Introduction

Dawn Meyer has over 35 years’ experience working with people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, she has successfully changed many lives for the better while playing a vital role in the independent living movement. 

In addition to being active, hardworking, and whimsical, Dawn was raised on a dairy farm in Central Washington, which explains her exceptional work ethic filled with love, dedication, and discipline. Dawn enjoys spending time in nature, riding quads, traveling with her husband, dancing, and hosting parties in her free time. 

As a mother, she motivated and supported her daughter who received a bachelor's degree despite having hearing and vision impairments. Her daughter now lives independently with her husband and children. This act of love and building a foundation played a big part in what Dawn does today.   

After many years in the industry, Dawn took a leap of faith along with her business partner to leave the corporate world to spearhead a new and unique program, thus Triumph Community Services was born.   

Dawn's belief is that everyone, no matter their circumstances, can gain meaningful employment and live a life of independence and value.  

One of her many visions for Triumph is to flourish in a community in which no matter their walk of life, all can have profitable careers, participate in non-segregated education, and have successful and independent lives. 

Cathryn Maland imported from Portland Oregon to Spokane Washington at the age of five. 

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest with her eclectic mother and education-minded father resulted in giving her the passion and ability to become a strong, well-versed individual. Throughout her career and personal life, she has been involved in human services and the arts.

Cathryn began her career at an early age as a respite provider with DDA and working in a Special Education classroom at a local high school and has supported multiple individuals of all ages throughout their lives. She also volunteered to run a music program that put on larger scale productions for adults with developmental disabilities as well as numerous other volunteer and outreach programs for the houseless community. 

Cathryn entered the realm of Supported Employment through a large day services provider and quickly worked her way up to Executive Director. During her time with the company, she grew the program from around 75 clients to almost 600.   

In her spare time, Cathryn enjoys boating on the lake, taking care of her fur babies, road trips with her husband and friends, and creating beautiful paintings and charcoal sketches. She is also a mother to two amazing children who have also been involved in the arts, humanities and civil services.    

With the combined experience, knowledge and compassionate insight, Cathryn and her business partner took the leap to build their own version of services to support in working with at-risk youth and vulnerable populations, creating Triumph Community Services.    

Cassaundra hails from Spokane, Washington, where she spent her formative years. In 2012, she embarked on a new journey to Portland, Oregon, where she currently resides with her husband, partner, and two beloved cats. 

With an impressive career spanning over two decades in customer service, Cassaundra's passion for providing creative solutions extends seamlessly into her personal life. 

What sets her apart is her enduring commitment to community service, a value she cultivated from a young age through numerous volunteer opportunities during her youth. She takes immense pride in actively engaging with and contributing to her local community while integrating it into her work. 

During her leisure time, Cassaundra can be found exploring the beauty of natural landscapes, skillfully gathering and foraging herbs, whipping up new and fun recipes in her kitchen, or engrossed in her latest crochet or needlepoint project. 

Drawing from her early interests in the arts and crafting, Cassaundra developed a discerning eye for vivid visions and a unique perspective on the world. Her profound love for creativity led her to pursue an education in Art history, which she masterfully combines with her expertise in computers as she joins our team. 

From her own life experiences, she firmly believes that giving people a chance, regardless of societal expectations, is crucial for personal growth and success. She has come to understand that true contentment lies in embracing the uniqueness of individuals and fostering an environment of inclusivity and compassion. 

Hailing from Washington state, Chelsea's journey of achievements began when she received high school honors and a scholarship from Grandview High School in 2010. Continuing her quest for knowledge, she pursued a major in Psychology with a minor in sociology at Central Washington University, graduating in 2017. 

In 2020, Chelsea and her family embarked on a new chapter, settling in the Spokane area. Joining forces with Triumph Community Services, she embraces her role as a Data Analyst, Quality Assurance expert, and IT support. 

When not immersed in her professional pursuits, Chelsea finds joy in the company of her husband, children, and two adorable dogs. Exploring the wonders of the world is a passion that takes her traveling and basking in nature's beauty. Her creative ability and nearly two decades of photography experience have garnered her multiple awards in state competitions. In addition to her photography flair, she finds delight in working with computers and immersing herself in captivating reads. 

