Get to know the leadership at Alexander Youth Network!
Click on the photo for a brief biography.
Click on the photo for a brief biography.
© 2019 Alexander Youth Network
6220 Thermal Road, Charlotte NC 28211
Phone: (855) 362-8470 | Fax: 704.362.8464
info@alexanderyouthnetwork.org
Accredited by The Joint Commission, which is recognized nationwide as a symbol of healthcare quality reflecting the highest level of performance.
Craig Bass first joined Alexander in 1979 as a resident counselor, living in a cottage with six emotionally disturbed children. He left two years later to complete his education, and returned in 1990. He was named CEO in September, 1992. Under Craig’s leadership, Alexander Youth Network’s behavioral healthcare programs have grown from serving 38 children per year in 1993 to 8,800 in 2016.
Craig earned a B.A. in Human Services from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (magna cum laude) and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina.
An Eagle Scout, Craig was a volunteer leader in the Boy Scouts of America for more than 30 years and served for many years as a member of the Council’s Executive Board. Craig has served on many boards, including the North Carolina Association of Residential Child Care and Family Services, Mecklenburg Area Mental Health Providers and Benchmarks, an alliance of agencies serving children, adults and families across North Carolina.
Ashley Conrad, MSL, QP, joined Alexander in 2007 as Program Manager for the Beacon Hall Day Treatment program in Dallas, North Carolina and transitioned into the role of Executive Director for the Pathways/Partners Division in 2009. She was the CEO of Youth Opportunities in 2015 until full consolidation under Alexander Youth Network in February 2016. She has over 20 years of experience in human services – in both the health care and behavioral health care industries. Prior to joining Alexander, Ms. Conrad worked at Thompson Child and Family Focus for nine years, supervising several departments. As a Certified Recreation Therapy Specialist, she has extensive experience in designing and implementing therapeutic recreational activities, which aligns with Alexander’s Day Treatment programming. She has a Master’s degree in Organizational Change and Leadership through Pfeiffer University.
Manuel Gomez joined Alexander in 2011 through the acquisition of former Youth Opportunities where he served as CFO since 2007. Manuel started his career at Alexander as Director of Accounting and was named CFO for the organization in 2012.
Manuel earned a B.A. in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Business Finance from Mariano Galvez University in Guatemala City. He also earned an MBA degree from Wake Forest University.
Dr. Van Catterall joined Alexander Youth Network in 2019. Prior to joining Alexander, Dr. Catterall served as Director of Clinical Services at Youth Focus, and as Director of the Youth Focus PRTF program.
Dr. Catterall received his MA and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He received his B.S. in Psychology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. He completed his Predoctoral Internship at Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, MD.
Carolyn Spence first joined Alexander Youth Network in 1997 as a case manager. Carolyn has experience using skills in clinical case management, administration, billing, utilization management, EHR development and implementation, and data analysis. The foundation of her success is partnerships with the clinical and IT staff, interdisciplinary teamwork, and relationships with technology vendors. These partnerships combined with Carolyn’s dedication and gift for innovation have produced improved efficiency and effectiveness of systems and processes throughout the organization.
Before joining Alexander Youth Network, Carolyn studied Social Work at Lakehead University in Thunderbay, Ontario Canada. She volunteered with different organizations as a buddy to adults with developmental disabilities and has coached soccer to young children new to the sport.
Leonard Shinhoster joined Alexander Youth Network in February, 2001. Mr. Shinhoster has a vast array of healthcare experiences in multiple settings, including hospitals, psychiatric facilities, day treatment programs, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Before becoming Executive Director, Mr. Shinhoster started his professional career at Alexander as a Behavioral Health Counselor, transitioning to a Special Education Teacher and was eventually promoted to a supervisor in a residential facility. Mr. Shinhoster has dedicated his career to serving the underserved and ensuring quality behavioral healthcare to all.
Before joining Alexander, Mr. Shinhoster was a Special Education Teacher at Thompson’s Children’s Center and still maintains his Professional Educator’s Licensure. Mr. Shinhoster is also a Therapeutic Crisis Intervention trainer and has been certified for 10 years. Mr. Shinhoster received his BA in Sociology from Queens University.
