Our Team Members
The Board and Management of the center have raised the bar and have recruited the best in the field to serve consumers in Pinellas and Pasco counties. The Disability Achievement Center seeks dedication, determination and expertise from those who join its team. Each person has personal as well as professional experience with disability. Many are living examples and mentors to the centers consumers of what people with disabilities can achieve.
Jamie Liban
Independent Living Facilitator
Jamie Liban comes to DAC with 20 years of experience in disability rights advocacy at the local, state and federal levels. She is passionate about independent living, self-determination, community inclusion, and accessibility and has dedicated her career to advocating for the civil rights and full inclusion of people with disabilities.
Jamie possesses deep expertise in disability policy, organizational leadership, home and community-based services, coalition building, legislative advocacy and systems change. Before joining the DAC team, Jamie served as Executive Director of The Arc of Virginia, where she became a leading voice for shifting state policy from institutionalization to robust, community-based supports.
Vickie Penkuhn
Consumer Service Specialist
After retiring from my position as an ILF with DAC 10 months ago, I’m back. I was offered the opportunity to return as the Consumer Services Specialist and jumped at the chance of being part of this amazing organization again. I look forward to supporting our Consumers and Staff in this new adventure.
Julia Michalka
Program Services Coordinator
Julia returned to her old stomping grounds at DAC in the fall of 2016. Since then, she has been promoted to programs supervisor. She has worked in the disability field since 2003 serving in various roles: Ticket to Work manager for a local deaf service agency, coordinator and supervisor for a sister Center for Independent Living and as a facilitator at DAC. She is a mother of 5 children who are all grown and leading productive, independent lives. She is now a proud "Babi" of a beautiful grand-daughter.
Christine Sears
Receptionist / Administrative Assistant
Christine has spent her career as an advocate for people with disabilities in New York State. For over twenty years Christine was the Director of Development and Public Relations for The Arc of Madison Cortland working on capital campaigns, planned giving, grant writer, special events and state and federal government liaison.
