The Children's Place logo

Staff

President / CEO

Ann Thomas

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

DJ Barnes

D.J. Barnes (he/him)

Vice President of People & Culture
Email

Dawn Downes

Dawn Downes (she/her)

Vice President of Program Administration
Email

Polly Howard

Polly Howard (she/her)

Vice President of Development & Communications
Email

Richard Murray

Richard Murray

Vice President of Operations
Email

Paul Schieber

Paul Schieber

Chief Financial Officer
Email

Sasha Topping

 Administrative Specialist
Email

Operations

Dorna Edgar Swan

Dorna Edgar Swan

Accountant
Email

Lisa Hamrick (she/her)

Operations Manager
Email

Lian Huff

Lian Huff

Human Resource Generalist
Email

Charlotte Jett

Evening Receptionist
Email

Melina Johnson

Melina Johnson

Financial Consultant
Email

Peggy Leinen

Peggy Leinen (she/her)

Ambassador of Guest Experience
Email

Lucy Pratley

Lucy Pratley (she/her)

Health Information Systems Specialist
Email

Pat Sibernaller

Pat Sibenaller (she/her)

Operations & Finance Specialist
Email

Beatriz Way

Beatriz Way

Billing Specialist
Email

Alida Williams

Alida Williams

Cook
Email

Development

Allison Chael

Allison Chael

Corporate & Individual Giving Manager
Email

Lacey Helmig

Lacey Helmig (she/her)

Marketing & Communications Manager
Email

Rachel Herbig

Rachel Herbig (she/her)

Grants Manager
Email

Christina Ocaña-Wilson (she/her)

Volunteer & Stewardship Coordinator
Email

Rylie Swain

Multimedia Specialist
Email

Denton Williams

Denton Williams (he/him)

Special Events Manager
Email

Day Treatment

Ty’Shia Adams

Early Education Teacher
Email

Victoria Almaraz

Victoria Almaraz

Early Education Teacher
Email

Blair Ballard

Blair Ballard (she/her)

Clinical Director of Day Treatment Services
Email

Lyndsey Burch

Lyndsey Burch

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

Andrew Green

Andrew Green

Early Education Teacher
Email

Miracle Haislip

Early Education Teacher
Email

Catherine Harbor

Catherine Harbor

Early Education Teacher
Email

Lovie Hollins

Lovie Hollins (she/her)

Day Treatment Coordinator 
Email

Alex Hungate

Alex Hungate

Early Education Teacher
Email

Jaimi Jenkins

Jaimi Jenkins

Early Education Teacher
Email

Tyler Johnson

Tyler Johnson

Early Education Teacher
Email

Shashanda Mitchell

Shashanda Mitchell

Early Education Teacher
Email

Gina Shibel

Gina Shibel (she/her)

Diagnostician / Child & Family Therapist
Email

Pamela Simpson

Pamela Simpson

Director of Early Education
Email

Debbie Tusher

Debbie Tusher

Early Education Teacher
Email

Day Treatment Therapists

Molly Brandenburg (she/her)

Speech-Language Pathologist
Email

Maddie Cannon (she/her)

Infant/Toddler Mental Health Therapist
Email

Rachel Cooper-Stadler (she/her)

Day Treatment Music Therapist
Email

Denny McKee (he/him)

Speech-Language Pathologist Email

Rachel Ulrich (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
Email

Katie Veys (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
Email

Sophie Wilson (she/her)

Child & Family Therapist
Email

Clinical Services & Family Support Services

Candis Boily

Candis Boily (she/her)

Director of Counseling and Family Support Services
Email

Taylor Guhin

Taylor Guhin

Program Evaluation Coordinator
Email

Rhonda Parks

Rhonda Parks

Parent Educator
Email

Kim Volz (she/her)

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

Kassie Popper (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