Our Administrative Team…

These are the faces of a dedicated team of professionals, most of whom have been working with CIS or in human services for decades. They guide the daily operations of Community Interface Services.

Rojane Lindkvist, Executive Director

Rojane founded Community Interface Services in 1983 with a vision to provide quality and innovative services for people with developmental disabilities. Her background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development with an emphasis in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Administration from the University of San Francisco, and post-graduate work in Rehabilitation Administration at the San Diego State University Interwork Institute Leadership Forum. Rojane serves as the agency’s Executive Director and as a Member of the Community Interface Services Board of Directors.

Kimberly Larsen, Associate Director

Kim joined Community Interface Services in 1988 with volunteer experience in camp counseling and Special Olympics, and with prior employment in the developmental disabilities system. During her tenure  with Community Interface Services, Kim has been a Resource Counselor, Program Supervisor and, for the past sixteen years, our Associate Director. Kim has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a Social Service Emphasis from California State University San Marcos; a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Administration from the University of San Francisco, and has completed post-graduate work in Rehabilitation Administration at the San Diego State University Interwork Institute Leadership Forum. “I truly enjoy what I do because of the quality people I get to work with everyday. Together, we do great things and make Community Interface Services a fabulous place to work.”

Chris Lubinski, Special Projects Director

Chris joined the Community Interface Services staff in 1989 after serving in the United States Marine Corps. Chris’ first job title was Independent Living Program Resource Counselor and he soon added Vocational Resource Counselor to his duties. In 1992, CIS started a new vocational program and Chris was chosen to supervise the program. As the agency’s Supported Living Services began to take shape in San Diego, Chris worked in the program as a Resource Counselor, Roommate, Relief Worker and filled whatever other gaps existed, wrapping up his service in that program as Supported Living Program supervisor. Currently, Chris is one of three staff Special Projects Directors. “What motivates me about Community Interface Services is our ability to see obstacles as opportunities,” Chris says.

Christine Sheppard, Special Projects Director

With an undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences and a teaching credential from the State University of New York at Geneseo, Christine joined the Community Interface team in 1998 after working in Special Education classrooms. During her tenure with Community Interface, Christine earned a graduate degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from San Diego State University’s Interwork Institute. Christine has spent her years with Community Interface working as a Job Coach, Job Developer, Supported Living Coordinator, Supported Employment Supervisor, and most recently as Special Projects Director. Christine says, “I am proud to represent an agency dedicated to providing top quality services!”

Judy Jamell, Senior Unit Supervisor, Respite & Social Support Facilitation

Judy has been on staff at CIS since 1987. Before launching her career with us as one of the agency’s very first Resource Counselors, she worked mostly in office jobs. Judy says she found her life’s work at CIS. During her 20+ years on staff, she has supervised the Independent Living Program, helped countless people establish homes of their own and enjoy independent lifestyles, and trained many direct service professionals. Judy says “I am one of those lucky people who can say I have loved coming to my job every day for the last 20 years. I love my coworkers, the consumers, and the positive environment at the agency.”

Cheryl Carman, Staff Accountant

Cheryl, also known as “Cat,” joined the Community Interface Services admin team in 2006. She comes to our organization with twenty-six years of accounting and bookkeeping experience in the banking, aviation, and food services industries. Cat’s prior experience with people who have developmental disabilities comes from her personal life - growing up with a brother who has cerebral palsy. Cat hails from Woodbury University, and she says she derives “great satisfaction” knowing that she is “now working for an organization that makes such great strides in the community."

Kristine Simpson, Unit Supervisor, Independent Living

Kristine studied hearing impairments and speech problems and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communicative Disorders from San Diego State University where she also attained fluency in American Sign Language. On staff since 1998, Kristine has worked in our vocational Community Integration Training (CIT) Program, starting out as a Resource Counselor in the Fallbrook area. Kristine moved up the vocational services ranks to become a Program Coordinator and then, in 2007, took over all the program reins as CIT Unit Supervisor. Kristine says she finds job reward in being a part of progress, and via the opportunity to assist with challenges. She observes that no two days are ever alike at CIS and, for her, that is the icing on the cake.

