Have you met UCP’s new Talent Acquisitions Lead, Katelyn Obregon? She recently replaced Kristin Heying, who had been with UCP since 2017.

Katelyn has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Linfield College, and began her career in talent acquisition soon after receiving her degree. Before starting at UCP, she did recruiting in the healthcare and engineering fields.

​Katelyn is from McMinnville, Oregon, and has lived in Portland since 2019. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting to the Oregon Coast, going to concerts, wine tasting, and traveling to new places.
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The next time you’re at the UCP Office, feel free to stop by Katelyn’s office to say hello!

Many of you know UCP's fantastic Finance Director, Esther Large, and her fearless sidekick, Janet Fromdahl.

On January 2, 2024, after 20+ and 10+ years (respectively), Esther and Janet are retiring.

We’d like to share some great “behind-the-scenes” news.

UCP applied for—and received—funds via the federal government’s Employee Retention Credit (ERC).

After we received the funds, we asked all of our departments to create a “wish list” of wants and needs.

Below are some of the items from those wishlists that we’ll be funding in the coming months:

• A contribution to the Bill Porter Memorial Fund, which supports UCP customers who have needs that aren’t supported by formal funding streams.
• Bonuses for all employees.
• A continued investment in UCP’s E.Q.U.A.L. Committee activities. (The E.Q.U.A.L. Committee’s mission is to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion practices within our organization and our broader communities.)
• Support of additional Family Support activities.
• Leadership coaching, team building, and strategic planning support for UCP Oregon’s Leadership Team.
• Funding for a gathering for all of UCP’s customers.
• Funding for a celebration with all of UCP’s employees.

We’d like to thank Esther Large (UCP’s Finance Director) and John Hancock (a long-term member of UCP’s Board of Directors), for their work related to the ERC funds!

​We’d also like to thank the entire UCP Board of Directors for their ongoing commitment to supporting UCP’s workforce and our delivery of quality services.

April is Autism Acceptance Month. ​In honor of this month, UCP Oregon would like to share a piece written by Andrew Haynes.

​Andrew is the Brokerage Administrative Assistant for UCP Connections, and is a person with Asperger’s. Andrew would like to thank Silas Bird (Operations Coordinator for UCP Connections) for assistance in creating this piece.

​By Andrew Haynes, Brokerage Administrative Assistant, with assistance from Silas Bird, Operations Coordinator

Autism Acceptance Month is a time to celebrate and embrace the unique qualities of individuals on the autism spectrum. It's no longer enough to simply raise awareness about autism; we must shift our focus towards acceptance and inclusion.
 
We must advocate for policies that prioritize inclusion, education, employment opportunities, healthcare access, and social support for autistic individuals.

We are excited to share UCP Oregon’s newest Annual Report, which covers the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

The theme of this report is “Change.” 
 
As our Executive Director, Ann Coffey, states in the report, “There has been so much change... But, through it all, the UCP community stood strong and resilient. We stood together. We sought new ways to complete our work. We found new ways to connect. We discovered new ways to find balance and purpose.”
 
A gigantic thank you to everyone who contributed, as a writer, photographer, and/or editor!

We are pleased to announce that Nicole Vivanco has been promoted to the position of Employment Services Director, which oversees UCP's Supported Employment Department.

Prior to this advancement, Nicole was acting as the Employment Services Manager. Nicole took on the Manager position during a very difficult time in the early months of the pandemic.

Thanks to Nicole’s dedication, the Employment Solutions team is thriving, with customers working across the Portland area. Nicole participated in agency-wide strategic planning and implementation. She also fostered productive collaboration with community partners such as mental health and developmental disabilities agencies, area Brokerages, Vocational Rehabilitation, Oregon Commission for the Blind, families, advocates, Board members, etc.

Nicole brings 9 years of experience in the field of supported employment.

Nicole says, “I am so happy to accept this new role within our department, and I am excited to continue to support our customers, employers, and the employment professionals at UCP to find success and meet their career goals.”

She adds, “I’d like to thank our community partners for their collaboration and support. Seeing a person shine—in a job that is a great match for them and their employer—is the biggest motivator for me. Supported employment is so powerful for everyone involved.”

Thank you, Nicole, for everything you’ve done and continue to do. We are excited to begin this new chapter with you.

​Join UCP Oregon in celebrating “Direct Support Professionals” Recognition Week! We’re celebrating all week long (September 11-17, 2022).
 
Currently, UCP employs 93 Direct Support Professionals—also known as DSP’s.
 
UCP’s Direct Support Professionals work one-on-one with our customers. They assist customers wherever needed—at home, on the job, and out in the community—ensuring that our customers have independent and fulfilling lives.
 
So, the next time you see a Direct Support Professional, make sure to tell them how awesome they are!