Meet the OTAC Team

Mary Anne Seaton

Executive Director until 6/30/2013

Mary Anne Seaton is the Executive Director of the Oregon Technical Assistance Corporation.  Mary Anne brings over 35 years of experience in developing, directing and implementing training programs that have helped to change how Oregon supports individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities and families. Her professional experiences have been greatly influenced by her son who has autism. Mary Anne joined OTAC’s staff in 1995. Prior to coming to OTAC, she was a very active advocate.

Besides having a fun and great work experience for the past 17 years at OTAC, Mary Anne likes to go to movies, read or listen to her favorite books and travel with her sons.

Bev Herrin

Executive Director effective 7/01/2013

Bev is working on the Core Curriculum for Service Coordinators & Personal Agents. She has worked with people with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities for over 35 years, having worked as a Direct Support employee, Group Home Manager, Director of Sheltered and Supported Employment programs, Case manager, Program manager at the County and State levels. She has provided technical assistance to other agencies and directed a Support Service Brokerage. Bev has extensive knowledge of the basic requirements a Personal Agent or Service Coordinator should possess. Bev is happily “retired” and loves following her passions.

Michelle Doiron

Michelle Doiron, currently the Financial Services Manager for OTAC, has worked in finance and accounting for over 20 years with large and mid-sized corporations, municipalities. She enjoys applying her skills in the nonprofit world.  She obtained a BA in Business Management from the University of Maine.  She enjoys spending her free time as a volunteer with a senior living facility and a homeless shelter.  Michelle also enjoys her time with family, good friends, better coffee, reading, movies, live musical events, exploring new and familiar venues, great historical architectural design, remodeling/design, and playing any game of cards (bridge, spades, scrabble) or board game.  She is always up for a new adventure!

Alan Lytle

Alan is the technology lead for OTAC. Alan has many years of experience providing direct supports, managing group homes, and providing quality assurance and training. At OTAC, Alan has a lead role the ISP Support Request system, the ISP Pipeline Newsletter, OTAC’s website, and web-based learning formats.

When not working with OTAC, Alan can be found conducting the orchestra for musical theatre productions around the Portland area.

Ali Barresi

Ali is a project specialist and joined OTAC with more than 10 years of experience in the field of developmental and learning disabilities providing direct support, coordinating programs and working as a behavior support specialist. Her experience includes implementing positive behavior support strategies for individuals in family homes, foster homes, provider organization supported programs and school settings, as well as designing training programs and assessment tools tailored to teach people who support individuals in various settings. Alison is a trained Personal Futures Planning facilitator, certified Oregon Intervention System (OIS) instructor, and represents OTAC as a member of the OIS Steering Committee. Ali holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern Alabama.

Ali has fun with her children who consume her every waking moment.

Blanca Cisneros

Blanca Cisneros has recently joined the OTAC team as the Accounting and Administrative Assistant. She holds a certificate in Accounting and is currently working on her Associates Degree. Blanca is bilingual in English and Spanish and loves to help people with translation. When not working at OTAC, she enjoys spending her time with her family, including preparing her daughter for preschool. On her free time she also enjoys doing make- overs and is a fashion fanatic.

 C.J. Webb

C.J. is a project specialist and provides trainings on the 24-hour Residential Individual Support Plan process and specific employment trainings to assist people with disabilities to be employed. She has been a facilitator of Personal Future Plans since 1996 and is a certified Person Centered Thinking trainer.

Prior to working at OTAC, she worked for a non-profit provider organization, coordinating employment services for people with intellectual and mental health disabilities. In addition to her experience, C.J. has a degree in psychology.  She loves working with people and has a strong belief that all people can be valuable workers, contributing to their local communities.

C.J. has traveled in Europe and South America as well as all of North America. She loves to hike, backpack, see a variety of live music and enjoys spending time with her friends, husband and cat. Other hobbies include a love for cooking, baking, gardening and skiing.

 Dan McCloy

Dan is part of the technology support team at OTAC, providing assistance with website administration, webinar presentations, and the development of E-learning modules. Dan has 10 years experience working with people with developmental disabilities in residential services, as a skills trainer, personal support worker, and community support professional in Oregon and California. He has a background in graphic art and video production, which he has utilized to create videos to promote awareness of issues concerning people with disabilities. Dan holds an Associate of Applied Arts in Graphic Design and Illustration.

Dan lives in Salem where he writes, produces, directs, and edits independent films.

 Debra McLean

Debra is a project specialist focusing on training and consulting to assist people find employment. She has been intrigued with community building and person centered planning as a way to see individuals with a variety of support needs, succeed in jobs that fit them since 1981. She has worked for the University of Oregon and Oregon Health Sciences University on a number of projects. She has taught classes on community employment and person centered planning at Portland State University, Highline Community College and throughout the U.S. and Australia. Debra holds a Masters Degree in Counseling.

