Staff
Services
Calendar
2009 Liberty Dinner
Downloads
Advocacy
Employment
Home Service Training/Video
Links
Make a Donation
Contact Us
Progress Center's Organizational Chart
Organizational Chart - Graphical view
Who is employed at Progress CIL, and what they do.
It should be said that while we follow job descriptions, everyone does a little bit of everything when necessary.
Independent Living Team
- Anne Gunter - Independent Living Advocate - Information and Referral
- The Information and Referral Advocate provides answers to your disability related questions. If we do not know the answer off hand, we will likely know where to find the answers for you.
The Information and Referral Advocate provides answers to your disability related questions. If we do not know the answer off hand, we will likely know where to find the answers for you. This part-time advocate works at our South Satellite office in Blue Island.
Rebecca Thompson - Independent Living Advocate - The Benefits Advocacy Coordinator Make works directly with consumers as they are applying for and/or renewing state and federal entitlement programs and services, with a focus on prescription drug assistance programs. The Benefits Advocate makes presentations to community groups and professionals regarding programs and services. The Benefits Advocate recruitments, trains and supervises Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) volunteers.
- Susan Aarup - Independent Living Advocate - Employment
- The Employment advocate recruits and interviews applicants referred to the VR110 Program by a DHS/DRS Counselor. She trains VR110 interns on the philosophy, history and values of Independent Living and also provides job specific training, employment readiness services, and peer counseling to other DRS consumers who request employment related training and support.
Home Services Team
- Art Johnson - Home Services Team Coordinator
- The Home Services Team
Coordinator overviews everything
happening in the Home Services Team, as well as providing direct
services to consumers and participating in long term systems advocacy
projects.
-
- Staci Burton - Independent Living Advocate - Community Reintegration/MFP
- The Community
Reintegration Advocate assists consumers that
qualify for our program in leaving nursing homes (or other similar
institutions) and return living in their own communities, if they so
desire. As there are several areas of assistance needed for a
successful "escape", this advocate coordinates between all PCIL
employees involved, along with other providers, as appropriate.
- Marybeth Fox-Grimm - Independent Living Advocate - Community Reintegration/MFP
- The Community
Reintegration Advocate assists consumers that
qualify for our program in leaving nursing homes (or other similar
institutions) and return living in their own communities, if they so
desire. As there are several areas of assistance needed for a
successful "escape", this advocate coordinates between all PCIL
employees involved, along with other providers, as appropriate.
Our CR/IHDA advocate performs the same basic duties as our other Community Reintegration staff. His base of operations is our South Satellite office in Blue Island.
Rowdy Rejholec - Independent Living Advocate - Housing CR
This advocate works directly with consumers in nursing homes throughout suburban Cook County who are seeking affordable, accessible housing as part of their reintegration into community through our Community Reintegration (CR) program. The Housing CR Advocate will assist consumers in locating housing, completing housing applications, and providing skills training.
- Rhychell Barnes - Independent Living Advocate - Personal Assistance
- The PA Advocate works with consumers so they learn PA Management skills. They also do recruitement of PA's and maintain a list of potential PA's for referral.
- Osbaldo Flores - Independent Living Advocate - Latino Home Services
- The PA Latino Advocate assists the other advocates in providing services to the Latino community in Spanish. This person also does outreach to service providers and community groups.
The Emergency Backup PA Advocate collaborates with his counterpart at Access Living to provide Emergency PA services to select Home Services consumers in Chicago and the suburbs. This program is a pilot project offered through Illinois' Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).
Advocacy Team
Larry Biondi - Advocacy CoordinatorThe Advocacy Coordinator will directly assist staff members in working with consumers on individual advocacy issues. The Coordinator also works under the supervision of the Director on systems advocacy efforts, including interacting with local municipalities and business to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Clark A. Craig - Community Organizing Advocate
Our Community Organizer is responsible for leadership development and organizing people with disabilities and their supporters to create systemic changes in the areas of housing and other community based services in suburban Cook County. He is a lead member of Progress Center's Membership and Outreach Committee. He also helps consumers advocate on a local, state, and national level on issues critical to the disability community.
Deaf Services
- Carol Nemecek - Deaf Services Coordinator
- The Deaf Services Coordinator provides services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, whether directly or by assisting other Progress CIL staff. She also is in charge of the ITAC TTY distribution program at our Center.
Administration Team
- Horacio Esparza - Executive Director
- The Executive Director
is at the helm of our office. He is
in charge of everything that goes on, focusing particularly on
administrative areas such as contract management, Center's direction
and philosophy, etc.
-
- Leonor Vanik - Program Director
- This person directly
supervises all direct service staff
members and also prepares and submits activity reports to our funders.
-
- Lucille Burns - Office Manager
- This person is in charge of paying the bills, managing contracts, supervising payroll and making sure the office has what it needs to function without a hitch.
- Marie Mister - Front desk / Administrative Assistant
- This person welcomes people to the office, answers the phone, and provides support to the Exectuive Director.
- Patrick Hartman - Program Assistant
- The Program Assistant is in charge of maintaining the actual paper files kept for consumers. He also assists with data entry and minding the phone.
-
- Raul Castro - Latino Program Assistant (South Satellite office)
Other
- Ralph Hill, Nicole Ray, Sonia Valez - Center Personal Assistants
- The Center Personal
Assistants are in the office to assist
staff members and visitors with tasks that they would do for themselves
if they didn't have a disability. The Center PA also assists with
general maintenance and upkeep of the premises.