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Allie Chang Ray, Executive Director
Allie joined the staff of CASA of St. Louis County in April of 1999 as the agency’s first Director of Development. In October of 2000, she was promoted to Executive Director. Before coming to CASA, Allie worked for Children’s Miracle Network of Greater St. Louis, managing the fundraising activities of several major sponsors and helping generate $2 million annually. She also worked in Missouri state government where she served as the children and families advisor to former Lieutenant Governor and Governor Roger B. Wilson. Allie received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development & Family Studies and her Master’s degree in Human Services Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is an active member of the Junior League of St. Louis, where she serves as the 2007-08 Vice President of Community Programs. She teaches Sunday school and is the team secretary for the First Watch Scramblers indoor boys’ soccer team. She is a member of the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. Moving from Kansas City, Allie and her husband have lived in St. Louis since 1994. They have two children. Since becoming a mother, her belief that children have the right to a safe and permanent home has only grown stronger.
Laura Beaver, Community Relations and Foundations Specialist
Laura joined CASA of St. Louis County in March of 2008 as the Community Relations and Foundations Specialist. She studied social work at Baylor University and moved to St. Louis to pursue her Master’s degree in social work at Washington University. Her concentration for her MSW was in social and economic development, and she joined CASA shortly after graduation. Laura and her husband Matt were married in January of 2008. They enjoy hiking, traveling and cooking together.
Dawn Belizaire, Director of Development and Communications
Dawn joined CASA in January of 2007 as the Senior Stewardship Officer. Most recently she worked in development at the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and marketing and development at Lydia’s House in St. Louis and the Fort Bend County Women’s Center in Houston, TX. Her time at these organizations provided experience working with donors, volunteers, and Board members on a variety of tasks, including campaign planning and coordination, special events, grant writing and research, marketing, and print and web graphic design and production. Dawn completed her Bachelor’s degree in International Communications at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, and her Master’s degree in Global Marketing Communications at Emerson College in Boston, MA. She is active in the community, serving as a current committee chair and past Board member of the Junior League of St. Louis, an active member of the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, and a volunteer for AmeriCorps St. Louis. She and her husband, Roger, have lived in St. Louis since 2004.
Jessi Brawley, Administrative Assistant
Jessi joined the staff of CASA of St. Louis County in February 2007 as an intern. She graduated from Maryville University of St. Louis in May of 2008, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Sociology. After graduation, Jessi’s role at CASA changed from an intern to a staff member. She is now the Administrative Assistant at CASA. During her time with CASA, Jessi looks forward to continuing her education and pursuing her interests. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering in the community, outdoor activities, reading, writing, and spending time with her friends and family.
Liz Craft, Case Advocacy Supervisor
Liz joined CASA of St. Louis County in August of 2007 as a Case Advocacy Supervisor. She came to our program from the Heart of Missouri CASA program, located in Columbia, Missouri. At Heart of Missouri CASA, Liz worked as the Volunteer Coordinator and spent much of her time training and assisting CASA volunteers. Liz received her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Vanderbilt University and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Liz and her husband, Joe, have one son, Joey, born in 2006. In her spare time, Liz enjoys spending time with her family, reading and watching reality television.
Matt DeGruccio, Case Advocacy Supervisor
Matt DeGruccio joined CASA of St. Louis County in November 2006. Previous to joining the agency, he worked as a supervisor for the Dallas CASA program for six years. Matt’s entire career has been in the child welfare field. After graduating from St. John’s University in Minnesota with a social work degree, Matt became a foster parent to three children with special needs. While running a foster home, he obtained a post graduate internship as a high school social worker. After one year, Matt accepted a supervisory position with his foster care agency and began supervising seven residential facilities for children with special needs. This position allowed Matt to work closely with county resources and he was eventually recruited to become a county case manager that served children with a variety of developmental disabilities. Matt worked as a county case manager in Minnesota for five years before relocating to Texas. Matt loved working for CASA while in Texas and feels very fortunate to have found another CASA program now that his family has relocated to St. Louis. Matt is very passionate about the CASA program and continues to be amazed at the difference an advocate can make in the life of a child.
