USOR Employee Spotlight
During the past century, vocational rehabilitation in Utah has benefited from the dedicated work of countless public servants. Here are some of the stories of the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation employees.
Merle Stevens
Merle Stevens has worked with Disability Determination Services (DDS) for five years. Merle began her career as a DDS claims examiner and now works as a specialist who helps train new examiners. Merle uses her high level of expertise, compassion and encouragement to develop staff, provide them with support and set-them up for success.
What brought you into the profession?
I love serving the public and came from an out-of-state public assistance agency. Joining DDS has given me the opportunity to continue to serve the public under a new mandate while continuing to provide help to the people who need it.
Bill Miller
Bill Miller is a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor in the Provo District Office. Bill has worked for the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR) for 8 years, primarily serving individuals who are blind or who have visual impairments. In his personal life, he is a husband and devoted father of six children.
What brought you into the profession?
I chose to go into VR because having a disability myself, I wanted to give something back and be able to help other individuals with disabilities find employment. I was born with retinoblastoma which is a form of eye cancer. It was officially diagnosed when I was two months old. There were not a lot of treatments for retinoblastoma in the late '60s. This was a very difficult time for my parents. My eyes were removed when I was three months old and I have had prosthetic eyes since that time.
Denise Tohsonii
Denise Tohsonii has worked for the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR) for 15 years in her role as an office specialist in our Blanding, Ut. office. Denise plays a critical role in supporting Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselors, clients and community partners by providing exceptional customer service, help with service coordination and clerical assistance. Denise deeply cares for those she works with and her genuine level of care is apparent by the way she interacts with anyone who comes into a USOR office.
What brought you into the profession?
I had been a stay-at-home mom for years running my own daycare out of my home. When my youngest started school. I thought it was time to re-enter the workforce. I knew how to type and do clerical tasks, so I applied for the office specialist position in 2005 with USOR. I thought it was just a job to get me by, however, it became much more than that.
Kenna Arcury
Kenna Arcury has worked for the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR) for 21 years. She is currently a Benefits Specialist with the Utah Work Incentive Planning Services (UWIPS) and previously ran the Business Enterprise Program with the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DSBVI). Kenna really cares about her clients and goes the extra mile with her clients to make sure they get the information they need to make the right choice for themselves surrounding their benefits and employment.
What brought you to the profession?
Luck? Fate? My pathway to VR was a little different than most. After years of working in various types of business management and being the Director of a targeted marketing program designed to help people with disabilities run their own small business operations, I decided it was time for a change. I had never considered working in Government, but by chance came across a job opening for the Coordinator for the Business Enterprise Program through DSBVI.
Albert Farley
Albert Farley has been a USOR Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for more than 18 years and currently works in the Salt Lake District Office. Albert enjoys working with all of his clients and has helped many individuals with disabilities achieve and maintain gainful employment. He works well with individuals with criminal backgrounds, and he has formed strong relationships with the Utah State Department of Corrections and the Salt Lake County Jail in assisting those individuals with support in regards to their careers.
Albert also provides exceptional outreach to Utah’s Native American people with disabilities, providing assistance with advocacy and employment. One example of Albert’s dedication and commitment to serving his clients was showcased during the COVID-19 pandemic when Albert organized several food drives, including gathering essential resources, and transported the donated items to reservations in the Mountain West. More...