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Meet the Employment Team

Our employment specialists and job coaches work alongside job seekers and employers across the Portland area.

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Happy Valley Office

Kayla Beckman Taylor

Employment Services Manager

she/her/hers

Kayla has over 15 years of experience working with VR and ODDS services as well as 8+ years working as a counselor providing individual and family counseling services. She has served diverse caseloads over the years and enjoys bringing her depth of knowledge and experiences to her staff in her management role with Mountain Crest. Kayla has a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and enjoys bringing the mental health lens to this work as typically there is a lot of personal, social, and disability adjustment counseling that individuals face as they consider entering the workforce.

Cody Bunse

Office Manager

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Cody has been an Office Manager at Mountain Crest for over a decade and strives to continue growing with the company, wherever that may lead. Being involved in so many facets of the business and getting to work with a variety of wonderful individuals has led to a fulfilling and meaningful experience.

His focus is to help provide the tools and support to our staff so that they may bring their best selves to our clients, as well as advance in their professional careers. Providing exceptional service starts with creating an exceptional team and that is something that we all are proud of.

Jennifer Covington

Employment Specialist | Peer Support Specialist

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Jennifer graduated from the University of Oregon in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Family and Human Services. Throughout college, she completed internships working with foster children, high school students, and families impacted by incarceration. After graduating, Jennifer moved to Portland and began her career in early childhood education, where she dedicated many years to nurturing the growth of young children and fostering relationships with families in her community. Her passion for human services eventually led her to join the Mountain Crest team, where she continues to make a positive impact on the individuals she serves.

Phoenix Bastida-Llamas

Employment Specialist

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Phoenix graduated from the University of Oregon in 2023 with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. During her time as an undergraduate, she became a certified Peer Support Specialist, which allowed her to work with youth in the community, and sparked her initial interest in working with individuals with I/DD. After graduation, Phoenix worked as an administrative assistant. Phoenix moved to Portland and began working with Mountain Crest in 2024, which allowed her to put her undergraduate experience into practice and help others develop invaluable life skills to succeed.

Jeff Silverstein

Employment Specialist

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Jeff graduated from CSU, Sacramento in 1996 with a Bachelor's in psychology. He has worked a DSP as well as a job coach before transitioning into job development. Jeff is dedicated to supporting individuals in their search for meaningful work.

Cecilia Wang

Job Coach

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Cecilia graduated from Clark D. Honors College at the University of Oregon in 2018 with a Bachelor’s in Economics. After graduation, Cecilia became inspired to work in the medical field after her own experience with cancer and started at a neurology clinic, where she worked closely with patients facing brain and spinal disorders. In early 2024, Cecilia joined Mountain Crest Counseling, where she hopes to combine her personal experiences and professional expertise to support individuals facing mental/behavioral health challenges.

Sherwood Office

Taylor Cowman

Employment Specialist Supervisor

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Taylor graduated from Portland State University in the spring of 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. Taylor has previous work experience in behavioral therapy as well as special education where he supported children with disabilities. He started working at Mountain Crest Counseling as an Employment Specialist in 2023. Taylor is passionate about helping the community and making a positive impact on people.

Rachel Obando

Employment Specialist

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Rachel graduated from Portland State University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s in Sociology. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked as a Job Coach for individuals with I/DD for two years and started working at Mountain Crest as an Employment Specialist right before she graduated. Rachel is excited to continue applying her experience and education to create positive societal changes and empower individuals with diverse abilities to lead fulfilling lives.

Conor Boulger

Employment Specialist

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Conor graduated from the University of Portland in 2014 with Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Psychology with a focus in Criminology. Following graduation Conor worked for over five years in residential dual diagnosis facilities as a Skills Trainer for adolescents experiencing mental health and/or substance abuse issues. After this time, he went to put his degree focus in Criminology into practice and began working as a Parole and Probation officer where he spent time working with adolescents in a Juvenile Court Counselor role and then with Justice Involved Individuals with domestic violence charges. Conor joined Mountain Crest in 2025 where he looks forward to putting his extensive experience working directly with people in the community to work as a Job Developer where he can help individuals with diverse abilities to feel empowered and lead fulfilling lives.

Angelyka Cava

Job Coach

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Angelyka graduated from Concordia University - Portland in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing & Communications, focused in creative writing. As an undergraduate student, she wrote a thesis about her struggles as a neurodivergent individual. Her personal experiences with mental health inspire her to be an advocate for others. Before joining the Mountain Crest Counseling employment team, she gained valuable experience working as an administrative assistant, a luxury retail specialist, a caseworker for Child Protective Services, and a job coach for another organization. In autumn of 2026, Angelyka will begin pursuing her Master’s degree in Professional Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Addictions at Lewis & Clark College. While working toward her goal of becoming a therapist, she is happy to help people with disabilities overcome barriers to successful employment and thrive in their places of work.

Questions about supported employment?

Contact Kayla Beckman Taylor, our Employment Services Manager, or send us a message.

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