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.
Jenn Kengis, Director
Jennifer Griffiths, President
Jennifer Griffiths received her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario. She received her Master’s in counselling from Canisius College, in Buffalo, New York. She began working in the field of rehabilitation in 1995 and has over 25 years of work experience in the field of Vocational Rehabilitation, with a concentration on vocational assessment, work adjustment and career planning. She worked in many capacities in vocational rehabilitation; disability and case management; and as a Manager in Service Delivery and Work Transition, Psychometrist, Vocational Evaluator and Trainer. Ms. Griffiths is a Registered Rehabilitation Professional with the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada. She holds the following designations: RVP (Registered Vocational Professional), RRP (Registered Rehabilitation Professional), CVRP (Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional) and CCVE (Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator); and is a member in good standing with the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals. She is currently working as a Quality Control Manager, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant, Psychometrist, Forensic Vocational Evaluator, and Training and Recruiting Facilitator. Since 2015, Jennifer has been on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Society (CAVEWAS). She has participated in the Continuing Education Committee assisting with development, marketing and distribution of core competency coursework focused on Vocational Evaluation. In addition, she has been working in conjunction with professionals in the field of Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment to write and edit articles for the professional journal, Rehab Matters. Jennifer has spoken on behalf of CAVEWAS to both US and Canadian professionals on credentialing and training of Vocational Professionals. She sits on a review panel through the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals (CVRP) for Transferrable Skills Analysis (TSA) competency as well as Vocational Evaluations for the International Certified Vocational Evaluator (ICVE) credential. This past June, Jennifer was elected as the CAVEWAS President Elect and will serve as President starting in June of 2023. She has been designated an Expert Witness by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Kirstin Regan, Director
Laura Kovacs, Director
Lisa Timmons, Director
Lisa Timmons began her career in Vocational Rehabilitation and Assessment 21 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, Team Lead, Quality Lead of Rehabilitation and Training Program and most recently, Program Manager of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Her responsibilities include quality assurance of all PsychoVocational, Psychological, Vocational and Transferable Skills Analysis reports across Canada and direct supervision of staff completing Transferable Skills Analysis Assessments and Vocational Related assessments. Lisa also continues to conduct Vocational Assessments, Psychological and PsychoVocational Assessments under the supervision of a psychologist. Additionally, she works as a consultant completing med-legal vocational assessments. 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.
Lisa has a General Bachelor of Arts degree as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology through Lakehead University. She holds the Registered Rehabilitation Professional (R.R.P.), Certified Vocational of Rehabilitation Professional (C.V.R.P.), Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator (C.C.V.E.), International Certified Vocational Evaluator (I.C.V.E.), and Return to Work Disability Manager (R.T.W.D.M.) and serves on the TSA pathway and ICVE/CCVE application review panels as well as serves on a number of committees within CAVEWAS.
Manel Djebrouni, Director
Manel Djebrouni is a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional (CVRP-TSA), Vocational Evaluator (CCVE/ICVE), and Return to Work Disability Manager (RTWDM). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies and has 4.5 years of experience in vocational rehabilitation, assisting injured workers undergoing periods of change through the provision of a diverse range of assessments, interventions, and service management. Manel is a professional member of VRA Canada and CAVEWAS. Currently, she is employed at Lifemark, while previously serving as a research associate at the University of Calgary, where she co-authored several publications in academic journals. Her research focuses on the intersection of science, technology, innovation (STI), governance, and occupational science.
Marg Smith, Past-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.
Melissa Bissonnette, Director
Melissa Bissonnette works full-time as a Director of Vocational Services as well as a Vocational Consultant and Psychometrist/Vocational Assessor. She has worked within Vocational Rehabilitation and Labour Market Re-Entry Services with the WSIB, WCB Alberta and WorkSafe BC, Private Rehabilitation Companies, Veterans Affairs Canada, 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.
Melissa 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 Certified Practitioner of MBTI, a Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP), Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator (CCVE), Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional (CVRP), is a long-standing member of 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).
Paul Holtby, Director
Paul Holtby works full-time as a Vocational Evaluator, with over 30 years experience in this capacity. Most of his work is with motor vehicle accident claimants, but he has vast experience with working with lawyers from various specialties, WSIB, Veterans Affairs, and LTD companies. He works as a consultant to various medical/vocational assessment and vocational rehabilitation organizations. Mr. Holtby supports and assists individuals in determining post-injury alternative occupations though use of vocational assessments, transfer of skills analysis, vocational counselling, and career exploration.
He has lengthy serving as a volunteer on the CAVEWAS board of Directors, as well as the VRA Canada board. He is a Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE), Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluation (CCVE), International Certified Vocational Evaluator (ICVE), Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP), Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional (CVRP), and Certified Valpar Operator CVO).
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.