Board of Directors
CAVEWAS is governed by a board of directors, which is comprised of elected members from across Canada. As a separate society CAVEWAS has a dedicated seat on the National Board of VRA Canada.
Andrea Genereux, Member at large
Ms. Andrea Genereux is a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional (CVRP), a Certified Senior Disability Analyst & Diplomat (CSDA(D)), Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP), and Registered Vocational Professional (RVP). Andrea is certified in Vocational Aptitude assessment, and holds a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology, from the University of Windsor.She has worked in the field of injury/disability, with a particular focus on vocational rehabilitation, vocational evaluation and career determination, since 2000. Andrea is a verified expert witness and is currently employed as Vocational Team Leader for Lifemark Vocational Services.
Francois Paradis, Director
I am a certified vocational evaluator with over 14 years of experience in the field of vocational assessment. My experience includes providing vocational evaluation services for WSIB, HRSDC, Veteran’s Affairs, Ontario Works, legal firms and Auto/Health Insurers. I completed a Master's of Art in Guidance Counselling at Laval University in Quebec in 1995. I obtained a GATB administrator certification in 2002 and became a Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE) in 2006. I have been a member in good standing of the Canadian Association for Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Society (CAVEWAS) as well as VRA Canada since 2007 and have been on CAVEWAS’ board of Directors since 2012. I am also a Certified Valpar Operator since 2009 and have been working actively as a vocational evaluator in the Greater Toronto Area since 2002.
I have obtained a Vocational Professional Master’s certificate (MCVP) in 2013. I am also a certified expert in Vocational Assessments and Transferable Skills Analysis in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice as of 2015. I am also a Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator (CCVE) as of January 2016.
Jennifer Griffiths, Director
With over 20 years experience with a keen focus on career counselling, employability support, and vocational assessment, Jennifer has gained acute insight and expertise into assisting adults with disabilities in career transition. Jennifer has worked on projects concentrating on vocational assessment and employment potential in both Canada and International markets. With a focus is on current employment trends, employability requirements and technology skills for employment, Jennifer has successfully implemented comprehensive resource tools for key customers . Target areas include identifying alternate occupations and utilizing vocational characteristics to assist in determining disability status.
With a Master's degree in Counselling and several professional qualifications in the vocational assessment and rehabilitation field, Jennifer's focal point throughout her career has been assisting individuals with barriers successfully integrate into the workforce . This approach soundly highlights her core belief that work is healthy. Jennifer has demonstrated her skills as a coach, assessor, trainer and manager in her longstanding role in the vocational assessment field and is regularly sought out as a vocational expert by customers and peers. Jennifer has participated in professional development initiatives as well as been a volunteer member with various vocational rehabilitation professional associations.
Lisa Timmons, Secretary
Lisa Timmons began her career at March of Dimes Canada 17 years ago. Over the years she has engaged in various roles including Vocational Evaluator, Transferable Skills Analysis Assessor, Case Manager, Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, Program Coordinator and Team Lead for the Rehabilitation and Training Program. She recently became Quality Lead for Vocational Rehabilitation Services, responsible for review of all NeuroPsychoVocational, Neuropsychological, PsychoEducational, PsychoVocational, Psychological, Vocational and Transferable Skills Analysis reports across Canada for quality assurance purposes. Lisa also continues to conduct Vocational Assessments, Psychological and PsychoVocational Assessments under the supervision of a psychologist. Lisa has numerous years of experience working with a diverse client base as well as collaborative interaction with referral sources, professionals including occupational therapists, psychologists, and assessors. She also has direct supervisory experience within a growing department.
Lisa has a General Bachelor of Arts degree as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology through Lakehead University. She is a CAVEWAS member in good standing, and holds the Registered Rehabilitation Professional (R.R.P.), Certified Vocational of Rehabilitation Professional (C.V.R.P.) and Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator (C.C.V.E.) designations.