Shamele Hill, Case Advocacy Supervisor
Shamele joined the staff of CASA of St. Louis County in April 2008. Before coming to CASA Shamele worked at Evangelical Children’s Home as a Family Reunification Specialist. Her responsibilities there were to provide intensive in-home therapeutic services to families who were being reunited with their children. Shamele also has experience as a Contracted Family Case Manager with the Missouri Children’s Division, as a Victim Advocate with the City of Phoenix working with victims of domestic violence, and as a Case Worker II with the City of Phoenix providing case management services. Shamele attended Arizona State University, where she obtained both a Bachelor and Master degree in Social Work. Shamele is currently pursuing a Master degree in Human Resource Management at Lindenwood University. Shamele is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she volunteers and participates in community enrichment activities. Shamele is also a member of the NASW. Shamele enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs and working out. Other hobbies include, shopping, traveling, listening to music, dancing, and reading.
Deanna Lamb, Case Advocacy Supervisor
Deanna joined the staff of CASA of St. Louis County in November of 2005. Deanna is from St. Charles, Missouri and attended college at the University of Missouri in Columbia, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She comes to CASA from the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Greater St. Louis as a case manager. Before working for CAC, Deanna worked as a child abuse/neglect investigator for the Missouri Children’s Division for three years. During her time with CASA, Deanna plans to continue her education by earning a Master’s degree in Social Work.
Veronica Neuhoff, Case Advocacy Supervisor
Veronica joined the staff of CASA of St. Louis County in May of 2007. Before coming to CASA Veronica worked at Evangelical Children’s Home as an Intensive In-Home Specialist. Her responsibilities there were to provide services to families at risk of having their children removed and placed in foster care. She has also worked as a Foster Care Case Manager for Family Resource Center, and as a Case Manager for Marian Hall Residential. Veronica graduated from the University of Missouri in St. Louis with a Bachelors degree in Social Work. She and her husband Steve have a son, Zachary who was born in 2008. In her spare time Veronica enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and scrapbooking.
Kris Nienhaus, Development and Special Events Coordinator
Kris joined the staff of CASA of St. Louis County in September of 2004. Before coming to CASA, Kris worked for Children’s Miracle Network of Greater St. Louis where she was a Development Associate. Her responsibilities included managing fundraising and special events for national and local corporate sponsors. Prior to that, she worked for St. Louis Children’s Hospital in Media Communications and Public Relations. She received her Master of Arts, Media and Marketing Communications degree from Webster University with an undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University in Business Administration. Kris and her husband Dan have two daughters, Kaitlyn, who was born in 1999 and Kara, who was born in 2001. Kris also enjoys volunteering at her children’s school and scrap booking as a hobby.
Tammie Reynolds, CASA Advocacy Supervisor
Tammie Reynolds joined the staff of CASA of St. Louis County in April of 2007. Previous to joining the agency, she worked at Missouri Baptist Children’s Home as a Foster Care Case Manager. Her responsibilities included providing services to families whose children were under the jurisdiction of St. Louis County and City Family Court systems. After graduating from college with a B.S. in Social Work, Tammie has always worked in jobs that provided training and experience in her profession. Centering her career with the focus of advancing the welfare of children, it is no surprise that she worked as a Parent Educator in the Parents as Teachers program through the University City School District, served as a Truancy Officer and Social worker at the Ferguson/Florissant School District and a Social Worker at Annie Malone Children’s Home. Tammie is a mother of three children who are involved in many activities at their school and church. Tammie’s hobbies include playing the clarinet and piano, singing, belly-dancing and shopping. Tammie is an advocate for families staying connected.
Nickie Steinhoff, Director of Advocacy Services
Nickie joined the staff of CASA of St. Louis County in August 2003 after spending five years with the Missouri Children’s Division in both St. Charles and St. Louis Counties. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work at Saint Louis University and her Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling at Lindenwood University. Nickie has advanced training in adult learning theory and has facilitated workshops for the National CASA Association and the Missouri CASA Association. Since her arrival at CASA she has led the Advocacy Services team, which has more than doubled in her time with the agency. Under her leadership, the team has built and nurtured connections with community partners that include the Washington University School of Law, Sanford Brown Business College and Service Learning Program at Saint Louis University. Through these relationships and other recruitment efforts, CASA of St. Louis County increased new volunteers in 2007 by more than 100%. Nickie looks forward to helping continue CASA’s growth and increasing community support of child advocacy so the organization can serve all abused and neglected children in the St. Louis area. She and her husband Mike are committed to the safety and well- being of all children and share their passion for assisting those in need with their son, Caplan, and daughter, Tatum.
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