Employment First Council Member Bios

Chris Wells, GVRA Executive Director/Employment First Council Chairman

Chris Wells began as GVRA Executive Director in mid 2020, and before that, he served as the Director of the Physical and Economic Development Division at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. Prior to serving in that role, he held analyst positions in multiple government agencies, including the Georgia Department of Labor and the South Carolina Executive Budget Office. Wells currently serves as a member of Georgia’s Employee Benefit Plan Council, is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and is a graduate of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2019. Wells earned bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Mathematics from Francis Marion University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Augusta University, and has completed course work towards a Ph.D. in Political Science at Georgia State University. He resides with his wife, Shameka, and dog in Mableton, Georgia.

Parker Glick

Glick is the media and outreach coordinator for the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia. He sits on the board for the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities and is active with the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living’s youth leadership council. Glick earned an associate degree in Education from Daytona State College. He resides in Decatur.

Eric E. Jacobson, Georgia Counsel of Developmental Disabilities, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD)

Jacobson has worked with GCDD since 1992 and has served as Executive Director since 1997. He has advocated for Employment First as a policy since the early 2000’s as a member of the Georgia Developmental Disability Network, developing close friendships with hundreds of people with disabilities and their families. Jacobson graduated from the University of Kansas’s Political Science program and holds a Master of Urban Studies from Georgia State University. He is a 2008 Graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. He and his wife, Terri, are the parents of twins, Jonah and Hilit, 23.

Dr. Conrado Marion-Landais

Marion-Landais is the diversity and inclusion manager for Georgia Power. He is the founding chairperson of Disability:IN Greater Atlanta, an affiliate of Disability:IN. Marion-Landais is a member of the Atlanta Diversity Management Advocacy Group leadership board and the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta advisory council. He is a graduate of Leadership DeKalb and the American Institute for Managing Diversity’s Leadership Academy Program. Marion-Landais earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech and a master's degree and a doctoral degree from the University of South Florida. He and his wife, Melissa, have two children and live in Dunwoody.

Paula Poulicek, Georgia Department of Education(GA DOE)

Poulicek serves as a Program Specialist for Special Populations within the Georgia Department of Education’s (GA DOE) Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Program. With 21 years of experience as a Career Technical Instruction (CTI) Coordinator, she has extensive knowledge regarding the supports needed to assist students with job goals, self-advocacy skills and transition skills. She currently trains CTI Coordinators statewide and advocates for CTI programs in schools. Poulicek is a longtime partner of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency’s (GVRA) transition program. She holds a BS from Texas Tech University, a M.Ed. from the University of West Georgia, and an Ed.S. in Workforce Education for the University of Georgia. She is a native Texan, but she and her husband, Jim, now call Rome, Georgia, home.

Amy R. Reidesel, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)

Reidesel is the Director of Community Services at DBHDD, where one of her focuses is statewide oversight of supported employment. She has more than ten years of experience with Georgia’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), where her goal is more choice and better quality of life within communities. Previously, she worked directly with supported employment clients in upstate New York. Reidesel holds a Master of Public Administration, a Graduate Certification in Aging and Disability, a Bachelor of Science in Human Development, an Associate in Applied Science Medical Laboratory Technology, and a Certificate in Citizen-centered Leadership from Cornell University. She is an AIRS Certified Information and Referral Specialist, a Master Trainer in Powerful Tools for Caregivers, and served as a United States Army Medical Specialist and Nationally Certified EMT.

Rossany Rios, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)

Rios is the Disability Employment Initiative State Lead within TCSG’s Workforce Development Office, having more than fifteen years of experience in service to individuals with disabilities. Previous state positions include Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Rehabilitation Unit Manager, and Business Relations Director for the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. She has also worked in higher education, assistive living, and social work. Rios holds a Bachelor of Social Work, a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling, and a Certificate in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. A native of Hatillo, Puerto Rico, she lives in Hampton, Georgia. Rios and her husband, Balfre, have a son, Isaac, and daughter, Zoe.

James Stinchcomb

Stinchcomb is a graduation coach and part-time faculty member in the Department of Social Work and Human Services at Kennesaw State University (KSU). He is also the CEO of Baux Blue Consulting. Stinchcomb was previously the director of operations for the Cobb and Douglas Counties Community Services Boards. He is the vice president of Professional Development and Education for the National Organization for Human Services. Stinchcomb earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and a master’s degree in Public Administration from KSU and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia. He is a board-certified human resources practitioner and a certified nonprofit professional. Stinchcomb resides in Kennesaw.

David C. Ward

Ward is the President and CEO of the Tommy Nobis Center. He has more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including leadership positions with the Wounded Warrior Project, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Best Buddies International. Ward previously worked with the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities in Ohio. He sits on the board for the Georgia Association of Training, Employment and Supports. Ward was a nominee for the Turknett Leadership Group’s 2018 Leadership Character Award. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bluffton University and a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Ward and his wife, Priscilla, have two children and live in Powder Springs.
 

Brandt White

White is a certified peer specialist and a member of Cohort 5 of My Voice. My Participation. My Board. He is active with Stevens Creek Community Church in Martinez and volunteers with local animal shelters. White earned a degree in Business Technology from Augusta Technical College. He lives in Evans.

Dr. Felita T. Williams, The University System of Georgia

Williams is the Associate Vice Chancellor of Strategic Academic Initiatives. Before joining the System Office, Dr. Williams worked at Georgia Perimeter College (formerly DeKalb College) serving GPC in several capacities including, Faculty, Executive Assistant to the President, Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs, and Provost of the Decatur Campus. She has also served at the national level as Chair of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE), and on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. Williams earned a bachelor’s degree, master's degree and a doctoral degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Todd Youngblood

Youngblood is the executive director of Kay Community Service Center in Fort Valley. He previously taught special education and coached football, basketball and baseball. Youngblood is the assistant softball coach at Crawford County High School. He is the sport manager for the 2019 Special Olympics USA Powerlifting World Games. Youngblood earned a bachelor’s degree in Interrelated Special Education from Georgia Southern University. He and his wife, Andrea, have three children and two grandchildren. They live in Fort Valley.

Elizabeth de Janes, Georgia Department of Labor