Our Team

Taylor is the founder of Cascade Community Connections, a social service organization that provides businesses solutions for diversifying their workplace and hiring people of all abilities. Taylor moved to Port Townsend after working as a translator and teaching English in South America for four years. She holds a Bachelors’s of Science in Mathematics and Education. Taylor is an active board member of Olympic Neighbors and Community Inclusion for Everyone (CIE), providing residential solutions and helping organize community-based events for people with developmental disabilities. Taylor believes that community connections are vital for all folks, especially those with developmental disabilities, thus has worked diligently to create opportunities for people of all abilities to have a meaningful presence in our county.

Lani has been with Cascade Community Connections since December of 2019. Lani has worked with people with disabilities all through her career path, starting with becoming a caregiver in 2008, and working in various programs and positions, all in the Pacific Northwest. Lani’s focus as a Community Engagement Specialist and Job Coach has been accommodating independence and self-advocacy to encourage person centered goals and meaningful growth for each individual, working in tandem with their natural supports, and establishing new connections when there are few or none. Lani is doing her part to establish a better future for her community and country, so that her daughter will be able to grow up in a truly inclusive society, that honors the sacrifices and tenacity of those who are paving the way.

Barb has been a Community Engagement Specialist with Cascade since 2019. Barb has lived in the Port Townsend area for almost 40 years, working for 32 years at the Chimucum School District. Barb is currently a Library Assistant at Chimacum School District. Barb is a mother of two, foster parent of two, and a grandmother. Barb likes working for Cascade because she enjoys staying engaged and active with her community. Barb loves working with people with developmental disabilities because they like to dance like nobody’s watching! Barb spends her free time gardening, kayaking, and being outdoors. 

Liz is thrilled to be part of the Cascade Community Connections team of Community Engagement Specialists. Her Masters of Special Education and her high school teaching experience create a solid foundation for successful support of her customers. Liz’s background in corporate sales management and as an entrepreneur benefit her customers through creative planning, relationship building and inventive networking.

Before joining Cascade Community Connections, Marcia worked for Behavioral Health in Prevention Services, as a Behavior Health Specialist and Educator. Marcia had an early career as a Transition Service Specialist and Job Developer for Butte County Office of Education, in Northern CA, when the Americans with Disabilities Act was first signed. Marcia has always had a penchant for history and has written and published historic natured, photographic coffee table books.

Marcia is extremely passionate about the work she gets to do for Cascade Community Connections. Marcia is a mom to two sons. Marcia enjoys adventuring and exploring outside with her husband and dog. Exercise is important to Marcia and she stays active by swimming, cycling, and running. Marcia is fascinated and exhilarated by the moody weather that the
Pacific Northwest offers and carries a camera with her to capture images of nature and weather. When indoors, Marcia can often be found cooking and creating new recipes for family and friends to feast on. Marcia lives, walks, and breathes compassion for the world and all its inhabitants.

Curtis brings over thirty years as pastor of a congregation and in community involvement.  He also has a love for nature and the outdoors.  He moved to the area in 2000 and is eager to learn and share all the adventures that the PNW has to offer.  He has a BS in Agriculture from Berea College in Kentucky, a MDiv from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA and Doctoral classwork from Wesley Seminary in DC.  He looks forward to assisting clients with greater involvement and inclusion in the community.

Candra is a first-generation college graduate with a degree in English and a minor in Psychology from the University of New Mexico. With nearly 20 years of workforce experience in a broad range of industries and a background in K-12 education, Candra is adept at identifying teachable moments in everyday activities and is eager to apply her diverse skill set here at Cascade, supporting our clients as they define, pursue, and achieve their vocational goals. Candra sees her role here at Cascade Community Connections as a great opportunity to share her passion for people-centered work, community, and equity for all. She believes that everyone has a gift, and that sharing those gifts, whether through one’s work or their participation in the community, is a great way to derive purpose, and a fundamental human right.

Born and raised in Port Townsend, Rita is very happy to get the opportunity to work so closely with people in her community and contribute to this purpose-driven organization that is helping include everyone. Rita graduated from Port Townsend High School in 2018 and studied at Western Washington University for a few years before moving back to Port Townsend. During her free time she enjoys doing yoga, baking, being in nature, traveling and spending time with her dog, cat, friends and family! 

Gail has previously worked as a Supported Employment Coordinator and a Residential Program Administrator in Illinois, serving persons with developmental disabilities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Diversity Studies from Texas State University. It is important to Gail that everyone has equal access to employment andleisure opportunities, making life a fulfilling and fun journey. She enjoys helping individuals in supported employment discover and achieve their unique goals andactively engage within their workplaces and communities. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2021, Gail spends her free time exploring tide pools, walking/hiking, and taking photographs. She also loves to travel and discover new places.

Jan joined the Cascade team in February of 2023 as a Supported Employment Specialist. She earned her Bachelor Degree in Liberal Arts, with a concentration in Human Services. Jan has vast experience assisting people with community inclusion. She has previously served individuals dealing with behavioral health issues, severe mental illnesses, chronic homelessness, and addictions. She is anxious to apply her diverse skill set here at Cascade.

She is a Board-Certified Human Services Practitioner, master-level Reiki practitioner, and Certified Death Doula working with End of Life Washington. In her free time, Jan loves sailing, rockhounding, writing novels and screenplays, and producing films.