Meet the leaders shaping a culture of trust, accountability and high performance in service to the people we support.
CEO & Board Member
Tom hails from Phoenix, Arizona and serves as Pacific Opportunities’ CEO. He graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with a B.S. in Marine Engineering. After graduating, Tom was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps and served on both active duty and the reserves before honorably separating as a Captain. Aside from the Marines, he has held various corporate management and project management roles. Tom has lived and worked in many countries, most recently leaving a three-year assignment in Japan. Tom and his wife love their dogs, the outdoors, cooking and travel.
President
Jim was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from the Oregon Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Computer Systems Engineering. After graduating from OIT, Jim spent the majority of his career in various technology and operational roles in multiple industries including the nonprofit world. In these experiences he has held a number of executive management roles. In his spare time, Jim likes to read, cook, camp, fish and travel to see his three adult children and two grandchildren.
Executive Director
Having worked “on the ground” in supported employment services in the Portland area for more than a decade, Janet has placed and coached clients in every industry, mentored a generation of employment support professionals and helped countless hiring managers meet their firms’ objectives. She boasts a roster of long-term clients, a cadre of whom she has supported for many years continuously, and others who return to her for services when they wish to make a vocational change. Despite her lengthy tenure, Janet is no less animated today by helping clients to find meaningful, durable work than she was at the beginning, arriving to the field with many years of experience working in and managing restaurants. Holding a degree in Culinary Arts, Janet believes that a job can provide purpose along multiple dimensions, including a passion for service and she loves helping clients realize the various rewards in the work they have chosen. In her spare time, Janet enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends (and canine friends) throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Director of Client Services
Erik joined Pacific Opportunities in 2017 and has previously worked in various roles in healthcare, legal services, academia and manufacturing. He appreciates the diverse ways employees contribute to organizational excellence across many industries. His unbridled enthusiasm for nurturing everyone’s talents and aspirations informs his customized approach to consulting on job development and supports his mission to help companies achieve a high-performing, sustainable workforce. In his free time Erik enjoys marathon training with dogs, renovating old buildings and learning Greek.
Administrative Director
April received her B.A. in Theater from California State University Northridge and has worked in theater and comedy troupes, sung back-up in several popular L.A. bands and studied improv at the famous Groundlings Theater, all while holding down high-level administrative 9-5 jobs. She was the frontwoman for Portland blues band Sister Mercy for 10 years, and you can still find her singing around Portland while serving as our administration queen.
Client Services Manager
Christina has enjoyed a career working to better the lives of others. She focused on psychology and education during her Bachelor’s studies at Western Oregon University. Her experience includes working with at-risk youth in an inpatient program, providing therapeutic support and structure for teens. She got her start as an employment specialist in Wisconsin and quickly became skilled in many areas of the vocational rehabilitation field. Christina returned to her home state of Oregon in 2023 to work with Pacific Opportunities and continue her passion of helping others. In her free time, Christina enjoys adventures with her pup, reading and learning more about the world around her.
Client Services Manager
Erica is an Oregon native who grew up CODA to a deaf mother and stepfather, giving her in-depth life experience supporting adults with disabilities. She has worked in vocational rehabilitation services since 2016 and works with a wide variety of clients of varying needs, abilities and interests. Erica likes getting to know her clients and partnering with local businesses to find unique and personalized jobs. Outside of her career, she enjoys spending time with her family and German Shepard. She can be found snowboarding in the winter or paddleboarding, wakeboarding and camping in the summer.
Director of Human Resources
Heather Johnson is an HR leader and Certified High Performance Coach™ with a track record of building engaged, high-performing teams and driving organizational success through people-focused strategies. As HR Director at Pacific Opportunities, she oversees all aspects of human resources while fostering a compassionate culture that supports exceptional service to our clients. Heather partners with senior executives to align talent initiatives with business objectives. Her expertise includes talent development, employee engagement, cross-functional collaboration, performance management and creating environments of trust and accountability. A Certified High Performance Coach since 2018, Heather brings a unique blend of strategic HR acumen and coaching excellence to develop leaders, strengthen teams and cultivate workplaces where people thrive with purpose and resilience.
