English and Spanish
Corina is a recognized professional who has provided Employment and Supported Employment services since 2004. Her career started in Buenos Aires, where she taught for over 15 years as both an ESE teacher and college professor. Corina loves her career and is passionate about helping others succeed. Corina’s education degrees include a Bachelor of Education focusing on students with learning disabilities and early childhood education and a Bachelor of Psychology. She has also pursued teaching career for blind and Visually Impaired students.
The combination of Corina’s personality, education, marketing skills, tireless energy, dedication and professional experience has augmented her success in placing individuals with disabilities into long term positions. She has placed highly challenged individuals where others have failed.
As a Senior Employment Specialist, in June 2014, Corina’s outstanding record for providing quality services was recognized and honored by the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation. (“The Able Trust”). Corina has established successful relationships with numerous employers in a variety of fields.
Tanija is a highly successful business executive with specific experience in job placement. As the Executive Director and founder of JobWorx, she is dedicated to helping people with disabilities find meaningful, long-term employment so they may grow towards independence.
Over the years Tanija has been instrumental in creating opportunities for hundreds of people who have secured and retained employment. Tanija is also the founder and owner of AstraCare, a South Florida health care institution dedicated to the care of seniors and people with disabilities. Her expertise in personal growth, leadership, and coaching skills provides the solid foundation for a successful well-managed organization.
Tanija is a highly successful business executive with specific experience in job placement. As the Executive Director and founder of JobWorx, she is dedicated to helping people with disabilities find meaningful, long-term employment so they may grow towards independence.
Over the years Tanija has been instrumental in creating opportunities for hundreds of people who have secured and retained employment. Tanija is also the founder and owner of AstraCare, a South Florida health care institution dedicated to the care of seniors and people with disabilities. Her expertise in personal growth, leadership, and coaching skills provides the solid foundation for a successful well-managed organization.
Craig is an Employment Specialist professional that holds a Master of Science in Higher Education in combination with a Life Coach Certification. He has extensive experience working in social services and diversity and inclusion communities. Craig joined the National Urban League, where he worked with DCF and APD partners advocating on behalf of economic disadvantaged, and individuals suffering from social injustices. While pursuing his degree in Psychology, Craig established a Sign Language group among his hearing-impaired peers which was the first inclusion program later adopted by St. Christopher School for the Deaf. He also started a volunteering initiative to raise funds to refurbish the school.
Craig has vast knowledge and experienced working with individuals with disabilities and believes that “we are all differently able in one way or another.” His unique skills transcends barriers and empowers clients to have a say in their own life. Craig’s ultimate goal is placing the right client in a job that gives them purpose, is a fit for both the company and client, and a life altering opportunity for the client.
Craig’s results-driven attitude, incredible communication skills, empathy, compassion and patience makes him masterful as a coach. His mission is to empower people to fulfill their career goals and live to their fullest potential.
English and Spanish
Virginia Infante earned her B.S. in Intellectual Disabilities with Varying Exceptionalities from Florida International University and her Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education with TESOL from the University of Miami. Virginia was also an ESE Teacher for Miami Dade County Public Schools for 7 years, where she then ventured off to become Owner and Director of DownTime Kids, Inc., a tutoring and extra-curricular activities program for individuals with special needs. It was there that the first meeting for the Down Syndrome Association of Miami was established.
Virginia worked for 3 years as an Inclusion Specialist and as the Director of Community Inclusion Initiatives for a non-profit organization, whose mission was to increase the community’s capacity to provide quality, inclusive programs to children with disabilities. Since then, Virginia has dedicated several years as an Employment Specialist with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), assisting young adults and adults with disabilities find and maintain meaningful employment. During this time, Virginia has established a very high success rate in job placements and job retention.
Her fondest memory and reason for entering this field, was when she was a teenager and sat dining at a Burger King with friends. She watched a young man with Down syndrome thoroughly wipe and clean the tables, pick up everyone’s trays, but most importantly greeted everyone with the most amazing smile, that made you feel special. That’s the moment she realized, she wanted more of that feeling. Still today, it’s the same feeling that drives her passion and compassion to help individuals find meaningful jobs.
As a seasoned professional with an entrepreneurial spirit, I bring unmatched drive and a profound passion for empowering individuals to succeed in their careers. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with people with disabilities, and I can genuinely say that I love what I do.
