About CAEC - Chattanooga Area Employment Consortium

About us

Supporting the disabled community in Chattanooga Since 1999

The Chattanooga Area Employment Consortium (CAEC) began in January of 1999. The Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services, Corporate Connections, and a group of Chattanooga provider agencies began meeting on a monthly basis to network and share employment information. Job leads were shared with all the members of the consortium. Employers were invited as guest presenters to provide information to the group about their companies and employment needs.

As the group developed the members wrote by-laws and elected officers. The mission and purpose of the consortium “is to improve the quality of life and general welfare for people with disabilities as it relates to employment issues. The consortium shall undertake to promote, develop and share employment opportunities.

The name changed in 2012 from the Southeast Tennessee Placement Consortium to Chattanooga Area Employment Consortium. The mission statement has not changed over the years. The purpose still remains to improve the quality of life and general welfare for people with disabilities as it relates to employment issues.

Over the years Chattanooga provider agencies have teamed together to provide a quality network of services. Employers have come to realize that employing people with disabilities makes good sound sense. The untapped labor force of people with disabilities can and has changed the interworks of integrated community employment. Inclusion is making it possible for many people with disabilities to become and active member in their community through employment and other social activities.

Erskine Oglesby Jr.

President

Erskine is a former Chattanooga City Councilman for District 7 where he served as Chairman 2019-2020, Vice Chairman 2018-2019 and Chairman of the Economic and Community Development committee from 2017-2018 and 2020-2021. In his extensive professional career Erskine has worked for nonprofits including the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, the Southeast Tennessee Development District, the Salvation Army and the YMCA of the USA.
Erskine is an active board volunteer in Chattanooga having served on the Executive Committee of the Southeast Tennessee Development District, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga, Habitat for Humanities for Greater Chattanooga, Tivoli Foundation, WTCI Public Television, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Metropolitan Ministry and Chairman of the Art organization Mark Making and Chairman of the Erlanger Community Health Centers. He is also the current Director of the Dementia Support Ministry for Resurrected Ministries.
Mr. Oglesby is married to Sheryl Oglesby. They have a son Ryan who is Autistic and a daughter Dominique, 3 grandsons and a great granddaughter. Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby are members of Resurrected Reformed Baptist Church.

Theresa Ozborn

Vice President

Theresa was born in Chattanooga and studied psychology and sociology at the University of Tennessee. With a deep passion for mental health recovery, connections and helping others, she joined the AIM Center in 2016 as an IPS Employment Specialist. Today, she leads a dedicated team of five employment specialists and a peer support specialist.

Theresa is grateful to be part of a community where independence and motivation are essential elements of recovery. Over the years, she and her team have supported members with employment goals and community integration through work: a place where they find connections, feel wanted, included and valued for the work they do.

Outside of her work, Theresa enjoys spending quality time with her daughter Izzy and their doodle dog, Willow.

Sumesh Manhas

Treasurer

Sumesh serves as the Coordinator of Employment Services at Orange Grove Center, where he leads a team of Employment Specialists, Job Coaches, and Support Managers, developing inclusive employment programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), building partnerships with local businesses, and advocating for community integration and policy changes.

He has a background in HR, payroll, logistics, and business operations across both the U.S. and India. Prior to my current position, I worked as an HR & Payroll Specialist, managed supported living services, and held leadership roles in accounting and business development.

He holds a Master’s in Sociology and a Bachelor’s in Social Sciences from the University of Jammu, as well as an Associate of Science in Finance from Chattanooga State Community College and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Finance at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). Sumesh is ACRE Certified in Employment Services from University of Georgia (UGA) and hold certifications in tax preparation and job development (SHIFT, SSA Ticket to Work, H&R Block, and Jackson Hewitt).

Jeromie Gentry

Secretary

Jeromie is a Chattanooga native and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga with a BA in Communication. Jeromie is also a founder of the Chattanooga Filmmakers Guild, a local 501c3 nonprofit organization, and works to expand employment opportunities to people with disabilities in the film industry.

He has a background in filmmaking, marketing and public relations, and provides web development, photography, graphic design, and video production services to local and regional clients.