Steve is a professional with over 25 years experience in private and public sector employment related to rehabilitation counseling, writing, teaching, and workforce development. He has extensive experience in governmental relations and community development at the municipal and state level. 

He was President /CEO of a small corporation for twelve years that specialized in Workers Compensation and Long Term Disability case management and rehabilitation. In 1999  he closed this business due to a change in market forces. He then worked with The Alfond Youth Center  where he had been a board member of the Waterville Area YMCA and was involved with the formation of this organization. During that time he helped found a local Council for Unity chapter.   Steve returned to public service in January 2001 with the Maine Department of Labor. He has been involved at MDOL with the Lean Government Initiative called "Bend the Curve" that maps work process and reduces waste by identifying value added tasks. He has become a blogger at isigma.com where he writes about lean government and other related topics related to lean thinking in the public sector.

Steve has a great deal of interest in public service, workforce development, disability policy and the political process related to these areas. Steve is very busy with his regular professional activities and has found time to serve on the Waterville School Board , having been elected for a third term 2005-2008. He has served as a Waterville City Counselor (1994-1995)and is a candidate in November 2007 to serve a term January 2008-2011. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Kennebec Water District(1998-2001)

Steve has developed a website called Stephen's Thoughts and Things. which was created in June of 1997. This website reflects his personal philosophy about life, living and work.

Professional Education and Training

  • University of Maine at Augusta - Augusta, Maine - Liberal Arts, A.A. 1974-1977
    • University of Maine at Farmington - Farmington, Maine Rehabilitation-Psychology, B.A. 1978-1980
  • University of Wisconsin - Stout, Wisconsin - Certificate in Vocational Evaluation 1983
  • Thomas College - Waterville, Maine - Business Administration 1991
  • University of Maine - Orono, Maine - Public Administration - MPA 2002-2004

      • Other Continuing and Work Study Educational Experiences - Non Credit course work through employers includes: Brief Therapy, Conflict resolution, Reality Therapy, Family Systems Theory, prevention and intervention, Constructive Living, Managing Multiple Priorities, Myers Briggs Type Indicator Administration, Life Care Planning, Water Safety Instruction, CPR, Juvenile Justice, Work Capacity Evaluation, Engineering for the Disabled, Psychosocial Rehabilitation, Stress Management, Healing the Child Within, Helping Children Grow up Again, Professional Ethics, Strategic Planning, Managed Care, Community & Individual Catalyst Facilitation ( AMCAT), Organizational Development and Supervising Employees, Lean Thinking and Continious Improvement Facilitation.
      Prior to completing my college education I attended cook school in August of 1971 and then traveled and worked in the United States and Europe in various cooking roles including: A cook and teacher assistant at The American Community School in Sant Augusti, Mallorca Spain, A local Restaurant in Los Christianos Tenerife, Spain. LUMS in Lewiston,ME the Warehouse Tavern in Lewiston Me, Pizza Hut in Augusta, ME.

      Professional certifications/licenses

      • Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
      • Social Security Vocational Expert
      • MHRT IV Certification

    Employment History

    State of Maine, (January 2001 – Present)
    Department of Labor
    SHS 54, Augusta, Maine 04333-0054
    (207)624-5120

    Rehabilitation Counselor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, (January 2001 - January 2004 and July 2007 -Present)
    State of Maine, Department of Labor Augusta, Maine 04333-0073. Professional level rehabilitation counseling and case management. Work with individuals with disabilities to help them become employed by completing an individual comprehensive assessment, developing a vocational rehabilitation plan for each that provides necessary services including counseling and guidance, physical and mental restoration, training and necessary rehabilitation technology. Primary goal is to work towards an integrated employment outcome. Utilize email and internet for research. Use Orsis database for client tracking and record keeping. Manage caseload budget. Assign providers to complete various parts of rehab plan. Monitor progress of plans. Participate with case analysis. Serve on related committees to develop policy and programming for individuals with disabilities.