Marg Smith, President
Marg Smith received her B. A. in Psychology from Mount Allison University, in Sackville, New Brunswick. She began working in the field of rehabilitation in 1985 and has over 33 years of work experience at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario. She worked in many capacities both in vocational rehabilitation; disability and case management; and as a Manager in Service Delivery and Work Transition. She is currently working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant, Psychometrist, Vocational Evaluator and Life Care Planner. Ms. Smith has extensive experience in rehabilitation and employment counselling, disability management, and has conducted vocational, psycho-vocational, psycho-educational assessments and life care planning assessments. Ms. Smith is a Registered Rehabilitation Professional with the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada and holds the RRP (Registered Rehabilitation Professional), CVRP (Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional) and CCVE (Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator) designations, and is a member in good standing with the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals.
Mary Virio, Treasurer
Mary Virio has acquired over 20 years’ experience in vocational rehabilitation working with a variety of providers such as insurance firms, the WSIB, and Veteran’s Affairs. She has worked as a Vocational Evaluator, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant, Work Transition Manager, Program Quality Manager, and Manager of Labour Market Information. She has interpreted and analyzed hundreds of psycho-vocational assessments. As a Program Quality Manager, she conducted audits on psycho-vocational assessments to ensure the reports were of high quality. Since 2018 she has been employed with Metrics Vocational Services as a Vocational Evaluator and has conducted over 200 vocational assessments. She has an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Certificates in Quality Management, Human Resources and Strategy & Risk Management. Ms. Virio has been a member of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada since 2007. She holds the RRP (Registered Rehabilitation Professional), CVRP (Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional) and RTWDM (Return to Work Disability Management) designations and is a member in good standing with the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professional.
Melissa Bissonnette, Director
Melissa Bissonnette works full-time as a Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant as well as a Psychometrist/Vocational Assessor. Melissa Bissonnette has worked within Vocational Rehabilitation and Labour Market Re-Entry Services with the WSIB, Private Rehabilitation Companies, Veteran’s Affairs and major insurance companies since 2003. She has extensive experience in Vocational and Employment Counselling, Transferable Skills Analysis, Vocational Rehabilitation, Job Placement, and Employment Assistance Services.
Ms. Bissonnette holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, is certified with the Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP) through the University Centre for Research on Pain and Disability and has received training in return to work coordination and Vocational Principals, Theories and Techniques through Canadian Assessment, Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Society (CAVEWAS). She is a Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP), Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator (CCVE), Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional (CVRP), is a member in good standing with the Vocational Rehabilitation Association (VRA) and the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals (CVRP). She is also a professional member as well as sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Assessment Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Society (CAVEWAS).
Sean FitzGerald, Director
Sean has been working in the field of vocational rehabilitation for approximately 30 years and has actively been involved in our profession by serving on the board of directors of the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals , VRA Canada, IARP Canada and has also been a past president of CAVEWAS.
Tami Damini, Director
Tamara (Tami) Damini works full-time as a Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant (VRC) for Meridian Rehabilitation Consulting Inc., an interdisciplinary rehabilitation company in private practice. With a background in Social Work, her role as a Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant makes her a strong advocate for the clients’ unique needs while navigating the requirements of the funder. She in the only Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant within her company and enjoys collaborating with others in the VRC field.
As a Vocational Rehabilitation Ms. Damini supports and assists individuals in determining post-injury alternate occupations though use of vocational assessments, transfer of skills analysis, vocational counselling, and various services including work preparation programs, work simulation programs, career exploration and supported job search services. She is a Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP), Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional (CVRP), is a member in good standing with the Vocational Rehabilitation (VRA) and College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals (CVRP), and currently working towards her Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator (CCVE) designation. Ms. Damini is a member of the Canadian Assessment, Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Society (CAVEWAS) and has recently joined the Board of Directors.
Teri Pereira, Director
Teri has more than 20 years of experience as a Rehabilitation Consultant to auto insurers, disability insurers, and WSIB. She is a Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP) and a Registered Vocational Professional (RVP) with The Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada (VRAC), a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional (CVRP) and Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator - Fellow (CCVE-F) with the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals (CVRP) and a professional and Board member of the Canadian Assessment, Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Society (CAVEWAS) since 2013.