Co-founder/CFO

Catherine Berger has a master’s degree in vocational and rehabilitation counseling, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and associate degrees in social and behavioral science and child development. She has worked over six years working directly with Veterans that have disabilities develop education and employment plans to overcome their impediments to employment. She has worked in public and private agencies, nonprofit organizations, advocacy centers, and educational institutions from preschools to universities. Through years of experience, she has become a well-rounded intuitive counselor, efficient in leading, teaching, training, mentoring, and supervising others. She has relevant employment experiences that includes individual and group counseling, mentoring, advocacy, instruction, formulating and developing case plans, action plans, case management, forensic interviewing, conflict resolution, and crisis interventions. Her work experience in counseling and human services includes working with individuals and groups from diverse populations with complex needs that includes people that have been marginalized due to addiction, physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, trauma, and racial, religious, ethnic, gender identity, and socioeconomic circumstances. She has extensive experience in program development and implementation, community collaboration, and organizing with stakeholders to host events such as City workdays, volunteer and international events including the Special Olympics in 2015.

Co-founder/CEO

Erica Lopez, CEO and Co-Founder of Star Bright Vocational Services, brings extensive expertise to the field of vocational rehabilitation counseling. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. She is a nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and a Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE), with a strong foundation in vocational assessment, individualized planning, and disability services.

With over ten years of experience working directly with individuals with developmental disabilities, Erica has specialized in case management and the development of personalized vocational plans designed to support client independence and long-term employment success. She has over seven years of experience serving veterans with service-connected disabilities, providing transferable skills analyses, interpreting vocational assessments, and facilitating access to employment services and training programs that help address barriers to competitive employment.

In addition, Erica has over five years of direct experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), working with clients facing behavioral and developmental challenges. Her work in this area has included implementing behavioral strategies to support adaptive skill-building and promote workplace readiness.

Throughout her career, Erica has worked with a diverse population of clients, including individuals with disabilities, transitioning service members, and those navigating career changes. She is well-versed in the use of vocational assessment tools to evaluate aptitudes, interests, and functional capabilities, and she is deeply committed to helping clients identify and pursue realistic, fulfilling career goals. Fluent in Spanish, Erica is committed to inclusive service delivery and excels in supporting individuals who may face language or cultural barriers in accessing vocational rehabilitation services. Her comprehensive understanding of assessment tools, labor market trends, and disability accommodations positions her as a dedicated advocate for empowering clients to achieve their career goals through meaningful, tailored interventions.