    Management Analyst/ Office Manager, Division of Administrative Hearings (July 2004 - July 2007)
    Transferred to this division to gain supervisory experience in state government. Supervise legal and administrative staff of 7. Provide office management, budget monitoring and overall facilities monitoring for agency division. Project Director of computer software (ProLaw) upgrade and migration of data from Sybase to SQL, and participated with OIP as the first division to move to the Enterprise Platform. Participant in the MDOL agency Lean Government initiative, trained as a Continuous Improvement Practitioner. Provided management analysis function to Chief Administrative Hearing Officer related to MDOL/Oracle database, ProLaw data base and other UI information services as needed. Scheduled hearings and provided assistance to parties regarding the hearing process. Performed other duties as assigned by the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer. Served as agency contact person for administrative communication with other departments and divisions.

    Management Analyst Office of Administrative Services (January 2004 - July 2004)
    Transferred to this position to gain financial and other administrative experience related to the pursuit of my Masters Degree in Public Administration. This position provided professional administrative services work involving the gathering and analyzing of data, summarizing of findings, preparation of reports and recommendations for changes. Work includes overseeing and monitoring the output from the internal cost accounting system. Work is performed under limited supervision with technical independence and is subject to occasional review for conformance to standard and state accounting principles. Supervision of administrative staff. Budget preparation and negotiation.

    The Alfond Youth Center (December 1999 - January 2001)
    126 North Street, Waterville, Maine 04901
    207 873-0684.

    Director of Youth Development and Volunteer CoordinationServed on YMCA Board of Directors for 10 years prior to hire. Participated in and initiated/supported merger discussion between Waterville Area YMCA and the Waterville Boys and Girls Club. New facility opened in October 1998. I was hired fulltime to organize volunteer services when my business closed in December of 1999. Part of senior management team. Directed youth development grant from Boys and Girls Club of America. Founder of Council for Unity. Coordinated college intern program. Completed systems analysis for volunteer program including data flow chart, creation of Access data base and facilitation of strategic plan for volunteer development.

    Employee Development Corporation of New England, (April 1986 – December 1999)
    180 Main St., Waterville, Maine 04901.

    President/CEO(April 1986 – December 1999), Managed day to day operations of company. Responsible for human resources, research, purchase and installation of computer information systems both hardware and software, marketing, facilities management and production. Oversight of secretarial pool of 3 and supervision of 5 masters level rehabilitation counselors. Negotiated all professional service agreements for legal, insurance benefits, workers compensation and maintenance. Company provided claims management and vocational rehabilitation services in Workers Compensation, LTD, STD, SSA, USDOL and related disability compensation industries. Primary customers included Workers Compensation Insurance Carriers, Social Security Administration, Federal Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation, attorneys and employers.
    NOTE: As president I also held a number interim consulting positions providing professional services as required by contract and/or other agreement. These positions are presented below.
    Management Consultant (July 1995 – December 1999) Providing professional services as required by contract. Primary customers include, governmental entities, employers and attorneys. Provide consulting and writing expertise including: case analysis, transferable skills analysis and labor market research to determine employability and work potential of individuals. Workers Compensation expertise. ADA Consulting, Complete training assessment and design program to meet needs. A contract is currently held with the Social Security Administration. Forensic expert consultation. Provide other consulting services and writing projects on per diem basis.
    Adjunct Instructor (September 1997 – December 1999), Kennebec Valley Technical College, 97 Western Avenue, Fairflield, Maine 04937 . Provided professional instruction in the Humanities Department teaching Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, and other related courses. Provide professional training in Residential Specialist certification as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician I for the KVTC Quality Center program. This program provides entry level training to become a Residential Care Specialists. Design curriculum and teach other courses as requested.
    Crisis Stabilization Worker (January 1997 - February 1998, interim capacity) Maine Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Substance Abuse Services, 30 Chase Ave.,Waterville, Maine 04901 - Provide mobile and phone crisis intervention to mental health consumers in Kennebec County during transition to privatization of service. Assess psychiatric crisis of individual and decide appropriate intervention in the least restrictive environment. Complete the universal intake mental health assessment for entry into respite, hospital or other appropriate environment. Document activities in daily log and client files. Attend staffing regarding individual crisis plans for consumers at risk. Approve Diversion Funds for hospitalization and drivers.
    Vocational Services Coordinator (PT 24hrs/wk, December 1995 - December 1996), Group Home Foundation, Inc. PO. Box 227, Belfast, Maine 04915 Supervise, manage and coordinate the vocational services department of Belfast Industries. Group Home Foundation is the parent organization for Belfast Industries a day activities/work and rehabilitation facility. Responsible for budget tracking, program planning and implementation. Served individuals diagnosed with mental retardation, mental illness and other disabilities providing work adjustment, work services and community integration services. Supervise a vocational services assistant and job placement consultant. Document daily activities. Staff a business advisory committee. Collaborate with manufacturing division coordinator to adapt and design work stations for disabled consumers.
    Syndicated Writer - (October 1991- December 1992), Allied Feature Syndicate, PO Drawer 48, Joplin MO – The Changing Workplace – a monthly column about managing individuals with disabilities in the workplace, how to accommodate under the ADA and related discussion.

