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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Jessica Greene, MS, CRC
Wilmington, North Carolina
Playing “counselor” to my friends since an early age, I knew a helping profession was my calling. I studied Liberal Studies in undergrad with a concentration in psychology and philosophy. I went on to complete a graduate program in Clinical Mental Health. In my first internship, at a transition center for parolees, I learned first hand, the importance of Vocational Rehabilitation as it relates to mental health and wellness. I decided to complete the Rehabilitation Counselor graduate program to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
My first position in the field was for Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency where I worked primarily with adolescents with disabilities to help them transition from secondary education to employment. I also served as a disability coordinator and career counselor for Georgia Highlands College, as well as administered ADA accommodations and performed forensic vocational analysis for third party insurers.
At Vargas Vocational Consulting, I hope to use the expertise I have gained in my prior experience in the field to adequately assess each individual's disability as it relates to employability. I enjoy speaking with clients and the rich stories they have to tell.
I reside in Wilmington where my two sons and I enjoy the beach. We also adventure on hiking trails, ski and kayak every chance we get.
Special Areas of Interest:
- Veteran’s Disability
- Long-term Disability
Education:
- Master of Science Degree Rehabilitation Counseling, San Diego State University, 2017
- Master of Science Degree in Clinical Mental Health, Mercer University, 2011
- Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree, Mercer University, 2008
Certifications:
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor - Since 2016
Jessica Greene MS, CRC
Wilmington, North Carolina
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Jackie Schabacker MA, CRC, LPC, BSW
Greenville, South Carolina
After earning my Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, I entered the human services field to explore my passion for helping others. I worked for four years at Macomb County Community Mental Health. I primarily worked with adults with disabilities as a Case Manager and then a Recipient Rights Advisor. I was able to assist them with their recipient rights and vocational goals. While working at Macomb County Community Mental Health, I attended the vocational rehabilitation graduate program at Wayne State University. After completing my Master of Arts degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, I began my work as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. I have had the opportunity to provide individuals with vocational counseling for almost 25 years. I also provide vocational expert testimony at the Office of Hearings and Appeals for the Social Security Administration.
Since joining Vargas Vocational Consulting, I am excited to use my skills and expertise in the field of vocational rehabilitation counseling to provide vocational assessments for divorce, veterans, workers’ compensation and long‑term disability clients. I enjoy working with others and providing them with vocational information that can improve their lives.
Special Areas of Interest:
- Veteran’s Disability
- Workers’ Compensation
- Long‑Term Disability
Education:
- Master of Arts Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Wayne State University, 1998
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Wayne State University, 1994
Certifications:
- Licensed Professional Counselor-State of Michigan since 1998
- Registered Social Worker-State of Michigan since 1994
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor since 1998
Jackie Schabacker MA, CRC, LPC, BSW
Greenville, South Carolina
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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