Randy and Friends has announced the hiring of Colleen Pirkle as an employee specialist and Dexter Williams as a job coach.

Pirkle, who has lived in Gainesville her whole life, taught special education in Hall County for more than 30 years. She has taught employment skills training to high school students for most of her career, including Project SEARCH at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Her focus is on-the-job training, community job coaching, internship coordinating and serving as the liaison for parents and agencies that fund participants’ training.

Williams, who has lived in Gainesville the past 14 years, has worked in the field of special education in various roles as an instructor, para-professional and travel trainer. He is a graduate of North Georgia College and Brenau University, where he earned his Master of Arts in teaching special education and mathematics.

He brings technology knowledge and one-on-one mentoring and teaching experience. Williams has been involved with Randy and Friends since 2013.

Randy and Friends is a Gainesville nonprofit working to help disabled residents live independently. For more, visit www.randyandfriends.org.