Our Team
Our Founder
Gabriela Riel
Founder / Executive Director / Behavior Consultant | she/her
Gabriela is the owner and operator of Human Connections which she established in 2017 with her previous business partner. Gabriela has worked in the Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities community for the past 13 years. After completing her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work, Gabriela furthered her education by completing a behavioral analysis certification and engaging in leadership training through the University of Washington. Valuable experience has come from her engagement in various positions within the developmental disabilities support field. Working as a Behavior Consultant, Employment Supports Program Director, Direct Support Professional, and Behavior Supports Program Manager, she has highlighted the barriers within the field and supported those with the highest behavior support needs. These barriers and the belief that every person is capable of success with the right kinds of support are what prompted the opening of Human Connections. Gabriela ensures the implementation of the agency’s mission in her role as Executive Director. Additionally, Gabriela provides direct services as a Professional Behavior Consultant and oversees the training and professional development of those working within the behavior support program.
Jackie Price
Director of Operations | she/her
Jackie comes to us with many years of experience in the administrative side of businesses! For the past 6 years, she has worked in the healthcare industry specifically with companies that are trying to shake up the world of healthcare as we know it. She has a passion for helping others succeed in their roles so when the chance to work for Human Connections as the Director of Operations came around, it was another chance for her to help disrupt the healthcare system for the better. Jackie loves the inclusion and values here at Human Connections and hopes to continue to work with the amazing people who help make the lives of our clients easier, more independent, and individualized!
Bradley Grose
CLS Program Director | he/him
Bio coming soon!
Kassandra Hill
Direct Support Professional | she/her
Kassandra is currently in her 21st year of support services. Originally from Michigan, she first began working with individuals with differing neurotypical abilities. During those years, Kassandra worked with people of all ages, including at-risk youth. Eventually, she oversaw a mentorship program and connected mentors with clients. Upon meeting her now husband, she moved to Washington and continued the work that she loves! During her time with Human Connections of Oregon, Kassandra has developed behavior plans, worked in the field (and still does!) in a 1:1 setting and is a great addition to our wonderful team of providers.
Debourah Harrle-Rau
Direct Support Professional | she/her
Debourah has over 20 years in Cognitive Behavioral practices, starting with her path in Addiction Counseling as a Certified Addictions Counselor II. She focused on teaching life skills, anger management, and positive behavioral modification. She specialized in working with at-risk women and their children who are experiencing neurotypical behavioral challenges and complex mental health issues, including trauma. Debourah worked with at-risk parents along with DHS child welfare. She supervised 3 teams of outreach workers, supporting at-risk parents to obtain resources.
Debourah married her husband in 2018, during which time her career direction changed due to helping a young autistic woman experiencing addiction issues. Through this period, she met the Executive Director of Human Connections in an unexpected chance meeting and she was offered a position with Human Connections.
During Debourah’s time with Human Connections she has supported her clients and their families in community inclusion, working to enhance her clients’ social skills, physical activities, providing ongoing positive behavioral support and growth. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and her pets.
“I love helping my clients cultivate interests and working with them in achieving their goals!”
Laura Parker
Direct Support Professional | she/her
Laura is originally from Utah but has been living in Oregon for 10 years now. She began supporting people with disabilities over 6 years ago and finds it extremely rewarding to help clients work towards their goals and learn new skills. Helping clients increase their independence and feel more connected to their community is especially important to Laura. In order to do this, she maintains a patient and positive attitude while listening to the clients interests and meeting them where they are at in their world! During Laura’s free time, she spends time with her family and loves exploring new parks with her kids.
Tasha Gerkman
Direct Support Professional | she/her
Tasha is a native Oregonian and started her caregiving career back in 2005. She has experience as a Direct Support Professional in many settings, including facilities and in-home care, both private and state funded. She has been with Human Connections since 2019 all the while growing strong relationships with the clients she supports. She feels caregiving is truly her calling and what she is meant to do and is creative in assisting clients to meet their goals and is a strong advocate for those she supports. She enjoys traveling and lives in her RV on her family’s property with her cat, Sterling!
Margaux Taylor
Direct Support Professional | she/her
Margaux has a long history of working with those in her community. Having worked in many facets of the hospitality industry, she had the opportunity to connect with people across a variety of settings. Through her work in the hospitality industry, she worked alongside members of the developmental disability community who were gaining valuable job skills through on the job training and work shadow experiences. These connections highlighted Margaux’s unique ability to engage with people in a way that fostered growth and highlighted their many strengths. This experience was the motivator for Margaux to transition her career from hospitality to human services. Over the last few years, Margaux has focused her skillset to be able to assist those who have seen significant barriers in their progress towards increased independence due to limited access to resources. Margaux believes in the power of community and works hard every day to create these important connections with each person she works with. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her dog, riding her motorcycle, gardening and making memories with the people she loves!
