TFI Leadership
Michael Patrick
Chief Executive Officer
Shirley Dwyer
Chief Operations Officer
Brenden Long
General Counsel
Melissa Briggs, Ph.D.
Chief Administration Officer
Carol Dold-Harris
Chief Financial Officer
Rachelle Roosevelt
Chief Program Officer (CPO)
Linda Garcia, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President EMPOWER
Tabitha Gibson
Senior Vice President of Permanency Services
Randy Neff
Senior Vice President of 2INgage
Pam Richardson
Senior Vice President of Foster Care & Residential Programs
Melissa Wood
Senior Vice President of Clinical & Assessment Services
Susanne Arnold
Vice President of Permanency
Char'dae Bell
Vice President of Residential & Treatment Services
Shay Collins
Vice President of Permanency
Lue Nora DeWitt
Vice President of Permanency
Shirlon Douglas
Vice President of Permanency Support
Paul Epp
Vice President of Foster Care Technologies
Taylor Forrest-Crowell is the Vice President of Marketing & Communications for The Family Initiative, Inc. (TFI). She oversees marketing, internal and external communications, public relations, branding, event planning and advertising for the TFI Family of Companies. She currently serves as vice chairperson for TFI’s Development Team.
Before her current role, Taylor served as the Director of Marketing for TFI. Taylor joined the TFI Family of Companies in 2019 after having served as Director of Communications for the First Presbyterian Church of Topeka. Before that role, she served in the Communications Department for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, with her final role being the Director of Communications for the agency. She is passionate about helping organizations share their brand and story in an effective way and creating positive communication channels.
Taylor has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Southwestern College. She is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications. She holds Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) certificates in Media Relations and Crisis Communications.
Before her current role, Taylor served as the Director of Marketing for TFI. Taylor joined the TFI Family of Companies in 2019 after having served as Director of Communications for the First Presbyterian Church of Topeka. Before that role, she served in the Communications Department for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, with her final role being the Director of Communications for the agency. She is passionate about helping organizations share their brand and story in an effective way and creating positive communication channels.
Taylor has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Southwestern College. She is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications. She holds Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) certificates in Media Relations and Crisis Communications.
Michael Gichoga
Vice President of Information Technology
Sean Green
Vice President of Software
Curtiss Hemby is the Vice President of Finance for The Family Initiative, Inc (TFI). He directly oversees the resource management and financial analysis for the TFI Family of Companies. Additionally, Curtiss Hemby serves on the TFI Development Team and the RFP Planning Committee.
He has approximately 18 years of experience in the human services field, starting his career with TFI as Kansas Director of Foster Care. Mr. Hemby was also a foster parent of teenage boys for 16 years, having fostered more than 21 young men during that time. He moved on from TFI and worked 11 years in the transportation industry, four years as Corporate Director of Human Resources, and an additional seven years as Vice President of Operations. Curtiss Hemby also served 10 years as a Combat Engineer in the Kansas Army National Guard. He has a solid passion for empowering others to become the best version of themselves.
Curtiss Hemby has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Pittsburg State University, a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development from Pittsburg State University, and a Master’s of Social Work with an Administrative Concentration from the University of Kansas.
He has approximately 18 years of experience in the human services field, starting his career with TFI as Kansas Director of Foster Care. Mr. Hemby was also a foster parent of teenage boys for 16 years, having fostered more than 21 young men during that time. He moved on from TFI and worked 11 years in the transportation industry, four years as Corporate Director of Human Resources, and an additional seven years as Vice President of Operations. Curtiss Hemby also served 10 years as a Combat Engineer in the Kansas Army National Guard. He has a solid passion for empowering others to become the best version of themselves.
Curtiss Hemby has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Pittsburg State University, a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development from Pittsburg State University, and a Master’s of Social Work with an Administrative Concentration from the University of Kansas.
Emily Hermesch is the Vice President of Permanency for The Family Initiative, Inc. (TFI) and has over 20 years of experience in child welfare. Emily currently leads all the support services positions in two permanency contract areas in Kansas. Emily is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner, a Solution-Based Casework Trainer of Trainers, and has journeyed with many children and families through their laughter and tears.
