Daniele Zartman
Transition Coordinator
Daniele Zartman is the Coordinator of Transition Services with over 15 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Daniele graduated from Texas Woman’s University in 2003 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Developmental and Child Psychology. She holds certifications in Special Education and English as a Second Language as well as Advanced Employment Services from UNT. She holds credentials in Supported Employment Services (Endorsements - AUTISM), Workplace Inclusion and Sustainable Employment, & Job Skills Trainer/Job Coach. She has experience teaching Special Education in both the public and private school sector. Daniele specializes in Vocational Adjustment Training and is responsible for educating high school students on job readiness. Daniele is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed.
Tracy Shearer
Program Manager
McKinney & Plano
Tracy started with WorkReady in 2008 and worked as an Employment Specialist until moving into a Program Manager position in 2011. She has a bachelor’s degree in behavioral studies and holds credentials in autism supports, supported employment, job placement and job skills training. Tracy covers the Collin County area and has extensive experience working with students making the transition from high school to employment. Tracy and her team of Employment specialists have a great deal of experience and knowledge working with young adults on the autism spectrum, as well as various other disabilities. Tracy and her team have continued success with finding long term, competitive jobs for the individuals they serve and are committed to delivering this same level of success to every individual they work with in the future.
Jung Lee
Area Program Manager
Arlington & Irving
Jung Lee serves as a program manager over the Arlington, Grand Prairie, Duncanville, South Fort Worth and Wichita Falls area. Jung has a Bachelor's degree in Human biology and Business from UT Austin and a Master's degree in Counseling. She has been working with people with disabilities for over 10 years and also has volunteer experience serving underprivileged people in the community. Her experience includes: mental health, addiction services, family and marriage counseling, neurodevelopmental spectrum, intellectual disabilities, vocational counseling, physical disabilities, and has worked in various settings with individuals, groups, and families of all ages. In addition to SE services, she is certified to conduct EWA and is VAT certified to work with high school students. Jung finds her role to be fulfilling as she works with individuals, families and the community to assist people in achieving their vocational goals.
Megan Cestarte
Program Manager
Denton, Lewisville & Carrollton
Megan has been working with WorkReady since 2015. She began as an Employment Specialist working in both Denton and Collin Counties. In 2016, she became Program Manager for the Denton, Lewisville, and Carrollton Offices. She is also a Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT) Coordinator and oversees this program with the schools. Megan has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of North Texas. She also holds a graduate certificate in human resources management. Megan has over 10 years of experience working in management and working with individuals with disabilities. Megan holds UNTWISE credentials in job skills training, job placement, supported employment, vocational adjustment training, and an endorsement credential in Autism. Megan lives in Denton County as well and loves helping those in her community.
Josh Davis
Program Manager
Austin, Round Rock, & San Marcos
Josh Davis was born and raised in Abilene, TX, lived in South Florida for a long stent, and has now been back in Texas for the last nine years (Austin specifically). Close to seven of those years he’s worked professionally with Work Ready Texas. He started out as a Certified Job Coach and Employment Specialist working his way up to Program Manager for the Central/North Austin, and Round Rock/Georgetown coverage areas. Josh holds a certification in Advanced Employment Services from UNT. He also holds credentials in Supported Employment Services (Endorsements – Autism), Workplace Inclusion and Sustainable Employment, Job Skills Trainer/Job Coach, and Vocational Adjustment Training. “I absolutely love working for Work Ready Texas and being involved with such an astounding group of people working for an amazing cause. Each one of us has a disability to one degree or another, but my nucleus has always been to focus energy on one’s abilities. I utterly enjoy working with each one of the customers that have been referred to Work Ready Texas for employment services. I am enthusiastic about working with customers in the future to assist them with finding their right career path.”
