OUR Leadership

First and foremost, my mission is to connect youth with a home so that they can switch from “survival mode” to “thriving mode”, realize their potential and unlock their success. Secondly, our youth cannot navigate this journey by themselves and need dedicated trained parents to come alongside them and walk this winding road with them. Neither path is easy, and both require tears, dedication, and perseverance.

Watching, guiding, and supporting our youth and parents in this mission and seeing dreams and hopes being realized is an “Absolute Slice of Heaven”!  These relationships along with the commitment and combined experience of the Direction61:3 team makes my job as the Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator impactful.

Another big part of my job is making sure Direction61:3 maintains compliance with the many states regulatory entities, ongoing audits, and policies-procedures. I have thirty years of hands-on experience working in the field of social services with youth and families specializing in trauma and crisis. My other interests include eating cookies, reading, hiking, Zumba and boot camp workouts, and spending time with friends and family.

As a missionary working in the field with youth transitioning out of an orphanage, the Lord opened a passion in my heart. Returning to the states I was able to become a TBRI Practitioner and continue working in this area, but with a broader knowledge of trauma.

As an adoptive mom, foster respite family and a heart to serve those that didn’t get a choice in the beginning of their story, I value the importance of serving youth aging out of foster care.

I serve as the program director with great anticipation about being part of this ministry that is on the threshold of great growth and impact. I have 17 years of experience working with at-risk youth and families in group care and foster care as a houseparent, counselor, program supervisor, and ropes course facilitator. I also have a master’s degree in counseling.

Most importantly, I bring a driving passion to be a part of other’s spiritual, mental, and emotional growth, and feel called to serve both youth and foster parents. I enjoy tennis, hunting, fishing, teaching martial arts, and of course my three amazing grandkids.  

Growing up I dreamed of working in the fashion industry, which is where I found myself as an adult. But as I began to experience the deep love of Christ in my own life, I realized that His plans for me were far different than what I had planned for myself.

He called me in 2022 to leave the corporate world behind and serve those who are often overlooked, just as Christ did himself. It is truly a gift to be serving those impacted by foster care alongside Direction 61:3 as we aim to show them Jesus and provide them with the tools they need to thrive because knowing you are loved and not alone changes everything.

I have worked at Adult and Teen Challenge in Cape Girardeau, Mo for 5 years. Working as a counselor to men from 17 to 85, many of whom had grown up in foster care. God has given me a heart that desires to see His love realized in the lives of these men, to be a part of watching the hurts turn to joy, fears turned to the comfort and peace only God can give us.

I can see His hand at work in all of my life’s experiences that have guided me to this season of life. To show his love to foster youth, to help them see and realize the gifts, the potential He has placed in each one. The opportunity to be His hands and His feet to serve in His perfect plan.

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
– 2 Corinthians 1:4