With 19 years of experience as a recruitment specialist, I am intensely participant-focused and target-driven. I have received several Outstanding Service Awards over the years which bear testimony to my dedication. What sets me apart is not only my extensive track record of accomplishments but also my unwavering commitment to inclusivity and making a positive impact.
I have enjoyed customizing job roles to fit the strengths and abilities of individuals, particularly those with disabilities. It is deeply fulfilling to witness individuals thrive in roles meticulously tailored to their skill sets, fostering not only their professional growth but also their personal well-being. My ability to understand each participant’s needs is at the heart of my success. It goes beyond surface-level interactions. I invest time in getting to know the aspirations, challenges, and unique circumstances of each participant. This deep understanding allows me to craft recruitment strategies that are not one-size-fits-all but rather finely tuned to match the specific requirements of both participants and candidates.
In essence, my career is a testament to the art of truly understanding each participant’s needs. It is not just what I do; it’s who I am, and I’m committed to continuing this journey of empowering people to succeed and thrive.
As a seasoned professional with an entrepreneurial spirit, I bring unmatched drive and a profound passion for empowering individuals to succeed in their careers. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with people with disabilities, and I can genuinely say that I love what I do.
With 19 years of experience as a recruitment specialist, I am intensely participant-focused and target-driven. I have received several Outstanding Service Awards over the years which bear testimony to my dedication. What sets me apart is not only my extensive track record of accomplishments but also my unwavering commitment to inclusivity and making a positive impact.
I have enjoyed customizing job roles to fit the strengths and abilities of individuals, particularly those with disabilities. It is deeply fulfilling to witness individuals thrive in roles meticulously tailored to their skill sets, fostering not only their professional growth but also their personal well-being. My ability to understand each participant’s needs is at the heart of my success. It goes beyond surface-level interactions. I invest time in getting to know the aspirations, challenges, and unique circumstances of each participant. This deep understanding allows me to craft recruitment strategies that are not one-size-fits-all but rather finely tuned to match the specific requirements of both participants and candidates.
In essence, my career is a testament to the art of truly understanding each participant’s needs. It is not just what I do; it’s who I am, and I’m committed to continuing this journey of empowering people to succeed and thrive.
English and Spanish
Laura was born and raised in New York City as a first-generation American to a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father. Due to her mother speaking primarily Spanish and her father speaking English, she developed a speech impediment and was unable to complete a full sentence until the age of 7. Now fully fluent in both English and Spanish, she turned a negative into a positive in which she developed a passion for helping people that would change the trajectory of her life. “We all have a voice, some of us just need a little more guidance on communicating that voice”.
After moving to Florida 8 years ago she earned a B.S in Biology and Human Sciences. She has six years of experience as a behavior care coordinator, in which she assists individuals with disabilities in living independently along with securing and maintaining employment. During the course of her experience, she assisted clients in becoming more independent through support, motivation, and mentoring. Her warm and upbeat attitude is infectious when it comes to giving individuals confidence in their future goals and plans. This same attitude and passion allows her to connect with individuals in a way that goes beyond the job, she helps people find not only their independence but their purpose in life.
English and Spanish
Laura was born and raised in New York City as a first-generation American to a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father. Due to her mother speaking primarily Spanish and her father speaking English, she developed a speech impediment and was unable to complete a full sentence until the age of 7. Now fully fluent in both English and Spanish, she turned a negative into a positive in which she developed a passion for helping people that would change the trajectory of her life. “We all have a voice, some of us just need a little more guidance on communicating that voice”.
After moving to Florida 8 years ago she earned a B.S in Biology and Human Sciences. She has six years of experience as a behavior care coordinator, in which she assists individuals with disabilities in living independently along with securing and maintaining employment. During the course of her experience, she assisted clients in becoming more independent through support, motivation, and mentoring. Her warm and upbeat attitude is infectious when it comes to giving individuals confidence in their future goals and plans. This same attitude and passion allows her to connect with individuals in a way that goes beyond the job, she helps people find not only their independence but their purpose in life.
Novella has spent the past twenty years as an Empowerment Coach, Corporate Trainer, and Workshop Leader. Novella enjoys training people with disabilities to find fulfilling jobs using her motivational skills and life-long experience. Novella served as the Executive Director of Healing Thru Arts 2007-2010 where she brought healing workshops to individuals in detention. She worked as an empowerment coach for Disney’s Central Shops, was part of the diversity team for the Mayor’s Office in Orlando and led programs for Landmark Education. She has led the End Violence Program which brought transformational education into the prison system. In her global commitment, she has led hands-on skill-building workshops in South Africa, collaborated to bring nutritional information to the underserved communities of Bolivia, and was a critical key in the building of a medical center in Roatan, Honduras.
