Meet the team!
Tom Allsworth
Chief Executive Officer
Tom was born in Phoenix, AZ. He enjoyed the great outdoors, worked multiple jobs in the hospitality industry, and played high school football. After attending the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, he graduated with a degree in Marine Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. Tom served four years on active duty with the Marines, including a tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
After leaving active service, Tom continued his career as a Marine Engineer, working at Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea and for the US Navy in Japan. Eventually, he left his roles in heavy industry to pursue his passion for serving his local community. Tom started working with Pillar Health Group (PHG) in 2021 and later transitioned to Portland to take over the role of Executive Director at Pacific Opportunities in 2022. In 2024, Tom assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer at Trellis, overseeing the business operations for all PHG-related companies in Oregon.
Jim Wilson
President
Jim was born and and raised In Portland Oregon.
He graduated from the Oregon Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Computer Systems Engineering.
After graduating from OIT - Jim spent the majority of his careen in various technology and operational roles in various industries including the non-profit world.
In these experiences he has held various executive management roles.
In his spare time - Jim likes to read, cook, camp, fish, and travel to see his 3 adult children and 1 grandchild.
Julia Ansberry
Founder and Executive Director
I have a long history of teaching independent living skills and empowerment abilities in both my personal and professional life. Being able to believe in your abilities and then move forward has been my mantra, and I try to bring that to my staff, clients, and family.We are the creators of our life story, so why not make it a good one?
Starting Trellis has been one of my greatest achievements — next to being married for over 30 years and raising three amazing children! This company has provided challenges, personal growth, and the most amazing joy that I would have expected. I am grateful each day to be surrounded by talented, awesome people and clients that are growing and reaching their goals.
It’s a good place to be.
Walt Courtney
Portland Community Manager
As the community manager for our Salem branch, I bring five years of valuable management experience to our team. I am dedicated to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where individuals can flourish.
I firmly believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life and reach their highest potential. My goal is to foster a community that celebrates diversity, independence, and personal growth.
My passion for supporting adults with disabilities goes beyond my professional role, as I have personally supported my adult stepson with autism for over 13 years. This firsthand experience has deepened my understanding and commitment to providing the highest quality of care and support.
Megan Almrayatee
Portland Employment Manager
Trellis has been a fabulous place to grow and serve my community as an Employment Specialist, Trainer, and now in an Employment Manager role.
I attended Oregon State University for my undergrad (Go Beavs!) where I studied Human Development and Family Science and then joined Teach for America after college.
I taught in South Texas for seven years. This experience gave me a wealth of learning opportunities and equipped me with transferable skills that I’ve been able to carry over into my work with Trellis.
When I moved back to Oregon, I found this fabulous organization and started as an Employment Specialist before I grew into leadership roles with Trellis while completing my master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
It’s been an amazing journey, and I absolutely love the people I am blessed to work with and the wonderful clients I have worked alongside on their path to finding meaningful employment.
I am passionate about being a matchmaker between businesses and our clients to build win-win relationships. I get to see lives change for the better every day and be a part of that transformation. How awesome is that?!
It’s a joy to serve as a facilitator helping our clients find work that aligns with their skills and strengths. In my role as Employment Manager, I truly love supporting our talented and tenacious employment specialists in doing this work with excellence.
Matt Cordova
Job Coach Manager
My unrelated background and unexpected discovery of Trellis have greatly contributed to my appreciation of this great company. I feel that I’m living proof of our commitment to diversity of thought and collaboration and to providing opportunities to all.
My education in business via the classroom and longtime ownership of a business only mildly prepared me for my original role here as an Employment Specialist. What propelled me was the support of my coworkers and supervisors and their infectious attitudes rooted in our mission of changing perceptions and empowerment.
As we are a growing and dynamic company, I was presented with the opportunity to interview for the Job Coach Manager role, and I have been honored to fill that seat since December 2019.
Every day I get to work with a job coaching team that cares deeply about our clients’ success and their well-being. I’m also surrounded by a leadership team that accepts me, welcomes my opinions, and offers me more support than I ever thought possible in such a role.
Trellis has also honored my No. 1 priority, which is my family.
All of this together makes for one of the very best accidents I’ve ever experienced.
Janet Castaneda
Salem Community Manager
I hail from the golden coasts of California, though Oregon has been my haven for the past thirteen years. At thirty-five, I am a single mother to a teenage daughter, navigating the joys and trials of parenthood with a youthful spirit.
For the past four years, I've immersed myself in a field that ignites my soul: caregiving. It began as a Direct Support Professional, where my journey was paved with empathy and illuminated by the faces of those I cared for. During this time, my passion for this profession has blazed brighter, propelling me forward through the ranks of my company not once, but twice. Now, as the Salem community manager here at Trellis, I am entrusted with nurturing connections and fostering a sense of belonging within our community. While my experience may be modest, my dedication knows no bounds. With my gaze fixed firmly on the horizon, I eagerly anticipate the journey ahead, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that will shape our growth.
You fit here!
We are about training, supporting, and growing our staff. We celebrate each other’s successes and step into each other’s challenges. Make a difference and love where you work.