Staff

President / CEO

President & CEO

Ann Thomas

President & CEO
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Ann Thomas has dedicated more than 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, Vice President of People and Culture

D.J. Barnes

Vice President of People & Culture
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Vice President of Program Administration

Dawn Downes

Vice President of Program Administration
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Vice President of Development & Communications

Polly Howard

Vice President of Development & Communications
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Richard Murray

Vice President of Operations
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Chief Financial Officer

Paul Schieber

Chief Financial Officer
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Administrative Manager

Sasha Topping

Administrative Manager
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Duo Dog Coleman

Duo Dog Coleman

Facility Dog
Meet Coleman here!

Operations

Jennifer Casida

Jennifer Casida

Administrative Assistant
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Dorna Edgar Swan

Dorna Edgar Swan

Accountant
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Charlotte Jett

Evening Receptionist
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Peggy Leinen

Peggy Leinen

Ambassador of Guest Experience
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Patrick Lugo

Patrick Lugo

Operations Coordinator
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Health Information Systems Specialist

Lucy Pratley

Health Information Systems Specialist
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Lakissha Smith

Lakissha Smith

Transportation Coordinator
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Debra Taylor

Driving & Safety Coordinator
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Billing Specialist

Beatriz Way

Billing Specialist
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Alida Williams

Alida Williams

Cook
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Development

Design & Marketing Specialist

Mallory Edson

Design & Marketing Specialist
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Lacey Helmig

Lacey Helmig

Director of Marketing & Communications
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Rachel Herbig

Rachel Herbig

Grants Manager
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Christina Ocana-Wilson, Development Operations Manager

Christina Ocana-Wilson

Development Operations Manager
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Forrest Richardson

Forrest Richardson

Manager of Individual & Major Giving
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Stewardship and Volunteer Coordinator

Amanda Steitz

Manager of Corporate Engagement & Volunteerism
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Ashley Thorpe

Ashley Thorpe

Special Events Manager
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Day Treatment

Pamela Simpson

Pamela Simpson

Director of Early Education
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Ty’Shia Adams

Early Education Teacher
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Victoria Almaraz

Early Education Teacher
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Lyndsey Burch

Lyndsey Burch

Early Education Teacher
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Ebony, Early Education Teacher

Ebony Berry

Early Education Teacher
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Luke Evjen

Luke Evjen

Early Education Teacher
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Grace Gawatz

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

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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Keesha James

Keesha James

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

Diagnostician / Child & Family Therapist
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Tierra Taylor Early Education Teacher

Tierra Taylor

Early Education Teacher
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Day Treatment Therapists

Molly Brandenburg

Speech-Language Pathologist
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Meagan Freund

Child & Family Therapist
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Maddie Tieben

Infant/Toddler Mental Health Therapist
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Sophie Wilson

Day Treatment Clinical Coordinator
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Julez Wisneski

Child & Family Therapist
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Clinical Services & Family Support Services

Clinical Training & Evaluation Consultant

Erin Hambrick, Ph.D.

Clinical Training & Evaluation Consultant
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Kristina Guarino

Kristina Guarino

Clinical Director of Outpatient & Family Services
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Blair Ballard

Blair Ballard

Director of Beginnings
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Counseling Center Therapists

Abby Davis

Child & Family Therapist
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August Dutt

Individual & Family Therapist
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Robyn Hudson

Child & Family Therapist
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Beth Nichols

Community Child Therapist
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Assessments & Screenings

Kari Leatherwood

Kari Leatherwood

Diagnostician / Child and Family Therapist
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Cheryl Mann

Diagnostician
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