DELTA CENTER - Key Persons
Alyssa Schafer is our Payroll Manager at Delta Center. She manages the payroll, employer tax and billing - related to Consumer Directed Services. She has been with Delta Center since 2019.
Alyssa grew up in Central Illinois (halfway between St. Louis and Chicago). She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from MacMurray College in 2010 and moved to St. Louis shortly afterward. Alyssa has 10 years of experience working in Payroll.
Job Titles:
- Independent Living Specialist
- Lead Independent Living Specialist
Amanda Kerley is an Independent Living Specialist providing support for CDS consumers in St. Charles, St. Louis and Warren counties and has been with Delta Center since 2011. She graduated from Maryville University with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, which makes her a natural asset to Delta Center.
Job Titles:
- Independent Living Specialist
Independent Living Specialist Andrea Briggs is a St. Louis, Missouri Native and has been with Delta Center since 2019. For over 20 years, Andrea has been committed to supporting adults and children in need. Andrea earned a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri St. Louis and has worked in the mental health and child welfare fields.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Board of Directors
Beverly Dye is our Human Resources Manager, has been with us since 2016 and has over 35 years of HR experience. She obtained her Bachelor's degree from the University of Phoenix in Human Resources Management and is currently obtaining her Master's in Communication at UMSL.
As an Air Force Veteran, she has the ability to maintain calm in a multitude of situations. Beverly has a passion for HR and is willing to share her knowledge and HR advice with the Delta Center team. She makes sure we recruit and retain some of the best qualified/talented employees in the St. Louis area.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
All members of the board support our programs and services through committee work and financial support. In addition, at least 51% of our board members are people with disabilities, and serve as role models for consumers.
Job Titles:
- Independent Living Specialist
Brittany Cheatham was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. She received her bachelor's degree from Maryville University of Saint Louis in Rehabilitation Services with an emphasis in Psychiatric Rehabilitation. She received her Master's Degree from Concordia University in Public Health with emphasis in Community health education. Brittany has worked in social services for 12 years.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
CDS Intake Specialist Chris Larsen was born in Illinois and has been a resident of Missouri since 1994. She was employed 22 years with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, followed by 15 years of employment with MO Department of Health and Senior Services where she managed Community-Based Services.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Independent Living Specialist
Erin Shanks is an Independent Living Specialist working with Veterans at Delta Center. She comes to Delta Center with 9 years of experience working with people with physical and developmental disabilities of all ages in multiple settings. She graduated from MacMurray College with a degree in Special Education in 2012. Erin grew up in a small central Illinois town, but now enjoys living in St. Louis with her 3 cats and many plants.
Gina Licameli joined Delta Center in 2018 with a degree in Applied Science. As our Business Manager, she is responsible for a wide variety of duties, from managing our IT Systems, tracking AP/AR, to ensuring her front office team work professionally with our vendors, who supply us with the great products at a reasonable rate.
Job Titles:
- Independent Living Specialist
Independent Living Specialist, Jennifer Bales, feels it is her life's mission to help others. She graduated from Buena Vista University in Iowa in 1988, and began her social work mission in that state. She moved to the St. Louis region in 1989, and has continued to work as a social worker for the past 30 years. She is now dedicated to supporting consumers/employers in the St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren County areas.
As our Executive Director, Jim has spent the last 28 years supporting people with disabilities. Much of that time was spent in case management for people with developmental disabilities. He was a case manager in St. Louis County, supervised an assessment team for the St. Louis region and case management teams in Jefferson and St. Charles counties. He also served as the Director of Case Management in Lincoln County. Early in his career, he provided residential and supported employment services to children with serious emotional disorders.
Kathy Schopp is our CDS Payroll Specialist. Kathy has over 30 years accounting experience, as well as her Bachelors' Degree from St. Louis University.
Job Titles:
- Independent Living Specialist
Independent Living Specialist Lisa Ezeamii holds a degree in social work, and is also a certified parent educator, a personal growth instructor, and a life coach. She loves teaching and encouraging people to recognize and utilize their personal power, to live their most fulfilling lives. She has worked for Delta Center for more than 10 years.
Job Titles:
- Transition Specialist
- ILS - Transition Specialist
Michael Anderson is our newest ILS- Transition Specialist. Michael did not start his journey the traditional way by going to college and entering the workforce. It started from a spinal cord injury in 1987 when he was 21 years old. Michael states, "I went from being a hardworking, abled bodied person to a person with a severe disability who did not understand how to care for myself. I was frustrated, confused and scared because I didn't have any answers."
Michael then met a gentleman who taught him how to deal with the issues he had adjusting to his disability. He was so grateful to have his independence back that he volunteered for a Center for Independent Living. In doing so, he found his purpose to motivate others with a disability
Job Titles:
- President of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Director of Programs and Services
- Manager of Consumer - Directed Services
Sara Devine is our Manager of Consumer-Directed Services. She has over 12 years of experience in the disability field, working in a variety of positions from direct care staff, case management, educator and program coordinator. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from UMSL and a Master's Degree in Non Profit Administration from Lindenwood University.
Sara is a strong advocate for people of all abilities. Her passion for this field crosses into her personal life as well, where she is a volunteer with the local library delivering books to a home-bound senior.
Job Titles:
- Independent Living Specialist
Independent Living Specialist Sherron Lomax graduated from the University of Missouri St. Louis. She has worked in Social Services for more than 18 years. She has worked to protect abused children, and children with disabilities. She also spent several years working with homeless individuals and families.
Stephanie Burton is new with Delta Center, as our Payroll Specialist, working primarily with our CDS consumers. She grew up in Hazelwood, Missouri. And received her Associates Degree from St. Louis Community College. Stephanie went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree from Lindenwood University. She has been working in the social work field for over eight years. She enjoys spending time with her family and reading.
Job Titles:
- Independent Living Specialist
Tracy comes to Delta Center with more than 28 years of experience in social services. The common theme throughout her career has been her dedication to advocating for people with all types disabilities. To ensure they have access to choices and opportunities to live life on their own terms as independently as possible.
She obtained her bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in Washington DC and her master's degree from Washington University in St. Louis. In her free time, she enjoys soaking up every minute of her time with her fun, loving, fiercely independent 2 year old daughter. As a family, they enjoy anything involving the outdoors from water sports to hiking to gardening. In addition, her husband in his free time is a fiddle player in an old time string band and they are a part of an awesome contra dance community. They share their home with their beloved dog Blanco, and two cats Rocky and Edmund.