Amber Marsh

Biography

Amber Marsh is a dedicated professional with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Utah and extensive experience in supported employment services. Since beginning her career in 2011, Amber has focused on creating innovative, person-centered solutions that help individuals with disabilities achieve meaningful, community-based employment. As a former Director of Employment, Amber led transformative initiatives that reshaped supported employment practices. She played a pivotal role in developing statewide programs, streamlining employment processes, and spearheading the HCBS project, which successfully transitioned over 100 individuals from sheltered workshops into competitive, integrated employment. Her leadership extended to building systems that improved service efficiency and outcomes. Amber also developed and expanded a supported employment program at a previous provider, growing its reach from fewer than 50 individuals to over 150 individuals achieving sustainable, community-based employment. Her ability to build strong partnerships with businesses and community stakeholders ensured services were impactful and focused on creating meaningful opportunities. In 2019, her contributions were recognized with the Sandra Asbury Award, honoring her commitment to innovation and excellence in employment services. In 2020, Amber was a key figure in the statewide effort to close sheltered workshops, advocating for systems change and assisting a large provider in transitioning to community-based employment models. She also collaborated with national consultants to help one of the state’s largest providers adopt person-centered practices and align with Employment First principles. Today, Amber delivers ACRE certification training and technical assistance to employment specialists and providers. Her work includes identifying training needs, developing systems for tracking data to address service gaps, enhancing ACRE curriculum to align with practical, real-world applications, and fostering collaboration with providers, VR counselors, and stakeholders. Amber remains committed to driving systems change and ensuring employment services are effective, innovative, and focused on client success. Amber’s philosophy centers on empowering individuals and professionals to achieve meaningful outcomes. Passionate about improving standards and creating opportunities, she believes in the transformative power of employment and inspires others to find purpose and fulfillment in their work.