Kimberly Rodriguez
Program Manager
Dallas & Garland
Kimberly Rodriguez is a Program Manager and Supported Employment Specialist experienced in assisting customers in Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and Denton Counties. Kimberly is multiculturally sensitive, trained in multiple modalities, bilingual and advocates in all aspects of employment and employer relations. Kimberly has been working within the social service industry for 20+ years and has both a BS and MA degree. Trust in the process. Communication + Hard Work = infinite possibilities
Beth Barfknecht
Program Manager
Temple, Killeen, & Waco
Beth Barfknecht was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She is a program manager with over 14 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Beth graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills with a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science and has an associate’s degree in Child Development. She holds credentials in Supported Employment Services (endorsements - Autism), Job Placement and Job Skills Trainer/Job Coach. She moved to Texas from California in 2020 and started out as an Employment Specialist in the Temple/Waco/Killeen area. Beth has worked in special education with students with disabilities at all levels and ages. She has a passion for serving individuals with disabilities in vocational rehabilitation. “I am honored to work in the field that I am in. I truly cannot imagine myself doing anything else. The joy our work brings to our customer’s lives changes not only their own, but also those whom they work with. WorkReady Texas is in the business of changing what inclusivity means in the workforce by building bridges, creating opportunities, and transforming lives.”
Allison Collins
Program Manager
Fort Worth & Weatherford
Allison Collins is the program manager for the Fort Worth area. She has over 12 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Allison graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and from Dallas Baptist University with a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling. Allison has a teaching certification in special education and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She is passionate about people feeling successful and empowered in their daily lives. Allison uses her ability to build rapport and create meaningful employment opportunities to develop a positive experience in the employment process.
Maggie O'Connor
Program Manager
Webster, Texas City, Pearland, Missouri City, & South Houston
Maggie O'Connor is from Houston, Texas. She graduated from The University of Texas with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and a Minor in Psychology. After graduation, she started working for a Children's Advocacy Center as a Forensic Interviewer. She then became the Program Director overseeing the Forensic Interview, Family Advocacy and Internship programs. Throughout her time at the CAC, Maggie was able to meet and work with a handful of children and adults with various disabilities. This allowed her the opportunity to realize she wanted to make a career change and use her experience and skillset in a different way.
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Alex Dirksen
Program Manager
Tyler, Longview, & Marshall
Alex has been working with WorkReady Texas since 2020. He began as an Employment Specialist working in Smith, Gregg and surrounding counties. In 2021, he became Program Manager for the Tyler, Longview, and Marshall area. Alex earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. He has spent over 11 years working with seniors and individuals with disabilities in Colorado, Kentucky, and Texas. He has experience in management, social work, sales and marketing. Alex holds UNTWISE credentials in Job Skills Training, Job Placement, Supported Employment, Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT), and an endorsement credential in Autism. He has a passion for helping people achieve their employment goals. Alex lives in the piney woods of East Texas with his wife and kids and enjoys the outdoors and spending time with family.
Jennifer Grissom
Program Manager
Greenville, Sulphur Springs, Paris, Mt. Pleasant, & Texarkana
Jennifer Grissom has lived in Paris her whole life until May of 2021. Jennifer moved to Greenville to be in a more central location to all the areas she serves. She worked for the public school system in Special Education for 15 years. She holds credentials in Supported Employment Services (endorsements - Autism), Job Placement, VAT, and Job Skills Trainer/Job Coach. Jennifer has taught elementary, middle school, and high school. She has worked with special education students with different disabilities at all levels.
Preston Hornbeck
Development Coordinator
Preston Hornbeck is orginally from McKinney, Texas, and studied Business Marketing at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas. Upon graduation, Preston worked in various Marketing roles for an organization in California with millions of followers, communicating to hundreds of thousands individuals weekly for six years. In 2022, he moved back to Texas and began his career at WorkReady, starting as a Job Coach before moving on to focusing on business development and employer relations.
Shannon Wright
Transition Assistant
Shannon began her career with WorkReady in 2020. Since beginning her role, she has indirectly impacted the lives of thousands of students across Texas through providing training and administration support for hundreds of Job Coach Trainers.