Missy has been working in the field of developmental disabilities since 1997. After working in a group home and in Supported Living, Missy left Horizons to become a Support Coordinator. Following 8 years of case management, she returned to Horizons management. Currently, Missy is the Supported Employment Manager and supports six Employment Consultants who assist over 100 individuals who are trying to find and maintain jobs in the community. She is also the Quality & Development Manager and assists the agency with quality assurance issues and small fundraising activities. Missy has been certified by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to teach Introduction to Developmental Disabilities, Health and Safety and Zero Tolerance. She is a member of APSE (Association for Persons in Supported Employment), has been a United Way Loaned Executive, volunteers with Special Olympics and is active in the Fort Walton Beach Kiwanis Club. Missy is the staff sponsor for the newly formed Horizons Client Council. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Elon University in North Carolina and is originally from Virginia. She currently lives in the area with her husband and two children.
Supported Employment is a service that assists an individual with a disability to gain and maintain employment in the competitive workplace. Currently, Horizons employs 6 Employment Specialists who work with just over 100 service recipients. Together, they write resumes, complete applications, attend interviews, train on job skills, communicate with supervisors and secure transportation. Funding for this service can come through the Medicaid Waiver program with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation or the Social Security Ticket to Work program. Businesses in the community that employ some of our service recipients include: McDonald’s, WalMart, TJMaxx, Lowe’s, Publix, GCE, Pizza Hut, Okaloosa County Property Appraisers office, Destin Water Users, FishLipz, A to Z Lock and Safe, Wendy’s, Cap’t D’s, Red Lobster and many others.
