Job Skills Training & Employment Assistance

General-Right-Side

"We provide better prepared, better qualified candidates for our employers!"

Rick Wegmann, Executive Director, Miami Valley Works

Our Team - Dedicated People Make the Difference

The Miami Valley Works Team is a dedicated group of people with passion and a belief in the fundamental resiliency of people. Often we have to believe in our Members before they believe in themselves. Our Team works one-on-one with our Members helping them to overcome their obstacles to employment as well as monitoring their progress after they are employed.

rick wegmann

Rick Wegmann, Executive Director

M.B.A. Finance, Wright State Unversity; B.B.A. Finance/Quantitative Analysis, University of Cincinnati; Over 30 years in Business & Information Technolgy

The Executive Director is responsible for the oversight of the vision and mission, strategic direction, finances, and implementation of the Cincinnati Works model for the benefit of our Miami Valley region.  With a clear understanding of the big picture, Rick acts as a servant-leader for the entire team to ensure focus is placed on the program's vision and mission.

michelle feltz

Michelle Feltz, Program Supervisor

B.S., Rehabilitation Services, Wright State University; A.A., Liberal Arts, University of Cincinnati; Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist (CVE); Over 15 years in Human Services.

The Program Supervisor is responsible for the direct supervision of the Team and program operations. Michelle's enthusiastic attitude and exuberance provides a perfect professional role model for the Team as they work with our members to remove barriers and mentor them in returning to gainful employment and moving to self-sufficiency.  She is amazingly awesome!

dan owens

Dan Owens, Skills Training Facilitator

M.Ed., Harvard University Graduate School of Education; B.A., English, University of Massachuetts, Boston; Over 30 years experience education related activities

The Skills Training Facilitator develops, monitors, and adjusts curriculum materials and activities to ensure marketplace relevancy and successful preparation of Job Readiness Workshop participants. Dan recently moved to Dayton, OH from Seattle, WA.  The vast majority of his work life has been spent in the public sector.   Dan worked for 22 years for the WA State Department of Social and Health Services, the last several years in managerial positions.  He has also been an adjunct instructor in both community colleges and four year college in the states of Washington, New York and Massachusetts.  Dan feels that Miami Valley Works is a “perfect” fit for it allows him to use all his skills and experience to empower people in poverty and help them achieve self-sufficiency.

bristen wells

Bristen Wells, Senior Employment Coach

B.A., Psychology, Wittenberg University; B.A., Spanish, Wittenberg University; Over five years Case Management.

The Employment Coach provides support for Miami Valley Works Members in the processes of job readiness, job acquisition, and retention with the ultimate goal of promoting self-sufficiency. They proactively assist in problem solving with Members to manage plans to eliminate barriers to successful employment. Bristen comes from a diverse background of employment training and guidance services and is very excited to bring those skills to this population. Always motivated by the desire to help others better their lives, she is thrilled to be in a position that will allow her to fulfill her personal passion of seeing every citizen working and sustaining themselves.

vonciel english

Vonciel English, Employment and Advancement Coach

M.S., Human Resource Management, Indiana Wesleyan University; B.S., Business Administration, Central State University; Over 8 years of Human Resource experience.

The Employment and Advancement Coach identifies the members’ goals and assesses their skills, aptitude, and interests.  Specifically, the Advancement Coach will assist members who have been employed full-time for 12 months to set and obtain professional and personal goals.  Vonciel has over 17 years of professional work experience specializing in customer service, training and development, and recruitment. She has an innate gift of inspiring others and empowering them to reach their greatest potential. As a former facilitator and recruiter, Vonciel contributes HR expertise that inherently fits her role and the MVW team. Her cheerful personality and willingness to help everyone around her helps members to establish a lasting relationship that provides the support they need to achieve long-term goals.   In personal experiences, she overcame some of the same barriers that affect our members. Excited to join the Miami Valley Works team, she proclaimed “I want to be an example to our members, giving my testimony and showing them that no matter what you have been through in your life, you can be successful.”

Malcom Keith

Malcom Keith, Recruiter

Private Pilot VFR, IFR; PTA President, 4 years working with parents; Freshman Transition Coordinator; Young Life Christian Youth Mentor

The Recruiter increases enrollment in Miami Valley Works' (MVW) by developing and strengthening strategic relationships with community, faith-based, government, and community outreach organizations and individuals. The Recruiter also markets Miami Valley Works to current and potential Members and Community Organizations to cultivate relationships and increase the overall number of individuals that can move to self-sufficiency. Originally from Gary Indiana, Malcom relocated to the “Birthplace of Aviation” to pursue the dream of becoming a pilot. He then moved to California to attend Sierra Academy of Aeronautics a flight training school. He returned to Dayton to bring aviation into the lives of kids and became a volunteer with Dayton Public Schools as the PTA President and was hired as the Freshmen Transition Coordinator. In his work with the Dayton Public Schools, Malcom worked extensively with both high school teens and their parents. He truly understands the "two-generational" approach to break the generational poverty cycle.

jimmy mann

Pastor Jimmy Mann, Chaplain

Over 25 years providing spiritual guidance and support.

As the Chaplain, Pastor Jimmy Mann has over 25 years in ministerial relations and spiritual counseling. Jimmy assists those who seek his guidance by offering a safe, peaceful place to share fears as well as successes.

cheryl wood

Cheryl Wood, Administrative Assistant

B.A. Communications Management, University of Dayton;  Bachelor of Christian Education, Administration and Organization, International Apostolic University; A.S. Business Administration, Sinclair Community College;  Over 15 years of experience as Office Administrator/Coordinator

The Administrative Assistant provides administrative support to the MVW Team in day-to-day office management, confidently providing a friendly reception to build rapport and a working relationship with potential members, and working behind the scenes to prepare the Job Readiness Workshop. Cheryl’s production career spanning over 10 years in a Dayton faith-based TV show accentuates her role. It provides motivational and inspirational programming to build self-esteem and inform viewers of community resources.  Her support of self-sufficiency is guided by a vision for each member to have a positive professional image and be motivated to accomplish their very best.  She has worked in the Dayton Community understanding member needs and how to rise above the challenges of poverty.

chris hotz steward

Chris Hotz-Steward, Program Services Social Worker

M.S.W., LISW-S, University of Cincinnati

The Program Services Social Worker provides direct service to Miami Valley Works members. Chris facilitates workshop curriculum on topics such as Attitudes, Conflict Resolution, Change, Fear and Self-Empowerment. 1:1 consultation is also available to Miami Valley participants. Chris, a longtime resident of Dayton, is also an advocate of Mental Health Services.