FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Colleen Huff graduated with honors in Child and Family Development from the University of Central Missouri. She spent 12 years as a Certified Parent Educator with Kansas City Public Schools and has nearly 20 years working with at-risk families in the KC metro area.

In 2011, she founded Family Transformations, now the leading parent aid agency in KC with over 35 family support specialists, providing family-centered services with lasting positive results.

In 2019, Colleen launched Transformation Visitation Home, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering a home-like facility for supervised visits and wrap-around services for homeless families involved with Jackson County Family Court.

TREASURER

Terese Mountjoy (Terri) graduated with honors in Business and Financial Management and Pharmaceuticals. She has run her own Hospice and Palliative Care business in Alabama and currently works as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative. With over 12 years in corporate medical management and a degree in Computer Science & Arts, she brings diverse expertise to her work.

Terri also founded a nonprofit supporting special needs and terminally ill children and families in Kansas City, inspired by her personal experience with her premature grandchild. She is an active member of Women Fundraising Professionals of America and has led successful charity events.

PARENT EDUCATION & TRAINING

With degrees in Speech Pathology and Education, Mary has extensive experience in the education field, trauma-informed parenting, and the nationally acclaimed Parents as Teachers program. She most recently served as Head Start Education Manager/Instructional Coach for Kansas City Public Schools.

Mary has taught child development at several universities and worked in various roles supporting children and their families in public schools, private schools, nonprofits, and the public sector including

Hallmark and H and R Block. She received the 2008 Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and is passionate about empowering adult learners to develop positive, respectfulrelationships with the children in their care.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Yolanda Robinson, a Kansas City native, is a proud mother and a product of Kansas City Missouri Public Schools. She is the Caring Communities Site Coordinator for the Local Investment Commission and Owner Operator of Caring Academy.

Holding degrees from Penn Valley Community College and the University of Kansas City, Yolanda is a Licensed Child Care Center Director with over 16 years in youth development and programming. She also serves as a Parent Aide with Family Transformations Kansas City.

A dedicated Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and active in community organizing, Yolanda received the 2019 Courageous Leadership Award for her work with at-risk populations.

MEDIA RELATIONS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Sarah Plake was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas. After graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism, she pursued the career of her dreams as a TV news reporter. Sarah worked for three years in Topeka and was lucky enough to land a job in her hometown in 2015 and has worked for KSHB 41 News ever since. 

Sarah is deeply passionate about social justice and community-level issues, including amplifying women's voices, which is what brought her to Family Transformations. Sarah is proud of her ethnically diverse background, which is what leads her with an open mind and heart in everything she does. 

GRANTS & SPONSORSHIPS

Brenda Lax, with a B.S. in Family Economics from Kansas State, has decades of social service experience. She directed the Foster Grandparent Program for nearly 20 years, expanding services through grant funding. Brenda also served as President of the National Foster Grandparent Program Directors, advocating nationally and testifying before Congress. A delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, she later spent several years writing grants for nonprofits and now works for a condominium property. Brenda is married with one son and actively leads and facilitates Bible study at Sheffield Family Life Center.

SECRETARY

Cindy is an insurance professional in the Kansas City area.  She has earned designations through the National Alliance for Insurance Education as a Certified Insurance Counselor and a Certified Risk Manager.  She began her career with a major Insurance Company, then spent several years in educating others in her field.  Most recently she has been an agency owner and operations manager with one of the top insurance brokers in the country.  She has been a children's teacher in her church for over 30 years and has a passion for helping children.  She and her husband started a scholarship program for children in Honduras who need financial assistance in order to get a basic education

SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE

Jillian McCallister was born and raised in Kansas City and is a proud graduate of UMKC’s political science program. With a lifelong passion for making necessary changes within the criminal justice system, she joined TVH for a summer internship. Following her internship, she transitioned to a role as a parent aide and subsequently joined the board as the social justice advocate. Currently, Jillian works on behalf of clients in criminal court as a mitigation specialist, with aspirations of attending law school in the near future.

GOVERNACE AND FUNDRAISING

Alex Kerr is a nationally recognized lighting designer known for his “bloody cool” designs and an American Prize national finalist in Opera Performance. Based in Lawrence, Kansas, Alex is a passionate arts supporter and community advocate with extensive experience serving on nonprofit boards across the midwest. He is especially committed to accessibility, youth empowerment, and building inclusive communities through the arts.