Beyond her personal interests, Chelsea's heart beats for making a positive impact in the lives of others. With a rich history of supporting people with disabilities through various avenues like connecting resources, Special Olympics, and in-home care, she is a firm believer in the adage "Disability does not mean inability." She champions the idea that everyone can pursue their dreams and lead life on their terms, viewing obstacles as mere speed bumps on the path to success. 

Driven by her passion for equality, Chelsea serves as an avid advocate for ensuring equal accessibility for all.

Kristian Stewart has over a decade of experience providing services to people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, helping over 100 individuals obtain employment and meet their employment goals.   

After years of providing substance use counseling and therapy, Kristian made the transition to career path services in the greater Central Washington area. During his time as a Counselor, Kristian saw firsthand how finding a job can improve one’s self esteem and efficacy, and learned that career counseling is a service that can benefit anyone from any circumstance and lived experience. 

It was while providing this work that he met Cathryn Maland and Dawn Meyer, and learned that they shared the same mission and values to person centered services. It is this commitment to vulnerable populations that made Kristian want to join Triumph and be a part of such pioneering work.   

Born in the Bay Area of California, Kristian fell in love with Eastern Washington upon moving to Spokane as a youth. Raised in a military family, he has lived in many areas of the country and definitely knew Eastern Washington is where he wanted to call home. He returned to the Inland Northwest to attend Washington State University and has lived in the great State of Washington ever since graduation. He is proud to call himself a Washingtonian.   

During his free time, Kristian enjoys the great outdoors, hiking and seeing all the great beauty that the Evergreen State provides. Kristian shares the Triumph belief that everyone, no matter what life circumstance, deserves to have their employment and education dreams recognized and, with the right support, can lead successful and independent lives.   

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Lloyd visited Spokane and instantly knew it was where he wanted to call home. For close to 20 years, he has devoted himself to working with disadvantaged individuals across a variety of settings. 

His journey began as an individual care provider and later led him to support living environments and employment services, all driven by his selfless dedication to the well-being and betterment of those he serves. 

During his leisure time, Lloyd immerses himself in a plethora of activities, from embarking on road trips to playing music, indulging in old movies, and building a collection of records. His enthusiasm for meeting new people and lending a helping hand knows no bounds. 

While finding immense joy in bolstering his clients' self-esteem and fostering pride within them, Lloyd remains steadfast in his commitment to person-centered services. Empowering individuals with choices and respecting their rights stand as crucial tenets of his approach, ensuring that his clients not only receive care but also retain agency over their lives. 

Josh's journey began by growing up in rural Hermiston, Oregon. In 2015 he decided to pursue his educational path that led him to Cheney, Washington by attending classes at EWU. It was there that he was influenced by his college roommate who was studying to be in social services. After tagging along to observe the process, his passion flared to life and decided to take his first steps into care giving.

In 2016, Josh embarked on his caregiving journey with Skil Skin before broadening his scope with roles at assisted living companies such as Aacres, SL Start, and Excel. A brief departure from this career path saw him dedicating seven months to security duties at AWS Data Centers. Upon returning to Spokane with his wife for the second time, they made the decision to settle back into the community. It was then that Triumph reached out with a job offer, an opportunity Josh seized with gratitude and fervor. His unwavering dedication to nurturing the growth of others is unmistakable, igniting his passion for the work he does.

Yet amidst his professional endeavors, Josh remains youthful at heart, finding solace and joy in gaming, particularly in the realms of Pokémon and Zelda. He even ventures into the competitive scene, participating in Pokémon TCG regional tournaments whenever the opportunity arises. Alongside his gaming pursuits, Josh is an ardent sports enthusiast, predominantly engaging in soccer while occasionally diversifying his play with flag football and frisbee golf. His involvement in soccer spans across multiple teams within the Spokane City Leagues, a testament to his love for the game.

But beyond his personal interests lies a deeper mission. Josh seeks to challenge societal perceptions of mental health struggles, particularly within the context of employment. He advocates for equal opportunities, believing fervently that everyone deserves a chance to not only sustain themselves but also to thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

 Jackie Gonzalez's journey began in Olympia, WA, where she completed her AA degree at South Puget Sound Community College in 2019. Eager for new horizons, she enrolled at Eastern Washington University. Here, she delved into criminal justice, complemented by minors in psychology, sociology, and Spanish, culminating in her graduation in 2021.

