Staff

President / CEO

Ann Thomas

Ann Thomas (she/her)

President & CEO
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Ann Thomas has dedicated nearly 30 years to helping young children heal from trauma. With a master’s degree from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, she is a licensed clinical social worker and a registered play therapist-supervisor.

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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Paul Schieber

Paul Schieber

Chief Financial Officer
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Sasha Topping

Sasha Topping

 Administrative Specialist
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Operations

Theresa Bynum

Theresa Bynum (she/her)

Billing & Payroll Coordinator
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Dorna Edgar Swan

Dorna Edgar Swan

Accountant
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Lisa Hamrick

Lisa Hamrick (she/her)

Operations Manager
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Charlotte Jett

Charlotte Jett

Evening Receptionist
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Melina Johnson

Melina Johnson

Financial Consultant
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Peggy Leinen

Peggy Leinen (she/her)

Ambassador of Guest Experience
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Bev Nafziger

Beverly Nafziger

Health Information Systems Specialist / Medical Records
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Pat Sibenaller

Pat Sibenaller (she/her)

Operations & Finance Specialist
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Alida Williams

Alida Williams

Cook
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Development

Sara Boatwright

Sara Bland (Boatwright)

Corporate & Individual Giving Manager
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Lacey Helmig

Lacey Helmig (she/her)

Marketing & Communications Manager
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Rachel Herbig

Rachel Herbig (she/her)

Grants Manager
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Christina Ocana-Wilson

Christina Ocaña-Wilson (she/her)

Volunteer & Stewardship Coordinator
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Rylie Swain

Rylie Swain

Multimedia Specialist
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Denton Williams (he/him)

Special Events Manager
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Day Treatment

TyShia Adams

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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Luke Evjen

Luke Evjen

Early Education Teacher
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Stephanie Frazier

Stephanie Frazier

Early Education Teacher Email
Grace Gawatz

Grace Gawatz (she/her)

Early Education Teacher
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Mo Gaynor

Mo Gaynor

Occupational Therapist
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Miracle Haislip

Miracle Haislip

Early Education Teacher
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Catherine Harbor

Catherine Harbor

Early Education Teacher
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Lovie Hollins

Lovie Hollins (she/her)

Day Treatment Coordinator 
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Alex Hungate

Alex Hungate

Early Education Teacher
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Carianne McCarthy

Carianne Kennedy (she/her)

Early Education Teacher
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Shashanda Mitchell

Shashanda Mitchell

Early Education Teacher
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Gina Shibel

Gina Shibel (she/her)

Diagnostician / Child & Family Therapist
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Pam Simpson

Pamela Simpson

Director of Early Education
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Debbie Tusher

Debbie Tusher

Early Education Teacher
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Kimberly Volz

Kim Volz (she/her)

Early Education Teacher
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Day Treatment Therapists

Denny McKee (he/him)

Speech-Language Pathologist Email

Rachel Ulrich (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
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Katie Veys (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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Taylor Guhin

Taylor Guhin

Program Evaluation Coordinator
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Jaimi Jenkins

Jaimi Jenkins

Admissions Coordinator
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Cheryse Johnson

Cheryse Johnson

Program Evaluation Assistant
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Rhonda Parks

Rhonda Parks

Parent Educator
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Counseling Center Therapists

August Dutt

Individual & 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

Cheryl Mann

Director of Testing Services
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