OCASG Career Club is a holistic program providing training and support for college graduates with ASD to help them achieve short and long-term career success. 50% of the sixteen participants have already found meaningful employment. During this presentation, the three instructors of Career Club will share the curriculum, lessons learned, and success stories.
To create the OCASG Career Club, OCASG partnered with Zavikon, a staffing and recruiting agency whose mission is to place neurodivergent individuals in career-oriented, meaningful employment and support both employer and employee for success.
About the Speakers
Hilary Kokenda, Zavikon
Hilary Kokenda is the Chief Operating Officer (COO). Prior to becoming a founding member of Zavikon, she spent 10 years at The Walt Disney Company as a technologist supporting business solutions and processes. Hilary's primary role throughout her career has been to bridge the
communication gap between technology resources and the businesses they support
at Fortune 500 companies. Hilary's career has required her to work with individuals at all levels and drive change across all types of departments. Through her wealth of experience in the corporate
environment, she has recognized the need for and benefits of diversity, and she is passionate about being a bridge to an inclusive working world. Hilary holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in
Mathematics/Applied Science from UCLA.
Rebecca Beam, Zavikon
Rebecca Beam is Founder and CEO of Zavikon. Prior to launching Zavikon she was a founding advisory team member launching MindSpark, Inc. whose mission was to train and employ adults on the autism spectrum in technology careers. After MindSpark’s acquisition by auticon, Rebecca became President of the US operations leading the US expansion and driving growth.
Rebecca’s career has included senior leadership roles sourcing and developing human capital with high demand skill sets for the area’s leading tech firms, including Fortune 500 brands. Rebecca believes there is a job out there for everyone to apply their talents and skills in a meaningful way
and she is dedicated to being a bridge to an inclusive working world.
Judi Uttal, Orange County Asperger's Support Group
Judi Uttal is president of the Orange County Asperger’s Support Group (OCASG) a nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life for individuals and families dealing with high-functioning autism. For the last fifteen years, OCASG has offered an array of educational, social and support programs that have helped hundreds of families. In 2012 Judi, a Distinguished Toastmaster, founded the Spectrum Speakers Gavel Club, a Toastmasters Club designed to help young adults with ASD improve their social and communication skills. Judi is active in the Orange County Transition Initiative focusing on business outreach and bringing Autism @ Work programs to Orange County. Judi recently retired from a successful career as a high technology marketing executive. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Math/Computer Science from UCLA (where she graduated Cum Laude) and an MBA from the Tepper School of Management, Carnegie Mellon University (where she graduated in the top ten of her class). Judi is married and is the mother of a 30-year-old son with High-Functioning Autism who recently graduated with a BA in Cinema and Television at California State University, Fullerton.