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Staff Spotlight: Pre-Employment Transition Services Team

April 30, 2026
A collage of all the Pre-Employment Transition Services team members

By Drew Milne

The Sonoran Center is re-launching our Staff Spotlight series! This month, we’d like to highlight the hard work and dedication of our Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) team. The Pre-ETS team works with schools, employers, and Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation programs to prepare students with disabilities for competitive, integrated employment. 

The Pre-ETS team consists of: 

  • Transition Program Manager - Loretta Alvarez
  • Project Coordinator - Kelsey Montano
  • Tucson Vocational Specialists - Lesley Howe, AnnaMaria Lopez, Sarah Loreto
  • Phoenix Vocational Specialists - Preslee Buhr, Ariana Rendon, Victoria Martinez (skills trainer with Project SEARCH Mayo Clinic)
  • Casa Grande - Amy Leija
  • Northern AZ - Kandis Spencer (Window Rock) and Ulanda Chatter (Tuba City)
  • Yuma - Laisha Garcia

The team’s two main initiatives are the Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLE), which takes place during the school year, and the Summer Work Program. WBLE allows the team to partner with schools to develop both on and off-campus work experiences for youth with disabilities. Additionally, the team supports schools in collaborating with providers to offer Pre-ETS workshops on campus. The Summer Work Program offers paid work experiences with community employers, providing students with the opportunity to gain real-world skills. Throughout the program, a vocational specialist assists students by identifying and developing creative supports to foster greater independence.

The Pre-ETS team also brings on part-time vocational specialists and student workers through the AdvoCats program, especially to help with the Summer Work Program. For the 2026 school year, the summer work program is already planning to have over 250 student participants, up from just under 200 last year. The program is also expanding to three new communities: Yuma, the Hopi Tribe, and the Tohono O’odham Nation. 

“The most exciting part for the team is seeing the student growth throughout the summer. Each student who participates is working toward their own goals, and our team loves supporting students in meeting those goals through the work experience,” said Loretta Alvarez. 

Thanks to the Pre-ETS team for all you do to make sure youth and young adults with disabilities have access to competitive, integrated employment.