In This Section

• Overview
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Employment Opportunities
• Board & Staff Bios
• Feedback
• Contact Us

News and Events

• Our very own Lori Kotsonas, Director of Supported Employment Services, received an award from the Alameda County Developmental Disability Council for Outstanding Advocacy. EBI, WE ROCK!!!
• Linda Tywoniak was recognized as Best Employer for Children's Hospital Oakland for her involvement in establishing the Project SEARCH training program.
• TOGETHER WE CAN COALITION! State budget cuts threaten services that people with disabilities rely on. Learn how you can help! »
• We are now accepting applications for the next program of Project SEARCH at Oakland Children's Hospital beginning August 1, 2010. Apply Now!
• Mark your calendars! The second group of interns with Project SEARCH and the County of Alameda began February 16th. The next program begins January 2011.
• Project Search - A new program at Children’s Hospital offers adults with disabilities job training and hope.
• Independent Living Services Director Tamy Ratto receives honor for outstanding advocacy.

Board

	Jennifer Steneberg serves as President of the EBI Board. Jennifer is an attorney specializing in ADA litigation. Jennifer formerly served as legislative aid to Congressman George Miller. In this capacity, Jennifer acted as Congressman Miller's liaison to the developmental disability community and served on numerous boards and committees including Protection and Advocacy, Inc. and The Contra Costa County Developmental Disabilities Council.
	Keith Storey serves as Vice President to the EBI Board. Keith is a respected educator and researcher in the field of community employment for people with developmental disabilities. Keith is presently head of the Special Education Teachers Program at Touro University in Vallejo.
	Cathy Miles-Nielsen serves as Treasurer to the EBI Board. Cathy comes to the EBI Board with over 20 years experience in the field of services to people with developmental disabilities as a regional center case manager, a director of a community-based day program and as a transition specialist with San Francisco Unified School District.
	Gina Gourley serves as Secretary to the EBI Board. Gina is the parent of a son with a developmental disability and is a transition specialist helping kids with disabilities transition to adult services from the Pleasanton Unified School District. Gina is also on the Alameda Transition Task Force, a project of the Alameda County Developmental Disabilties Council.
	Denise Jacobson recently worked on the UC Berkeley Oral History Project on the Disability Movement, as well as working at Berkeley’s Center for Independent Living. Denise is also a writer publishing "A Question of David", the story about Denise's experiences as a mother with a disability, several years ago. Denise chairs the EBI Fundraising Committee.
	John Urmson brings his experience as an entrepreneur and small business owner to EBI. John was founder of TeloSense, a corporation that developed and manufactured technology to allow air monitoring for the highly toxic gases that are used in semiconductor manufacturing. John lives with his wife Birgit in the Piedmont Avenue area of Oakland and they have been working with the EBI fundraising committee to develop some high profile events. John is also the proud father of Carl who is supported to live in his own apartment in Berkeley by EBI’s Supported Living Service. Welcome John!
	Mary Smith formerly was the coordinator of Herrick Hospital’s Disabled Person’s Community Health Clinic in Berkeley. Presently Mary is a consultant with Breast Health Access for Women with Disabilities at the Herrick Campus of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.
	Karl Mueller receives employment services from EBI. Formerly Karl was a mentor to youth with disabilities participating in EBI’s Youth Empowerment Project.
	Wilma Austern received her PhD in Education at the University of Pittsburgh. Her professional experience includes working as an elementary school special education teacher, a language and arts supervisor, a principal and the director of special education for a school district near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she implemented full inclusion for students with disabilities in all of the districts programs. Presently, Wilma teaches courses primarily in the full inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education environment and she supervises student teachers in their field placements at Chapman University. Five years ago Wilma moved to California to be closer to her kids and to provide “grandmotherly support” to her two-year old granddaughter.
	Arnold Thackray is an historian, whose career has ranged widely in the Western world. Arnold hopes his own experience in founding a non-profit and growing it for 25 years will be helpful to the Board. When not in the air, he's usually in Menlo Park (his newer home) or Philadephia, Pa (his old base). Arnold enjoys reading and walking. His son Tim is an EBI consumer.

East Bay Innovations Management Team

Tom Heinz is both the Executive Director and an EBI Board member. Tom founded EBI in 1994. He has a Master's in Rehabilitation Administration from the University of San Francisco. Tom was the first Chairperson of the California Supported Living Network 1996-1998 and in 2005 won The Bill Rosenberg Memorial Award from Cal-TASH.

Lori Kotsonas took over as Director of Employment Services is 2002. In four years with EBI, Lori has almost doubled the number of people EBI supports to work in jobs in the community. In addition to Employment Services, Lori also coordinates EBI’s Employment Services Transition Project which assist high school students with disabilities to identify a career and helps them to find employment shortly after leaving school.

Tamy Ratto is Director of Independent Living Services. Tamy has been with EBI since it began providing Independent Living Services in 1997 when she was hired as the first Independent Living Skills Instructor. Tamy has a special expertise in assisting people to secure affordable housing and public benefits (SSI, SSDI, MediCal and MediCare).

Lynnel Wells-Pereira is Co-Director of Supported Living Services. Lynnel has been with EBI’s Supported Living Service since 2002. Lynnel’s expertise includes assisting people we serve to learn about building and maintaining healthy relationships.

Lisa Zinza is Co-Director of Supported Living Services. Lisa has been with EBI since 2003. Lisa’s expertise includes personal and home safety and disaster preparedness.