    Waterville School Department-(October 1983 - June 1985)
    Gilman Street
    Waterville, Maine 04901.

    Vocational Evaluator - Completed psychometric and simulated work assessment of students with disabilities as part of a two-year federal grant. Researched available systems nationwide and recommended purchase of appropriate assessment tools. Wrote comprehensive evaluation reports for use in educational planning under P.L. 94-142. Attended PET meetings, consulted with parents, served on regional task force for Vocational Center. Coached a freshman basketball team.

    State of Maine(March 1982- October 1983)
    Department of Labor
    140 North Avenue
    Skowhegan, Maine 04976.

    Employment & Training Specialist - Managed a caseload of economically disadvantaged clients as part of JTPA DOL program. Completed employability analysis, vocational counseling, job placement, and OJT negotiation. Facilitated group training in values clarification, interpersonal skills, resume writing, and general self-development topics. Participated in team meetings to discuss overall program management and direction

    Hinckley Home School Farm(September 1980- March 1982)
    Hinckley, Maine 04944

    Work Activities Director - - Responsible for assignment and supervision of student jobs at this residential home for troubled youth. Facilitated house parent training in work habit development. Developed and planned recreational activities. Supervised two assistants and one secretary.
     
     

      Community Involvement


    • Published in Who's Who in the East (1989-2001)
    • Published in Who’s Who in America (2000-2005)
    • President of the Maine Chapter for the American Society for Public Administration 2004-2005
    • School Board Member, Waterville School Department, 2000-Present
    • Lector - St Josephs Maronite Church – 1978- Present
    • Elected to Kennebec Water District Board 97- 01, Vice President 97-00
    • Chair - Waterville Comprehensive Plan Development Committee/ plan ratified 9/1997
    • Former City Councilor - Ward 5, City of Waterville 94-95, Elected Chair Aug 95 - Dec 95
    • Past Member - Rotary International, Waterville - 1994 Chair Community Development Committee
    • Past President 1995 - National Rehabilitation Association Private Sector Division (NASPPR)
    • Past President 1996 - Maine Rehabilitation Association
    • Past Director - Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce - Chair Government Relations

        Presentations/Publications/Awards


      • Co-authored I Lost My Job, Now What Do I Do, published nationally by Southern Georgia Press in Athens, Georgia 1990.
      • Inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Maine, Orono 2004
      • Presentation at the National Rehabilitation Conference in Atlanta October 30, 1993 Titled: Legal Concerns of Rehabilitation Practice.
      • Presentation at the National Rehabilitation Conference in St. Louis Missouri October 20, 1994, Titled: The Future Opportunities in Rehabilitation.
      • Have spoken at various service clubs in Maine and been a presenter at the Annual Workers' Compensation Conference of topics related to rehabilitation and employability development.
      • Wrote a monthly column about disability employment and training issues called The Changing Workplace for 18 months for an electronic industry newspaper.
      • Invited as a participant to a National Forum of Private Rehabilitation Providers (July 1994 Washington DC) with The Social Security Administration and the National Academy of Social Insurance to discuss creative and innovative ideas to provide vocational rehabilitation services to SSI & SSDI recipients. Ticket to Work and other work incentives resulted.
      • Co-presented with Robert A. Pederson, M.Ed. of a workshop to rehabilitation professionals titled Motivational Counseling: Beyond the Basics of Change. June 10, 1995. sponsored by Veterans Administration CHEP program.