Sylvia Szara
Administrative Resource Coach
I work collaboratively with Alex, Joanne and Matt and together we are your trusty Resource Team! I can help our coaches with any financial needs, which can range from your day-to-day groceries, ordering supplies, helping with making fun activities our coaches and the people we support have planned happen, and helping the people we support with their finances (i.e. comfort funds). I started at CONNECT Hamilton as a Life Redesign Coach and can lend a helping hand whenever you need it. My favorite part of my job is getting to interact with wonderful humans daily.
Matt Hudak
Home Resource Coach
My role involves maintaining CONNECT Hamilton – inside and out! Being the home resource coach also gives me the flexibility to collaborate with the people we support, participate in activities, and help the people we support reach their goals. This fun approach provides meaningful activities by utilizing our Life Redesign Model to help individuals acquire skills and help build confidence through active engagement. My role serves all the people at CONNECT to make their daily lives easier, safer and more enjoyable.
Joanne Trigiani
Service Resource Coach
My role is part of the resource team including Sylvia, Alex and Matt. I provide all kinds of support for our Life Redesign Coaches, the people we support and the professional coaching team. My favorite part of my day is time spent getting to know the people we support.
Amber Span
Social Wellness Coach (Social Worker)
I work with the people we support and their families to navigate housing options, access financial support, and connect with vital resources in the community. I am also grateful to have the opportunity to encourage and support individuals in overcoming personal challenges and to be a part of the positive change in their lives.
Mark Fleming
Site Leader
My role is to support the team at Lake Country to deliver CONNECT’s Life Redesign Model, while ensuring CONNECT’s culture, service philosophy, vision and values are at the centre of everything we do. My main priority is to ensure that everyone – both living and working at CONNECT – has an amazing experience during their time here.
Chris Acton
Physical Coach (Physiotherapist)
I support the people living at CONNECT, their families and the Life Redesign Coaches to work towards their physical goals. I often work with people on their mobility, using their arm and hand, and physical leisure opportunities like swimming and biking. I use neuroplasticity as the basis of the rehab plan and can often be heard saying, ‘Practice makes permanent!’
Karin Schmidt
Independence Coach (Occupational Therapist)
My role includes assisting the people we support to achieve their independence goals. These can range from basic activities of daily living to more complex activities like volunteer work and community access. I am also responsible for requests for medical equipment like wheelchairs or scooters.
Samantha Sadler
Play Coach (Recreation Therapist)
My role consists of helping individuals achieve their goals through the use of recreation and leisure-based activities. This may include anything from going o a hike to achieve your physical goals or supporting your emotional well-being through art, and everything in between. This I accomplished using a variety of in-hour and community-based activities. My focus is to support everyone’s quality of life, whether that be by discovering new interests, engaging in pre-existing hobbies, or discovering new ways to enjoy old activities.
Ashley Watts
Health and Wellness Coach (nurse)
Together with Amanda, our role includes supporting the people living at CONNECT with all their health and wellness goals and ensuring they have access to medical interventions when required. As part of the interdisciplinary team, we work together to promote the holistic well-being of the people we support and their families.
Amanda van de Erenbeemt
Health and Wellness Coach (nurse)
Together with Ashley, our role includes supporting the people living at CONNECT with all their health and wellness goals and ensuring they have access to medical interventions when required. As part of the interdisciplinary team, we work together to promote the holistic well-being of the people we support and their families.
Rebecca Yoshida
Nutrition Coach (dietician)
I work to empower the people we support to make informed decisions around their dietary choices, based on their individualized nutrition needs. I provide nutrition education for specific medical conditions, prevent and treat malnutrition ad everything in between. Through collaboration with the people we support, I make tailored nutrition plans to help nourish their mind and body, helping them return to the activities they love.
Alissa Stead
Communications Coach (Speech Language Pathologist)
My role includes working with the people we support to help them reach their communication goals. I work collaboratively with the other coaches to support individuals’ participation in what matters most to them. Along with communication, I also support individuals and coaches with any concerns or goals related to swallowing.
Christy Smith
People Resource Coach
I am responsible for scheduling the Life Redesign Coaches into the houses, vacation and sick calls. I also do payroll and any HR needs. I have a Care Aide background so my favourite parts are when I get to assist and spend time with the people that live here.
Jen Tisado-Dela Cruz
Admin Coach
On behalf of CONNECT, I reconcile and post all Visa, debit and cash purchases, deposits and withdrawals. I am responsible for ordering supplies, managing electronic files, answering and directing phone calls during business hours. I provide administrative support to our CONNECT team, the people we support and their families, community partners and I pitch in with whatever it takes when it is reasonable to do so.
Kim Achter
Service Resource Coach
My role includes being a contact for Life Redesign Coaches at CONNECT. My role includes training and supporting Life Redesign Coaches so they can expect the unexpected with the people we support, their families and staff and make lives better every day. My main focus is assisting with problem solving and solution finding for day-to-day matters arising in the planning, implementation and delivery of life redesign.
Carly Moore
Service Resource Coach
My role includes training and supporting Life Redesign Coaches to maximize their abilities to make lives better every day, both in the building and in the community. My background is as a Therapist Assistant and the part of my job I enjoy most is to support Life Redesign Coaches and the people we support to build confidence and competence in goal-based interventions.
Ray Tims
Home Resource Coach
The main component of my role is to take care of the company’s assets across all locations in BC. That means I manage the maintenance and improvement projects for the building as well as coordinate specialized trades people to ensure our sites can continue to run smoothly. I am also the lead for the Safety Committee, providing fire and safety training at each location.