Renee Sluzalis Regional Director
Hi my name is Renee Sluzalis; I am the proud mother of three beautiful girls. I have a personal lifelong experience living with people with disabilities, as both my father and my oldest daughter both had/have disabilities. It is from those experiences that I derive my passion to help remove barriers and advance the rights/services for all people with disabilities.
The past 16 years of my career have been spent working for a Center for Independent Living. (CIL) I first began my CIL career in Williamsport, PA as an Independent Living Specialist. Through the years I advanced within the agency, ultimately becoming the CEO of Roads to Freedom Center for Independent Living of North Central PA.
After my divorce, I decided to relocate to a sunny, warm, state and was blessed to find a job opening here at the Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast. I am excited to be a part of this new CIL family and look forward to meeting and serving those individuals out there, who are looking to increase their independence. If you’re in our neighborhood, please stop by and visit our staff. We would welcome the opportunity to help you reach your personal goal of independence.
Hi my name is Renee Sluzalis; I am the proud mother of three beautiful girls. I have a personal lifelong experience living with people with disabilities, as both my father and my oldest daughter both had/have disabilities. It is from those experiences that I derive my passion to help remove barriers and advance the rights/services for all people with disabilities.
The past 16 years of my career have been spent working for a Center for Independent Living. (CIL) I first began my CIL career in Williamsport, PA as an Independent Living Specialist. Through the years I advanced within the agency, ultimately becoming the CEO of Roads to Freedom Center for Independent Living of North Central PA.
After my divorce, I decided to relocate to a sunny, warm, state and was blessed to find a job opening here at the Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast. I am excited to be a part of this new CIL family and look forward to meeting and serving those individuals out there, who are looking to increase their independence. If you’re in our neighborhood, please stop by and visit our staff. We would welcome the opportunity to help you reach your personal goal of independence.
Mike Dailey
Employment Specialist
Employment Specialist
Hi, my name is Michael Dailey. I am the Father of three children and a husband. Growing up with an older sister with autism has been a major influence for my passion for working with people with disabilities.
After I graduated from high School I became a full time student at Quinsigamund Community College. I continued to work part time as a respite provider for the Seven Hills Foundation and a fitness instructor at the YMCA.
My first Full time job was working with The Center of Hope Foundation. I worked there for 8 years as a job coach. I also coached and participated in unified Special Olympics through this organization. I then got my CDL and it didn’t take long for me to realize I was in the wrong line of work. I spent my next 3 years working for the Dudley school district with post-graduate students as a job coach in the classroom and onsite training.
After spending the majority of our lives in Massachusetts, my family and I decided we have had enough of the cold and it was time to relocate to Florida. So here I am, as of April 20th, 2016 I am delighted to be a part of the team at the Center of Independent Living Gulf Coast.
After I graduated from high School I became a full time student at Quinsigamund Community College. I continued to work part time as a respite provider for the Seven Hills Foundation and a fitness instructor at the YMCA.
My first Full time job was working with The Center of Hope Foundation. I worked there for 8 years as a job coach. I also coached and participated in unified Special Olympics through this organization. I then got my CDL and it didn’t take long for me to realize I was in the wrong line of work. I spent my next 3 years working for the Dudley school district with post-graduate students as a job coach in the classroom and onsite training.
After spending the majority of our lives in Massachusetts, my family and I decided we have had enough of the cold and it was time to relocate to Florida. So here I am, as of April 20th, 2016 I am delighted to be a part of the team at the Center of Independent Living Gulf Coast.
Jennifer Burr
Employment Consultant
Employment Consultant
Hi, my name is Jennifer Burr. I am a mother of two and a wife of 20+ years. One day in 1999 my family and I left to go on a two week road trip to visit family. About two hours into the trip we were in a car accident, which left my husband paralyzed (C5). I spent almost 6 months in the hospital with him while he learned new ways to take care of himself and how I could help him in preparation for our new life.
Fast-forward a couple years; I decided to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Psychology so I could help others in my community. While working on my bachelor’s degree I was required to complete 40 volunteer hours. I found the Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast (CILGC) and completed them all at the center. It was a very moving experience.
