The Choice Group

At The Choice Group, we are dedicated to fostering the talents of individuals through tailored employment programs. Vincent Murray from our Hampton Roads team shares the remarkable work of Xavion Simon, who has thrived through Project SEARCH and Supported Employment. Xavion began as an intern with Project SEARCH in April 2023. His exceptional performance during the internship led to a job offer from Sentara's Environmental Service Department. Since starting in this position, Xavion has demonstrated incredible dedication in his role. Xavion's attention to detail, effective communication, teamwork, and time management skills have made him highly proficient in his duties. These strengths have enabled him to excel in tasks such as cleaning, mopping, and sanitizing various hospital areas, including bathrooms, windows, walls, and furniture. His thoroughness and reliability have made him a valued team member. One of the initial challenges Xavion faced was his reaction to constructive...

The Choice Group team takes pride in empowering individuals to develop skills and achieve their employment goals. Jenn DePuy from our Hampton Roads team shares that pride as she recounts the story of Lewis Turner, whose path through Skills Training and Supported Employment demonstrates the success and importance of the programs we offer. Lewis Turner began working with The Choice Group in October 2023, when Jenn and Lewis discovered that Texas Roadhouse may be the ideal place for him to work. Despite facing challenges such as navigating paratransit, adapting tasks, and orienting himself to a new environment, Lewis persevered with determination. Now, months into his employment, Lewis has made significant strides. Lewis's motivation and independence have been pivotal in his success. He possesses excellent compensatory skills, which help him adapt and thrive in his role. Since starting his position at Texas Roadhouse, Lewis has set up robust natural supports for himself and has becom...

At The Choice Group, we work tirelessly to help clients find employment that enhances their lives. Billy Kraus from our Hampton Roads team shares a story about Nicholas Cunningham, whose experience demonstrates the power of sustained employment. Nicholas Cunningham began working with Billy in April 2021. To identify the best job opportunities, Nicholas helped pull weeds at a job site as part of a situational assessment. Nicholas enjoyed the task so much that he applied for a position with the landscaping company , after a little encouragement from the employer. He has now been employed there for three years. Since starting his position, Nicholas has achieved significant milestones. He has been promoted to Crew Lead, a role in which he drives, supervises, and trains his crew at each job site. His job tasks include various landscaping duties, and his leadership skills have afforded him the opportunity to mentor new employees and build strong connections with his managers and coworkers. ...

 Meet Matt Tyrrell!  Matt has been with The Choice Group for about two years and has carried a varied caseload throughout that time, working with several different clients through The Choice Group’s Wounded Warrior Program as well as carrying a Vocational Counseling caseload.  Matt is the newest member of our Benefits Counseling team. His interest in benefits counseling was piqued while working with clients who wanted to know more about how their earnings might affect their Social Security and Medicaid benefits. Matt’s interest led him to inquire about learning more about that particular field.   Matt recently completed his certification as a Work Incentives Benefit Practitioner through Cornell University. Way to go Matt, and welcome to the Benefits Counseling team! 

Madison was the first client Laura met through her counseling work with The Choice Group when they both volunteered to bag items at a grocery store. The rest is history.  After seeing how well the grocery store event went, Laura and Madison decided to explore additional jobs within the food industry, eventually settling on Outback as an ideal fit for Madison’s first job. She has now maintained employment at Outback for over a year and a half! In her role, Madison has carried out many tasks, starting with food prep at a table in the dining room before the restaurant opened, which gave her a large, quiet workspace. After mastering that task and becoming more comfortable in her new environment, Madison began working in the kitchen alongside other staff. She eventually added bussing and rolling silverware at night to her resume. On slower evenings when bussing tasks are not needed, Madison has even trained other staff on how to do food prep.  Madison continues to add helpful kitch...

Billy Kraus, a Choice Group counselor from Hampton Roads, is excited at his client’s success in his role at Burlington department store. Isiah McEachin has been a client of Billy’s since January 2021 and is in Follow Along services with The Choice Group. Isiah had worked with Burlington in the past and had an interest in working with them again. Billy supported him throughout the application and interview process. “ Isiah is a hard worker and committed to learning new things,” says Billy, who holds monthly site visits and contact with his client. In his role at Burlington, Isiah is tasked with receiving and processing new items and recovering items on the sales floor. During a shift, Isiah reset the decorative wall art section of the store from scratch and, after some support, could complete the task independently. His supervisor was so impressed with Isiah's work that it was shared with the other Burlington stores around the nation. Isiah require...