Getting a job is only the beginning. PRIME Retention Specialists help individuals navigate the challenges that can arise after employment begins, providing individualized support to help them maintain employment and move forward in their careers. Working alongside Anchor, they bring the human experience, judgment, and connection that are central to the PRIME approach.
Meet the Team
Ashley Manuel
Ashley Manuel is a PRIME Retention Specialist and an Employment Specialist with Employment Resources, Inc. (ERI). She brings experience in vocational support, community integration, and job retention. Whether someone is navigating a workplace challenge, celebrating a success, or experiencing a little of both in the same afternoon, Ashley is there to help them move forward. She holds a B.A. in Criminology & Law Studies and Psychology from Marquette University.
Charlotte Smyles
Charlotte Smyles is a PRIME Retention Specialist with experience supporting people with disabilities, including work as a peer mentor with TerpsEXCEED at the University of Maryland, where she earned her degree in psychology. She understands that starting a job is one milestone, but figuring out the people, routines, expectations, and the occasional workplace curveball is where support can really make a difference.
“What I like about PRIME is that getting a job isn’t treated as the finish line. What happens afterward matters, too. Being there to help someone work through challenges, stay employed, and build greater confidence and independence is what makes this work meaningful to me.” —Charlotte
Rachel Koritz
Rachel Koritz is a PRIME Retention Specialist with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and experience in behavioral support, education, and client services. She is passionate about helping people build confidence, overcome barriers, and feel supported in reaching their goals.
"PRIME is important to me because everyone deserves support in finding and maintaining meaningful employment. I hope VR professionals see Anchor as a useful resource they can turn to for guidance, ideas, and support in their everyday work. I'm excited to be part of a project that can make a real difference in people's lives." —Rachel
Jill Jicha
Jill Jicha is a PRIME Retention Specialist with more than 20 years of experience helping people find jobs, keep jobs, and navigate workplace challenges, including work in job development, placement, coaching, and Sign Language interpreting. Basically, if it involved employment, communication, or helping someone reach their goals, Jill was probably doing it, often all before lunch. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado.
"I'm grateful to be part of a team that is exploring innovative ways to help people maintain meaningful employment and, by extension, improve lives. It's incredibly rewarding to see how the intersection of human support and AI technology can help participants navigate challenges, build confidence, and create a pathway to long-term success in their jobs." —Jill
Shaping Anchor Together
These Retention Specialists bring decades of combined experience to PRIME, but what makes their work distinct is how they're shaping the way AI supports it. Rather than adapting to a tool built elsewhere, they're helping develop Anchor around their professional judgment, experience, and understanding of what participants need between conversations.
That partnership is the point. Anchor can extend the specialists’ support between conversations, while the relationships, judgment, and expertise remain distinctly human.
Interested in learning more about that partnership? Learn more about Anchor, the AI companion being developed alongside this team through the PRIME project.