PAM FERRELL, Direc=
tor,
Staffing
Pam
is one of the founding members of My Possibilities. Twenty-two (22) years a=
go
Pam was blessed with her second son, Joseph. Twenty-two years ago Pam did n=
ot
realize that she would partner with so many great individuals, companies, a=
nd
leaders in the field of disabilities to improve the perception of people wi=
th
developmental disabilities, as well as working towards improving the qualit=
y of
life for many people with disabilities.
Pam
sits on boards of numerous non- profit organizations. Currently she serves =
as
President of The Arc’s board of Directors, and has served as a commun=
ity
advocate for The Arc and the clients since 2000.
Pam
was also a founding member of the March for Respect along with 12 non-profit
organizations that established a grassroots movement that would improve the
perception of people with developmental disabilities.
Pam
joined the Dallas Mayor’s Committee for Employment of People with
Disabilities (DMC) as a representative for Texas Instruments in 1999. The D=
MC
is a unique organization of businesses focused on increasing the employment=
of
people with disabilities. Pam has served as the Chairman for the past 4 yea=
rs
and continues to serve with great pride and joy.
For
over 15 years, Pam has been a Special Needs Sunday School teacher at Prestonwood Baptist church in Plano.
Pam
Is currently employed at CISCO Systems a Talent Acquisitions Manager.
Robin is serving is one of the founding
members of My Possibilities. Robin was born and raised in Western New York,
just north of Buffalo. She completed her undergraduate degree in comp=
uter
science at SUNY Buffalo. She came to Dallas and has been employed
with Texas Instruments for 27 years. Most recently Robin was Dire=
ctor
of Program Management for TI the automotive business. Prior TI
positions included business manager, engineering manager and system enginee=
r.
She has also been a Diversity leader and a United Way coordinator. She is
currently on leave from TI.
Robin has been an advocate for children w=
ith
disabilities in the Plano Independent School District. She and her son,
David, participated in a pilot program for early childhood intervention in a
local day care center. She has introduced learning strategies to
resource teachers in elementary and middle schools.
Robin believes that many adults with
disabilities are capable and conscientious. They are able to
positively contribute to businesses in Collin County. She wants to he=
lp
these adults gain independence and work in the community.
Robin and her husband Jim have two sons, =
Joel
and David.
Charmaine is one of the
founding members of My Possibilities. In her role as a wife and mother of a
blended family of four children, one with special needs, Charmaine
has a unique and personal understanding of the complexities of family dynam=
ics.
Her youngest son Kyle is 21 years old, and in his last year at Plano West H=
igh
school. Along with the other team members of My Possibilities Charmaine understands the need for a program to addre=
ss the
lack of services and facilities that adults with special needs face post hi=
gh
school, and is proud to be part of the team that are creating a solution to=
the
problem.
Born and raised in South Africa, Charmaine worked and studied counseling in England for
three years. Following her move to Texas, she completed her undergraduate
degree at the University of Texas, Dallas and her Masters degree in Counsel=
ing
at Amberton University. Ch=
armaine
completed over three thousand clinical hours working with non-profit
organizations providing counseling services to children and at-risk youth a=
nd
families. Most recently, Charmaine worked for C=
ITY
House, a crisis intervention and adolescent short-term residential facility
with a specific focus on helping families stabilize and teaching children a=
nd
teens the necessary coping skills to be successful throughout their lives. =
Charmaine has been an ac=
tive
CASA volunteer for 8 years, and enjoys her role of being a voice/advocate f=
or
children removed by CPS and placed into foster care.
Charmaine is currently employed at Fletcher and associates as a Licensed Professional counselor and registered Play Therapist, working with children, adolescents and adults. <= o:p>
Debbie is serving on the Core Team of My
Possibilities as a fundraising coordinator. She is married with two children
Billy, 21 and Shelley, 19. Debbie and her family lived in Houston, North
Carolina, and Kansas before returning to Texas and Plano in 1994.
Her son Billy's diagnosis of Down syndrome
helped launch her into a career of community and school volunteering. With
Billy as her motivation she has devoted much of her time and energy to
increasing the level of inclusion and education programs in the local schoo=
ls
her son attended.
Debbie's leadership roles have included B=
oard
service with multiple early intervention agencies, the National Down Syndro=
me
Association-Raleigh Chapter, Special Olympics of Overland Park, KS, the Arc=
Life
Dallas Advisory Committee, and Special Olympics Coach, Plano. Active in her
church she currently serves as an Elder, and has also been involved in the
youth and children’s programs.
Her son Billy is now in his last year at
Plano Independent School District’s Beyond High School program. With =
the
other members of the My Possibilities Team, she understands the real need f=
or
an local organization that reflects a high level of service, quality care, =
and
continual education and development of adults with special needs in Collin
County, post high school.
Liz is serving on the Core Team, of my
Possibilities as the Volunteer Coordinator. A native of New York State, Liz
graduated SUNY Geneseo with a BA in Psychology.=
Upon
graduation she worked at Lawyer's Cooperative Publishing Company editing law
briefs before joining Eastman Kodak Company in the Credit Department. With =
the
birth of their first child, Liz decided to "work at home" raising=
three
sons, and after several corporate relocations related to her husband's work,
the family's last move brought them to Plano in 1994.
While living in New York, Liz was asked t=
o be
a part of an ADD task force comprised of parents, teachers, doctors and adm=
inistrators
with the goal of educating and informing the school district on how best to
work with children with ADD. In Plano, Liz co-chaired a support group for
parents of children with special needs, which focused on providing informat=
ion
and resources. In addition, Liz has enjoyed working as a PISD library volun=
teer
for over ten years, both at the elementary and high school levels. With two
adult children, Liz is now focusing her efforts on ensuring her youngest son
who has special needs, will have the opportunity to continue to live, learn=
and
work in the Plano community he has grown up in.
(information pending)