Strategies and Opportunities for Neurodivergent Job-Seekers and Employees

Marc L. Hoffman

From marchoffman.net

Marc L. Hoffman is an education entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and educational therapist, and national advocate in the LD/ADHD community. Through his speeches, seminars, workshops, and one-on-one engagements, he shares his vision of success for anyone with LD/ADHD. Marc has harnessed his unique insights as a dyslexic learner and clinical training to build a series of education companies that inspire, teach, and advocate for children of all ages and from all walks of life — both with and without LD/ADHD.

He is the founder of the Hoffman Educational Group, offering customized one-on-one academic coaching, tutoring, and educational advocacy services for secondary school students and their families. He is also President of Strong Start Early Learning Center.

In addition, Marc serves as Chairman of the Board of Eye to Eye, the national nonprofit mentoring movement that matches school-aged students labeled with LD/ADHD with similarly labeled high school and college students. He also serves on the board of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, Inc. His path to leadership roles in entrepreneurial education ventures is rooted in his background as a private school teacher and research assistant in the Psychology Department at Yale University, specializing in the study of emotional intelligence. He has a BA in psychology from Williams College and a master’s in child clinical psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University.

Chris Carlin, LCSW

Chris graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelors degree in social Work in 1987. He spent over 15 years working in the field and then obtained his Masters of Clinical Social Work at Barry University in North Miami Florida in 2003. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Connecticut He has worked in every level of care from Wilderness programs to Therapeutic Group Homes to Residential Treatment. He has been a member of many leadership teams including holding Program Director, Clinical Director and Associate Director positions. Chris has over 30 years working with adolescents and their families. He has spent the last 15 years working specifically with adolescents and young adults with Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities and Autism.

In 2010 he opened his own practice, ASD Center for Therapeutic Services, to assist children, Adolescents and Adults struggling with emotional concerns. He currently has three office locations in Higganum, Centerbrook and Clinton Connecticut. He is a member of Asperger’s Association of New England, National Autism Association and the National Association of Social Workers, he is EMDR trained and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) trained through the Rosenzwieg Center for Rapid Recovery. 

Natalie Tamburello, M.Phil.

Natalie Tamburello is the Senior Manager of the Individuals Program at Understood.org. She manages and consults on a number key projects across the organization and leads strategic planning for Young Adult user experience.
 
Prior to joining the Understood for All team, Natalie served as the Manager of the Young Adult Initiatives program at the National Center for Learning Disabilities. In this role she managed the team’s efforts to develop and implement programs that prepare young adults for the transition from high school to college and/or career. Her key projects included the Anne and Allegra Ford Scholarship program, the Young Adult Leadership Council, and strategic planning for the department. Prior to working at NCLD she developed an empowerment program for incarcerated adults with learning disabilities and was the program director for Student Advisors for Education (SAFE), the student branch of the Parents Education Network (PEN).
 
Natalie received her BA in Psychology at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. During her time at Whitman, she worked at both the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research at Stanford and BrainLENS at the University of California – San Francisco, doing research on dyslexia and related issues such as motivation, mindset, grit and stereotype threat. She then completed a M.Phil in Education at the University of Cambridge in England, focusing on leadership within the LD/ADHD community and the emerging learning rights movement. Her many volunteer activities focus on non-profit organizations serving students underrepresented in our education system including PEN, Eye to Eye, Reimagine Learning and New Profit, and Headstrong Nation.

Claire Odom

Claire Odom, Senior Program Manager, Employers, Understood.org 

Claire is passionate about disability inclusion and has nearly ten years of experience serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the workplace. As a Worksite Leader with Texas’ first work preparedness and internship effort for adults with disabilities (Project SEARCH at Seton Medical Center Austin), Claire worked closely with individuals and employers to create lasting, successful employment outcomes. After moving to New York City in 2012, Claire joined JobPath NYC, where she worked directly with and on behalf of job seekers with disabilities, while deepening JobPath’s network of employment partners. After earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University, Claire joined the Workplace Initiative team in 2017 to help manage and implement the Workplace Initiative’s innovative approach to disability inclusion nationwide.

