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Lena M. hicks
Executive directorLena is a Southern Illinois native with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Mid-Continent University. She is a certified Family and Community Development Specialist from the University of Illinois at Springfield and the Illinois Community Action Association and a Certified Community Action Professional. Lena also received Care Coordinator Director certification from the Illinois Department on Aging. She serves on the Family Selection Committee of the local Habitat for Humanity and has served on the Southern Illinois Continuum of Care for Homelessness. She was also the Chairperson for the Saline County FEMA Board for several years.
Lena started her career at WADI in 2005 as the Saline County Manager and was promoted to Emergency Service Director in 2009. In 2012, Lena was promoted to the Head Start / Early Head Start Director until July 1, 2014 when she was promoted to the Deputy Director position for Wabash Area Development, Inc. Lena move to the Executive Director position on July 1, 2017. |
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lori carusoFiscal officerLori is a Southern Illinois native with an Associate degree from Frontier Community College with over 25 years experience in the social service field.
Responsibilities as Chief Fiscal Officer include:
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ashley garlickExecutive AssistantAshley Garlick is a Southern Illinois native with an Associate's Degree from Southeastern Illinois College in Business Administration and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management with a minor in Marketing from Southern Illinois University- Carbondale. In March 2020, Ashley became a Nationally Certified ROMA Implementer.
Ashley started her career with WADI in 2013 as Hamilton County Manager and worked her way up through Energy Specialist (2016-2018), Service Support Coordinator (2018), Service Support Director (2018-2019), and Critical Records/ Risk Management/ Marketing Director (2019-2021). Ashley now serves as our Agency's Executive Assistant. |
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Maude Harrisonenergy directorMaude is a native of Hamilton County.
She began her career at WADI in 2019 as a White County Home Visitor. In April 2020 Maude became the Energy Coordinator working her way up to become the Energy Director in June 2020. Maude has her Associates Degree from Rend Lake College in Early Childhood Education. |
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Debbie meyerCSBG DIRECTORDebbie is a native of Southern Illinois with an Associate degree in Broadcasting from Wabash Valley College.
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. Debbie became a ROMA Implementer in 2021, and serves on the board for Safe Haven Women and Children’s Homeless Shelter. |
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alisa newmanhead start/ early head start directorAlisa 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 serves as a board member of the Illinois Head Start Association. Alisa is a past Head Start parent and has worked with WADI for more than 16 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.
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angie peyton
wioa directorAngie is a Southern Illinois native with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from University of Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY. She is also a certified Family and Community Development Specialist from the University of Illinois at Springfield and Illinois Community Action Association. Angie serves as a volunteer Salvation Army clerk, serves on the local FEMA board, is a ROMA Implementer, and became a Certified Community Action Professional, CCAP in 2018. Angie began her career at WADI in 2003 as the White County Manager and was promoted to CSBG/WIOA Director in 2017.
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