FATHERS & FAMILIES SUPPORT CENTER - Key Persons
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- Manager - Accounting Operations
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- HR Business Unit Leader, Edward Jones
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- Retrofit Engineering Leader, Boeing
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- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Financial Advisor - Merrill Lynch
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- Director of Community Outreach
Charles Barnes has personal and professional longevity with FFSC that allows him the fortitude to relate in various capacities. His experience, knowledge and understanding of the mission and program allow him to be a strategic and detail-intensive leader in public service. These traits also allow him to apply progressive experience to exceptional administrative and operational performance, program and project management, and team engagement.
With over two decades in various roles, Mr. Barnes has provided leadership, operations direction, process improvement, policy development, and client satisfaction. He facilitates delivery of adult education and training programs with a focus on the public service sector.
Currently he specializes in the rehabilitation of individuals with a history of criminal behavior through the facilitation of programs for behavior modification, relationship management, personal development, economic empowerment, and transitions to community life.
In the effort of building, training, and focusing teams to exceed organizational expectations, he prioritizes and advances extensive agendas in demanding settings, and drafts and administers high-impact educational and training programs. Mr. Barnes aligns divisions with organizational missions, forges efficient and productive organizational cultures, and establishes and maintain trust-based business relationships and strategic partnerships.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Treasurer of the Board
Cheri Tillis is the Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning and nationally-recognized Fathers & Families Support Center (FFSC), formerly Fathers' Support Center, St. Louis.
Formerly, Ms. Tillis was FFSC's COO, responsible for providing oversight of agency programs and daily operations of its satellite locations and 50+ staff with the help of her phenomenal team of Directors and Managers. She has 18+ years of progressive experience in multiple roles for FFSC, focusing on building community partnerships, federal grant writing, program development and management.
Prior to her responsibilities at FFSC, she served as a Youth Specialist for the Division of Youth Services in St. Louis, MO. She also served the St. Louis area as an Americorps member. Ms. Tillis holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Jackson State University, a Masters of Science in HR Management from Lindenwood University, a Business Management for Non-Profit Leaders Certificate from Washington University Olin School of Business and was a Missouri Foundation for Health Fellow. She has also served as the PI on several Fatherhood research study in partnership with Mathematica Policy and Research, Washington University Brown School of Social Work and The Brown School Evaluation Center in St. Louis, MO.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- CEO / President, Claire Flowers LLC
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- Retired, D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer at Fathers & Families Support Center in St
Destini Goodwin is the Chief Operating Officer at Fathers & Families Support Center in St. Louis, Missouri. In this role, she provides oversight to the agency's programs, daily operations, and leadership to 35+ staff with the help of an incredible team of Directors and Managers. In her 18-year career with the organization, Destini has held several positions, allowing her to provide direct services to families, design and implement projects, incorporate continuous quality improvement processes/activities, participate in fatherhood research and evaluation projects, and build meaningful relationships within the community. Her most recent position was Managing Director.
She earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Delta State University (Cleveland, MS) and a Master's in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Destini is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and uses her wealth of knowledge and years of experience to oversee programs that strengthen families and communities. She is a native of Mississippi and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Founding President / Retired, Barnes - Jewish Hospital
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- Director of Employment Services
Jarrett Kendall is a native of St. Louis who graduated from Lutheran High School North. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Information and minored in Sociology from Concordia University in Chicago. As an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. member, Mr. Kendall enjoys serving the community by mentoring and volunteering with youth.
Mr. Kendall has served in various roles at the Fathers & Families Support Center for seven years. With 25 years of sales experience, Mr. Kendall currently serves as the Director of Employment Services and Reentry, where he uses this role to connect with employers and trainers to establish relationships to assist our fathers. Mr. Kendall also facilitates classes on employment and family reunification at the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Principal, Enterprise Workplace Solutions, Edward Jones
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- Special Events Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Director
- Youth Services Coordinator
Leo Vinson is the Director of Fathers & Families Support Center's (FFSC) Youth Leadership and Development Program (YLDP). In this role, he facilitates his staff to educate, empower and provide opportunities and resources to youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24. Through group and one-on-one mentoring, the program fosters long-term relationships between mentors and mentees, with the aim of helping participants stay in school, increase their academic achievement and motivation, while improving their decision-making skills and increasing their sense of self-worth.
Leo is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist who dedicates his time and resources to helping struggling youth thrive socially and academically. He has experience teaching at the university level and holds degrees in Biochemistry, Public Relations, English, and an M.A. in English Literature from Stanford University. Leo is currently partnering with several agencies to educate entrepreneurial-minded youth in an effort to increase the representation of minorities in the tech industry.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Director of Legal Services
Lisl King Williams has been the Director of Legal Services for Fathers & Families Support Center since 2009. She has worked tirelessly advocating for Senate bills (Senate Bill 140 and 141 especially) that encourage the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, and she has assisted numerous clients to obtain custody and visitation of their children.
Her 42-year legal career includes McDermott, Will and Emery, Bryan Cave, BJC Healthcare, Washington University School of Law, and 10 years as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of St. Louis. Attorney Williams has a wealth of knowledge with respect to custody, visitation, child support, establishment of paternity and establishment of non-paternity. She successfully represented the agency before the Court of Appeals with respect to the non-paternity statute, Senate Bill 141, and she worked with the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit to establish a child support court pursuant to Senate Bill 140.
She earned both her law degree and a master's in management from Northwestern University. She holds a bachelor's degree from Washington University in Economics and German.