Jamell G. Mitchell

EY

Jamell G. Mitchell serves as the Neurodiversity CoE Operations Leader along with being the National ASA Tax and Assurance Practice Leader. His experience relative to market trend analysis and business strategies spans over fourteen years internally. He is a sought after conference orator that challenges organizations to consider cognitive difference as an advantage. Team members describe him as a leader who adapts to various cultural and personal styles. His contributions creates a culture in which timely coaching is provided while demonstrating a passion in promoting strategy, service delivery and core values.

Jamell is responsible for driving awareness, identifying learning opportunities, sourcing and aligning the Neurodiversity CoEs to the firm’s service line. Jamell manages team members across the US, has developed training procedures, analyzed and reviewed budget reports and implemented best practices. He has an MBA with specific focus on Leadership and Finance from Walden University, Minneapolis and holds a BS in Criminal Justice Administration/Planning from John Jay College in New York.

Anita Mortaloni

Microsoft

Anita Mortaloni is a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft and drives accessibility across Office 365.  In her role, she works with engineers, designers and program managers to infuse accessibility into the capabilities of Office 365, bringing awareness of accessibility into our culture and creating an inclusive work environment.

Anita has been at Microsoft for over 12 years in both engineering and program management roles for release, sustaining and accessibility across Microsoft Office 365. Her current role driving accessibility work for productivity applications of Office 365 includes ensuring that through O365 people with disabilities can create, communicate and consume content on any device, and everyone can easily create accessible content. Sharing the tools and products that create inclusive communications, and hearing how people use these products, is something Anita is very passionate about. 

Leslie O’Brien, LICSW

Massachusetts General Hospital, Aspire

Leslie O’Brien, LICSW, developed and directs MGH Aspire Works and its employer training and consulting programs. With MGH Aspire since 2012, Leslie became MGH Aspire Works Program Manager after acting as the supporting teen and young adult programs. In addition to individual consulting with supervisors and employees, her programs provide over 50 area employers with carefully matched neurodiverse interns and the mentorship that leads to success. Leslie facilitates corporate workshops such as Neurodiverse Hiring and Interviewing Practices and Feedback & Performance Evaluations for Neurodiverse Employees. She aims to empower and help neurodiverse employees and candidates increase their knowledge, self-confidence, and professional work experience.

In addition, Leslie has over a decade of clinical experience supporting children, teens and adults in residential, educational and outpatient settings. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Masters of Social Work from Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY.

Anthony Pacilio

JPMorgan Chase

Anthony Pacilio is a Vice President in Global Technology and program lead of Autism at Work for JPMorgan Chase. In this role, he manages the program to identify roles for which people on the autism spectrum would add high value, as well as develop candidate pipelines and ensure best practices for ongoing support. Anthony has been with JPMC 7 years, serving in a variety of technology roles in Consumer and Community Banking. Prior to joining JPMC, he held various positions in the finance and healthcare industry. Anthony’s previous companies include MBNA America, Bank of America and CIGNA.

Hale Puslifer

Fidelity Investments

Hale Launched the Office of Customer Accessibility at Fidelity, and is the national Co-Chair for the “Enable” ERG. He has worked at Fidelity since 2003. Prior to that he was a professional musician for 10 years and received his MBA at Babson. For the first 15 years at Fidelity Hale worked in multiple Finance and Strategy roles across the firm. In 2016 he joined Enable and created the Boston chapter before moving up to the national co-chair role. Today Enable boasts ~5% of Fidelity Associates as members.

In 2018 Hale and Jeff Wissel started the “Office of Customer Accessibility” based on a business case the two created and pitched to executives across the firm, with the help of Enable Executive Sponsor Jean Raymond and the Fidelity UXD Team. Today his full-time role is to explore and prioritize accessibility improvements in Fidelity offerings. This includes digital, phone, and face to face interactions while spanning all Fidelity products and services.

Suzanne Lang

Strategic Manager of Partnerships and Events, Poses Family Foundation

Suzanne Lang combines her field building expertise and knowledge of collective impact in her work as the Manager of Partnerships at Poses Family Foundation (PFF). Through her role at PFF, Suzanne has been instrumental in leading the founding partnerships for Understood.org, a digital platform for parents of kids with learning and attention issues. Working with the 15 nonprofit founding partners she has helped lead efforts to reduce repetition within the field, create common messaging and collaborate on monthly campaigns. She has extensive knowledge in creating impactful convening and helping diverse partners align on a common agenda for advancing the field. Prior to joining PFF, Suzanne was the program associate at the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation where she led their learning disability work. She has a degree in art education and has taught art both privately and in the public school system to students of all ages. Suzanne is the mother of two amazing young adults. Her son Alec is the inspiration for her work in the field of learning and attention issues. A passionate advocate for children, she established a local support group for parents and an advisory board to special education in her community.