Debra enjoys walking, music, and is known for her homemade pickling pursuits.

Emily Harris

Emily Harris is a project specialist and focuses her work on helping families understand how to work with their child using person centered and positive behavior support strategies. She is committed to the concept of inclusion and full participation. Emily has had the good fortune to be affiliated with people with disabilities throughout her life. Her perspective brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to working at OTAC. Emily values and advocates for people with disabilities. She knows that employment is critical to equity. In this endeavor Emily has worked with a number of community organizations focused on community outreach and inclusion. Emily graduated from Portland State University with a BS in English and Women Studies.

 Jennifer Allison

Jennifer is a project specialist working with families and professionals on positive behavior supports. Jennifer has worked and advocated for children and adults with developmental disabilities for the past 7 years in independent living, residential care, foster care, and school settings.  She has provided training to residential staff and families in the areas of positive behavior supports, teaching support strategies, and communication supports.  Jennifer has also worked as a certified medication aide with individuals with advanced medical needs, and teaching medication administration and basic health and care skills. Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of New Mexico.

Jennifer moved to Oregon in 2008 from New Mexico and currently lives in Portland where she enjoys movies, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

 Jennifer DiBello

Jennifer T. DiBello has been with OTAC since 1997. Jen is an administration assistant and a trainer for People Planning Together. She enjoys teaching participants how to make their lives better and richer. Jennifer also co-trains a class for professionals on facilitation of person centered plans.

Jen enjoys attending Star Trek conventions and collectable shows. She also enjoys shopping and spending time with her family but working is what she enjoys most.

 Jennifer Heidrick

Jennifer Heidrick has over 12 years of experience working in the field of developmental disabilities.  Jennie joined OTAC’s Community Supports and Crisis project as a behavior specialist in 2009. She provides training and technical assistance to families and provider organizations.  Jennie holds a BA in Social Science and is certified in Early Childhood Education and Rural Social Work.

Jennie’s  work includes teaching and mentoring specialists and direct support professionals in I/DD services and in the APD system to be trained in Positive Behavior Support.  Jennie’s responsibilities also include working with families to help them better understand proactive and effective approaches for their children. Jennie is a Personal Future’s Plan facilitator and an Oregon Intervention System instructor.

Jennie loves to create organization wherever she goes, and enjoys opportunities to utilize her creativity. She has a true passion for supporting families!

Jeremy Hambelton

Jeremy Hambelton brings 6 years experience to OTAC working in children’s residential programs. Prior to Jeremy becoming a Positive Behavior Support Specialist at OTAC, his work history included direct care, life skills trainer, and residential program manager. His passion to serve people with disabilities has helped to open many doors and opportunities for the persons he has supported as well as for himself. Jeremy  is a certified OIS instructor. In addition, one of Jeremy’s talents is his love for music and singing.

Joyce Stratton

Joyce joined OTAC as a project specialist with more than 30 years of experience in the field of special education, autism, and implementation of Positive Behavior Support in schools, homes, youth treatment, and Aging and People with Disabilities settings.  Joyce is a trainer and training facilitator for a variety of issues including autism spectrum disorder, positive behavior support, functional assessment, IDEA/504 processes, differentiated instruction, and the effects of poverty on children.  Joyce holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Oregon and a M.S. in Special Education from Western Oregon University.

For fun, Joyce raises and trains mules and enjoys being with her grandchildren.

 Sheri Stephen

Sheri Stephen is a project specialist and has been with OTAC since 2007. She is a trainer and consultant for technical assistance on Oregon’s Individual Support Planning system, as well she is a facilitator of person centered planning.

She is a certified Person Centered Thinking trainer through The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices. Sheri provides mentorship to people who experience disability to be a People Planning Together trainer to other advocates so that they can create their own plans and take a leadership role in planning their life.  Educating professionals and people who receive services together to create quality support systems is her passion.

Sheri lives in Albany and enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. She is a craftsperson at heart specializing in jewelry and quilting.

Stephanie Hunter

Stephanie Hunter is a behavior specialist for OTAC and brings over 12 years of experience in residential, vocational; foster/proctor care, and family home settings. Stephanie is a trainer, mentor, and facilitator for OTAC’s Behavior Mentorship Program with expertise in assisting participants to understand effective delivery of positive behavior supports that is a good contextual fit. She is a certified trainer of OIS and also a Personal Futures Planning facilitator.

Stephanie lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter. She enjoys doing volunteer work in public schools, traveling Oregon with her friends and family, studying religion, science, history, and social justice, and learning how to eat her vegetables.