After graduation I continued to volunteer at CILGC, and within a couple of months they offered me a position as an Independent Living Specialist. I jumped the opportunity and loved every minute in that position, which I held for a year and a half. I am now the new Employment Consultant for the Center. My job is to help our consumers gain employment and become as independent as possible. I feel this position is going to be even more rewarding than the last, and I cannot wait to see how far we can take the consumers here at CILGC!
My motto: “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH HARD WORD AND DETERMINATION!”
Fast-forward a couple years; I decided to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Psychology so I could help others in my community. While working on my bachelor’s degree I was required to complete 40 volunteer hours. I found the Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast (CILGC) and completed them all at the center. It was a very moving experience.
After graduation I continued to volunteer at CILGC, and within a couple of months they offered me a position as an Independent Living Specialist. I jumped the opportunity and loved every minute in that position, which I held for a year and a half. I am now the new Employment Consultant for the Center. My job is to help our consumers gain employment and become as independent as possible. I feel this position is going to be even more rewarding than the last, and I cannot wait to see how far we can take the consumers here at CILGC!
My motto: “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH HARD WORD AND DETERMINATION!”
Harry Vasquez
IL Specialist/Outreach Coordinator
IL Specialist/Outreach Coordinator
Hello my name is Harry Vazquez, I am a proud husband and father to two amazing sons. I have experienced life in so many ways. I was involved in two severe Car accidents,one was in 2003 where I was almost ejected through the rear windshield of my truck but the seat belt saved my life. The second one was in 2008 which ended my career in aviation and placed me at bed rest for 7 years because I was unable to walk from the back injuries. During these 7 years, due to pain medication, I did not feel my Gaul bladder rupture and had developed a gangrenous infection in my abdomen and was rushed to the emergency room and underwent surgery for 8.5 hours. This in turn saved my life.
Although through these 7 years of unemployment and hardly any finances the only thing our family had was each other. During these seven years I was able to achieve an Associates in Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Supervision and Management from Florida Southwestern State college, which was known as Edison state College. These I would add on to my Airframe and Power Plant Degree from Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technologies located in Tulsa Oklahoma.
After hurricane Irma I had privilege to meet Renee at a shelter that my family and I were living in for a little over a month. When I was told that Hendry and Glades were two under served counties, I jumped at the opportunity. I volunteered my first 90 days and after this I earned my first official job in almost a decade. The first thing I was able to do was buy my sons a brand new pair of shoes.
If anything I can say is this, “although I am disabled, it doesn’t mean I am unable. I can do everything I set my mind to because I am more than just a label.” (HAV) This is something that I have begun to live by and I tell all of my consumers.
My motto is “I can’t only exist to prevent you from success.” (HAV)
Although through these 7 years of unemployment and hardly any finances the only thing our family had was each other. During these seven years I was able to achieve an Associates in Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Supervision and Management from Florida Southwestern State college, which was known as Edison state College. These I would add on to my Airframe and Power Plant Degree from Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technologies located in Tulsa Oklahoma.
After hurricane Irma I had privilege to meet Renee at a shelter that my family and I were living in for a little over a month. When I was told that Hendry and Glades were two under served counties, I jumped at the opportunity. I volunteered my first 90 days and after this I earned my first official job in almost a decade. The first thing I was able to do was buy my sons a brand new pair of shoes.
If anything I can say is this, “although I am disabled, it doesn’t mean I am unable. I can do everything I set my mind to because I am more than just a label.” (HAV) This is something that I have begun to live by and I tell all of my consumers.
My motto is “I can’t only exist to prevent you from success.” (HAV)
Laura Allard
Employment Specialist/Project SEARCH
Employment Specialist/Project SEARCH
Hello everyone! I have lived, worked and played here in southwest Florida for the past 23 years; originally from Redding, CT.
It is very important for me to make these communities healthy and safe places for families to thrive because it is where my 4 amazing children and also 2 precious grandchildren live. It is my passion and my privilege to serve youth and help them achieve their highest potential because their future is also our future.
I have worked for several of the big non-profits in this area such as the Children’s Network of SWFL staffing children for services such as therapeutic foster care, Goodwill Industries of SWFL running a mentoring program exposing youth to career exploration, Big Brothers Big Sisters matching Bigs and Littles, The Sky Family YMCA, raising funds and awareness for an amazing charity and most recently at Fort Myers Youth Academy helping youth in a DJJ residential facility transition back to the community with employment and educational supports.