LeDerick Horne

From lederick.com

Diagnosed with a learning disability in the 3rd grade, LeDerick Horne defies any and all labels. He’s a dynamic spoken-word poet. A tireless advocate for all people with disabilities. An inspiring motivational speaker. A bridge-builder between learners and leaders across the U.S. and around the word. LeDerick uses his gift for spoken-word poetry as the gateway to larger discussions on equal opportunity, pride, self-determination and hope for people with disabilities.

From 2003 to 2012, LeDerick served as the Founding Board Chair of Eye to Eye, the only national nonprofit mentoring program for students labeled with LD/ADHD, and continues to serve on the board today. He is on the advisory board for The National Resources for Access, Independence, Self-determination and Employment (RAISE) Technical Assistance Center, and he is a Senior Consultant for The Center for School Climate and Learning.

In 2016, he and co-author Margo Vreeburg Izzo, PhD, The Ohio State University, released the book Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities: A Path to Pride and Success — the definitive compendium on transition support for students with LD / ADHD and other hidden disabilities — published by Brookes Publishing Co.

Benjamin W. Cabezas, ’12

Juris Doctorate Candidate, New England Law

Benjamin W. Cabezas is currently a first year Juris Doctorate Candidate at New England Law | Boston. He is a Research Assistant for the Center for International Law and Policy as well as a Campus Out Reach Co-Chair for Boston Bar Association and Student Representative for the Barbri Group. Benjamin graduated from Landmark College in 2012 with his Associate of Arts degree in Business Management, going on to American International College where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Business in 2014, graduating with honors. Before attending law school, Benjamin worked extensively in the restaurant industry holding many positions including several in a multi-unit supervisory capacity.

Jennifer Cuadra, ’12

Summer Program Manager, Wediko Children’s Services

A Massachusetts native and proud dyslexic, Jennifer attended Landmark College from 2007 – 2009 graduating summa cum laude in General Studies. At LC Jennifer was the vice president of the SGA, co-president of the Phi Theta Kappa chapter and served as an RA of Aiken Hall, along with countless other leadership roles on campus. After leaving the College, Jennifer earned a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Educational Studies from Mount Holyoke College. Jennifer gained years of operational and human resource experience working for local nonprofit Citizen Schools and teaching in both public and private schools in Boston, Massachusetts, where she taught students with moderate to severe learning differences. In her current role as Program Manager for Wediko Children's Services flag-shift program, Camp Wediko, she employs her passion for equity and access in the field of mental health. She is currently completing her MSW at Boston College School of Social Work. Jennifer finds joy in singing, kayaking, and spending time with her wife, Natalia, and their rescue pup, Joey. Favorite book: Thank you Mr.Falker by Patricia Polacco

Andrew Garcia, ’11

Talent Acquisition Lead, New Balance Athletic Shoe

Andrew Garcia is a 2011 graduate of Landmark College with an A.A. in Liberal Studies, and is currently a Talent Acquisition Lead for New Balance Athletic Shoe in Brighton, Massachusetts. In his role, Andrew is partnering with hiring teams across the organization to help identify strong talent for the company, wherever it may exist and in whatever form. Aside from daily sourcing and recruiting, Andrew is working with leaders within Footwear Design, Information Technology, and HR to develop a Next-Gen approach to talent strategy. Over the years, and throughout his education and employment, Andrew has struggled with ADHD and executive functioning but continues to educate himself and others around him about the unique challenges and advantages to working with neurodivergent employees and individuals.

Jessica Rancourt, ’04

Admissions Coordinator, Pathways Academy, McLean Hospital

Jessica D. Rancourt is the admissions coordinator for Pathways Academy at McLean Hospital. She has devoted her career to working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders, learning disorders, and/or mental health needs in both therapeutic and academic settings.

Ms. Rancourt works extensively with families and school districts to bring in students that are having difficulties within the public school setting and require the therapeutic, supportive setting that Pathways Academy provides.

Theodora van Roijen, ’00

Assistive Technology Specialist, Lesley University

Read this news story about Theodora, who received the first Landmark College Alumni Service Award in 2017.