Staff

President / CEO

Ann Thomas (she/her)

President & CEO
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Ann Thomas has dedicated nearly 30 years to helping young children heal from trauma. She is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on traumatic experiences in children, Ann has been a part of The Children’s Place’s leadership for more than ten years.

Senior Staff

DJ Barnes

D.J. Barnes (he/him)

Vice President of People & Culture
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Dawn Downes

Dawn Downes (she/her)

Vice President of Program Administration
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Polly Howard

Polly Howard (she/her)

Vice President of Development & Communications
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Richard Murray

Richard Murray

Vice President of Operations
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Paul Schieber

Paul Schieber

Chief Financial Officer
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Sasha Topping

Administrative Specialist
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Operations

Jennifer Casida

Jennifer Casida

Administrative Assistant
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Dorna Edgar Swan

Dorna Edgar Swan

Accountant
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Lisa Hamrick (she/her)

Operations Manager
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Lian Huff

Lian Huff

Human Resource Generalist
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Charlotte Jett

Evening Receptionist
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Peggy Leinen

Peggy Leinen (she/her)

Ambassador of Guest Experience
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Lucy Pratley

Lucy Pratley (she/her)

Health Information Systems Specialist
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Debra Taylor

Debra Taylor (she/her)

Driving & Safety Coordinator
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Beatriz Way

Beatriz Way

Billing Specialist
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Alida Williams

Alida Williams

Cook
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Development

Allison Chael

Allison Chael

Corporate & Individual Giving Manager
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Lacey Helmig

Lacey Helmig (she/her)

Director of Marketing & Communications
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Rachel Herbig

Rachel Herbig (she/her)

Grants Manager
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Christina Ocaña-Wilson (she/her)

Volunteer & Stewardship Coordinator
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Rylie Swain

Lead Creative Specialist
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Ashley Thorpe (she/her)

Special Events Manager
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Day Treatment

Ty’Shia Adams

Early Education Teacher
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Victoria Almaraz

Victoria Almaraz

Early Education Teacher
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Blair Ballard

Blair Ballard (she/her)

Clinical Director of Day Treatment Services
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Lyndsey Burch

Lyndsey Burch

Early Education Teacher
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Adison Carver

Early Education Teacher
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Luke Evjen

Luke Evjen

Early Education Teacher
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Grace Gawatz (she/her)

Early Education Teacher
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Mo Gaynor

Occupational Therapist
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Anna Guillerm

Anna Guillerm

Early Education Teacher
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Lovie Hollins (she/her)

Day Treatment Coordinator 
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Alex Hungate

Alex Hungate

Early Education Teacher
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Debbie Tusher

Debbie Jackson

Early Education Teacher
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Jaimi Jenkins

Jaimi Jenkins

Early Education Teacher
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Tyler Johnson

Tyler Johnson

Early Education Teacher
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Shawn Mitchell

Shashanda Mitchell

Early Education Teacher
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Gina Shibel

Gina Shibel (she/her)

Diagnostician / Child & Family Therapist
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Pamela Simpson

Pamela Simpson

Director of Early Education
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Dana Wilcoxen

Early Education Teacher
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Day Treatment Therapists

Molly Brandenburg (she/her)

Speech-Language Pathologist
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Rachel Cooper-Stadler (she/her)

Day Treatment Music Therapist
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Denny McKee (he/him)

Speech-Language Pathologist Email

Maddie Tieben (she/her)

Infant/Toddler Mental Health Therapist
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Bailey Verhulst (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
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Sophie Wilson (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
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Clinical Services & Family Support Services

Candis Boily

Candis Boily (she/her)

Director of Counseling and Family Support Services
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Rhonda Parks

Rhonda Parks

Parent Educator
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Kim Volz (she/her)

Admissions Coordinator
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Counseling Center Therapists

Phoebe Crouch (she/they)

Expressive Art Therapist
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Abby Davis (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
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August Dutt

Individual & Family Therapist
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Meagan Freund

Child & Family Therapist
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Olivia Garcia (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
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Allie Hable (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
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Kassie Popper (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
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Assessments & Screenings

Kari Leatherwood

Kari Leatherwood (she/her)

Diagnostician / Child and Family Therapist
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Cheryl Mann

Director of Testing Services
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