Her passion for social service ignited early on, blossoming into a career dedicated to aiding those in need. Starting as a dental assistant at SEAMAR Community Health Clinic in Olympia, she honed her skills in patient advocacy and community support. During summers, she devoted herself to the Family Support Center of South Sound, where she served as a Program Staff/Camp Counselor for Camp Hope America. This camp, tailored for victims of domestic violence, especially children and preteens, offered a haven for healing and empowerment through trauma-informed care.

Post-graduation, she interned with Mujeres In Action, aiding survivors of domestic and sexual violence within the Latinx community of the Spokane region. Her journey led her to Oregon, where she embraced a role as an early childhood education aide, supporting bilingual children from low-income families.

In her spare time, she revels in the company of her two Pitties, indulges in thrifting, and savors culinary adventures. A traveler at heart, Jackie also finds solace in dancing and nurturing her love for plants.

Driven by her experiences, Jackie returned to Spokane, now a pillar of support at Triumph. Leveraging her background in criminal justice, she offers guidance to youth and adults navigating the justice system, battling mental health disparities, and overcoming disabilities' stigmas. 

Her vision for change echoes Albert Einstein's wisdom: "Most people see what is and never see what can be; we don’t heal in isolation, we heal in community."

Marsha Stoeser, originally born in California but ended up migrating to Utah where she was raised until she was 13. It was then when she moved to Spokane and attended Central Valley High School. Now as an established resident, she has lived in the Valley for many years, during which she raised two sons.

She embarked on her professional journey by opening a daycare in her home. It was during this time that she met Cathryn, who joined her daycare at a very young age. Her daycare also welcomed her nephew, who had Cerebral Palsy, was non-verbal, and used a wheelchair. His presence was a joyful addition, and it provided the other children their first experience interacting with someone with disabilities. She guided them in understanding how to engage with him, showing them how to include him in their activities and make him laugh. This experience ignited her passion for special education.

Subsequently, she began working in the Central Valley School District as a Teaching Assistant for ECEAP, before transitioning to a Special Education classroom. Later, she moved to Seattle, where she served as a nanny for a family with a child requiring special care, with whom she still maintains a close relationship. Outside of work, she is an avid movie enthusiast, enjoys various crafts, and loves playing all sorts of games.

Returning to Spokane brought her back to Cathryn, in which she joined her in Community Inclusion work, a role she found deeply fulfilling. Currently, she is proud to be part of the team at Triumph, embracing new challenges and opportunities for growth.

She is excited to contribute to the growth of Triumph Community Services and to help raise awareness and support for the abilities and accomplishments of individuals with disabilities through their services.

Cheri Palmer has lived most of her life in Spokane, Washington, minus one year in Cataldo, Idaho. Despite living in Spokane most of her life, she ended up moving 24 times around the area while she was growing up, which led to her current desire for a stationary situation. 

Despite her family's nomad lifestyle, she had some great experiences in all aspects of life both rural and urban, which allotted her to have experiences ranging from country life, like riding horses into the Fairwood Shopping Center, to attending High School on the North Side.

Her passion is education. She spent 16 years working with children with disabilities, especially those with autism. These experiences shaped who she is today. She's worked in education, the community, and now in employment services, gaining a wealth of knowledge and a love for others. Education being her first occupational love, she enjoys helping youth with foundational learning.

Over the years, she moved from education to supported living for youths. Helping others gain independence also helped her grow. During Covid, she decided to spend her time working with people in the community and explore art.

For hobbies, she loves creating butterflies from metal and glass, with fence art as her newest endeavor. She networks with other artists, exploring new ways to live and market their crafts. She enjoys kayaking with friends and family and spending time with her horses and dogs. She has rescued many animals and established a small ranch on five acres. Training became a joy after meeting one of the top horse trainers in Washington State.

While working as an Employment Specialist, she ended up meeting with one our Triumph founders at an event for a mutual friend which led her to joining Triumph where she finds both friendship, and a home.

Her hope while working at Triumph Community Services is for everyone to love themselves and each other, recognizing that both bright and dark days help us grow and shine.