Tom hails from Phoenix, Arizona and serves as Pacific Opportunities Executive Director and President.

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 lives with his wife in Portland. They love dogs, the outdoors, cooking, and travel.

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.

Erik joined Pacific Opportunities in 2017, and had 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 each individual’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 mid-2020, Erik and his wife moved to Albania, a geographic shift that had been in the works for a while, and one that unexpectedly took place amidst a worldwide pandemic. In his down time, Erik can be found snorkeling at dawn, trail running around Roman ruins and mid-century bunkers mid-morning, and after a ten-souvlaki lunch, trying to make street handball happen in the Balkans. Erik and his wife like nothing more than to spend a Sunday learning Shqip and getting involved with local humanitarian, agricultural, and animal rights organizations. Erik holds a Master of Public Administration degree and is, at the speed of Zen, realizing that maybe, perhaps, he doesn’t need to complete that PhD just yet.

April received her B.A. in theater from California State University Northridge and worked in theater and comedy troupes, sang back-up in several popular LA bands, and studied improv at the famous Groundlings Theater, all while holding down high-level administrative 9-5 jobs and singing in church. She is currently is the front woman for a Portland blues band, aside, of course, from being our administration queen.

Melissa joined our team the summer of 2023 as the first HR employee at Pacific Opportunities. She has a bachelor’s in business administration with an emphasis on human resources. Helping to keep information organized, compliance items on track, and payroll running - Melissa is in her element.

In her downtime, she enjoys walks with her dogs, dinners with friends, and adventures with her family.

If you’d like to join our team, or just have some questions about working with us, feel free to reach out to Melissa.

Christina has enjoyed a career thus far of working to better the lives of others. She has a bachelor’s focusing in psychology and education from Western Oregon University. Her experience includes working with at-risk youth in an inpatient program, providing therapeutic support and structure for teens. She spent a couple of years in Wisconsin where she got her start as an employment specialist 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 us 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 herWith early intervention as children and appropriate education, training, and supports as adults, all people with developmental disabilities can lead satisfying lives in their communities. The end result is a better, more normal life for people who have the same rights and responsibilities as anyone else.

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. They can be found snowboarding in the winter or paddleboarding, wakeboarding, and camping in the summer.

Rachael is the founding member of Pacific Opportunities, which she established in 2009, stemming from her desire to help people in need as well as the community at large. Since then, her once one-woman show has assisted hundreds of adults with employment barriers in the Portland Metro area. Rachael handed the reigns over to Tom in 2022.