Our Vision
- To encourage a more robust and diverse workforce
- To facilitate positive social roles for individual with disabilities through employment
- To economically empower historically overlooked population
Our Mission
Edge Employment seeks to engage employers in an innovative hiring approach that matches the contributions of job candidates with disabilities to the operational needs of Louisville Businesses to create opportunities for competitive, integrated employment.
Principles
Our work is driven by principles of inclusion, respect, dignity, equity, and social justice.
Recognition
The Edge team is proud of our ongoing partnerships and accomplishments!
Awards
Chamber of St. Matthews Community Champion Award (2017)
Chamber of St. Matthews Non-Profit of the Year Award (2018)
Marc Gold Award (2020)
Presentations
Keynote Address at the Kentucky Job Placement & Development Pre-Conference (2019)
Supporting Value in the Workplace: How Social Role Valorization Strengthens Employment First at Kentucky Association of People Supporting Employment 1st Conference (2020)
Certifications
Our Employment Specialists have obtained or are pursuing certifications in all three areas of the Marc Gold & Associates Leadership Series: Systematic Instruction, Discovery, and Job Development.
Our Staff
Ilese Anderson
Executive Director
Ilese has spent over 25 years supporting people with disabilities, driven by a passion for independence, inclusion, and person-centered care. She has held leadership roles at Stone Belt Arc, Inc. and Cedar Lake Residences, and now brings her vision to Mattingly Edge, where she champions opportunities for people to thrive in their homes, careers, and communities.
Outside of work, Ilese enjoys family life with her husband and five children, traveling, exploring Louisville’s food scene, and cheering on her favorite sports teams.
Ilese Anderson
Executive Director
Dan Trabue
Employment Specialist
Dan has a Bachelor in Special Education from the University of Louisville. He has also studied a good bit in environmental planning and education. Dan has had several careers including woodworking/cabinetry, public school teacher, mental health counselor, GIS (Computer Mapping) Technical Support and now, an Employment Specialist at Edge Employment. Dan has also dabbled semi-professionally in photography, videography, art, and writing.
Dan Trabue
Employment Specialist
Merry Reid Sheffer
Director of Employment Services
Merry Reid earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and a Master in Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She has worked in retail, food service, childcare, ministry to all ages, prison abolition- and now- representation and consultation with Edge Employment! Merry Reid enjoys meeting new people, reading fiction, and spending time with her partner and their dog, Bear.
Merry Reid Sheffer
Director of Employment Services
Julian Adam
Employment Specialist
Julian has a bachelor’s degree from Murray State University in Sociology with a Minor in Organizational Communication. He spent four years as a Crisis Respite Case Manager in Seattle Washington, working with vulnerable individuals in the fields of mental health and chemical addiction. Previously Julian worked as a Center Manager for The Job Center assisting with finding employment for individuals in the Warehouse and Distribution fields. Julian is a Cheerleading Coach for Noe Middle School locally in Louisville and has coached for more than a decade. He is a very passionate and professional individual who believes in leaving the world a better place than of which it was found. Julian’s motto is “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”
Julian Adam
Employment Specialist
An Extension of Mattingly Edge
As an extension of Mattingly Edge, Edge Employment remains committed to empowering people with disabilities to thrive at work by continuing to cultivate community partnerships that provide sustainable employment for all.
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