and/or technical certifications. Project Advance/Competitive Employment also develops internships and mentoring opportunities for these jobseekers. In addition, Project Advance recruits graduates from local colleges and universities. This program serves as an important resource for employers who are actively building a diverse workforce.

Customized Employment: This program assists jobseekers in finding employment, and also provides onsite support for the new employee to learn all the needed work skills. A WorkLink team member works closely with co-workers to supervise and direct the new employee. Follow-up services are provided as needed.

Integrated Work Program: This program is entirely community based and provides consumers with up to 30 hours of service per week. This program serves people who wish to work but also have additional service needs. The individuals in the program typically work from six to fifteen hours a week and use their remaining service hours to address other social/recreational goals, such as learning to cook or working out at a gym.

Project Advance & Competitive Employment

Recia Larson - Workforce Strategist, Project Advance & Competitive Employment

As a Workforce Strategist with WorkLink, Recia works with Bay Area corporate partners to develop interview rehearsal scenarios, mentoring programs, and employment opportunities for Project Advance/Competitive Employment jobseekers. She also works directly with jobseekers, teaching them the skills they need to land employment in any job market. Recia currently serves as a Panelist on The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Job Forum.

"It is rewarding to partner with jobseekers and coach them in the discovery of 'their best professional selves.'"

Prior to joining WorkLink, Recia was an Executive Search Consultant specializing in Financial Services Technology.

Bonnie Harrison - Job Developer, Competitive Employment

Bonnie is a Job Developer for the Competitive Employment program at WorkLink. She assists jobseekers in finding professional positions that match their interests and qualifications in the competitive job market. If the jobseeker needs additional skills to reach his or her employment goals, she assists them in finding the right resources to get further training. Bonnie also works with employers to develop positions for jobseekers, and she maintains an ongoing relationship with both the jobseeker and employer throughout the hiring process. She assists in accommodations and any on-the-job training that might be necessary to make the jobseeker as productive as possible, and remains a resource for as long as the WorkLink client is an employee.

"I like getting to know each individual, helping them figure out their interests and goals and helping them to realize those goals. I feel lucky to be able to be a part of a program that challenges individuals and assists them in finding the right tools and opportunities, so that they are able to reach their fullest level of independence and productivity in their lives and careers. I like the diversity of this position - no two days are the same. And it's fun!"

Evonne Thong - Workforce Consultant, Project Advance

As a Workforce Consultant, Evonne works closely with jobseekers and corporate hiring partners to create employment solutions. Her methodology is to understand the strengths, limitations, and goals of jobseekers in order to match them to appropriate roles with WorkLink hiring partners. "This is my first non-profit role and I am excited about using my corporate experience in retained executive search and outplacement to serve WorkLink's jobseekers!" When she is not working, Evonne can be found climbing - and sometimes dangling off a wall - at Mission Cliffs.

Deirdre Humphrey - Workforce Consultant, Project Advance

Customized Employment

Deborah Muir - Program Manager

As the Program Manager for the Customized Employment Program, Deborah's job is quite varied. One day, she may be providing on-the-job support, the next day attending a meeting with the Department of Rehabilitation, and on another day, helping an employer find the appropriate accommodations for their new employee.

Deborah has worked with people who have significant disabilities for over ten years and at WorkLink for approximately four years. She has a Master's degree in Special Education, which includes a certification in Vocational Education.

"Establishing relationships with employers and working directly with the new employees and witnessing their progress toward independence are the aspects I enjoy most about my job. I especially enjoy witnessing their progress toward independence."

Matthew Edwards, BA, MAph - Employment Specialist

Matthew is an Employment Specialist for WorkLink. He has eight years of experience in Human Resources, during which time he piloted two HR departments in the Printing and Retail sectors. Matthew also has ** years of experience in non-profit administration and teaching, as a founder of an inner-city arts organization in his native England. Matthew has a BA in English Literature from Birmingham University, England, and a Master's in Public Health from BAVC in California. His prime function on the WorkLink team is jobsite training: Training new employees, liaising with employers, creating activities or generally facilitating the integration and success of the new employee.

"The variety and challenges of our working life at WorkLink ensure that no two days are alike. The enthusiasm shared by our clientele once they are employed, and their willingness to take on new tasks is a great spur, as well as the great amount of positive feedback we receive from employers. The job is a reward in itself!"

Integrated Work Program

Walter Glaser - Program Manager

Walter manages WorkLink's Integrated Work Program, which provides a variety of services to eighteen adults. His team provides support in the job search process as well as ongoing employment assistance if it is necessary, and also works with employers to ensure that the quality of program participants' work is excellent.

Walter's team assists and facilitates other activities for participants, such as volunteer jobs, exercising at a gym, cooking classes, or college classes.

"I enjoy the human element the best, forming relationships with the people in the program. I also enjoy working with employers and seeing how satisfied they are with their employees."

Kevin Mercer - Community Facilitator

Kevin supervises and plans activities in recreational and professional environments that foster independence and confidence in young adults with developmental disabilities. By nurturing and encouraging his client's interests and needs, he is helping them to adapt and apply their skills in various social and work related settings.

"I enjoy nurturing and encouring my clients as well as seeing their progress in mastering the skills that will help them adapt to different environments."

Kathy Winship - Community Facilitator

As a Community Facilitator at WorkLink, Kathy's main objective is to support and assist individuals with disabilities in living the lives that they wish. To accomplish this, she works with people at employment sites and in the community, helping them to learn tasks serving as a personal cheerleader to accomplish goals and also encouraging them to advocate for themselves.

"While at WorkLink, I have gained an immense amount of satisfaction in helping each person achieve the goals of his or her personal plan. From this, I have been given a chance to observe and get to know the person in a variety of different capacities as well as the community in which they live." Kathy is currently trying to master the rumba, as she has been attending dance classes with program participants on a weekly basis.