Expert Witnesses and Vocational Consultants You Can Count On
Who We Are
We are moms, spouses, sisters, mentors, dog mama’s, yoga enthusiasts, runners, and foodies. In addition we are detail oriented, hard working professionals who never miss an opportunity to expand our skill set.
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Maria Vargas, MS, CRC, CLCP
Charlotte, North Carolina
Growing up as the youngest of 3 children, I had a lot of opportunities to study human nature and learn from my siblings. It was a logical choice to study psychology in college. Working with injured people in vocational rehabilitation is a great fit for my concern about people and desire to help them with practical planning for their lives. This was a natural extension into life care planning, which I find incredibly rewarding and fascinating due to the complex medical issues involved.
I always say I am not a competitive person, but at heart, I love to challenge myself every day. It’s not so much directed at competing with other people, but more of a competition with myself to do the best I can do and learn new things all of the time. I grow restless without challenges so being a business owner, mentor, and expert all at the same time offers continual challenges.
My greatest joy in work is that VVC is a warm, supportive collaborative work environment. I have been able to create the ideal environment that I always longed for in a workplace and work alongside the most impressive group of professionals. While we all work independently, we are incredibly generous in sharing information, time, and resources with each other. This makes all of us better and allows us all to grow professionally.
In our free time, we enjoy our cabin at Beech Mountain, and my husband and I stay busy traveling with our 3 teenage daughters.
Special Interest Areas:
- Life Care Planning
- Collaborative Divorce
Education:
- Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, UNC‑Chapel Hill - 1991
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, UNC‑Chapel Hill - 1989
Certifications:
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor - Since 1991
- Social Security Vocational Expert - Since 2009
- Certified Life Care Planner - Since 2011
Memberships:
- International Association of Rehabilitation Providers in the Private Sector
- American Board of Vocational Experts
- IACP- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
Advanced Training:
- IACP Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Training 2020
Maria Vargas MS, CRC, CLCP
Charlotte, North Carolina
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As I once considered law school, expert witness works marries my interest in the legal profession with my experience and training in vocational rehabilitation. I enjoy the challenge of defending my opinions in court, be it in divorce, worker's compensation, or personal injury matters.
In 2018, I became certified as a Life Care Planner to assist individuals with chronic, and often complex, conditions meet their rehabilitation potential while maintaining the quality of life. While producing comprehensive plans that provide all parties with a realistic view of the injured claimant's future medical and nonmedical needs can be challenging, it is one of the most rewarding aspects of my professional work.
I strongly identify with the Veteran population and find developing vocational assessments for veterans seeking VA benefits extremely rewarding. I was commissioned into the United States Army and briefly served as a medical service officer. I have also "served" as an active duty military spouse for a decade.
I enjoy traveling, good coffee, and great books. I reside in Apex, NC with my husband, three daughters, and myriad of pets.
Special Interest Areas:
- TBI Specialist
- Life Care Planning
- Collaborative Divorce
Education:
- Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling, UK‑Lexington - 2013
- Graduate Certificate in Job Development and Job Placement, George Washington University - 2012
- Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, American University - 2009
Certifications:
- Certified Life Care Planner - 2018 to Present
- Social Security Vocational Expert (SSVE) - 2016 to Present
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor - 2013 to Present
Memberships:
- International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
- IACP- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
Advanced Training:
- IACP Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Training scheduled for 2021
Jessica Conard MRC, CRC, CLCP
Raleigh, Eastern North Carolina
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Katy Mac Dillon, M.Ed., CRC
Birmingham, Alabama
My grandfather sustained a spinal cord injury late in his life that resulted in quadriplegia. I resonated with wanting him to have the most full and complete life possible, despite his disabilities. As a result of my personal experience, I think vocational rehabilitation is not only a way to help people engage in meaningful work, but also a way to live life more fully and completely. In my experience, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury cases are both challenging and compelling.
As a child of divorced parents, I see so much value in using a vocational expert in divorce cases. A divorce can be extremely challenging not only for the immediate spouse involved, but for children and other family members. Whether you're going through a traditional divorce, or engaging in the collaborative divorce process, it can be extremely helpful to use a vocational expert to explain loss of earning capacity or evaluate an individual's employability.
I am pursuing my CLCP because it is vital to look at the whole person when considering a person's disabling condition and their future needs. In the CLCP process, the methodology focuses on the holistic mindset as individuals are not just employees, but a myriad of other roles.
In my free time, I love to workout at Orange Theory Fitness. Also, I love entertaining friends and family at our home, and enjoy spending time with my husband and two chocolate labs who keep me on my toes.
Education:
- Master of Education Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Auburn University - 2012
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Services, Auburn University - 2011
Certifications:
- Certified Life Care Planner - In Progress
- Social Security Vocational Expert (SSVE) - 2013 to Present
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor - 2012 to Present
Memberships:
- American Board of Vocational Experts
- International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals in the Private Sector
- National Council on Rehabilitation Education
- IACP- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
Advanced Training:
IACP Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Training scheduled for 2021
Special Interest:
- Collaborative Divorce
Katy Mac Dillon M.Ed., CRC, CLCP
Birmingham, Alabama
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Shannon Hollander MRC, CRC
Louisville Metro and Lexington, Kentucky
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Olivia Steinman, MA, MFA, CRC
Greater Charlotte, North Caronia
My mom wanted me to be a lawyer or a doctor. Instead, I found myself pursuing reality television production. I always loved to examine what made someone tick and found a love of documentary film and educational programming. Through this, I started working with individuals experiencing physical disability. I learned that it takes an interdisciplinary approach
to make a significant difference.
I happened to be chatting with a professor about my interest in interdisciplinary approaches to mental health and disability management, and he asked if I’d ever thought about being a
Rehabilitation Counselor. In fact, I didn’t even know that the profession existed. From there, I found a love for the rehabilitation lens, and an appreciation for analysis of social aspect of disability. It turns out I am fascinated by assessing where medical issues and vocation intersect.
At Vargas Vocational Consulting, I hope to bring a digital perspective to the work. My mantra when working with individuals experiencing disability is ‘nothing about us, without us.’ I hope to bring the voices of individuals to my work.
I live in Charlotte with my husband, my son, and our corgi. I enjoy hiking, yoga, cycling, and reading the latest nonfiction.
Education:
- Master Of Arts Degree In Rehabilitation Counseling, University Of Iowa
- Master Of Fine Arts In Documentary Film, Wake Forest University
- Bachelor Of Arts Degree In Media Arts, Elon University
Certifications:
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
Membership:
- International Association Of Rehabilitation Providers In The Private Sector
Olivia Steinman MA, MFA, CRC
Greater Charlotte, North Caronia