Staff

President / CEO

President & CEO

Ann Thomas (she/her)

President & CEO
Email

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

Vice President of People & Culture

D.J. Barnes (he/him)

Vice President of People & Culture
Email

Vice President of Program Administration

Dawn Downes (she/her)

Vice President of Program Administration
Email

Vice President of Development & Communications

Polly Howard (she/her)

Vice President of Development & Communications
Email

Richard Murray

Vice President of Operations
Email

Chief Financial Officer

Paul Schieber

Chief Financial Officer
Email

Administrative Manager

Sasha Topping (she/her)

Administrative Manager
Email

Operations

Administrative Assistant

Jennifer Casida (she/her)

Administrative Assistant
Email

Dorna Edgar Swan

Dorna Edgar Swan

Accountant
Email

Human Resource Generalist

Lian Huff

Human Resource Generalist
Email

Charlotte Jett

Evening Receptionist
Email

Peggy Leinen

Peggy Leinen (she/her)

Ambassador of Guest Experience
Email

Health Information Systems Specialist

Lucy Pratley (she/her)

Health Information Systems Specialist
Email

Transportation Coordinator

Lakissha Smith

Transportation Coordinator
Email

Debra Taylor (she/her)

Driving & Safety Coordinator
Email

Billing Specialist

Beatriz Way

Billing Specialist
Email

Alida Williams

Alida Williams

Cook
Email

Development

Allison Chael

Corporate & Individual Giving Manager
Email

Design & Marketing Specialist

Mallory Edson

Design & Marketing Specialist
Email

Lacey Helmig

Lacey Helmig (she/her)

Director of Marketing & Communications
Email

Rachel Herbig

Rachel Herbig (she/her)

Grants Manager
Email

Grant Writer

Alex Long (she/her)

Grant Writer
Email

Ashley Thorpe

Ashley Thorpe (she/her)

Special Events Manager
Email

Stewardship and Volunteer Coordinator

Amanda Steitz (she/her)

Stewardship and Volunteer Coordinator 
Email

Day Treatment

Pamela Simpson

Pamela Simpson

Director of Early Education
Email

Blair Ballard

Blair Ballard (she/her)

Clinical Director of Day Treatment Services
Email

Ty’Shia Adams

Early Education Teacher
Email

Victoria Almaraz

Early Education Teacher
Email

Lyndsey Burch

Lyndsey Burch

Early Education Teacher
Email

Ebony Berry

Ebony Berry

Early Education Teacher
Email

Luke Evjen

Luke Evjen

Early Education Teacher
Email

Grace Gawatz (she/her)

Early Education Teacher
Email

Mo Gaynor

Occupational Therapist
Email

Anna Guillerm

Anna Guillerm (she/her)

Early Education Teacher
Email

Lovie Hollins (she/her)

Day Treatment Coordinator 
Email

Alex Hungate

Alex Hungate (he/him)

Early Education Teacher
Email

Debbie Tusher

Debbie Jackson

Early Education Teacher
Email

Keesha James

Keesha James

Early Education Teacher
Email

Jaimi Jenkins

Jaimi Jenkins

Early Education Teacher
Email

Tyler Johnson

Tyler Johnson (he/him)

Early Education Teacher
Email

Shawn Mitchell

Shashanda Mitchell

Early Education Teacher
Email

Gina Shibel

Gina Shibel (she/her)

Diagnostician / Child & Family Therapist
Email

Dana Wilcoxen

Early Education Teacher
Email

Day Treatment Therapists

Molly Brandenburg (she/her)

Speech-Language Pathologist
Email

Rachel Cooper-Stadler (she/her)

Day Treatment Music Therapist
Email

Meagan Freund

Child & Family Therapist
Email

Maddie Tieben (she/her)

Infant/Toddler Mental Health Therapist
Email

Sophie Wilson (she/her)

Day Treatment Clinical Coordinator
Email

Julez Wisneski (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
Email

Clinical Services & Family Support Services

Director of Counseling and Family Support Services

Candis Boily (she/her)

Director of Counseling and Family Support Services
Email

Clinical Training & Evaluation Consultant

Erin Hambrick, Ph.D. (she/her)

Clinical Training & Evaluation Consultant
Email

Parent Educator

Rhonda Parks

Parent Educator
Email

Admissions Coordinator

Sal Cochran (they/them)

Admissions Coordinator
Email

Counseling Center Therapists

Abby Davis (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
Email

August Dutt

Individual & Family Therapist
Email

Olivia Garcia (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
Email

Robyn Hudson (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
Email

Assessments & Screenings

Kari Leatherwood

Kari Leatherwood (she/her)

Diagnostician / Child and Family Therapist
Email

Cheryl Mann

Director of Testing Services
Email