EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Julia Adami, MS, LPC

Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Adami was named CEO in July of 2023. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Missouri State University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She has held leadership roles in nonprofit, government, and private sectors.

Angela Sliepen

Chief Operating Officer

Ms. Sliepen joined ECH in November 2021 and was named Chief Operations Officer in October 2022. Previously, she was Director of Operations at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. Ms. Sliepen holds a Master of Arts in nonprofit administration from Lindenwood University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Sherry Gerke

Chief Development Officer

Ms. Gerke joined ECH as CDO in 2017. She began her career working with nonprofits at the YMCA of Greater St. Louis. She later became Chief Development Officer for two local foundations. Ms. Gerke received her M.A. in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix and a B.S.W. from Missouri State University.

Brandi Behne

Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Behne joined ECH as CFO in 2015. A CPA, she brings a range of experience from working as an auditor in public accounting to serving as controller of the YWCA of Metro St. Louis. She has her Masters of Accountancy from University of Arkansas.

Lynn Durbin
Kansas City Steppingstone Director

Amy Hanson
Director of Family Connections

Kim Handlang
Residential Services Director

Shelley Moore
Performance Improvement Director

Jene Tillis
Campus Operations Director

Lesia Wells
Director of Human Resources

Shari Smith
President

E. David Viehmann
Vice President

Paul G. Flynn
Treasurer

Stephen R. Schroeder
Assistant Treasurer

Dennis B. Mertz
Secretary

Regina Berwin

Jeremy Fettig

William Gamewell

Gerhard K. Glassl

Gail Saxton

Susan Shelton

Lucille Smith

Selena Vaughn

Annie L. Williams

David R. Frensley, Esq.
Board Member Emeritus