Kate Ely
Direct Support Professional | she/her
I started my caregiving career with my family in 2004. I then realized that it was more of a calling to continue on my path in the caregiving field, as I was given an opportunity in 2009 to manage a foster care home with some amazing individuals. I bring 16 years of professional experience as a Direct Support Professional in many caregiving settings throughout my career, including both private, state funded programs and community inclusion supports. My previous care experience has equipped me with the skills to deliver compassionate care tailored to the unique needs of each individual while creating environments where individuals can thrive by developing crucial life skills. I started with Human Connections in 2023, and I am eager to bring my expertise and my positive impact while collaborating and growing with each individual I support. Outside of work, I cherish moments with my family and friends, the company of my two dogs, Poncho and Kaylili, and love to garden and try new DIY home projects.
Violet Degner
Direct Support Professional | she/her
Violet comes to us with over 12 years of experience in the I/DD field! She has lived in Oregon her whole life and started her support journey with her sister who experiences developmental and intellectual disabilities. She also has a 7 year old daughter with behavior needs which inspired her even more to continue working in this field in order to gain more skills to support others alike. Violet has a good balance of working with loved ones as well as in care homes and out in the community. Among her many skills is being able to redirect clients as well as identify triggers ahead of time! When she is not working with clients, she enjoys spending time with her two children.
Vicki Cofield
Direct Support Professional | she/her
Vicki is a "Native Nevadan" born and raised in Las Vegas. She moved to the PNW to make Oregon her home in March of 2004. Vicki started caregiving for the state in 2008 working in the Eugene area after being downsized out of her administrator position at Monaco Coach, the motorhome manufacturer in Coburg. Which coincidentally allowed her more time to pursue a professional blues/jazz singing career! All while continuing her other love of helping and caring for people. Caregiving pivoted into DSP work in 2019 when she was hired by a private company to help out a friend in need of someone they could trust, get along with, and count on to "show up". Well, since then, Vicki has fallen in love with this work and the people (and their families)! How it changes lives and family dynamics when someone skilled, peaceful and full of joy, such as herself, can assist in making that happen. Very active members of their local church and community, Vicki and her musician husband live for God and their sweet 2 yr old bulldog Bailey!
Jeremy Kregar
Direct Support Professional | they/them
Jeremy is a recent graduate from Lewis & Clark College, originally from Denver, Colorado! Their background is in Sociology/Anthropology and Hispanic Studies, with a focus on public health work, meaning that they have a passion for working with people and making the world a better place. Just starting with Human Connections, they are excited and invigorated to work with clients. When they are not working, Jeremy loves to spend time outside with their partner and friends.
Hazel Holder
Direct Support Professional | she/they
With a degree in fine art and a background in service, Hazel is a curious and creative soul with a passion for helping others. Her patient and calming demeanor allows her to connect and empathize with people from all walks of life. Hazel enjoys exploring artistic pursuits with clients to promote self-expression and emotional well-being. She works closely with individuals to create personalized plans that empower them to lead fulfilling lives. Outside of work, Hazel enjoys making pottery, playing music, gardening, practicing yoga, and spending time with her cat, Bird.
Lukas Nause
Direct Support Professional | they/them
Originally from Toledo, Ohio, upon graduating high school in 2009, I have spent years traveling, eventually finding a home in Portland at the end of 2015. Growing up neurodivergent with also a neurodivergent brother on the spectrum, I witnessed first-hand the shortcomings of both the medical and educational systems. The lack of understanding, care, and resources has profoundly influenced my educational and career goals. Currently, I’m working towards a BS and plan to pursue my PhD in Psychology with the goals of working in research to better broaden our understanding of neurodivergent youth. Through vigorous research and activism, I desire to radically change our public perceptions of neurodivergent individuals, while also changing how medical, educational, and other social institutions function in order to foster a more inclusive system that is better suited to provide the proper care, support, and learning environments necessary to help each individual achieve the success they deserve while minimizing inflicted trauma. With that said, I am beyond thrilled to be part of Humanconnections as I believe their values, goals, and practices align closely with mine, and I look forward to being able to gain experience and grow with them.
Lena Sances
Direct Support Professional | she/her
Lena’s work background consists of many different roles in education and social services. Throughout her experiences she grew a passion to help provide better accessibility for the community in which she serves. She believes in providing a reachable, inclusive, and holistic approach to care. One of her beliefs is that in order to best understand what care is needed, it's best to center the voice of those who need it. When Lena isn’t working she loves to dance, and listen to music. She also loves to spend her time in nature hiking with friends or hanging out by the river.
Christopher Nance
Direct Support Professional | he/him
After moving to Portland from New York, Christopher first started working in support services seasonally while off-duty at Portland area farmers markets, before spending several years as a chocolatier and baker. A desire to reconnect with the community and to make a meaningful change in the lives of others has led him back to direct support services. Christopher believes every person is deserving of a dignified and rewarding life and strives to make that a possibility in spite of an often obdurate and stifling world. He has particular experience and empathy for individuals who have struggled with substance abuse and their mental health, and how those concerns can make just getting by a struggle. Finding ways to help people thrive in spite and in some ways because of those challenges is his goal in support. Additionally, he has found success with individuals looking to improve their physical well-being, in whatever capacity, and challenging one’s sense of physical limitations and embodiment can have a cascading effect on the way one interacts with the world. Outside of Human Connections, Christopher works with Urban Forestry and has a passion for understanding and improving the relationship between built and natural environments.