our team
Our coaches are uniquely qualified to support adults with ASD and other developmental disabilities, helping our clients successfully transition from high school to college or work.
Heather Conroy, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Heather (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who, since 2006, has worked with Autistic and other neurodiverse children, adolescents, and adults on their paths towards self-defined success. She is proud of the work Evolve is doing to support not only individuals, but also employers, educators, and the community at large to create more welcoming and accessible spaces for neurodivergent people.
Joe Farrell, Co-Founder and Director of Programs
Since completing his Master's of Science in Education and Community Agency Counseling degree from Duquesne University, Joe (he/him) has been working with Neurodivergent youth and young adults. His main focus is helping individuals identify skills and interests that can be leveraged to secure fulfilling, sustainable employment. Joe incorporates techniques from Cognitive and Behavioral therapies into his Coaching.
Joe enjoys hiking, gardening, and hanging out with his two cats, Walnut and Hemlock. He is a member of the Steel City Beard and Mustache Club and has traveled all over the U.S. participating in charity beard competitions to support local non-profit organizations. He is the current Full Beard Freestyle Champion of the World.
Kristen Shephard, Program Director - College Coaching
Kristen (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from the University of Pittsburgh. A central PA native, she moved to Pittsburgh to finish her bachelor's degree in psychology. From there, she went on to earn a Master of Social Work while interning at Evolve and has stayed on board ever since. Kristen enjoys helping individuals meet their goals and loves learning from each of her clients, who bring unique backgrounds and experiences to their meetings. When she's not coaching, Kristen likes to do yoga, binge scifi shows and movies, read, and rock climb.
Felisha Guy, Operations Director
Felisha (she/her) brings a wealth of experience to Evolve, with a diverse background spanning higher education operational support, non-profit administrative management, and donor relations. Her impact extends beyond execution; Felisha is driven by a deep passion for Evolve Coaching’s mission to empower individuals and communities, fueling her dedication to fostering a supportive and productive environment. Outside of work, Felisha’s commitment to empowerment continues. She nurtures her mind and spirit through activities like walking in nature, immersing herself in writing, and crafting her "weekly morning gems"—personalized messages of inspiration designed to uplift those around her. Felisha is committed to making a positive impact, not only through operations but in the lives of everyone she encounters.
Anju Agrawal, Engagement & Advancement Specialist
Anju (she/her) grew up in the UK and has a degree in Accounting & Finance from the University of Wales. She worked in accounting for Sheraton, Limited Too and Red Capital among others. She moved to Pittsburgh when she married a native Pittsburgher, with whom she has raised 3 children. She has always had a keen interest in supporting the success and acceptance of neurodiverse individuals and is happy to leverage her interests and experience in her role at Evolve, where she supports the team with development, community engagement, and quality assurance. She enjoys spending time with her family, and learning about holistic health.
Jill Constantin, Intake Coordinator
Jill Constantin (She/her) is the Intake Coordinator at Evolve Coaching. She has spent her career working in higher education and the nonprofit sector. She has a passion for helping people design their own successes and navigating any roadblocks along the way. Additionally, Jill's lived experiences navigating the myriad systems impacting neurodivergent and disabled people have amplified her ability to support the entire Evolve community. When not at work, she can be found at the gym, or hanging out with dogs.
Lyx Adamaszek, Coach
Lyx (she/they) has always had a passion for working with neurodiverse and LGBTQIA+ individuals which is what led her to pursuing a Bachelors and Masters in Social Work and exploring the different avenues of the helping profession. Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2021, she found herself focusing on outdoor education and the overlap between intentional time spent outdoors and overall well-being through non-profit work and her own self-guided explorations. She hopes to combine these passions and practices in her work to help youth and young adults grow into the world around them. When she isn’t working, you can find her planning her next trip, indoor rock climbing, or paddling on the local waterways.
Kahmeela Adams-Friedson, Communications Coordinator
Kahmeela (she/her) has been active in the Pittsburgh Arts scene for over twenty years through filmmaking, photography, podcasts, and journalism. When creating, Kahmeela’s primary focus is storytelling. She is passionate about giving people a platform to tell their stories, particularly those who don’t usually get the opportunity.
Having participated in previous Future Camps by leading several ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions, Kahmeela is excited to join the Evolve family full-time to continue spreading the word about all of the amazing programs provided and the people who benefit from them.