Buddy Plummer, BS, QP, joined Alexander as part of the acquisition of group homes from Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare in 2003. In 2007 when Alexander strategically decided to cease group home operations, Buddy lead the efforts to successfully transition the children and staff to other identified services and departments. Then, as Alexander’s Charlotte Day Treatment Program Manager, he led the implementation of the innovative Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics approach. In 2010, he began his work in the Performance Improvement department as the Program Integration Manager ensuring Alexander’s new programs were integrated fully into the Alexander array of services. In 2012, he broadened his role to Performance Improvement Manager where he managed the day-to-day operations of the department. After a brief return to Program Operations in 2015 as the Executive Director of Day Treatment, he was appointed to his current role in 2016.
Buddy earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Wingate University.
Blaine Sanders began serving as Alexander’s Outside General Counsel in October 2016. He has been an attorney with Robinson Bradshaw since 1985, with an emphasis on business litigation. Blaine formerly served as the associate general counsel of United Dominion Industries. He advises Alexander on litigation, regulatory, employment, corporate governance, contractual and real estate matters.
Blaine received his undergraduate degree from Davidson College, magna cum laude, and his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School, where he was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review and a Patrick Wilson Scholar. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2006 (sports law) and North Carolina Super Lawyers since 2008 (business litigation).
Blaine is a member of the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society and a long-time board member of The Center for Community Transitions.
Stacia DeBerry Jackson, MBA, has worked in marketing and communications in several industries including healthcare, education, tourism/attractions, and sports. Driven by her passion to help organizations market and communicate their mission, Stacia held several marketing positions within Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System) where she led multiple system-wide campaigns to support women’s health and physician marketing. She led advertising, media relations, and promotional efforts for Discovery Place, and served as the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
Stacia worked for Alexander Youth Network as the Director of Marketing and Business Development in 2018 and returned to the organization in 2021 as Chief Marketing Officer. She received her bachelor’s degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2003 and completed her Master of Business Administration at Pfeiffer University in 2009.
Stacia is passionate about Alexander’s mission and believes that mental health services should be accessible to all children.
Lynn Crutchfield serves as President of Alexander Children’s Foundation. Alexander Children’s Foundation is responsible for raising all the philanthropic and volunteer support for Alexander Youth Network. Lynn received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Georgia and her Masters of Education in Psychological Services and Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in the field of mental health as a therapist for 5 years in Philadelphia and Chicago before moving to Charlotte 20 years ago. Lynn’s relationship with Alexander began when she served as a Guardian ad Litem for a child receiving services, and then she continued as an advocate, major gifts officer, and board member. She was the founding Board Chair for the new Foundation and has been leading the organization as President since January 2018.
Trish Hobson has served in leadership roles in non-profits in both volunteer and staff roles for over 20 years. She served as President Elect and President of the Junior League of Charlotte from 2004 – 2007. Joining the Emergency Winter Shelter in 2007 as a part-time Director of Development, she quickly became a leader in the organization. When the Emergency Winter Shelter merged with the Uptown Shelter in October, 2009 to become the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte, Trish took on the role of Associate Executive Director for Community Development. Trish is passionate about ending homelessness in Charlotte and worked with the Board and staff at the Men’s Shelter to develop a strong housing program.
Trish joined Alexander Youth Network in 2015 and successfully secured resources to help children with severe emotional and behavioral problems and their families. A transition to the President role at The Relatives seemed a natural transition in December of 2016. Because The Relatives is a subsidiary of Alexander Youth Network, Trish was able to stay within the organization and get back to her true passion of solving issues surrounding homelessness and unstable housing.
Trish's passion lies in helping those with the most critical needs in our community. Trish came to Charlotte in 1984 to attend Queens College. Upon graduation, she stayed in Charlotte and started a family. Trish and her husband, Ross, have two adult children, two dogs and a cat.
Sarah Roethlinger serves as the Executive Director for Youth Focus, an affiliate of Alexander Youth Network. Before joining the team at Alexander she was the Supportive Housing Program Director for Youth Focus. She supervised several programs that serve youth experiencing homelessness including Act Together, The Transitional Living Program and My Sister Susan’s House. She is a rostered Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and uses her expertise to help youth and staff who support our programs feel safe.
