Leadership

Team

Our leadership team and all of our dedicated NYAP staff members are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and committed professionals with a deep understanding and appreciation of
NYAP’s vision to never give up on the children, youth and families we are proud to serve.  

Marvena Twigg
President and Chief Executive Officer

Marvena has spent nearly twenty years of her professional career with NYAP, previously serving in the capacities of the Executive Director of Ohio and the Assistant National Director and Chief Operating Officer before being named its President and CEO in March 2004.   Marvena previously worked for thirteen years at Franklin County Children Services in various direct service and supervisory roles. Marvena is a Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Domestic Violence Counselor. She obtained her Master Degree in Social Work from the University of Dayton.

Robert Clay
Chief Operating Officer

Bob was named the Chief Operating Officer of NYAP in December 2007, previously serving as the company's Vice President of Finance and Administration and its Chief Financial Officer.  A Certified Public Accountant in the State of Ohio, Bob has over 25 years of financial management experience in Social Service and Not-for-Profit agencies, previously serving as Controller and Director of Business Development for VOCA Corp; Senior Consultant for Plante Moran, LLC; and CFO of the Columbus Housing Partnership.

 
F. Edward Sparks
Executive Vice President

Ed first joined NYAP in 1997 as our Ohio State Director after a distinguished career in the public sector, most recently serving over 20 years as a Director at Franklin County Children Services.  Ed was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2005 and represents NYAP in several national service and professional associations including the Juvenile Justice Coalition, the Ohio Community Corrections Association and most recently was appointed to the National Board of Foster Family-Based Treatment Association.  Ed obtained his Master Degree in Social Work from Indiana University and holds both ACSW and LISWS certifications. 

Scott Timmerman
Vice President for Planning and Organizational Excellence

Scott first joined the NYAP team in 2000 and was named Vice President for Planning and Organizational Excellence in November 2003. Prior to Scott's NYAP service, he worked for Nationwide Children's Hospital in both direct service social work and program coordinator roles.  Additionally, Scott is retired from the US Coast Guard Reserve after 31 years of service.  Scott received a Master of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Louisville and is licensed as an LISW-S in Ohio.

Duane Phillips
Chief Information Officer 

Duane joined the NYAP team in 2003 and has served as the CIO for NYAP since 2005; directing the activities of our centralized information and telecommunications group. Prior to joining NYAP, he managed IT Operations for several private and public organizations.  He also spent several years as an independent business and technology consultant.

Renee Ellenberger
Director of Foster Care

Renee first joined the West Virginia operations of NYAP in 1993 as a licensing supervisor and progressed through the organization to serve as the Executive Director of West Virginia for six years before her promotion to Director of Foster Care in January 2008.  Prior to NYAP, Renee served as the Director of West Virginia operations for Try-Again Homes.  Renee obtained her Master of Social Work degree from West Virginia University and is licensed in both West Virginia and Ohio.   Renee is also active in the Alliance for Children and the West Virginia Chapter of FFTA.

Michelle Corry
Director of Clinical Services

Michelle joined the National Youth Advocate Program in 1999 and has served in various roles including Clinical Team Leader, Regional Director for Northwest Ohio, Director of Quality Advancement, and was named the Director of Clinical Services in 2006. Previous positions include serving as the Clinical Program Manager for EMQ Children and Family Services in Sacramento, CA and as a Therapist for Connecting Point in Toledo, OH.  Michelle earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Houston.

Judy Strnad

Director of Program Development, CANEI Program

Judy joined the National Youth Advocate Program in 2000 and has served in various roles including Regional Director, Interim Director of the Emergency Shelter Program, Regional Supervisor (OH) and was promoted to the Director of Program Development for the CANEI program in June 2006.  Judy is a certified RAP trainer through Reclaiming Youth International.  Previous positions were with Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois where she administrated the Residential Treatment Programs in the Chicagoland area for fourteen years.  Judy obtained her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education from DePaul University in Chicago.  Judy earned her Master of Social Work Degree from the Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois, in Chicago.

Alexander Cole
Executive Director, South Carolina Youth Advocate Program

Lex has been the South Carolina Executive Director of SCYAP since 1998 and has been involved in behavioral health services to children and families in South Carolina for more than 30 years.

Shawn Holt
State Director, Ohio

Shawn joined the NYAP team in 2002 as the Assistant Director of the Franklin County Care Management Program. He later served as the Assistant Executive Director for Ohio and was named the State Director in January 2009. He previously spent six years at Franklin County Children Services in both direct service and supervisory roles. Shawn holds a BA in Psychology and an MS in Human Services Management.

Patricia Lewis
State Program Director, West Virginia

Patricia A. "Patti" Lewis was named the Program Director for NYAP-West Virginia in January 2008, having worked for NYAP for over 10 years, most recently as the NYAP-West Virginia Director of Licensing. Patti is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania who, prior to coming to NYAP, served in various management roles at Try-Again Homes of Washington, PA.

Barbara VanDevender,

State Program Director, Indiana

Barbara VanDevender was named the NYAP in Indiana Program Director in September 2007 and directs the Indiana services of NYAP from our Indianapolis office.  Barbara brings to NYAP over 20 years of Child Welfare, Social Work and Clinical expertise gained at such notable agencies as The Villages, Children's Bureau, and IARCCA.   Barbara is a graduate of Indiana University and obtained her MS and additional post Masters' work at Texas A&M University.

Suzette Gadson
State Program Director, Georgia

Possessing over 14 years of experience in Human Services, Suzette was named the Georgia Program Director in September 2007.  Suzette previously served in a supervisory role with the Fulton County Division of Family and Children Services and held various managerial roles with The Miracle Makers in Brooklyn, NY. Suzette has earned both a Master of Administration and a Master of Social Work degree.

Linda Dobbins
State Program Director, Illinois

Linda received her undergrad in social sciences and Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She first began her career in child welfare at Arkansas' Children and Family services as a child welfare specialists, adoption, family preservation and child protection worker in 1993. From there she attended graduate school in 1995-1997 while continuing working as a child welfare specialist. Linda's focus of study in graduate school was mental health, where she was in a yearlong internship with the Veterans' Hospital mental health outpatient clinic

In 1997 to 1999, after graduating from the social work program, Linda became regional supervisor for Kansas Children's Service League, a child welfare agency in Manhattan, Kansas. From 1999-2004, she worked for Lawrence Hall Youth Services as a program manager in the foster care department. From 2004 to 2005, she was employed with Community Mental Health Council as an emergency room psych therapist. From 2005-2008 she was the program director for the medical specialized program as well as traditional foster care.

Katie Warner
Director of Development, Florida

Katie joined NYAP in September 2007 as our Director of Program Development in Florida, responsible for the recruitment and licensing of foster parents and for the program growth of our newest location.  Previously Katie serviced as the Foster Home Recruitment Coordinator for the Broward County Lead Agency, ChildNet.  Katie earned her BA in Social Work from Nazareth College of Rochester and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Azim Khamisa

Director of Development, California

In collaboration with NYAP, Azim Khamisa is the creator and founder of the Constant and Never Ending Improvement (CANEI) program and the the Director of Program Development in San Diego, CA. CANEI improves the lives of troubled teens using a holistic approach to treatment with an emphasis on restorative justice. Azim’s award winning book, Azim ‘s Bardo: From Murder to Forgiveness — a Father Journey, discusses restorative justice and its power to transform lives.