About Next Step Residential Services
Next Step Residential Services was incorporated in August 1995, and provides services to individuals in Medicine Hat, Brooks, and surrounding areas.
Next Step Residential Services employs approximately 150 staff in various positions. Our team of professionals assist and support individuals through individualized support plans. We focus on using the individual’s strengths, abilities, and interests to develop plans that suit each person’s needs.
Program Coordinator
Develops a support plan for each individual tailored to their needs. Provides support and guidance to the team working with the individual.
Community Disability Services Worker
Provides direct support services to individuals. Assists in implementing support plans.
Team Leader
Provides direction, support, and coordination of services for staff, individuals, guardians, and families.
Office Team
Brandon Thomas
Executive Director
Brandon has been with Next Step Residential Services from the start. His education background consists of a Bachelor Degree in Community Rehabilitation from the University of Calgary, and he has been working with individuals with disabilities for over 36 years. He is heavily involved in the recording industry and the music scene.
Coreena Thomas
Accounts Manager
Coreena moved to sunny Medicine Hat with her children in 2010. Her family expanded with her marriage and she gained 4 step sons. Her love for people and her outgoing attitude has resulted in her working in the human services field in various positions for numerous years.
When she is not at work Coreena loves to travel and to spend time with her family. You can also find her spending plenty of time in her she-shed either painting or planning parties.
Carrie Uhrich
B.S.W, R.S.W
Program Manager
Carrie started her professional career in the Registered Nursing program, but decided to change her interests to Social Work. She has completed her Bachelor Degree in Social Work from the University of Calgary (2013) and is also registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Carrie has worked in this field of disability services for 10+ years and brings complex behavioural support experience as both a Team Leader and as a Program Coordinator.
Carrie is an Executive member on the local dart league, as well as a Provincial Director for a non profit organization. In her spare time she enjoys to garden, bake, camp/travel and loves to play board games!
Crystal Siewert
H.SLP- A, H.BCR
Program Coordinator
Crystal was raised in Medicine Hat. Her and her fiancé, Johnny, have two fur-babies together; A cat named Jerry and a dog named Doug. She has a love for working with people, fitness/wellbeing, art in all forms and inclusion. Crystal’s hobbies include CrossFit, Painting/Guitar/Writing and trying new coffees at local cafés.
Crystals educational and professional background are Speech Language Therapy and Community Rehabilitation and Disability (Medicine Hat College; University of Calgary). During her time as a student, she earned Phi Theta Kappa Induction and Scholars Academy membership. Professionally, Crystal was a subcontractor with Family Services for Children with Disabilities and part of a Speech -Language team for Prairie Rose Public Schools early intervention program. Her specialty is high volume caseloads with high needs and uplifting her team members to reach their full potential to see their worth in the difference they make to the individuals they work with.
Alicia Davies
Administrative Assistant
Alicia moved to Medicine Hat from Ontario in 2006. She worked in the food service industry for many years and began a new path working at Next Step Residential Services on Valentines Day in 2020. She began her career casually as Administrative Assistant and received the opportunity to work the position full time in summer 2022. She loves working in the human services field.
Alicia has is happily married and has one son and one daughter.
She enjoys spending her time with her family, friends and two dogs. Her hobbies include playing acoustic guitar and bass with her church band, sketching, travelling, camping and paddleboarding.
Jennifer Bernas
Program Coordinator
Jennifer moved to Medicine Hat recently with her family, she moved here from Ontario where she was born and raised. Jennifer attended Northern College where she graduated from the Social Work Program and Police Foundations Program. Jennifer also attended Canadore College where she took the Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention Program, she has study in addictions counselling, abuse counselling and holistic healing. Jennifer has a range of certificates in Fitness and diet management, restorative care, and many certificates pertaining to being a Fire Rescue. Jennifer worked in Long Term Care for 10 years before starting her career here at Next Step Residential Services. In Long Term Care, Jennifer worked mostly with Dementia patients where she focused on creating plans to maintain their psychosocial wellbeing. In Ontario, Jennifer was also a Firefighter for 7 years which she loved being able to be a first responder in the small town she lived in. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, physical activities such as Yoga, hiking, and walking her 2 dogs.
Sashana Henry
HR Admin Assistant
Born in Jamaica and moved to Medicine Hat one year ago. I have an extensive Human Resources and Administrative background from my home country of over 6 years of experience. Since being here, I have volunteered with various organization as I have a passion for helping people. I am very outgoing and loves spending time with my family (husband and two boys). I love to cook, bake, and sew in my free time to help me relax. My hope is to visit every province within the next five years.
Tamara Oman
Program Coordinator
Tamara moved to Medicine Hat in December 2013 after completing her Bachelor of Social Work in Regina, Saskatchewan. After moving to Medicine Hat, Tamara worked with Children and Family Services for over 10 years before joining the team at Next Step in July 2024 as a Program Coordinator. While at CFS, Tamara managed assessment and ongoing case files, assisted in the mentoring of new staff, and worked in collaboration with the Child Advocacy Centre as a Child Forensic Interviewer. Tamara is passionate about working with and helping others in whichever role she is in.
In her free time, Tamara enjoys traveling, camping, outdoor activities, reading, and yoga. Tamara also loves spending time with her husband and their two ‘furbabies’; Juno the golden retriever and Arlo the fluffy grey cat.
Kimberly Sloan
HR Manager
Kimberly Sloan leads Next Step’s Human Resources, with responsibility for managing the most valuable assets – our employees.
In her previous role in healthcare administration, she served as the executive director of a supportive living facility, and led her team through the accreditation process, obtaining Accreditation with Merit. Before jumping into Healthcare Administration, Sloan served as administrator to two principles for a high net wealth financial planning / investment firm, where she was instrumental in modernizing the organization’s website and ERP system. In Ontario, Sloan had the privilege of being a front-line worker where she had a rewarding and fulfilling career working as an LPN for ten years.
Sloan holds multiple certifications in Human Resources, business administration and graphic design.