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MEET THE TEAM

Kelly Payne

CEO

Kelly earned her Associate of Science Degree in 1998, with a focus on commercial aviation. When she was 19 years old she obtained her private pilots license. In 2006 Kelly started working with foster children. During this time she realized her love and enjoyment in helping others succeed and lead fulfilling lives, which led her into working with the developmentally disabled community.

Kelly started working with clients and local area Brokerages in 2008. She worked one-on-one with clients, supporting them in reaching their goals by getting out and exploring their community, making new friends, finding paid integrated employment and overall developing their independence. Because the demand for qualified providers was so high, she decided to expand the business, and started Opportunities Unlimited, a state certified Medicaid Agency, in 2013.

Kelly enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, flying airplanes, ziplining, skydiving, gardening, traveling, trying new food, volunteering at local animal shelters and homeless shelters, and spending time with her two sons and dog, named Dexter.

Kelsey Rothwilson

Assistant Director

Kelsey began her career working in a group home where she discovered her hidden passion for providing direct supports and working with people to reach their goals. From there she moved to a day program, where her passion continued to grow. Kelsey found herself working as a case manager for the day program and eventually moved on to be a Personal Agent at two different service support brokerages. After 14 years in the field, Kelsey has grown in her position and is now working as the Assistant Director of the DSP Program at OU.

Kelsey spends her free time hanging out with her kids, camping, and hopes to one day raft down the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon.

Chris Vergnaud

Director of Supported Employment Services

Chris joined our OU team in 2022 and brought many years of experience and expertise in coaching, mentoring, and leadership. In September of 2022, Chris became the Director of Supported Employment and has continued to lead the SE team to new achievements.

He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Florida Gulf Coast University and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.

Chris has spent his entire career mentoring students, athletes, and adults on all levels ranging from high school to college. He is passionate about helping others reach and sustain their lifelong goals through guided mentoring and leadership.

In his spare time, Chris enjoys the outdoors, spending time on the water, and exploring new hidden gems in the Pacific Northwest. He loves to cook, travel, spend time with friends, and engage in all aspects of sports. In addition, he is a proud fur dad to his 1 1/2 year old, Boston Terrier mix, named Levi.

Peggy Horne

Team Lead/Direct Support Professional

Peggy is a retired foster mom and has a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness, a Master of Science in Health Education, and is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist.

After working in the corporate scene for a few years, she left to do what she loves, helping people. Peggy has worked as a Professional Coach and Holistic Health Practitioner since 2018 and loves helping people find their path to success.

She lives in Beaverton with her husband and youngest son and enjoys time with her other five children and grandchildren.

Her hobbies include traveling to naturally beautiful places, growing medicinal plants, and playing board games with friends and family. Her dream is to open a wellness center in a secluded area in Montana to help people find peace and wellbeing.

Megan Hamilton

Supported Employment Liaison

Megan is an experienced Vocational Professional and entrepreneur. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology from Portland State University and has been working in Supported Employment since 2015. Megan’s strengths include organizational coordination, advocacy and collaboration. She strongly believes in the dignity of work, lifelong learning, and the value of every individual’s best efforts.

While at home, Megan enjoys making magic in the kitchen, long walks with audiobooks, working puzzles and watching plants grow up close.

Spencer Payne

Technical Service

Spencer began work at Opportunities Unlimited in 2019 as an Office Assistant. He is motivated and always aims to outperform his previous best, constantly raising the standard for workplace etiquette and efficiency. He is currently preforming technical service for Opportunities Unlimited by maintaining and improving the technical infrastructure we are built upon. Spencer is also a student at Clark College, he will graduate with an Associates Degree in June of 2023.

In his free time, Spencer is a hard worker and is always looking for new ways to help others. He enjoys spending his time reading and educating himself on current social and economical phenomena. Spencer's hobbies include chemistry, psychology, digital art, and modern technology.