At JobWorx, Novella provides the preplacement training (PPT). These classes are designed to prepare the participant in all the areas of finding employment. The class includes support with the submission of job applications, resume writing, and what to do before, during and after an interview. We go over interviewing techniques, employment-seeking skills, and requesting reasonable accommodations. We discuss discrimination and what to do if it happens. The participants learn the importance of cover letters and thank you notes. We also cover the most common questions that are asked in job interviews and help the participants craft their responses to highlight their individual strengths. We also strive to have dialogue on understanding conflict resolution in the workplace. We talk about working as a team and what that looks like. We discuss navigating public transportation and how to access community resources. We accomplish all this online, through lectures, interactive participation, and video presentations.
English/Spanish
Sharon Cruz. I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to my work as a psychology graduate from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Growing up in a family with a strong military background, where my father served actively in the Army for 20 years, instilled in me core values and a deep sense of responsibility. One of the most enduring lessons from my upbringing is the importance of work ethics; my father often emphasized the significance of taking pride in our work and consistently giving our best effort.
In my 20-year career in social services, I’ve navigated diverse challenges, progressing to Case Manager positions in various agencies, including DCF and DJJ. My work has involved assisting vulnerable populations, from traumatized children in foster care to individuals with disabilities.
This breadth of experience has uniquely equipped me for my current role as an Employment Specialist. My profound passion lies in understanding and assisting individuals with their unique needs. I firmly believe in the importance of empathy and active listening, recognizing that each person’s story is complex and deserving of respect. My overarching goal is to treat every individual with the same level of care and compassion that I would want for myself or a loved one. When I am at work, my dedication is unwavering—I strive to ensure that no one feels alone in their journey and that they have access to the support and resources they need to thrive.
English/Spanish
Sharon Cruz. I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to my work as a psychology graduate from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Growing up in a family with a strong military background, where my father served actively in the Army for 20 years, instilled in me core values and a deep sense of responsibility. One of the most enduring lessons from my upbringing is the importance of work ethics; my father often emphasized the significance of taking pride in our work and consistently giving our best effort.
In my 20-year career in social services, I’ve navigated diverse challenges, progressing to Case Manager positions in various agencies, including DCF and DJJ. My work has involved assisting vulnerable populations, from traumatized children in foster care to individuals with disabilities. This breadth of experience has uniquely equipped me for my current role as an Employment Specialist. My profound passion lies in understanding and assisting individuals with their unique needs. I firmly believe in the importance of empathy and active listening, recognizing that each person’s story is complex and deserving of respect. My overarching goal is to treat every individual with the same level of care and compassion that I would want for myself or a loved one. When I am at work, my dedication is unwavering—I strive to ensure that no one feels alone in their journey and that they have access to the support and resources they need to thrive. Novella has spent the past twenty years as an Empowerment Coach, Corporate Trainer, and Workshop Leader. Novella enjoys training people with disabilities to find fulfilling jobs using her motivational skills and life-long experience. Novella served as the Executive Director of Healing Thru Arts 2007-2010 where she brought healing workshops to individuals in detention. She worked as an empowerment coach for Disney’s Central Shops, was part of the diversity team for the Mayor’s Office in Orlando and led programs for Landmark Education. She has led the End Violence Program which brought transformational education into the prison system. In her global commitment, she has led hands-on skill-building workshops in South Africa, collaborated to bring nutritional information to the underserved communities of Bolivia, and was a critical key in the building of a medical center in Roatan, Honduras.
At JobWorx, Novella provides the preplacement training (PPT). These classes are designed to prepare the participant in all the areas of finding employment. The class includes support with the submission of job applications, resume writing, and what to do before, during and after an interview. We go over interviewing techniques, employment-seeking skills, and requesting reasonable accommodations. We discuss discrimination and what to do if it happens. The participants learn the importance of cover letters and thank you notes. We also cover the most common questions that are asked in job interviews and help the participants craft their responses to highlight their individual strengths. We also strive to have dialogue on understanding conflict resolution in the workplace. We talk about working as a team and what that looks like. We discuss navigating public transportation and how to access community resources. We accomplish all this online, through lectures, interactive participation, and video presentations.
