The growth and expansion of Toward Maximum Independence (TMI) services has driven the need to separate TMI’s Director of Employment Solutions position into two Director positions to serve our clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With growth throughout San Diego, Riverside and Imperial Counties, TMI will now have a Director of Integrated Work and a Director of Supported Employment to oversee our Employment Solutions program.
(Jill Prieboy and Marcus Byrd)
TMI has grown and expanded to meet the community need for unique services such as Tailored Day Services (TDS) and the Paid Internship Program (PIP), while still offering Integrated Work, a variety of Supported Employment services, Family Support and Community Living Services. TDS allows our clients to choose and customize day services to meet their individual interests. Our PIP programs is designed to encourage competitive integrated employment for the individuals we serve.
Jill Prieboy was promoted from Associate Director of Integrated Work to Director of Integrated Work. With TMI for nearly five years, Jill was previously working at the Temecula Valley School District transition program as a Job Coach for young adults with developmental disabilities. She was first interested in working with individuals with developmental disabilities because she has family members with special needs.
(Jill with her husband, Ed)
Jill has been married to her husband, Ed, for almost 28 years. They have four children; Eddie, Sara, Brian and Matthew. They enjoy spending time at their second home in Big Bear Lake. Jill loves to hike, paddle board and be out in nature in the mountains or at the beach. As a hobby, she refinishes antique furniture. Jill’s youngest son, Matthew, has a learning disability and even though it takes him “four times as long to complete assignments” (in his own words), he never gives up! He will be a senior in high school and he aspires to be an engineer or a scientist. He has told Jill many times that he wants to find the cure for cancer. She believes one day he will!
(Jill with her children Eddie, Matthew, Sara, and Brian)
“TMI is a wonderful company to work for,” said Jill. “It is a team effort here at TMI. We are always looking for ways to better the lives of the people we serve. TMI is one of a kind! Our clients have multiple challenges every day. We can be there for them and help show them the way! Everyone is different, so we have to approach each of our clients in different ways so that we can help them to achieve whatever it is they are striving for.”
Jill hopes for the future that the individuals TMI is privileged to serve and all people with disabilities have the chance to have access to any and all services they require to help them achieve their individual goals.
“It’s very special,” added Jill. “To see the faces of my clients when they have accomplished something that they could not do before, and you see their pride and happiness. It’s just amazing!”
Words Jill lives by: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
Congratulations on a well-deserved promotion, Jill!
2017 Supported Employment Division Manager of the Year, Marcus Byrd, has been promoted to Director of Supported Employment. Marcus is extremely passionate about his work and it shows in the number of TMI clients he has helped to find not only employment, but to pursue their dreams.
(Marcus with his daughters Aasija and Nasiera at her graduation from UC Berkeley)
Before joining TMI in 2016, Marcus was a Case Manager with PATH San Diego supporting homeless individuals struggling to address problems that may have led to their homelessness (medical, mental health, substance abuse, and other related issues). He assisted them with getting connected with community resources that would help them to ultimately secure and maintain permanent housing.
“I was impressed with TMI’s mission and commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities to overcome obstacles to live healthy, happy and productive lives,” said Marcus. “My favorite part about TMI is its culture of caring, cooperation, and teamwork that every employee embraces. It’s a great place to work!”
Marcus expressed that the primary challenge faced in helping individuals with disabilities find employment is the lack of knowledge and insecurity many employers have about hiring a person with a disability. He takes pride in educating employers about how our clients can contribute to the success of their companies as hardworking, capable individuals who are committed to being the best employees they can be.
His hope for the future is that individuals with developmental disabilities are understood and embraced more by the general public and that they get to experience all that life has to offer in order to live their most fulfilling life. He believes the work that TMI does has a great deal to do with making this happen.
(Marcus and his wife, Ghinah, in Dubai)
Marcus is the proud father of four with a little girl on the way with his wife, Ghinah. In his free time he enjoys exercising, traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.
Words Marcus lives by: “However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. It matters that you just don’t give up!” - Stephen Hawking
Congratulations, Marcus! We know you will be an exceptional addition to TMI’s Executive Team!
Toward Maximum Independence (TMI) has been transforming the lives of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1981 and the deaf and hard of hearing since 2000. Like all of us, our clients are born with hopes, dreams and the drive to contribute to society. TMI strives to help our clients to realize their hopes and dreams by providing employment, community living and family support programs throughout San Diego, Riverside and Imperial Counties.