Recruit, Cultivate and Retain Spring Cohort

Heather Evans, Wise, Training & Technical Assistance Manager

Heather Evans is rooted in the intrinsic worth of all humans, and has had the joy and privilege of working for people with I/DD and their communities for over 20 years. She joins Wise with extensive experience in Supported Employment, from developing new SE Programs, Customized Employment, and leading teams to Legislative Advocacy, certifying direct service providers as Mental Health First Aiders and managing Organizational Development. She has provided technical assistance to organizations around Systematic Instruction, Customized Job Development, Mentoring Leaders, Mental Health First Aid, Person Centered Planning, Program Development, and several other best practices in Supported Employment. Heather is proud to have completed her Work Incentive Practitioner Credentialing Certificate from Cornell University and is excited to work with the BenefitU team.

She is especially passionate about the inherent right of people to have agency in their lives, and helping Supported Employment practitioners understand how centering the job seeker makes the work of Supported Employment so much more successful. As president elect for the Pacific Northwest Partners for Work Rotary club, she is also learning about how powerful Rotary is for Supported Employment!

When she is not working, you will most likely find her hanging with friends and family or with her hands in the dirt. She is a plant enthusiast and has an extensive indoor plant collection in addition to full front and back yard gardens. She grows plants for fun, medicine, and food. She is an avid backpacker, spending time in the woods and mountains. Lastly, she is very active in community mutual aid.

Jaimie Laitinen, Wise, Director of Training & TA



Jaimie Laitinen has spent the past 15 years working for Wise providing technical assistance and training to promote employment for all people with disabilities. During her time at Wise, she has enjoyed a wide range of roles and experiences in working toward getting people with disabilities into the workforce. In her current role at Wise, she specializes in contract and project management, working with employment service providers, schools and other agency partners in supporting individuals and their families in their journey to find the right job. She is also a trainer in the Wise Online Academy ACRE Series and has presented at national and local conferences on School to Work and Transition, Person Centered Planning, Organizational Culture and Development, as well as strategies on recruitment, training and retention of staff in this industry. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for National APSE as the Western Regional Delegate. Her passion for this field is nurtured by being part of a determined community which shares the belief that each person has value to contribute and that everyone can work.

Anne-Marie Lake, Wise, Training & TA Manager



Anne-Marie Lake came to the field of Supported Employment in 2012 with a varied background in fundraising, marketing/communications, vocal performance, teaching and direct support/management. Anne-Marie holds a B.A. in Interpersonal Communication from Seattle Pacific University and is a Certified Employment Specialist through Highline College. Working in one of Washington state’s top providers of customized, integrated employment and transition services, she learned job development and job coaching, positive behavior support and person-centered approaches. Working successively as an Employment Consultant, Program Manager, Recruiter and finally Training Manager, she gained in-depth knowledge of the systems and processes that contribute to agency-wide success in the field. Her passion lies in training and developing staff so they can achieve best outcomes, promoting the career opportunities this field offers and bringing different groups together to work on joint projects that benefit those we serve.



Anne-Marie joined the Wise staff in 2023, and is using her experiences in direct service, management, and training as part of the WOA 100 training team, in county Technical Assistance systems support, creating and managing learning content, and helping agencies of all sizes develop training programs that will enable their staff and managers to incorporate best practices into their daily efforts.

When not at work, you might find Anne-Marie hiking in the woods with her husband, doing science projects with her grandson, leading the church choir or coaxing flowers and veggies to grow big in small spaces.

Cesilee Coulson, Wise, Executive Director

Cesilee Coulson is the Executive Director of the Washington Initiative for Supported Employment; Wise. Cesilee uses her 28 years of experience with employment training and technical assistance to enhance government systems and community employment services. She specializes in the following consultation and training topics: Organizational Strategic Planning; Leadership Development; Executive Management Coaching; State Employment Systems Design; and Policies and Organizational practices related to employment services delivery to Individuals with Disabilities. 

Cesilee holds a master’s degree in Sports Psychology, a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Movement Sciences, an Executive Coaching certification from the Hudson Institute and a Somatic Coaching certification from the Strozzi Institute.

Cesilee was appointed in 2015 by the U. S. Secretary of Labor to the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, which was created in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and served as the Chair of the Sub-Committee on Capacity Building. She was a Subject Matter Expert with the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program through the US Department of Labor Office of Disability and Employment Policy and is currently serving as the Co-chair of the National TASH employment community of practice.

Wally Tablit, Relay Resources, Chief Disability Inclusion Officer