Irem Bilgili-Karabacak, Coach
Irem Bilgili-Karabacak, PhD, BCBA, LBS (she/her), has extensive experience supporting neurodiverse individuals across educational, clinical, and community-based settings. Originally from Türkiye, she values an international and culturally responsive perspective in her work and brings that lens into how she supports individuals and families. She holds a PhD in Special Education from Lehigh University and a Master’s degree in Special Education and Cognitive Behavioral Mental Health from Duquesne University. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS) with a strong foundation in evidence-based, person-centered practices.
Irem specializes in individualized coaching, transition planning, and skill development, and enjoys helping individuals identify their goals, build independence, and advocate for themselves.
She is deeply committed to inclusivity and to creating meaningful community impact, and she values collaborating with individuals, families, educators, and interdisciplinary teams.
Outside of work, she loves traveling and hiking and is a true-crime enthusiast who enjoys watching documentaries and listening to podcasts.
Amber Blue, Coach
Amber Blue (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Juniata College. She has experience working with diverse populations in outpatient therapy, school, and university settings. At Evolve, Amber offers college and employment coaching services in addition to therapy services.Amber takes a person-centered, holistic approach to her work, partnering with individuals to understand their strengths, values, identities, and lived experiences. She believes that meaningful growth happens when the whole person is considered, including academic, career, emotional, and environmental factors. Amber collaborates closely with clients to create individualized, realistic goals and actionable steps that align with their unique needs and aspirations. She emphasizes empowerment, skill-building, and self-awareness, while providing structure, accountability, and support throughout the coaching and therapeutic process. Amber values continuous learning and is always looking for new opportunities to grow. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, reading, and teaching barre as an instructor.
Amanda Denham, Arts & Film Program Manager
As a fourth generation Pittsburgher, Amanda (she/her) has spent her career between community-centered arts spaces and academia. She holds a BFA in Textiles from Kent State University and MA in Apparel Design with a minor in Cultural Anthropology from Cornell University. She comes to Evolve with a wealth of experience in arts programming and filmmaking and is thrilled to contribute to Evolve’s mission by supporting the self-determination of Pittsburgh’s Autistic and Neurodivergent population. Amanda is a researcher, educator, and an all around enthusiast for art accessibility. Talk with her about film, fashion history, native gardening, and language acquisition!
Greg Del Duca, Coach
Greg (he/him) received both his Bachelors and Masters degrees in speech and language pathology (SLP) from the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). Greg very recently learned about his own neurodiversity and adverse childhood experiences and began a new chapter, actually more of a section, of his personal growth and development. Greg is both honored and grateful to have the opportunity to serve and support people, colleagues, families, communities, and a self...pointed in the direction of harm reduction, inclusion, and a focus on the impacts of so-called “supportive” inputs on vulnerable populations rather than the stated intentions of those with greater power and influence. Person-centered. Not expert-centered. Empowered and empowering. Coach Greg also fosters cats, sings, writes, runs, reads/performs picture books, and once had a music-infused podcast, in a galaxy far far away, that was removed for copyright infringement.
Anne Funk, Coach
Anne (she/her) comes to Evolve Coaching following more than 3 decades as a public school educator, where she worked with neurotypical and neurodiverse students, ages elementary-college levels. She holds bachelors and masters degrees in music education, and has always taught in fully inclusive programming. In addition to designing instruction and leading diverse classrooms, Anne’s lived experience includes parenting an autistic son and championing his vocational and avocational interests. She remains a passionate advocate for neurodiverse children and adults, assisting them with self acceptance and self love, embracing the most fundamental parts of who they are. Along with her husband and 2 adult children, Anne’s family includes a Shetland Sheepdog, Poppy, and a Therapy Horse named Boots. In her spare time, she is an avid thrifter, voracious reader, and will travel to any and all beaches for a walk on the sand.
Connor Griffin, Coach
Connor (they/he) earned their MSW from the University of Pittsburgh after serving as a fellow with Evolve Coaching. Prior to that, they earned a B.S. in Commercial Music Technology from California University of Pennsylvania (now Pennsylvania Western University) and spent several years working as a Stagehand, Electrician, and Sound Engineer in the entertainment industry, while performing locally as a Musician during their free time. Having been diagnosed with ADHD since childhood, Connor has firsthand experience with how difficult education and employment settings can be without the proper support. Connor utilizes their own experiences and professional skills to help be a support to those in need while empowering them to develop their own skills and work towards greater levels of independence and self-sufficiency.
