Purpose-Driven Support for People with Disabilities
Creating pathways to independence, inclusion, and meaningful employment.
Our Story
For over 70 years, we have empowered individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment through hands-on training, job placement, and holistic support. Our name represents what we stand for: universal design, inclusion, and collaboration. Together you and I we spread the light of opportunity.
History
U&I originally served children with intellectual disabilities through education and training. In 1981, in response to evolving community needs, we shifted our focus to workforce development for adults and youth with disabilities. Over the decades, we’ve expanded our services, assumed operations of other centers, and introduced pioneering programs like mobile work crews, youth readiness training, and veteran reintegration. Today, U&I supports over 1,200 individuals annually through our workforce and day programs across North Texas.
Metrics That Matter
Become a Corporate Sponsor
Make Your Brand a Force for Good and Champion Inclusion & Impact.
To empower individuals with disabilities and barriers to work to achieve their highest level of independence and employment.
Because of U&I’s commitment, individuals with physical, mental, and societal disabilities lead fulfilling lives through inclusive employment and human connection—and volunteers, donors, and partners are inspired by the transformation they witness firsthand.
Led by CEO Dr. Bridgett Forge, U&I is guided by a team of experienced professionals and community advocates dedicated to inclusion, equity, and impact. Dr. Bridgett brings strategic leadership and deep compassion to her role, building partnerships and driving program innovation to meet the evolving needs of individuals we serve.
Alongside her, directors and staff across employment services, training, fundraising, and client support work as one delivering person-centered programs that change lives every day.
Financial Controller
General Manager Operations
Director of Grants & Wage Services
Director of Veteran Affairs
Director of HR & Compliance
Veterans Employment Specialist
Finance Assistant
Academy Instructor
Lead Employment Specialist / Project SEARCH
Operations Specialist
Community Outreach Specialist
Program Support Specialist
Program Implementation Specialist
Case Manager
General Support
Generalist
Veteran Employment Specialist
Veteran Employment Specialist
Program Implementation Specialist
Job Coach PRN
Guided by Vision, Driven by Purpose
A Columbus, OH, native earned a bachelor’s degree in Politcal Science from Wake Forest University in December 2003 and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington) in May 2012. Obi is a former Senior Commercial Banker. During his tenure, he expanded the diversity within his institutions by lending the majority of $85M of loan proceeds to businesses owned by people of color (2018-2021).
After a 14-year banking career, Chukwumah launched Space & Equity, a holding company designed to educate, increase assets, and create new space for Black Entrepreneurs and those who identify with the need to expand wealth in their community.
Space & Equity (www.spaceequitycorp.com), has three verticals:
1. Come Correct Podcast, the educational & entertainment arm that includes interviews, apparel sales, and events
2. Come Correct Consulting, a commercial banking consultation platform
3. Kennaija Beans Holdings, a Scooter’s Coffee franchisee.
Obi and his wife, Danielle, have two daughters, Zina and Amara, and a son, Obi Jr. (OJ). They have called Garland, Texas, home since 2016 after several Air Force assignments, where Letia was honorably discharged with the rank of Major. Their daughters are active in club volleyball and track and field, respectively, while OJ is simply active! Free time for the family is filled with their love for domestic and international travel.
Obi serves as Board Chairman of Achieve DFW, a nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate workplace exclusion for adults living with disabilities and other barriers to employment (2017–present). Finally, Chukwumah is fueled by his faith in God and believes that Space & Equity is fulfilling his assignment.
Founder & CEO, Space & Equity | Board Chairman
Mark Heymann is the Managing Partner of Mark Heymann & Associates, an organization focused on helping companies define their strategic direction while building strong foundations for growth and expansion. Previously, he was a founding partner and CEO of UniFocus, LP, and he continues to serve as a Director of the firm, which is the leading workforce performance company in the service sector.
Mr. Heymann brings more than 45 years of experience across a wide range of service industries, with particular expertise in hospitality. He began his career in the productivity and process improvement field in the mid-1970s and went on to pioneer the development of labor management system technology in the early 1980s. In 1991, he introduced one of the earliest resource and labor management software solutions, Watson R.M.™.
