Disabilityworks Staff at Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Mark Williams, Disabilityworks Director
(312) 494-6713, ed@disabilityworks.org

Mark brings a lengthy background of leadership in Chicago's service, educational and philanthropic communities, having worked with Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, Chicago Housing Authority, and National-Louis University among other organizations. In his most recent position before joining disabilityworks, Mark played a leadership role in establishing the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Williams has served on numerous nonprofit boards in Chicago and is a past president of Association of Fundraising Professionals' Chicago Chapter. A lifelong Chicago area resident, Mark is a graduate of Lake Forest College and Spertus College.

Joe Chiappetta: Director of Workforce Development
(312) 494-6729 cpln@disabilityworks.org

Joe Chiappetta is a trainer, author, and award-winning cartoonist. A number of his books cover disability issues. Through the Disabilityworks Training Institute, Joe is the lead trainer to businesses and non-profits throughout Illinois on disability-employment topics. He has been in the field since 2001, and also helps businesses find qualified workers with disabilities. Joe is one of the founders of the EmployAlliance network of job developers and their former statewide coordinator. He currently facilitates the Workforce Developer Network in Chicago. Serving on Chicago's Mayoral Task Force on the Employment of People with Disabilities, Joe was one of its key work group members who helped promote the formation of Disabilityworks and the expansion of the Chicagoland Business Leadership Network (CBLN).

L. M. Pepper Curington: disabilityworks Resource Coordinator (dRC)

Pepper is a 20 veteran of the United States Air Force, retiring from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. in 1994. Upon her departure from the Air Force she returned to Chicago, were she attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and earned her Bachelor Degree in Social Work in 2002. Then in 2004, she was awarded her Masters Degree in Social Work from Chicago State University. She was a Disability Program Navigator from July 2004 until the project ended in June 2007. Pepper currently is the dRC serving the Chicagoland area. Nowadays, Pepper serves as a mentor with AbilityLinks mentorship program and during her off time she enjoys singing in the church choir, reading, working with elderly and taking long walks.

Christy Herzing: disabilityworks Resource Coordinator (dRC)

Christy is a dRC serving 19 counties in Southern Illinois, including Local Workforce Investment Area 25 and 26. She has a B.A. in Speech Communications and a minor in Journalism from McKendree College. While at McKendree she served as a student assistant to the Office of College Relations helping to coordinate events and create marketing materials and press releases. In 2002 Christy did an internship with KMOX 1120 in St. Louis. She was involved with the Disability Program Navigator initiative from its inception in October 2003 until June 2007.

Michael Killebrew: disabilityworks Resource Coordinator (dRC)

Michael is a dRC in the Quincy Workforce Area comprising the western portion of Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) 4, and all of LWIA 12, 13, and 14. He has a B.S. from Truman State University and a graduate degree from Washburn College of Law. He is a licensed attorney in KS and has some mediation experience. He was a Disability Program Navigator from October 2004 until the initiative ended in June 2007. Prior to this, he was a licensed minister and worked as a substance abuse counselor.

Mary Peterson: disabilityworks Resource Coordinator (dRC)

Mary has worked as a change agent, advocate, educator, trainer, administer for well over 20 years in various capacities. In 2004, she assumed the position as a Disability Program Navigator to champion the issues/causes of persons with disabilities and recently has become a disabilityworks Resource Coordinator, based out of Peoria, covering the One-Stop Career Resource Centers throughout Illinois in LWIA 10, 11, 15, 16 and 19. This position has allowed Mary the opportunity to continue her crusade of helping others through the initiation, development, organization, implementation and assessment of services and programs. The main objective of these services and programs are designed to assist individuals in the development of skills and a mind-set necessary for the attainment of their educational, employment and personal goals. Her educational background includes Master's Degree in Educational Administration with an emphasis in College Student Personnel and Bachelor's in Economics both from Illinois State University (ISU).

Jonathan Wheat: Managing Director, Special Projects
(312) 494-6702

As the managing director of special projects, Jonathan oversees the day to day operations of the disabilityworks statewide expansion initiative. He has extensive experience with various providers that serve individuals with disabilities in the Chicago area as well as with United Way and Chicago Housing Authority. A Texan native, he moved to Chicago after having completed post-graduate studies in counseling at the University of Toronto. Jonathan is also a volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Chicago, a piano instructor, and an avid member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Disabilityworks Mailing Address:
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce - Disabilityworks
200 E. Randolph St., Suite 2200
Chicago, IL 60601-6433
General phone: (312) 494-6714
TTY 312-494-6722