Shannon began working with Skill & Ability Education in early 2022 as a contingent job coach providing job development services, leading career exploration workshops, and supporting work readiness at various locations throughout the community.

Shannon received a BA in Psychology at the University of Michigan, where she was an active member of a student-run organization, Dance Marathon, which raised funds for children with disabilities. After college, she served with AmeriCorps as a crew leader overseeing adults with disabilities as they completed conservation projects throughout Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. During this time she also ran two After School programs for students in under-privileged communities. She later went on to work with children and teens with Autism in the Intermediate School District as support staff and crisis responder. In the evenings, she volunteered as a coach with Special Olympics Michigan. After moving back downstate during Covid, Shannon joined the team at Skill and Ability Education where she has found great enjoyment in pairing new knowledge of the field with skills learned from past experiences.

In her free time, Shannon enjoys seasonal activities such as hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, and snowboarding. You can also find her cozied up with a good book, cooking a new vegetarian recipe, or spending quality time with her pets.

"Because I can personally empathize with the challenges surrounding career choice, the opportunity to support others as they grapple with this decision has been incredibly fulfilling. My background in disability awareness coupled with my passion to help others find their own niche in life is the driving force behind why I do what I do. One thing is certain -- everybody has something special to contribute to the work force and to the world as a whole."