In 1998, Mr. Heymann played a key role in coordinating the merger of HGI, Strategic Quantitative Solutions, and CST, resulting in the formation of UniFocus—the first company to deliver a comprehensive suite of performance management systems specifically designed for the hospitality industry. UniFocus has led the market with several innovations, including automated dynamic scheduling, touchscreen time clocks, and task-based labor management for meetings and conventions.
Throughout his career, Mr. Heymann has facilitated strategic planning initiatives, contributed to workflow design, and served on both for-profit and nonprofit boards, all while acting as CEO of UniFocus, LP, a multinational organization. He has published numerous articles in Forbes, Hotel Executive, and Global Business and Organizational Excellence.
Mr. Heymann holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Brown University and a Master of Science in Business from Columbia University.
Managing Partner, Mark Heymann & Associates
Todd is an accomplished executive in the finance industry with more than 30 years of experience. He currently manages a limited liability company that invests in small businesses and provides strategic advisory services.
Previously, Todd worked in asset management within the insurance sector at Columbia Management/Ameriprise Financial, where he served as a Managing Director. Prior to that role, he was at HSBC as Managing Director and Global Head of the ABS/MBS business, as well as Head of North American interest rate trading.
Todd began the first 18 years of his career at Lehman Brothers, where he served as Managing Director overseeing Global Mortgage Trading.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Todd is a proud parent of three adult children, all of whom reside in Texas. He celebrates his 29th wedding anniversary this year and is deeply committed to giving back to the community.
Managing Director & Investor, Private Advisory and Investment Firm
As Co-Chair of Polsinelli’s Global Franchise and Supply Network Practice, Joyce Mazero represents national and global product- and service-based companies, guiding them through major initiatives. Her work includes structuring franchise and distribution networks, purchasing cooperatives, and buying groups; negotiating strategic alliances, joint ventures, and domestic and international licensing, franchising, manufacturing, retail, and logistics agreements; advising on the acquisition and sale of franchise chains, foodservice providers, and manufacturing plants; and litigating franchise, intellectual property, and distribution disputes worldwide.
Key focal points of Joyce’s practice include managing supply chain risk, leveraging supply chains to maximize competitive advantage and increase cash flow opportunities, and managing risk within domestic and international franchise systems to support market expansion and foster sustainable value-driven relationships among franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers. She is also a certified mediator for complex commercial disputes.
Chambers USA, the world’s leading guide to the legal profession, has ranked Joyce “Top Ranked” (Band 1) in Franchising Nationwide for the past 14 consecutive years, since 2008. She is also highly ranked by Chambers Global. Joyce has received multiple leadership awards from the International Franchise Association, the Women’s Foodservice Forum, and the Dallas Business Journal.
A frequent national speaker and writer, Joyce co-authored Franchise Management for Dummies, a Dummies series publication released in April 2017. She has also served as an editorial legal advisor for Franchising for Dummies, was **co-editor of the ABA Forum on Franchising’s Monograph on Financial Performance Representations_, and is a Contributing Writer for American City Business Journals and Forbes.com.
Co-Chair, Global Franchise and Supply Network Practice, Polsinelli
Matthew has experience working in both the public and private sectors, specializing primarily in corporate strategy and executive leadership. In his professional endeavors, he has led multi-disciplinary teams ranging from sales to operations and worked with leadership from SMB to multi-billion-dollar companies to develop and execute growth strategies.
A tenured board member, Matthew has served U&I for over 5 years in various capacities and focuses his efforts on identifying and exploring opportunities to enhance the strategic position of U&I. He was drawn to serve U&I based on the alignment of its mission with his experience growing up with a disabled sibling and seeing firsthand how this community is largely marginalized, especially as they become adults.
Matthew’s hope is that he can leverage his combined professional and personal experience to spread the light of inclusion and enhance the lives of those who need our help the most.
Board Member, U&I | Corporate Strategy & Executive Leadership Specialist
Impact in Every Step
A veteran finding stability, a young adult finding their voice, a family breathing easier, a business gaining a partner.
That’s what we do at U&I. And we’re just getting started.
Our Partners
We work hand-in-hand with hundreds of employers, schools, and agencies across Texas. From Fortune 500s to local champions, our partners help create opportunities that matter.
