Our Staff and Board
Our Staff Team
Kimberly Meck, MRC, CRC, CDMS - Executive Director
Kimberly has been at the helm of the organization since 2014, bringing more than 25 years of experience in social services. She has a master’s in rehabilitation counseling and an undergrad degree in social work. Kimberly sits on the board of the Washington Statewide Independent Living Council.
Cassidy Thorne - Programs Director
Born and raised in Seattle, Cassidy is thrilled to be working alongside the disability community in her hometown. As a person with disabilities herself, she knows how important it is to ensure that people are aware of their choices and have the knowledge to make the decisions that are best for them and that align with their goals. She has a background in education and has worked at other Centers for Independent Living in Washington state and South Carolina.
Reagan Wheelock - Programs Director
Born and raised in Auburn, Reagan has a degree in history from Northwest University, which is where his passion for community change, legislative/individual advocacy and public service began. Reagan credits growing up with a family member who had a disability and having his own mental health journey as the sources of personal experience and an understanding of the importance of community resources and individualized support. His goal in work and life is to help people move forward by providing a compassionate, dedicated and personalized approach to support and service planning.
Philip Bradford - Independent Living Specialist
Philip focuses on addressing an individual’s unmet needs and specializes in helping other older adults. He shares a self-directed neurodivergent perspective living and working with a disability. For more than 20 years he has helped people with job searching and living independently.
Mandy Wes - Independent Living Specialist
Mandy, who has lived experience with various disabilities, received her Master of Arts in psychology from Antioch University in 2006. Mandy started working at Disability Empowerment Center in 2018. She has previously worked in various social services settings and briefly had her own private practice as a licensed therapist. Mandy attributes her emotional healing and wellness to the communities in which she is a part. She is passionate about walking with others on their healing journey, as well as modeling self-advocacy, mindfulness skills and adaptability.
Terry Jones - Independent Living Specialist
Terry has a long history of community service involving support and assistance for persons facing challenges of everyday life. As a Peer Support Specialist for Seattle Counseling Service, he linked unhoused persons with HIV or at risk for HIV with resources for medical and housing support. He has faced his own challenges with drug abuse and depression and credits organizations like Disability Empowerment Center for his own recovery. He offers an empathetic and compassionate approach to helping community members live their most productive and fulfilling lives.
Mariel Woodley - Outreach & Education Coordinator
Mariel is dedicated to assisting community members and connecting them with services for living their best lives. She became disabled as a young adult, then went back to college and earned a master's degree in social work. She knows how critical it is to have the appropriate tools for overcoming obstacles to become empowered and successful.
Cynthia Coffin - Program Coordinator
Cynthia is passionate about working in the disability community on systems level advocacy. Raised in Oklahoma, Cynthia has a master’s in social work from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. She has done advocacy work in Oklahoma and Colorado, including testifying for legislation that affected the disability community and interning at an independent living center in Denver. Cynthia enjoys hanging out with friends, going to the movies and getting involved in advocacy organizations that impact the disability community.
Lucy Bert - Executive Assistant
With a background in classical theatre, storytelling and the visual arts, Lucy seeks to make the arts accessible, sustainable and humane. Mental health and the arts often go hand-in-hand, and she hopes to destigmatize neurodivergence and help build a healthier, more inclusive arts and learning community in Seattle and beyond—particularly for young people and teens with disabilities.
Jennifer Romer - Independent Living Specialist
After more than 30 years in Ohio, Jennifer returned to her hometown in South Seattle. During her time away, she earned degrees in Medical Imaging and Training & Performance Improvement. Known for her nonstop energy—traveling, caring for family and volunteering—everything changed when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This shifted her focus to supporting others with disabilities. She now runs a health and wellness site for those with chronic illnesses and is excited to help people with disabilities live more independently.
Our Board of Directors
Steve Lewis, PhD
Steve is a past board chair and longtime supporter of the organization. He is married and has two grown daughters and one cat. Steve says his experience on the board has been positive and fulfilling—and has given him a chance to meet, work with and help a number of people with different abilities and disabilities.
Robert Blumenfeld
Robert was a staff member with Disability Empowerment Center for 25 years, during which he also served as Interim Director twice. He held roles as a job developer, office manager, program manager and Associate Director. Prior to Disability Empowerment Center, Robert worked in supported employment for a nonprofit whose focus was clients with intellectual and development disabilities.
Jessie Lorenz
Jessie Lorenz is an AI Product Manager at Microsoft. She has extensive experience in the disability rights movement, including as a former Executive Director for the Independent Living Resource Center in San Francisco. She has also worked at LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Mayor’s Office in San Francisco. She is an athlete and won a gold medal in goalball at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
Kunal Mehta
Kunal Mehta is a master's student in Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington. He also serves as a research assistant in UW's computer science department. With diverse experience in financial services, utilities and nonprofits in India, Kunal's most recent full-time position was at an emerging art museum, where he led accessibility and inclusion initiatives. Outside of work, Kunal enjoys exploring various coffee blends, reading non-fiction and keeping up with sports.
Skyler Sinclair
Skyler Sinclair is the director of engineering at ReFED, a nonprofit that fights climate change by reducing food waste. They’ve worked previously in voting rights promoting access to absentee ballots and in COVID activism fighting misinformation, and they see all of these issues as intersectional and related to disability advocacy. In their free time, Skyler loves to learn about their neighborhood, take their dog to the dog park, and (body depending) play saxophone in a brass band.
Vera Vetterli
Vera Vetterli is a master’s student in the Couple and Family Therapy program at Antioch University Seattle. She plans to become a therapist and to work with other transgender and queer individuals. Vera is passionate about advocating for change and helping people navigate a world which doesn’t support their needs. In her free time she enjoys reading, board games and spending time with her friends.