Current PaRC Members including their Category of Representation are listed below.
Julia Grant Barol
Category of Representation: Community Rehabilitation CounselorCommittees: Executive, Chair of Transition & Education, Governance, Legislative/Public Awareness, OVR Policy/State Plan/Customer Satisfaction – Vice Chair, CareerLink/WIOA – Vice Chair, CTI at HGAC Ad hoc
Sylenthia Dent
CATEGORY OF REPRESENTATION: General AdvocacyCommittees: OVR Policy & State Plan/Customer Satisfaction, Transition & Education
Paul Fogle, Chair
Category of Representation: Current/Former OVR CustomerCommittee: Chair of Executive and participates in all other Committees
Joan Goodman
Category of Representation: Business/Labor/IndustryCommittees: 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, 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: 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: OVR Policy & State Plan/Customer Satisfaction, CareerLink/WIOA
Jessica Keogh
Category of Representation: Intellectual DisabilitiesCommittees: Legislative & Public Awareness – Vice Chair, Transition & Education, IHO/Mediators Ad hoc
Michelle Leahy
Category of Representation: Mental HealthCommittees: Executive, Chair of 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, Member-at-Large
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.”
Michelle Paonessa
Category of Representation: Sensory DisabilitiesCommittee: OVR Policy/State Plan/Customer Satisfaction, IHO/Mediators Ad Hoc
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, Vice Chair
Category of Representation: Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)Committee: Executive, Chair of Governance Committee, OVR Policy/State Plan/Customer Satisfaction, Social Media/Outreach, IHO/Mediators Ad hoc
“I am the Chair of the PA SILC and serve as the SILC representative on the Council.”
William Del Toro Vargas
Category of Representation: Physical DisabilitiesCommittees: Executive, Chair of Legislative/Public Awareness, Chair of CTI at HGAC Ad hoc, Governance