Current PaRC Members including their Category of Representation are listed below.
Julia Grant Barol, Member-at-Large
Category of Representation: Community Rehabilitation CounselorCommittees: Executive, Chair of Transition & Education, Vice Chair of Governance, Vice Chair of OVR Policy/State Plan/Customer Satisfaction, Legislative/Public Awareness, CareerLink/WIOA, CTI at HGAC Ad Hoc
Sylenthia Dent
CATEGORY OF REPRESENTATION: General AdvocacyCommittees: OVR Policy & State Plan/Customer Satisfaction, Transition & Education
Joan Goodman
Category of Representation: Business/Labor/IndustryCommittees: Chair of Social Media/Outreach, CareerLink/WIOA, Legislative & Public Awareness
“Joining PaRC seemed like a match for me. I was disabled as a teen, had positive
experiences with OVR services and a career in human resources. It’s time for
me to give back.”
Lynn Heitz
Category of Representation: Sensory DisabilitiesCommittees: Executive, Chair of OVR Policy/State Plan/Customer Satisfaction, Vice Chair of Legislative & Public Awareness, CareerLink/WIOA, CTI at HGAC Ad hoc, IHO/Mediators Ad hoc
“As a person with a disability, I believe strongly in the phrase “Nothing About Us Without Us”. So many times, decisions are made for people with disabilities without their input. I want to be part of this change!”
Passle Helminski
Category of Representation: Cognitive DisabilitiesCommittees: Chair of Legislative/Public Awareness, Governance, CareerLink/WIOA
“I want to make our mission statement a living, breathing part of everyday life, which is the reason I wanted to become a member of the PaRC.”
Twana Jones
CATEGORY OF REPRESENTATION: BUSINESS/INDUSTRY/LABORCommittees: Vice Chair of CareerLink/WIOA, OVR Policy & State Plan/Customer Satisfaction
Jessica Keogh
Category of Representation: Intellectual DisabilitiesCommittees: Legislative & Public Awareness, Transition & Education, IHO/Mediators Ad Hoc
Michelle Leahy
Category of Representation: Mental HealthCommittees: Social Media/Outreach, Legislative/Public Awareness
“I believe that employment is imperative for people with disabilities to be considered equal in our society. As a person with a disability it’s important to me for employers and our community in general to realize our ability to contribute through competitive employment. PaRC’s mission truly fits my personal philosophy of saying yes to access.”
Michelle Mitchell, Vice Chair
Category of Representation: Rehabilitation CounselorCommittees: Executive, Transition & Education, Legislative & Public Awareness, Governance
“My lifelong mission to assist folks in ‘Finding Their Own Way’ led me to
becoming a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and opening the doors of access
to higher education for ALL individuals as they pursue their training to become
who they determine to be.”
William Paz De Melo, Chair
Category of Representation: Physical DisabilitiesCommittees: Chair of Executive and ex-officio member of all Committees
Andrew Pennington
Category of Representation: Client Assistance Program (CAP)Committees: Executive, Chair of CareerLink/WIOA, Chair of IHO/Mediators Ad hoc, Transition & Education
Kara Donatucci Pham
Category of Representation: Business/Industry/LaborCommittee: CareerLink/WIOA, Transition & Education
“I joined PaRC because I thought my experience in Human Resources and my experience as a parent of a child with an intellectual disability would complement the mission of the organization. My experience is employment and programs of inclusion would lend insight to other organizations like OVR that support inclusion in the workplace.”
Susan Tomasic
Category of Representation: Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)Committee: Executive, Chair of Governance Committee, Vice Chair of Social Media/Outreach, OVR Policy/State Plan/Customer Satisfaction, IHO/Mediators Ad hoc
“I am the Chair of the PA SILC and serve as the SILC representative on the Council.”