Necole Vano, Senior Unit Supervisor, Supported Employment

Necole first joined CIS in 1995 after graduating from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She came on board as a Resource Counselor in our vocational Community Integration Training Program, and has also served as a CIS Independent Living Program Resource Counselor and Supported Living Coordinator. After a two year stint as a Family Services Coordinator with Head Start in Utah, Necole returned to sunny Southern California and to Community Interface Services to head up her great team in the Independent Living & Supported Employment Programs. Necole says, “I am proud to be a part of the quality support we have given and continue to give to the people we serve.

Sherry Lambkin, Unit Supervisor, Supported Living

Sherry has worked at CIS since 2005. After graduating from Sonoma State University with a BA in Human Development, Sherry launched her career in social services by working at a convalescent hospital in Santa Rosa. Shortly after moving to San Diego, Sherry joined the CIS team where she has enjoyed working in several different positions within the Supported Employment and Independent Living programs. Sherry has worked her way up the ladder to the Program Supervisor position and says that “every day is a new experience at CIS. I am grateful to be able to work with so many fun, talented, and exceptional consumers and co-workers. It is exciting to see consumers find the jobs of their dreams, or move out on their own for the first time. Providing support services for people with disabilities that help them succeed at their goal of becoming more independent is a truly fulfilling and motivating experience. I am lucky enough to see it happen every day.”

Carisa Chavez, Unit Supervisor Vocational Services

Carisa first joined CIS in 2001 after graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Sociology and an emphasis in Teaching. She started as a Resource Counselor in our Community Integration Training Program and also worked as a Supported Living Roommate. She then took time to receive her Master’s Degree in Physiology from Western Kentucky University. Carisa returned to assist as a Coordinator in the Supported Living Program and recently rejoined the Community Integration Training Program as a Supervisor. Carisa says, “I am happy to be a part of an agency that has a keen sense of peoples’ strengths and weakness and the ability to build on strengths and improve weaknesses.”

Darcy Dahlen, Senior Unit Supervisor

Darcy came to Community Interface Services fresh out of college. Her double major in Sociology and Psychology, coupled with her bubbly enthusiasm, made her a sure bet! Her previous experiences included internships as an aide at a Senior Center and a parent advocate. But, perhaps her years as a wedding coordinator, dealing with high emotions and critically important details, served her the best as she juggled a difficult Independent Living caseload. Darcy excelled in direct service and was promoted to a Supervisor where she has worked in both the Independent and Supported Living programs. As a new mom, Darcy appreciates the supportive, family friendly work environment at CIS and the very rewarding work. Darcy says, “I enjoy the people and my coworkers. It’s just a fabulous place to work."

Kayla Hardin, Coordinator RSVP/Housing

Kayla began her career at Community Interface Services in 2008 after receiving her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego.  Starting out as an Independent Living Resource Counselor and Supported Employment Job Coach and then moving to Job Developer, Kayla gained invaluable experience working directly with consumers and helping them to achieve independence.  Now, as the Housing Coordinator, Kayla continues to assist people achieve their independence through the Rental Subsidy Venture Program and by assisting consumers to purchase their own homes through the Housing Program.  She says that the best part of her job is “helping people to achieve goals that they once thought were out of their reach”.

Valerie Lee, Director of First Impressions, a.k.a. Administrative Assistant

Prior to moving to California and coming to Community Interface, Val lived in Maryland where she attended Howard Community College and worked at a developmental disabilities service provider organization serving adults. Since 2004, Val has been in the lead in the Community Interface Services front office. She says, “I’m very proud to be part of the entire Community Interface family. My position allows me to interact with so many wonderful people from staff to consumers, to see so many smiles on peoples faces as they come into the office and that’s what I see everyday... no matter how hard people’s days are, they seem to brighten up and lighten up when they get here.”