MEET OUR TEAM

Stephanie Sheler

Stephanie Sheler

Executive Director

As a teacher and social worker by trade, Stephanie brings her knowledge and expertise to the CASA team as their fearless leader! Her favorite part of the job is interacting with people: staff, judges, volunteers, and donors. When she’s not at work, you will find Stephanie reading, knitting, practicing Spanish, and spending time with her family.

Daliecia Conkle

Daliecia Conkle

Program Manager

Daliecia is an experienced and dedicated advocate for children and families. She believes in the power of connection, consistency, and compassion to help people feel seen, heard, and safe. What excites her about working at CASA is being part of a team that stands up for children when they need it most. She enjoys building strong connections and improving systems to work better for those they serve. Daliecia enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading a good book, or soaking up any sunshine she can find.

Kaylee McElrath

Kaylee McElrath

Advocate Supervisor

Kaylee brings to CASA her background in social work and a wealth of experience in case management. She is passionate about empowering children and families through best-interest advocacy. She looks forward to supporting CASA volunteers as they create stability and consistency for children in foster care. Kaylee enjoys live music, playing recreational sports, exploring new cities, and spending time with friends and family.

Carrie Shoesmith

Carrie Shoesmith

Administrative Manager

Helping and supporting people is important to Carrie, and she’s excited to serve children through her work at CASA. Her attention to detail and love of organization are key to her role here. When not working, Carrie enjoys reading, cooking, attending her daughters’ choir performances, and taking walks with her husband.

Leah Rettig

Leah Rettig

Advocacy Manager

Leah has dedicated her career to walking alongside children and families in the child welfare system and is excited to be back in Kent County after five years at a neighboring CASA program. The important work CASA volunteers do is at the heart of Leah’s belief in connection and making room at the table for everyone’s voice. She believes this is essential to a healthy community. When not working, Leah enjoys reading, trying new bakeries, walks with her dog and learning about the natural world.

Jeff Stob

Jeff Stob

Advocate Supervisor

Jeff is excited to return to the nonprofit sector where he can fulfill his passion for making a significant contribution to the community through the wonderful volunteers at CASA. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family, learning new technology, and traveling to Cedar Point!

Vivian Gaskin

Vivian Gaskin

Community Outreach Coordinator

Vivian is passionate about making a meaningful impact through her career in the nonprofit sector. She is excited to empower community members to provide the stability and normalcy that every child deserves. In her free time, Vivian enjoys live music, foraging for plants and mushrooms, rock climbing, and spending time with her cat, Robin.

Samantha Johnson

Samantha Johnson

Development & Marketing Manager

Samantha (Sam) loves that her job allows her to do tasks she enjoys: writing, event planning, and making her coworkers pose for social media posts! She is passionate about CASA’s role in creating generational change in our community. After work, Sam can be found walking her dog, Elton, reading a book, or baking cookies.

Amanda Brader

Amanda Brader

Advocate Supervisor

Bringing her passion for children’s rights, Amanda wants to make meaningful connections with her CASA volunteers as an advocate supervisor. Knowing the importance of community outreach, Amanda recognizes just how important her volunteers are to making a change. Amanda is a cat-lover and enjoys experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes.

Maya Sutton-Jackson

Maya Sutton-Jackson

Advocate Supervisor

Originally from New York City, Maya brings experience as a Crime Victim Advocate, where she partnered with the NYPD to support survivors through advocacy and service referrals. She holds a master’s in criminal justice from John Jay College, with a focus on the development of criminal behavior. Her early experience as a summer camp counselor sparked a lifelong dedication to youth, and she’s excited to merge that passion with her advocacy work at CASA. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her cats.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tara Kiley
Chair
HR Strategist and Consultant
Freelance

Angie Mason-Maranda
Vice Chair
Assistant Clinical Director & Telehealth Therapist
Counseling Center of West Michigan

Derek Aten
Treasurer
Vice President
Lake Michigan Credit Union

Kevin Nelson
Secretary
Director of Donor Development
Heart of West Michigan United Way

Claire Guisfredi
Retired Nonprofit Executive Director

Chris Hickman
Audit Partner
BDO USA, LLP

 

David Hodorowkski
President
Allied Electric

Bill Holmes
Associate Director
Disability Advocates of Kent County

Kathy Mullen
Former CASA Volunteer

Leslie L. Neal, EdD
Professor of Communication
Montcalm Community College

Rachel Render
Executive Vice President for Advancement
Davenport University

Kristen Snyder, PA-C
Physician Assistant & Associate Chief
Medical Informatics Officer
Corewell Health

Amanda Witte
KSSN Team Lead
Kent School Services Network

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