I am excited to join the team at CIL Gulf Coast and seeing the interns achieve their dreams through confidence and skills learned through Project SEARCH!
It is very important for me to make these communities healthy and safe places for families to thrive because it is where my 4 amazing children and also 2 precious grandchildren live. It is my passion and my privilege to serve youth and help them achieve their highest potential because their future is also our future.
I have worked for several of the big non-profits in this area such as the Children’s Network of SWFL staffing children for services such as therapeutic foster care, Goodwill Industries of SWFL running a mentoring program exposing youth to career exploration, Big Brothers Big Sisters matching Bigs and Littles, The Sky Family YMCA, raising funds and awareness for an amazing charity and most recently at Fort Myers Youth Academy helping youth in a DJJ residential facility transition back to the community with employment and educational supports.
I am excited to join the team at CIL Gulf Coast and seeing the interns achieve their dreams through confidence and skills learned through Project SEARCH!
Tim Goodman
Employment Consultant
Employment Consultant
Hello, my name is Tim Goodman. I am an Employment Consultant with Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast.
I am a SWFL native, living most of my life in the Fort Myers area. I have 2 kids and have been married for 21 years. I have worked in the area of social services for approximately 20 years locally.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. I also ran Goodwill's High School-High Tech program for 12 years. I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I am thankful to be part of this wonderful Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast Team!
I am a SWFL native, living most of my life in the Fort Myers area. I have 2 kids and have been married for 21 years. I have worked in the area of social services for approximately 20 years locally.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. I also ran Goodwill's High School-High Tech program for 12 years. I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I am thankful to be part of this wonderful Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast Team!
Dorinda O'Dell
I & R Specialist and F.A.A.S.T. Coordinator
I & R Specialist and F.A.A.S.T. Coordinator
My name is Dorinda O’Dell, I have relocated from Michigan due to two prosthetic legs. God has blessed me with one child and one grandchild that still lives in Michigan. Past work experience includes working for the State of Michigan caring for people diagnosed as criminally insane. I attended school and currently hold a medical assistant license. Hobbies include: hunting, fishing, cooking, gardening and going out with great friends
Ken MacDonald
Independent Living/Access Coordinator
Independent Living/Access Coordinator
Hello. My name is Ken Macdonald. I was born in Boston and grew up in the city, but lived most of my life on the south shore. I recently relocated from a coastal Massachusetts town to Cape Coral to escape the cold and try Florida living. So far, I love it here! Not only has the tropical weather been great for my achy shoulders, but it’s also given me more opportunity to garden and grow my succulents, cacti, and palm trees.
I have been a wheelchair user since a 1982 spinal cord injury. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, I was hired as an Independent Living Specialist at the Boston Center for Independent Living. That was followed by a variety of roles working in the disability community, from starting my own accessible van rental company to Operations Manager at a National complex rehab vendor.
Prior to my SCI, I ran track, played baseball, football, and basketball. Of course, I’m a huge fan of Boston/New England sports teams. Since my injury, I’ve tried adaptive tennis, skiing-both snow and water, scuba diving, and played on a nationally-ranked Quad Rugby team for ten years. In 1997 I was honored to be selected to a developmental Team USA Quad Rugby squad that won gold medals in Australia and New Zealand.
I am thrilled to join the staff at the Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast. The IL movement has allowed me to live a full and productive life and I hope to share my personal and professional experiences with our consumers.
I have been a wheelchair user since a 1982 spinal cord injury. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, I was hired as an Independent Living Specialist at the Boston Center for Independent Living. That was followed by a variety of roles working in the disability community, from starting my own accessible van rental company to Operations Manager at a National complex rehab vendor.
Prior to my SCI, I ran track, played baseball, football, and basketball. Of course, I’m a huge fan of Boston/New England sports teams. Since my injury, I’ve tried adaptive tennis, skiing-both snow and water, scuba diving, and played on a nationally-ranked Quad Rugby team for ten years. In 1997 I was honored to be selected to a developmental Team USA Quad Rugby squad that won gold medals in Australia and New Zealand.
I am thrilled to join the staff at the Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast. The IL movement has allowed me to live a full and productive life and I hope to share my personal and professional experiences with our consumers.