James Potthast is a 25 year old young man and college student. As an adult with Autism, James is extremely bright but unable to reliably communicate verbally. Along his journey of self-expression, James has expressed his desire for independence. JEM Vending is an opportunity for James to expand his vocational skills and continue to grow in his life experiences. James has been an integral part in the start-up process of JEM Vending and continues to provide invaluable insight to our growth and goals. James is a gifted writer and problem solver.

James lives in Arlington, VA and attends George Mason University.

Eugene Gyapong has been working as an assistant for James for two years. Previously, Eugene worked over 10 years for Whole Foods as a Grocery Buyer and Supervisor. In his role, Eugene ordered and replenished merchandise as needed. He performed the functions of breaking down deliveries, moving stock back to the floor, stocking shelves and merchandising products. Eugene was responsible for providing positive, courteous, and efficient customer service to customers. His supervisory duties included providing responsible supervision and coaching of up to 8 employees. He was responsible for maintaining cleanliness, food quality andfacility management. These are extremely valuable skills and experience for the JEM team.

Two years ago, Eugene changed careers and began his journey in the insurance field. He has now joined Foundation Insurance Group as a promising agent.

Margarita Benavides is James’s primary communication and behavioral support assistant. She has over 20 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities in educational, home, and vocational settings. Margarita is a 2009 graduate from George Mason University and started her career in Fairfax County Public Schools providing Applied Behavioral Analysis across classrooms in the school district. She transitioned to in-home services, helping families establish behavioral support plans as well as reach independent living skills goals.

In 2013, Margarita founded a nonprofit, Children’s Adaptive Team Sports, which continues to provide team sports programs for children with special needs across the Northern Virginia area. Through working with James, Margarita has found the opportunity to continue to support him from adolescence to adulthood and is both excited and focused on using JEM Vending as an opportunity to expand the options for adults with disabilities to have meaningful and purposeful jobs. Margarita is a mother of four and lives in Fairfax, VA.