Our team

A woman-owned firm of 12 vocational rehabilitation counselors — 5 of them bilingual in English and Spanish — serving injured workers and employers throughout Central and Eastern Washington.

Nicole Dupré

MSW · ABVE/D · CDMS

Owner · Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Owner of AVS and a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor since 2007. A diplomate of the American Board of Vocational Experts who conducts forensic evaluations and provides expert witness testimony.

Mrs. Dupré has been in practice as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor since 2007 and is the owner of Advanced Vocational Solutions, Inc. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She is a diplomate member of the American Board of Vocational Experts and a Certified Disability Management Specialist.

Mrs. Dupré works collaboratively with injured workers, employers, claim managers and members of the medical and legal communities to provide all phases of vocational services. She also conducts forensic evaluations and provides expert witness testimony in workers’ compensation, personal injury and civil litigation cases.

She is proud to represent the interests and values of Eastern Washington with respect to the emerging vocational issues of the day.

Education

Master’s Degree in Social Work
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Credentials, service & presentations

Diplomate, American Board of Vocational Experts (ABVE/D)
Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS)
Member, Vocational Recovery Advisory Committee, WA Department of Labor & Industries
2015–2017Board of Directors, Washington IARP
Associate member, International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
Presenter on professional ethics, ethical dilemmas and cultural diversity in counseling: WA State Department of Labor & Industries, WA Self-Insured Association, Oregon Association of Rehabilitation Professionals

Annabel Cobane

M.S. · CRC · CDMS

Supervisor & Principal Partner English / Spanish

Counselor since 2014 and principal partner. A Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and BIIA-recognized vocational expert, bilingual and bicultural in English and Spanish.

Annabel Cobane has been a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor since 2014 and is a supervisor and principal partner of Advanced Vocational Solutions, Inc. After nine years in the field, she returned to school to earn her Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from Fort Valley State University.

She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a Certified Disability Management Specialist, and is recognized as a vocational expert by the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. Bilingual and bicultural, she connects with the Spanish-speaking community and the unique needs of many injured workers in Central and Eastern Washington.

Annabel deeply values giving back to the vocational community, organizing webinars and conferences that keep the field current on industry trends and best practices.

Education

M.S., Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, Fort Valley State University
Bachelor’s degree, Society, Ethics & Human Behavior (minor in Human Rights), University of Washington

Credentials, service & presentations

Recognized vocational expert, Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals
2020–presentBoard Member at Large, IARP Washington Chapter
2018Professional ethics — WA Self-Insured Association
2019Benefits of on-the-job training — Kiwanis Club of Yakima
2021Vocational services after COVID-19 — WA Self-Insured Association
2022Vocational rehabilitation services for H-2A workers — IARP National Conference
2023Return-to-work strategies — WA Self-Insured Association
2023Working with limited-English-proficiency workers — IARP WA Conference
2024Vocational rehabilitation services for H-2A workers — Meeting of the Minds Conference, Project HELP

Rehabilitation counselors

English / Spanish
Eloisa Flores

B.S. · CDMS

Counselor since 2017

B.S. Business Administration (HR Management), Central Washington University
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Ms. Flores is a bilingual Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor who joined the field in 2017. She is a Certified Disability Management Specialist, a CASAS Certified Testing Administrator and an intern supervisor. She has experience working with injured H-2A temporary agricultural workers who reside outside the country, specifically in Mexico. Raised in a predominantly agricultural area, she understands the needs agricultural workers face.
- CASAS Certified Testing Administrator
- Intern supervisor
Brianna Peaty

B.A. · CDMS

Counselor since 2020

B.A. Management & Operations (minor in Human Resources), Washington State University

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Brianna Peaty started working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in 2020. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Operations with a minor in Human Resources from Washington State University.
Ethan Barke

B.S. · CDMS

Counselor since 2022

B.S. Recreation Management & Event Planning, Central Washington University

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Ethan Barke started working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in 2022. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management and Event Planning from Central Washington University.
Misty Gonzalez

BSW · CDMS

Counselor since 2023

Bachelor of Social Work, Heritage University

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Misty Gonzalez started working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in 2023. She holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Heritage University and has substantial experience in workforce development serving communities in both King and Yakima Counties.
English / Spanish

Eliezer Alcazar

B.A. · CDMS

Counselor since 2024

B.A. Psychology (minor in Family Science), Central Washington University

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Eliezer Alcazar has been a bilingual English/Spanish Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor since 2024. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Family Science from Central Washington University, and a passion for helping people succeed despite mental, emotional and physical barriers.
Breanna Hansen

B.S. · CDMS

Counselor since 2024

Dual Bachelor’s degree, Event Management & Global Wine Studies, Central Washington University

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Breanna Hansen started working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in 2024. She holds a dual Bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University and has extensive volunteer experience working with people with disabilities.
Erin Stewart

B.A.

Counselor since 2025

B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (minors in Psychology & Sociology), Central Washington University

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Erin Stewart began working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in 2025. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with minors in Psychology and Sociology from Central Washington University.
Noah Hokanson

B.A.

Counselor since 2026

B.A. Philosophy, Eastern Washington University; graduate study in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Grand Canyon University

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Noah Hokanson began working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in 2026. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Eastern Washington University and is pursuing a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Grand Canyon University. He is committed to supporting individuals as they navigate recovery and their return-to-work goals.
English / Spanish

Hunter Heersink

M.S.

Counselor since 2026

M.S. Forensic Psychology, Arizona State University; B.S. Psychology, Washington State University

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Hunter Heersink began working as a bilingual English/Spanish Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in 2026. He previously served as an Employment and Education Case Manager for the New Journeys program at Comprehensive Healthcare, helping people living with physical and mental health conditions connect with resources and find the confidence to return to work.
English / Spanish

Saley Mickles

B.A.

Counselor since 2026

B.A. Criminal Justice, Heritage University

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Saley Mickles began working as a bilingual English/Spanish Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in 2026. She brings seven years of experience as a Mental Health Case Manager, helping individuals overcome barriers through advocacy, care coordination and individualized support.