MEET THE TEAM

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Chief Executive Officer

 & 

Founding Advocate

Joy serves as the CEO & Founding Advocate at AIA. Joy has earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in Labor and Employee Relations, she went on to earn her Master’s in Public Administration from Rutgers University, Newark.  

Joy serves as the CEO & Founding Advocate at AIA. Joy began her career as a Job Coach serving the special needs employment services community. In the course of her career Joy has job coached many vulnerable populations including transitioning youth, adults with special needs, adults with mental illness, at-risk youth, and individuals and families receiving social services benefits.  It is her passion for employment and the mission that Everyone Can Work that brought forward the Employment Services Division of Advocates in Action.  

Joy founded Advocates in Action in 2016, with the mission to Be the Voice to those who don’t have one, through employment advocacy and encouraging everyone to embrace their story and give it the voice it needs.  

Joy is a published author, her inaugural book I Am Joy released in September 2019. I Am Joy is a peek into the life and the lessons that led Joy to the woman she is today. Her inspiring story of courage and perseverance is sure to inspire many!  

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Joy is a dedicated mother of two young men, Owen & Nathaniel. Joy is led by her strong faith in God, and it is this faith that drives all Joy’s projects. 

When she is not taking on the world, you can find Joy binging on reality tv and reading as many books as she can get her hands on. Joy began her career as a Job Coach, serving the special needs employment community. 

Chief Operating Officer

Ana serves as the COO for AIA. Ana is passionate about streamlining operations and implementing programs that bridge gaps and create life-changing opportunities. 

Ana earned her undergraduate degree in Economics from Pace University and a Master’s of Public Administration from New York University. After a fellowship with Education Pioneers, Ana was brought on as the Founding Director of Operations at Roseville Community Charter School, where she led the creation of systems and managed schoolwide operations. Before coming to Advocates, Ana was the Program Director of StreetSquash, a youth development organization, in Newark, NJ. Through her nonprofit leadership experiences, Ana has empowered and advocated for those in vulnerable populations. 

When Ana isn't building operational systems, she's adventuring outdoors and traveling to new places. 

Director of Learning & Development

Innovative Learning Academy 

Cynthia serves as the Director of Learning & Development for the Innovative Learning Academy.

Cynthia is a life long learner—after earning her Master's degree in Education from Grand Canyon University, she entered the education world to explore her passion for learning and development. Driven by her enthusiasm to help others, she takes pride in providing the best instruction possible. 

As a Director of Learning, her goals are to design inclusive, engaging, and interactive training content.

 In her free time, Cynthia is a loving wife and mother, photographer, and adventurer.  

Director of Employment Services 

Everyone Can Work 

Renee is a problem solver, first and foremost. She started honing her creative out-of-the-box thinking as an Outdoor Education major at Montreat College, then took her skills around the world as she led groups in pursuing various experiential learning activities in Australia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois,  Oregon, and Costa Rica. These experiences opened her eyes to how diversification makes the world a better place. 

Closer to home, Renee found a way to combine her love of advocacy and her mission of empowering others as a Supports Manager for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities with a focus on supported employment. 

After gaining experience in navigating the world of supported employment with neurodiverse individuals and attaining Qualified Professional status, Renee joined AIA to help expand their mission. She firmly believes that everyone can grow and learn when provided with the right tools and strives to find the right tools for everyone she supports. 

When she unplugs from a day of advocacy, Renee can be found on the salsa dance floor, exploring and camping in the mountains, or at home crafting.

Employment Specialist - 

Everyone Can Work 

Jason serves as an Employment Specialist for Everyone Can Work. 

Jason has attended Stockton University for four years after graduating high school pursuing a degree in education.

 Jason is studying to become a teacher, and AIA is an excellent experience to prepare him for teaching in a new way. Jason came to AIA through his knowledge of us from his father, The Influentials Podcast co-host. 

Jason is looking forward to meeting and coaching people.

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Assistant Operations Manager - 

Visionary Ink Studio

Owen serves as the Assistant Operations Manager for the Visionary Ink Printing Studio.

Owen is Advocates resident photographer and editor extraordinaire. Owen takes his creative talents to the world of printing design in his role as the Assistant Operations Manager for the VIsionary Ink Studio.  

When Owen is not knee deep in Advocates content you can find him filming and editing as he prepares for his future as a #FilmDirector. 

Employment Specialist

Everyone Can Work

Kellie is an outgoing, kind and adventurous person who is excited to be in the human services field. She is excited to help impact people in a positive way through job coaching.  

On her free time, Kellie loves traveling, animals, being in nature and learning about different cultures. 

Kellie studied Communication Studies at Stockton University and Human Services Counseling at Liberty University for her Master’s Degree. Outside of work she can be found spending time with her loved ones and puppy.

Assistant Production Manager - 

Visionary Ink Studio 

 Ethan serves on the Visionary Ink team as the Assistant Production Manager. 

Ethan is responsible for helping the studio bring its prints to life. Ethan graduated from Abington Heights High School in 2018 and is someone who loves adventure, skiing, and meeting new people. When Ethan is not ensuring printing perfection at Visionary, you can find him enjoying his downtime with good friends and lots of laughs. 

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Business Development & Marketing Manager 

Lauren serves as Business Development and Marketing Manager for AIA. She has worked on various political campaigns ranging from national to municipal races and uses her public affairs skills to create strategic goals and marketing plans for AIA. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Africana Studies from Seton Hall University.

Lauren is a graduate of Emerge New Jersey, a premier national training program geared towards increasing the number of Democratic women leaders in public office. She continues to utilize her training and expertise to be an advocate and respected public figure in her hometown of Long Branch, NJ.

In Lauren's spare time she enjoys heckling trolls, volunteering, and spending time with her family.

Learning Experience Coordinator - 

Innovative Learning Academy

Tricia is extremely excited to serve as the Learning Experience Coordinator for the Innovative Learning Academy!

After graduating from Rutgers University, New Brunswick with a degree in Liberal & Visual Arts, she took her can-do attitude to an international fireworks company, working around the world designing and rigging massive shows. Tricia applied her problem-solving skills and compassion for others as a technician and trainer at Apple while she also worked to earn her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from C.W. Post, Long Island University. She leveraged her experience and technology to inspire dreamers and collaboration, building a lifelong passion to create a positive impact on the diverse community around her.

Her love for learning and the arts led her to teaching Art at an elementary school for underprivileged children outside Washington D.C., and most recently after moving to San Diego with her husband, spent the last year as the Engineering/Design teacher within the STEM program at a local elementary school. 

When she’s not helping inspire and prepare others to achieve, you can find her busy painting, creating her own jewelry, playing with her Bernese Mountain Dog (Otto), and spending time with her husband.