Emily is a co-author of a Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal article, “I Ran to Make a Point”: Predicting and Preventing Youth Absences from Foster Care. She believes that small things can make big impacts, in the lives of others. Emily is honored to serve the children and families of Kansas.
Emily holds a Master’s Degree in Family Life Education and Consultation from Kansas State University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas. Emily is a Licensed Social Worker through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB).
Emily is a co-author of a Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal article, “I Ran to Make a Point”: Predicting and Preventing Youth Absences from Foster Care. She believes that small things can make big impacts, in the lives of others. Emily is honored to serve the children and families of Kansas.
Emily holds a Master’s Degree in Family Life Education and Consultation from Kansas State University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas. Emily is a Licensed Social Worker through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB).
Shannon Horton
Vice President of Foster Care
Heather Johanning
Vice President of Human Resources
Ashley King
Vice President of Performance & Risk Management
Patricia Long
Vice President of Program Development
Ryan Lynn
Vice President of Residential & Treatment Services
Kyle Manahan
Vice President of Information Services
Angela L. Crabtree-Nowell is the Chief of Staff for The Family Initiative, Inc. She is responsible for strategic planning and executive oversight for the TFI Family of Companies, as well as special projects. She currently serves as a member of the TFI Finance and Risk Management Team and previously served as chairperson of TFI’s Development Team.
Before her current role, Angela was the TFI Senior Administrator, responsible for the Texas foster care program, kinship care program, and the startup of the PFS Blue Skies residential facility in Wichita Falls, Texas. Angela joined the TFI Family of Companies in 2020 after having led a leading Child Placing Agency in the State of Texas for several years. In addition, she spent fifteen years working for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), primarily in the Residential Child Care Licensing Division.
Angela has a Masters's Degree in Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Public Budgeting and Financial Management from the University of Texas at Arlington. Additionally, she received a Bachelors Degree in Social Science, a Bachelors Degree in History, and an Associates Degree in Applied Business from Shawnee State University. Since 2014, she has been a Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator in the State of Texas.
Before her current role, Angela was the TFI Senior Administrator, responsible for the Texas foster care program, kinship care program, and the startup of the PFS Blue Skies residential facility in Wichita Falls, Texas. Angela joined the TFI Family of Companies in 2020 after having led a leading Child Placing Agency in the State of Texas for several years. In addition, she spent fifteen years working for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), primarily in the Residential Child Care Licensing Division.
Angela has a Masters's Degree in Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Public Budgeting and Financial Management from the University of Texas at Arlington. Additionally, she received a Bachelors Degree in Social Science, a Bachelors Degree in History, and an Associates Degree in Applied Business from Shawnee State University. Since 2014, she has been a Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator in the State of Texas.
Shaileen Owens
Vice President of Permanency Services
Brittney Pearson
Vice President of Permanency
Kaycee Robles
Vice President of Permanency Support
Donna Rozell
Vice President of Family Services
Jennifer Sannan
Vice President of Administrative Services
Jack Sledge
Vice President of Permanency Support
Brandy Tofel is the Vice President of Policy and Research for The Family Initiative, Inc. (TFI). She manages care coordination, utilization review, data analysis and validation, contract management and agency policies and procedures. Brandy has served on various youth-serving and educational boards and panels, including ten years with the Citizen Review Panel Board for Douglas County, and is currently serving on the Superintendent’s Panel for USD 497. She also currently serves as the chairperson for TFI’s Management Team.
Brandy has over 20 years of programmatic and administrative experience in child welfare and education. She is an accreditation implementation and oversight expert, leading multiple agencies to achieve over five different accreditations over her tenure. Brandy earned her Bachelor’s in Sociology from Kansas State University in Sociology, and a Master of Liberal Arts from Baker University.
Brandy has over 20 years of programmatic and administrative experience in child welfare and education. She is an accreditation implementation and oversight expert, leading multiple agencies to achieve over five different accreditations over her tenure. Brandy earned her Bachelor’s in Sociology from Kansas State University in Sociology, and a Master of Liberal Arts from Baker University.
TFI Board of Directors
Teresa Clounch
Chair
Amy Klotz
Ben Tenpenny
David Cooper
Joey Reyes
Phil Ritchey
Rae Anderson
Foster children who find a stable home
are 60% more likely to attend college.
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