Rae Guidry, Video Specialist
Rae (she/her) has worked in film and video editing since 2018. A creative at heart, Rae has years of experience working with video production, digital art, musical performance and production, and writing. Despite being an accomplished performer in her high school marching band, going on to perform at the Rose Parade in her senior year, she always felt as though she didn’t belong. After receiving an Autism diagnosis in 2017, she was introduced to Evolve, and began doing video work for several of their clients the following year. When not chipping away at one of her many creative projects, Rae enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and attending concerts.
Alyssa Lisle, Coach
A native Pittsburgher, Alyssa (she/her) is in the last semester of her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a therapist at Western Psychiatric Hospital and obtained her B.S. in Psychology at Allegheny College. Alyssa uses a strengths-based approach to empower clients to achieve their goals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, making pottery, and spending time with her dog.
Alexander Mikita, Peer Coach
Alexander Mikita (he/him) graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg with a BA in History in 2021. He is also a Certified Peer Specialist through the PA Certification Board. Alex brings a diverse educational, cultural, and professional background to his work. As a result, he leads with a peer based approach, considering each individual’s personal and ethnocultural background. In his spare time, Alex performs with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra Choir as a baritone. He is also an avid gamer and car enthusiast.
Johanna Murphy, Inclusion Program Director
A native of Harrisburg, PA, Joey (she/her) moved to Pittsburgh in 1992 after earning her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Scranton. While her only plan was to become a rock star, her appetite for learning how to do things led her many places Dividing her time between performing and working for a living, she learned accounting, auto body repair, carpentry, basic machining, early-era web design, sales and marketing. She’s done professional marketing and development work for music distribution companies, outreach work in the region’s workforce development community, produced and promoted concerts, launched a newsletter for Pittsburgh’s western neighborhoods, flipped houses, and rescued pets. Her restlessness and inability to settle on one career finally made sense, when, at the age of 42, she was diagnosed with Aspergers, or ASD level one. Since completing her master’s of fine arts at the University of Pittsburgh in 2016, she has worked as a freelance writer and an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh. What she likes best is helping young people make sense of the world as they grow into adults, and using her writing skills to advocate for Autism awareness for older women.
Monique Painton, Coach
​​Monique (she/her) moved to Pittsburgh in July 2022 from Oakland, CA where she was an Educator for 13 years for Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). In the last five years at OUSD, she was a Job/College coach for the Young Adult Program (YAP), working with neurodivergent young adults. Since moving to Pittsburgh, she has worked with neurodivergent musicians at School of Rock as a Drum Instructor and Assistant Director for music groups, bringing all students together to perform a set list of preselected songs at clubs around the city at the end of each semester. Monique graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Education.
She continues to educate herself through workshops and community engagement, trying to learn and experience as much as possible about local artists, musicians, bookstores, libraries, festivals, etc., to be able to grow as much as possible and help be a source of positive change in our society.
Lawrence (Jim) Preston III, Coach
Jim (He/Him) is a self-producing musician from his home studio and brings a humanitarian and empathetic outlook to every project he takes on. In tackling many varied employment opportunities through the years, Jim has established himself as a “jack of all trades” figure. He uses this broad knowledge base to assist employment clients with quickly coming up to speed in their new job placements.
Previously attending college at West Virginia University and later California University of Pennsylvania, he has never lost his passion for learning from new experiences and helping others in the great journey that is life.
Luke Sumpter, Coach
Luke (he/him) moved to Pittsburgh in 2005 after receiving his master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is an experienced mental health professional who is passionate about helping people of all ages. Through the Steel City Beard and Mustache Club he became involved with Evolve's Arts for Autism program and later joined the team as a college coach. In his free time he enjoys hiking, traveling and running a small BBQ company.
Justin Tapp, Coach
Justin Tapp (he/him/they/them), is a licensed social worker (LSW) who earned a Master of Social Work with a graduate certificate in Data Science for Social Impact at Case Western Reserve University’s Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences in Cleveland, Ohio. (Yes, it’s a mouthful.)
Justin has helped students with disabilities in higher education and supported people with mental health and recovery needs in the community. He has also worked in government as a practitioner focused on racial equity and disability justice.
