Lena M. Hicks

​Executive Director

Lena is a Southern Illinois native with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Mid-Continent University. She was hired as the Executive Director on July 1, 2017.

Lena was a Head Start child and a Head Start parent. Head Start and other WADI programs helped Lena to further her education and gain the confidence and skills necessary to apply for and obtain the Saline County Manager position at WADI in 2005. She was later promoted to Emergency Service Director in 2009, promoted to the Head Start / Early Head Start Director position in 2012, and promoted to the Deputy Director position for Wabash Area Development, Inc. on July 1, 2014.

Lena is a nationally Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP). She is also a Family and Community Development Specialist from the University of Illinois at Springfield and the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (IACAA). Lena previously received Care Coordinator Director certification from the Illinois Department on Aging and was a Nationally Certified ROMA Implementer.

She serves on the board for IACAA and co-chairs the Organizational and Program Development Committee for that board. Lena also serves on the local Workforce Investment Board. Previously, she served on the Family Selection Committee of the local Habitat for Humanity, served on the Southern Illinois Continuum of Care for Homelessness, and was the chairperson for the Saline County FEMA board for several years.

Dawn Money

Chief Fiscal Officer

​Dawn Money is the Chief Fiscal Officer at Wabash Area Development, Inc. She graduated from Southeastern Illinois College with an Associate's degree in Accounting. She then graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. Dawn has 40 years of work experience, with a strong skill set in the standards of accounting and business management.
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Dawn grew up in Central Illinois, moving to Southern Illinois twenty-five years ago where she married and raised her family.

Debbie Meyer

CSBG Director

Debbie is a native of Southern Illinois with an Associate degree in Broadcasting from Wabash Valley College.
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Debbie began her career at WADI in 1998 in Head Start as the health assistant in Wabash and Edwards Counties. In 2001, she and her family moved to Northern Wisconsin where she worked an additional two years in the Head Start classroom for CESA 11. Upon returning to Southern Illinois, Debbie continued her employment with WADI as an Outreach Worker, and then as County Manager. Debbie was promoted in September 2021 to the CSBG Director position.
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Debbie became a ROMA Implementer in 2021, and serves on the board for Safe Haven Women and Children’s Homeless Shelter.

Alisa Adams-Miller

Head Start/Early Head Start Director

Alisa is a Southern Illinois native with a Bachelors Degree in Organizational Leadership from Mid-Continent University in Kentucky and an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Southeastern Illinois College.  She is a certified Family and Community Development Specialist from the University of Illinois at Springfield, a Certified Community Action Professional, CCAP,  and is a board member of the Birth to Five Action Council.  She was an Illinois Head Start Association board member for 11 years. Alisa is a past Head Start parent and has worked with WADI for more than 25 years.  She has held a variety of Head Start positions related to teaching children and families, training Head Start and Early Head Start staff, and overseeing the education component in Head Start centers.  Alisa has been the Head Start / Early Head Start Director since April of 2014.

Ryan Trueblood

WIOA Director
Ryan began his career at WADI as a Career Planner in January 2022, helping young adults aspire to reach their educational goals. In December of 2022, Ryan switched roles, becoming the WIOA Director.
Ryan is a long time Southern Illinois resident from Texas, with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education, as well as a Bachelors Degree in University Studies, both from the University of Southern Illinois. Ryan was a Junior High Science teacher at NCOE from 2017-2020 where he also contributed as boys middle school and high school assistant baseball coach before coming to the WADI team.

Brian Cozart

Housing Director
Brian launched his career at WADI as the Housing Director in August 2023 working with the Emergency Transitional Housing and Homeless Prevention Programs. Before coming to WADI, Brian managed numerous stores and transitioned to outside sales.

​Brian has always called Southern Illinois home, and he is eager to assist residents in this area that are displaced.

Katie Ellis

Critical Records/Risk Management Director
Katie began her career at WADI as a Recruitment Specialist in October 2023 for the Head Start Program. In February 2024, she transitioned into the role of Critical Records/Risk Management Coordinator, and was promoted to the Critical Records/Risk Management Director in May 2025. 

Katie graduated from the University of Southern Indiana in 2022 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She is a recent addition to the Southern Illinois area, moving here after she met her husband during her time at USI.

Micki Halligan

Energy Director
Micki is a Southern Illinois native with an associate's degree in human services from Wabash Valley College and a bachelor's degree in business management from University of the Cumberlands. She is a certified ROMA implementer, and certified Family and Community Development Specialist. Micki began her career with WADI in January of 1997 in Head Start/Early Head Start. In 2016 she became County Manager of the Hamilton County Office in Mcleansboro and was promoted in 2023 to the Energy Director.