Cindy Thomas, Director

Cindy Thomas is the director of the ICI. She has extensive experience working with and for individuals with disabilities, providing employment services, training, and technical assistance. Additionally, she has worked with state agencies serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the vocational rehabilitation system, community rehabilitation providers, and the workforce development system. She has served as the principal investigator for multiple federal and state grants and contracts and has presented nationally on employment issues and community inclusion. Currently, she is working on initiatives in the areas of state-level systems change and provider capacity building and transformation.

Jill Eastman, Program Coordinator, Employment & Training

Jill Eastman has extensive experience in vocational rehabilitation and competitive integrated employment. In addition to her role as the program manager for the ICI's Employment Services team, Jill provides direct job development, career exploration, and vocational counseling support for individuals with disabilities. Within the Training team at ICI, Jill works collaboratively to create and deliver trainings for provider staff through Employment First Massachusetts. Jill has worked with service provider organizations locally, regionally, and nationally to provide the technical assistance necessary for organizations/staff to engage in research-based best practices in the field. In 2017, Jill earned the ACRE national certification and joined the Massachusetts APSE Board of Directors. Since 2022, Jill has served on the steering committee for the South Shore Collaborative on Employment.

Beth Wike, Training Associate

Beth Wike has 20 years of experience working in the field of disability services. With a background in recreation therapy, Beth held various roles, including direct service, program leadership, and adjunct instructor. At the ICI, Beth's professional focus is on capacity building. Beth develops and provides training and technical assistance on competitive integrated employment and community life engagement to disability service providers. Prior to joining the ICI, Beth was Director of Disability Services and coordinated the Island Disability Coalition, a community coalition that identified and addressed the needs of people with disabilities and their families through a coalitional approach that fosters shared responsibility and creative problem solving.

Brit Miles, Training Associate

Brit Miles has worked for over 18 years as a direct support professional placing and coaching individuals who once worked in segregated, sub-minimum wage environments into real community jobs, applying Employment First beliefs, customized employment strategies, and person-centered principles. Brit facilitates training in best practices of competitive integrated, employment for employment service providers, state agencies, and other stakeholders. Brit also provides technical assistance and writes curricula for ICI.

Kelly Wanzer, Training Associate

Kelly Wanzer is a Speech Language Pathologist with years of experience providing and overseeing therapeutic services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kelly is a creative problem solver with expertise in the areas of assistive technology, augmentative and alternative communication, curriculum development, and behavior management across the lifespan. Underpinning Kelly's professional experience is her continuous dedication to the belief that everyone deserves meaningful opportunities to contribute to their community. At the ICI, Kelly develops curricula, facilitates trainings, and provides technical assistance on various employment related initiatives geared toward enhancing inclusive practices for individuals with disabilities.