Executive Management Team

Executive Director: Karen Jones

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Karen Jones has spent the past 20+ years at PVW (Pomona Valley Workshop) which began services for adults who have developmental disabilities in 1966 and now has several major areas of focus including vocational training, employment preparation, job placement and support, senior citizen specialties, community access and integration opportunities, specialized services to people with Autism and a Thrift Store. Karen serves as PVW’s Executive Director. Previous to PVW, Karen spent 9 years in retail management with Broadway Department Stores as Operations Manager and Manager of the Home Services Division. Karen holds a BA in Business Administration and an MBA with an emphasis in economic development. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of LaVerne where she teaches Service Learning. Karen has spent the past 10+ years as a CARF Surveyor and has served on a variety of committees and boards over the past 20 years, both within our field and outside our field. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Pomona.

Director of Administration: Mitch Gariador

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Mitch Gariador has worked for PVW for nine years as their Director of Administration. He received a BA degree from University of California, Riverside and is currently working on his Masters in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. Mitch started his management career at Security Pacific Bank then became a financial specialist with General Dynamics. In 1993, he began working in the nonprofit sector with the California Association for Bilingual Education as their Controller. Mitch spent a couple years as an independent consultant installing an Association database for other nonprofits prior to coming to work for PVW. Mitch has a diverse background in financial management with the past 15 years dedicated to the nonprofit industry. He enjoys bringing his business knowledge to support a well deserving human service organization such as PVW.

 Director of Human Resources: Kitty Dubois

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Kitty DuBois, Director of Human Resources, started her career with PVW in January 2008. Though she has never worked for an agency such as PVW, she did work with adults with disabilities in the hospitality industry.

Prior to working at PVW, Kitty worked as Director of Human Resources for the Embassy Suites Hotel in Covina and Arcadia. At each of the hotels, she worked with an enclave of adults with disabilities who did various important tasks around the properties. Since working at PVW, she has gained a considerable amount of knowledge of adults with disabilities.

Kitty’s human resources generalist experience grew after beginning her hotel career as a front desk clerk and working her way up to Director of Human Resources. She is responsible for PVW’s human resource activities including recruiting, hiring, training, safety, benefits administration, and compensation.

 Director of Work Services: Terri Perkins

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    Terri Perkins is PVW ‘s Director of Work Services.  Terri brings over 20 years of extensive experience in manufacturing and production with her most recent position being General Manager of a world class medical device manufacturer. While in  that position she worked with some of the largest medical companies in the world.  Terri’s successful leadership and direction for a 24/7 operation will serve to provide PVW with achieving the highest quality work production and customer services to PVW assembly and production customers. 

 As Director of Work Services, Terri’s responsibilities include administration of the production department and supported employment services at PVW.  Terri is anxious to implement her lean manufacturing principles where applicable with PVW’s production lines.   While Terri’s background has not been associated with adults with disabilities, since coming to PVW she quickly realized and acknowledged the dedication of the PVW staff and the joy of working with PVW’s disabled workforce as the reasons for the success that has been achieved.  She looks forward to becoming involved with the many aspects associated with this industry.

 Program Director: Lucy Yamas

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Lucy Yamas Cortez is Program Director for the rehabilitation department, Adult Development Center, and ‘Round About Senior Services program. Lucy has been serving the needs of people with developmental disabilities by providing a safe social and vocational environment, as well as advocating for their needs for over 14 years Lucy enjoys working with consumers in the work program to help transition into supported employment. Lucy works with the community to seek out new programs that can be offered to our consumers at PVW. Lucy acts as a liaison with Department of Rehabilitation, regional centers, and community care licensing. She also represents PVW at West End Selpa Workability Programs, school presentations, Parents Place, and to other organizations and advocacy agencies. She is actively involved as a support advisor for Kiwanis Division 15’s Inland Empire Aktion Club where she assists people with developmental disabilities to give back to the community through service projects. Each year, Lucy takes the IE Aktion Club to their Annual Aktion Club Convention where they are in-training to develop leadership skills. Lucy has always enjoyed enhancing the lives of people with developmental disabilities by participating/volunteering with outside activities in order to assist the individuals to gain natural supports in the community.

 Autism Specialist: Roneice Parchment

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Roneice joined as the Autism Specialist for PVW’s Anthesis Autism Services in August, 2007. She has been instrumental in the development to help pioneer these services and work with the individuals that will be served through Anthesis Autism Services. She is able to combine a wealth of experience and techniques to impact the quality of access for individuals requiring alternative methods to interpret their environments. As a Pomona, California natives she refers herself as a Pomona girl. Her primary education was through the Pomona Unified School District attending Lexington Elementary, Fremont Junior High School, and Garey High School. Influenced by her parent’s strongly established views of acquiring a higher education, coupled with numerous examples of dedication and quality teaching by phenomenal teachers in the Pomona Unified School District Roneice continued her education at Cal State University Fullerton where she was awarded her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Oddly her Criminal Justice background led her to the field of education. As Roneice became more familiar with the Juvenile Justice System it became more apparent that a high incidence of individuals incarcerated were learning disabled and this revelation changed her focus from rehabilitation to education. Roneice knew she would be more effective helping individuals realize their potential and assisting them through their barriers, rather than correcting the mistakes of their past. Currently Roneice is attending Azusa Pacific University where she is working on completing a Masters in Education. Her experience in the field of Autism is attributed to a combined nine years of public school and non public school teaching in the area of special education. Roneice is confident that working with individuals with disabilities is her calling and life’s work.

Leadership experience and qualifications include the following:
·2 years teaching reading remediation Jurupa Unified School District, Mira Loma Middle School
·5 years as a Special Day Class teacher Jurupa Unified School District, Mira Loma Middle School
·2 years Special Day Class (Autism) teacher Altus Academy, non public
·Recently elected to San Gabriel/Pomona Regional enter (SGPRC) Vendor Advisory Committee (VAC)
·Member of Autism Society of America (AAS)
·Riverside Bengal branch of the Orange County Jr. All American Football (OCJAAF) secretary and snack bar coordinator.
·Mother of six children with very distinct personalities and needs.