Gia Gilmour

Job Developer/ Employment Coach

Gia has worked for Opportunities Unlimited as a Community Support Specialist since 2015. She holds an Associate of Science Degree from Portland Community College, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education at Portland State University. She lives in Beaverton with her husband of 20 years. She has two daughters, two granddaughters, and two dogs. She also has a son who is a medical assistant, which he learned in the Navy.

Gia’s interests include photography, health education, movies, music, cooking, learning new skills/activities with customers, and exploring Portland and the surrounding areas.

Jasmine Gomez

Direct Support Professional

Jasmine has worked in the DD community for over 5 years in Corvallis! She has a passion for spending time outdoors and playing different sports. Additionally, through this passion she has volunteered as a coach for the Special Olympics. She has coached, softball, and volleyball for 4 years.

Some of her other interests include hiking, fishing, and concerts.

Virginia Quinn

Direct Support Professional

A native New Yorker with an Associates degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising, Virginia found herself with a desire to transition from a corporate setting to a humanitarian position through serving others.

As an Educational Assistant working in Life Skills enrichment programs in the public school systems, she had the opportunity to integrate her art background by implementing fun and creative art workshops.

Virginia's passion is to see others thrive, succeed and to motivate and inspire each other; she feels this is most essential in life.

She enjoys jewelry designing, painting, music, traveling, nature and spending time with friends and family.

Charlene Sanders

Direct Support Professional

Charlene has over 20 years experience in the care giving field.

She enjoys family time, bowling, dancing, singing and meeting new people.

Charlene enjoys working with and helping our clients reach their goals!

Brenda Williams

Direct Support Professional

Brenda began her career as a theater professional by night and professional home and office organizer by day. She branched out into event planning and has extensive experience in recreational and educational program implementation. She is passionate about teaching executive functioning and home organization.

She is also a mother of four children, with a wide range of interests and outdoor skills. She is a teaching artist and musical theater professional who loves to collaborate and creatively problem-solve with people to help them meet challenges and obtain their goals.

During her free time, she loves to hunt for cool antiques, hike, fish, feed birds, and garden.

Darlene Scott

Direct Support Professional

A dedicated and experienced support professional, Darlene provides individualized services to her customers, treating each with kindness, dignity, and respect. Her training in Ukeru aids customers who have endured trauma by teaching them vital coping skills and relaxation techniques. Darlene enjoys reading, hiking, puzzles, cooking, learning new things and going on adventures.

Melanie Williams

Job Developer/ Employment Coach

Melanie joined the team at Opportunities Unlimited in 2022.
After several years of working as a Business Development Executive she decided to make a change and follow her earlier career dreams of working as a coach helping others to achieve their own goals and support them in building a more fulfilling life through having successful work experiences. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in
Psychology from the University of Utah. She has enjoyed doing volunteer work with teens and single moms as a life skills coach over the years.
She loves social dancing, particularly Salsa, Bachata, West Coast Swing, and the Waltz.
Melanie loves road trips, hiking and soaking in hot springs.

Tonya Zwahlen

Job Developer/ Employment Coach

Tonya first began her career caring for foster children. After college she had a child care business where she cared for many disabled children. Years later she became a personal support worker.

She is fluent in American Sign Language and is learning French. Tonya spends a lot of her free time giving back to her community and nonprofits. She is currently volunteering for a group that helps disabled Veterans.

Tonya is a fourth generation Oregonian that loves the outdoors! She also enjoys cooking gourmet meals, class five rafting, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, traveling and cuddling with her sweet pup named London.

Jason Williams

Job Developer/ Employment Coach

Jason comes from a long family line of teachers/educators. Jason started their career working as an NA in assisted living and nursing homes where they loved spending one on one time with residents chatting about history and pouring over old photographs.

Later, Jason began work with Ben Franklin Transit as a Paratransit Operator, spending almost 20 years serving the mentally and physically disabled communities of the Tri-Cities.

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