Sarah has served as Board Chair of the Guilford County Continuum of Care and serves on the Executive Committee which helps support those experiencing homelessness in Guilford County. She is a native to Greensboro, NC where she and her husband, Erik, live with their two children.
Adrienne Leach serves as the Executive Director of Day Treatment Services for AYN and brings with her 17 plus years of experience in the mental health field working with children and adolescents. Prior to merging with AYN, Adrienne was the Assistant Director of Operations with Youth Focus and supervised both day treatment and outpatient counseling staff. She began her career as an outpatient therapist and moved to day treatment shortly after as a Program Manager where she found her passion for working with adolescents and their families, as well as staff development and program implementation. Through her tenure with Youth Focus, she has worked closely with Guilford County Schools to foster and improve relationships between the two agencies along with working to implement the Building Futures Day Treatment Program. In addition to working with the school system, she has served on the JJSAMHP initiative that works to ensure that at-risk youth and their families have adequate access to mental health services in the community. Adrienne completed her Master of Social Work in 2003 at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University and received her LCSW in 2005.
Jami P. Gomes, first joined the Alexander Youth Network team in 2014 as the Clinical Supervisor for the Therapeutic Foster Care program. Over the past five years Jami, has lead clinical and operational advancements for the Therapeutic Foster Care and Intensive Alternative Family Therapy (IAFT) teams including; managing IAFT Joint Commission process, completing law enforcement and community trainings, and piloting virtual case note submissions.
Prior to joining Alexander, Jami, gained over nine years of clinical experience working as a Psychotherapist throughout New York and North Carolina. She completed her Master of Social Work degree at Fordham University in 2006 following her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University in 2002.
Amanda Pottinger joined Alexander Youth Network in 2005 as a Behavioral Health Counselor. Through the years, Amanda has been a Group Home Supervisor, Service Authorizations Specialist, Process Integrity Auditor, Traffic Manager, Project Manager – Office of the CEO, and now, Referral Development Director. She sits on the Employee Dispute Resolution Panel, the Employee Engagement Committee and is the Assistant Secretary for Alexander Youth Network’s Board of Directors.
In 2005, Amanda graduated Cum Laude from Johnson C. Smith University earning a B.A. in Communications.
Michelle NicholsMichelle Nichols serves as the Executive Director of Foster Care. Before coming on to AYN, she was the Assistant Director of Operations for Youth Focus. At Youth Focus, she supervised Structured Day (day treatment), Intensive In-Home and Foster Care since 2011. She is a fully licensed clinical social worker and earned her Masters of Social Work from the University of Michigan. She is originally from Michigan and moved to North Carolina ten years ago. She now lives in Greensboro with her husband and their two boys.
Ashley Sparks joined Alexander Youth Network in August 2013 in the Southern Pines Office as the office manager. In May 2014, she transitioned into the Licensing and Recruiting role for Therapeutic Foster Care in the area. In August 2017, she became Executive Director of the Southern Piedmont Region.
Prior to her experience with Alexander, Ashley was a worked in the office of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving at Appalachian State University. Ashley has been involved in working with youth in a behavioral health capacity since her teenage years.
Ms. Sparks has a Masters of Social Work with a concentration in Children, Youth and Families from the University of Southern California completed in 2020 and a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University. In addition to her work at Alexander, Ms. Sparks also dedicates her time to non-profit activities local to Moore County.
Meaghan Whitson, serves as the Executive Director of Eastside Campus in Greensboro for AYN. Along with this role Meaghan brings experience of working 13 years experience of working within secure settings with children, adolescents and their families.
Meaghan, is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, whom gained her MSW from University of South Carolina in 2007 after obtaining a bachelors of Social Work from UNCG. Meaghan is also TF-CBT certified.
Meaghan has found a passion working with teenagers and their families in this level of care. The ability to work with clients at this level of care and see their ability to grow and make strides is what keeps the “job” being a passion. Through the years of being a therapist case manager, supervisor, program director to her current role of executive director the love for the program and helping the clients achieve maximum success has only grown.
Outside of social work, working with dog rescues has been passion as well. Meaghan, enjoys spending time with her family including two rescue dogs outside hiking and exploring.
