I’d like to officially welcome and introduce you to Chisa O’Quinn, Stephen Eyman, and Charly Walters. Chisa will be joining us in our Seattle office and Charly and Stephen are landing in our Spokane office. We are thrilled to be adding new expertise on both sides of WA state and I look forward to watching these three amazing professionals add to our ability to advance competitive integrated employment services throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Please join me in welcoming our new Wise team members!

Cesilee Coulson–Executive Director

Chisa O’Quinn is a Social Worker who has traveled with individuals through the worlds of Corrections, Counseling, Disability Services, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse. What sets her apart as a leader and advocate in the field is her ability to creatively seek solutions in difficult situations, and her focus on person centered planning strategies. Chisa holds a Masters in Social Work from Portland State University. She has been in the field of Developmental Disabilities since 2003, starting as an Employment Specialist, Supported Employment Program Manager and Personal Agent in Vancouver, WA. Recently, Chisa was a Personal Agent in Oregon’s Brokerage system. Chisa is an avid spectator who enjoys watching sporting events, comedy shows, theater, movies and generally saying “yes” to new opportunities and activities that cross her path. Chisa is the founder of My Sister’s Keeper NW, an event planning organization designed to connect, empower, and enrich women. Her volunteer interests include volunteer coordination for iUrbanTeen and Mosaic Blueprint.

Stephen Eyman grew up in a home where the disability experience was an everyday part of the family tapestry. This instilled in him a love for diverse forms of communication, a desire to see people live life to the fullest, and opportunities to support people to transcend communication differences to connect with one another. Stephen studied Spanish and International Studies at Whitworth University.  He had the opportunity to study abroad in Central America, where he learned to appreciate the nuances of language, culture, and the importance of human rights and social justice on a global scale. Stephen was the recipient of a Fulbright grant to teach English at a university in Colombia where he developed a passion for higher education, bilingualism, and peacebuilding. Upon his return, it became clear to Stephen that many of these themes are highly relevant to his brother’s experience with disability and social services. He believes in the importance of promoting rights, dignity, and quality of life for people of all backgrounds, abilities, and communication styles.

Because of his experience, Stephen sees great opportunity in sibling education, and recognizes the valuable role siblings can play when they are invited to the conversation and have access to information and training. Stephen strives to think outside the box to support people to achieve fullness of life and equity, and he sees employment as a valuable tool to achieve this goal. Stephen lives in his home community of Spokane, WA, which he considers an underappreciated gem of the ever-beautiful Pacific Northwest.  There, he has worked in employment services, community access, therapeutic recreation, and in the development of a work study project with local universities involving Person-Centered Planning and support for students (14-21) in preparation for transition from high school. Stephen is passionate about  international collaboration, accessible higher education for nuerodiverse students, effective public policy, creative communication strategies, and culturally competent and/or bilingual services.

Charly Walters came to Wise with a passion for social equality, which she had developed with over a decade of experience in job coaching, job development, residential care, and volunteering with individuals with disabilities.  Having grown up in a rural environment, Charly was immersed in an inclusive community where labels such as disability were not something that separated or divided people from one another.  While attending college, Charly volunteered for Special Olympics as a coach.  There she saw, firsthand, the potential of a career in this field.  She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Washington.  Charly has spent the last six years working first as a job coach, then employment consultant for both King County and Spokane County.  In 2014, she was selected to manage Spokane County’s Mental Health Pilot Project where she provided embedded employment services to high school students learning to manage dual diagnoses.  Currently, Charly is working with Spokane County and Spokane businesses on the HireAbility Spokane initiative. She is striving to create a movement within the Spokane business community that will create typical employment experiences for all.  Charly is excited about and dedicated to the idea of promoting social equality through education, opportunity, and employment.