She has served on many boards and commissions, including the Missouri Child Support Guidelines Subcommittee (2016 and 2020), the Aids Foundation of St. Louis, Chair of the Governing Board of the Transitional School District, The Urban League Guild of Metropolitan St. Louis (A Founding Member) and the Center for Contemporary Arts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Attorney, Polsinelli
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- Assistant General Council, Ameren
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- VP - Community Development Banking
Job Titles:
- Quality Assurance Manager
Oge A. Oge (pronounced O•gē) serves as Quality Assurance Manager at Fathers & Families Support Center (FFSC). As Quality Assurance Manager, Oge is primarily responsible for supporting the agency's efforts in telling its story of positive community impact through overseeing and managing data outcomes, reporting and compliance.
Prior to Quality Assurance Manager, Oge excelled as the Case Manager for FFSC's newest satellite location, which opened in August 2020 in East St. Louis, IL. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges of getting a new operation off the ground, the site boasted a participant retention rate of almost 90% and completion rate just under 94%.
Prior to FFSC, Oge's work experiences included 12+ years in higher education, retail and restaurant management and customer service. Academically, he earned his undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and graduate degree in Higher Education Administration, both from Southeast Missouri State University.
Personally, he's a proud husband and father of one daughter.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Retired, Controller, LMI Aerostructures
Job Titles:
- Community Outreach Coordinator
Reginald Slaughter is a native to St. Louis. He earned an Associate's Degree from Mineral Area College and is a former graduate of the Fathers & Families Support Center. He is the proud father of a beautiful 28 year old daughter. Currently Mr. Slaughter is the Community Outreach Coordinator and a Co-Facilitator for FFSC where he has been faithfully employed for 23 years. In this role he is responsible for connecting with other agencies and community organizations, giving presentations about FFSC, recruiting men and women to participate in the programs, and teaching responsible fatherhood curriculum.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice Chairman / Retired Attorney
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- Legal - Administrative Assistant
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- CEO / President, PASCO
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- Board Secretary / Retired Educator & Community Leader
Shirley Dees-Gray joined Fathers & Families Support Center in 2009 with over 28 years of accounting and database management experience in the corporate industries. For the last 14 years, she has been a member of the FFSC executive team and Chief Financial Officer overseeing the accounting & finance components of the agency. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL and a Master of Management from Fontbonne University, Clayton, MO. She is an active member of Trinity Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Other affiliations include the Order of Eastern Star (OES) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA). She enjoys traveling, reading and sewing. Shirley loves family and has been married to James Gray for 37 years.
Job Titles:
- Officer, MBA / Development & Communications Manager
Sid Officer joined Fathers & Families Support Center on October 30, 2017. She brings more than 20+ years of experience in marketing and communications for both non-profit and corporate industries. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from St. Louis University and an MBA from Fontbonne University. Along with advocating for fathers, Sid is passionate about local animal rescue groups, and advocates for adopting from local animal shelters.
Carol Schumer, D.C., is an educator by profession and a certified facilitator of the Strengthening Families Parent-Training Program. Holding a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's in administration, she has over 30 years experience working with youth.
Since 1997, she has conducted parenting programs throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Currently, she ministers at Fathers & Families' Support Center, St. Louis; does spiritual formation with the Ladies of Charity of the St. Louis Archdiocese; shares reflections semi-monthly on The God Minute podcast and has served as Assistant Spiritual Advisor on many Cursillo weekends.
A 1965 graduate of St. Vincent's High School, Perryville, MO, she entered the Daughters of Charity in 1966. She is the daughter of Norbert and Alma Unverferth Schumer (both deceased) and has a large extended family with 8 married siblings, 26 nieces and nephews and 60+ greats. She enjoys accompanying adults as we grow into our best, healthy selves.
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
Stephen Knapp is a 30+ fundraising veteran who joined Fathers & Families Support Center in 2011. Past tenures include Fair St. Louis, Sheldon Arts Foundation, Skystone Ryan Consulting Firm, Voices for Children (CASA), SLU & UMSL advancement teams. Since 2015 he is the Honorary Consul of Japan, St. Louis. Stephen graduated from Missouri State University and is married with two children.
Job Titles:
- Social Service Coordinator
- Social Services Coordinator
Tina Tribbitt, Social Service Coordinator at Fathers & Families Support Center, has worked in the Human Services/Social Services field since 2007. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and minored in Social Work.
Her experience as a Probation & Parole Officer for the Missouri Department of Corrections (7 years) and a Youth Specialist, then Supervisor (7 years) at St. Vincent Home for Children has allowed her to deal with many facets of human behavior and gain a better understanding of people. Having been trained in trauma informed care, Motivational Interviewing, and Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) and having facilitated therapeutic groups and Pathways to Change curriculum, Tina goes into situations with those that she serves from a place of trying to understand and providing the tools to develop a plan for advancement.
Serving at this agency helps her to fulfill her passion in assisting and seeing those the agency serves transform into the better men and women they want to be for their children, family, society, and most of all, for themselves.
Trina Brown is the Executive Assistant to the CEO of Fathers & Families Support Center. She has over 30+ years of experience in the Social Services Field. Prior to her responsibilities at FFSC she served a total of 10+ years for Places for People in the roles of Residential Specialist, Program Assistant, and Integrated Health Coach. She also served 18 years for the Division of Youth Services in the St. Louis and St. Charles Counties as a Youth Specialist, Group Leader, and Service Coordinator. Ms. Brown attended SIU Edwardsville for undergraduate studies and is currently enrolled in Lindenwood University for Business Administration. To date, her greatest achievement is being the mother of two amazing children: her daughter Taylor, son Kameron, and three grand dogs (Zeus, Mega, and King).
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member - at - Large / Retired - Director, Deloitte Tax. LLP