Justin is committed to offering professional, culturally affirming services to everyone. His approach is rooted in cultural humility and intersectionality, and he respects each person’s unique experience.
Outside of work he enjoys canvas painting, caring for houseplants, tackling a jigsaw puzzle, and spending time with his cat.
Sarah Tiffany-Appleton, Coach
Sarah (she/her) is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh's Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Prior to completing her MSW, Sarah earned a BA in Studio Art from Reed College and worked in non-profit Project and Program Management. Sarah joined Evolve as an MSW Fellow in 2022 and became a full-time Coach after graduating in 2023. As a Coach, Sarah enjoys supporting neurodiverse learners and job-seekers to realize their self-defined goals and is especially passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ and transition-age individuals. Throughout her tenure with Evolve, Sarah has contributed to the development of Evolve's Independent Living Programming, and she is thrilled to move into the hybrid role of Coach and Independent Living Program Lead in 2026. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her three dogs, following women's basketball, and fixing up her nearly hundred-year-old house.
Doug Wampler, Senior Coach
Doug (he/him) moved to Pittsburgh in 2015 to pursue his bachelor's degree in Urban Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. After completing his degree, he joined PULSE, and committed to a year of service with Evolve Coaching as a Job Coach. Doug empowers clients who are seeking work, or are already employed, to meet self-defined goals for workplace success. He enjoys thrift shopping, traveling, and eating at new places around the city.
Skukura Woods, Senior Coach
Skukura (she/her) explores work at the intersection of spirituality, culture/identity, and psychology. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Intercultural Communication from Juniata College, and Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University. This role with Evolve allows her to passionately nurture community-building and authenticity while supporting others in their unique life development. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants or recipes, taking naps, and doing pilates.
Taryn Wright, Coach
Taryn (she/her) earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Social Work from La Salle University and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. While studying at Pitt, Taryn joined Evolve as a Social Work Fellow in 2023, before becoming a coach in 2024. Taryn is passionate about working with people to support their individual aspirations and goals. Having recently experienced college as a neurodivergent student, she is acutely familiar with the unique strengths and challenges involved. Taryn loves connecting with people and is happy to work in a field where she can connect with others and bolster them in their journeys. In her free time, Taryn enjoys reading, watching movies, being outdoors, and meeting new people.
Erin Zacher, Coach
After graduating with her bachelor's from the University of Pittsburgh, Erin (she/her) has provided counseling to a variety of populations. Erin earned both an M.S. in Professional Counseling and an M.A. in Student Affairs from Carlow University to combine her interests in helping others learn to cope and supporting adults through transitional phases in their lives. Erin often incorporates mindfulness techniques and a strengths-based approach into her coaching to help clients develop practical skills in their daily lives. In her free time, you can find her spending time outdoors, practicing yoga, or watching a new movie or tv show.
Lucy Zhang, Artist Mentor
Lucy (they/them) is a neurodivergent artist who is passionate about art-making as a liberatory and care-centered practice. They have a B.A. in Studio Arts from the University of Pittsburgh, where they also studied Sociology and various area studies. Lucy’s professional experience is primarily in art-technical and art-nonprofit spaces, and their personal artistic practice centers around intersections of diasporic identity and environment, investigating the ways in which we are rooted and bound to each other and the land. In their spare time, Lucy likes to be outdoors, make things, and spend time with friends.
Katherine Isoda, Social Work Intern
Katherine (she/her) is pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, with a specialization in Direct Practice and a certificate in Mental Health. Katherine is excited to further delve into helping others and is passionate about giving everyone the resources and opportunities to reach their personal goals. Katherine is experienced in a strengths-based approach and implementing treatment intervention plans to help others. She has previously worked in applied behavioral therapy with children as well. In her free time, Katherine enjoys working out, trying new restaurants, spending time with friends and self care.
Jill Diana, Social Work Intern
Jill (she/her) is pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, with a focus on trauma-informed work and a Certificate in Gerontology. Jill received her Bachelor's degree from Villanova University and worked in community mental health, focusing on wraparound services coordination and delivery for Autistic youth. After working in psychiatric settings in an administrative capacity, Jill became a Senior Move Manager and currently runs a nonprofit for older adults experiencing housing crises, focusing on assisting individuals with hoarding behaviors to create a healthier home environment. If there is free time to be had, Jill loves to spend time with her expanding family, write mystery stories, surf anytime she is near an ocean, snowboard, and ski.