Meet the Delta Center Team

Jim Ruedin
Executive Director

As our Executive Director, Jim has spent the last 28 years supporting people with disabilities. Much of that time was spent in case management for people with developmental disabilities. He was a case manager in St. Louis County, supervised an assessment team for the St. Louis region and case management teams in Jefferson and St. Charles counties. He also served as the Director of Case Management in Lincoln County. Early in his career, he provided residential and supported employment services to children with serious emotional disorders.

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Beverly Dye
Human Resources Manager

Beverly Dye is our Human Resources Manager, has been with us since 2016 and has over 35 years of HR experience. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix in Human Resources Management and is currently obtaining her Master’s in Communication at UMSL.

As an Air Force Veteran, she has the ability to maintain calm in a multitude of situations. Beverly has a passion for HR and is willing to share her knowledge and HR advice with the Delta Center team. She makes sure we recruit and retain some of the best qualified/talented employees in the St. Louis area.

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Sara Devine
Director of Programs and Services

Sara Devine is our Manager of Consumer-Directed Services. She has over 12 years of experience in the disability field, working in a variety of positions from direct care staff, case management, educator and program coordinator. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from UMSL and a Master’s Degree in Non Profit Administration from Lindenwood University.

Sara is a strong advocate for people of all abilities. Her passion for this field crosses into her personal life as well, where she is a volunteer with the local library delivering books to a home-bound senior.

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Amanda Kerley
Veteran Program Manager

Amanda Kerley has been promoted to our Veteran Program Manager. She works with Veterans living in Missouri and Illinois. Amanda has been with Delta Center since 2011. She graduated from Maryville University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, which makes her a natural asset to Delta Center.

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Gina Licameli

Gina Licameli
Business Manager

Gina Licameli joined Delta Center in 2018 with a degree in Applied Science.  As our Business Manager, she is responsible for a wide variety of duties, from managing our IT Systems, tracking AP/AR, to ensuring her front office team work professionally with our vendors, who supply us with the great products at a reasonable rate.

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Alyssa Schafer
Payroll Manager

Alyssa Schafer is our Payroll Manager at Delta Center. She manages the payroll, employer tax and billing – related to Consumer Directed Services. She has been with Delta Center since 2019.

Alyssa grew up in Central Illinois (halfway between St. Louis and Chicago).  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from MacMurray College in 2010 and moved to St. Louis shortly afterward.  Alyssa has 10 years of experience working in Payroll.

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Michael Anderson
ILS– Transition Specialist

Michael Anderson is our newest ILS– Transition Specialist. Michael did not start his journey the traditional way by going to college and entering the workforce. It started from a spinal cord injury in 1987 when he was 21 years old. Michael states, “I went from being a hardworking, abled bodied person to a person with a severe disability who did not understand how to care for myself. I was frustrated, confused and scared because I didn’t have any answers.”
Michael then met a gentleman who taught him how to deal with the issues he had adjusting to his disability. He was so grateful to have his independence back that he volunteered for a Center for Independent Living. In doing so, he found his purpose to motivate others with a disability

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Jennifer Bales
VDC Options Counselor

VDC Options Counselor, Jennifer Bales, feels it is her life’s mission to help others. She graduated from Buena Vista University in Iowa in 1988, and began her social work mission in that state. She moved to the St. Louis region in 1989, and has continued to work as a social worker for the past 30 years. She is now dedicated to supporting consumers/employers in the St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren County areas.

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Andrea Briggs
Independent Living Specialist

Independent Living Specialist Andrea Briggs is a St. Louis, Missouri Native and has been with Delta Center since 2019.  For over 20 years, Andrea has been committed to supporting adults and children in need.  Andrea earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri St. Louis and has worked in the mental health and child welfare fields.

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Stephanie Burton

Stephanie Burton
CDS Payroll Specialist

Stephanie Burton is new with Delta Center as our CDS Payroll Specialist, working primarily with our CDS consumers. She grew up in Hazelwood, Missouri. And received her  Associates Degree from St. Louis Community College. Stephanie went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree from Lindenwood  University.  She has been working in the social work field for over eight years. She enjoys spending time with her family and reading.

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Brittany Cheatham
Lead Options Counselor

Brittany Cheatham was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. She received her bachelor’s degree from Maryville University of Saint Louis in Rehabilitation Services with an emphasis in Psychiatric Rehabilitation.  She received her Master’s Degree from Concordia University in Public Health with emphasis in Community health education. Brittany has worked in social services for 12 years.

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Makenzi Donaldson
VDC Options Counselor

Makenzi is a dedicated and compassionate VDC Options Counselor working with Veteran’s at Delta Center. Makenzi joined Delta Center in August 2023. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis (UMSL). Her professional journey has been marked by a particular dedication to addressing women’s issues, and she has garnered valuable experience in aiding women as they reintegrate into society following incarceration. Makenzi’s passion extends beyond her role as a case manager; she actively seeks to connect clients with essential community resources, ensuring a holistic approach to their well-being.

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Lisa Ezeamii
Advocacy Coordinator

Advocacy Coordinator Lisa Ezeamii holds a degree in social work, and is also a certified parent educator, a personal growth instructor, and a life coach. She loves teaching and encouraging people to recognize and utilize their personal power, to live their most fulfilling lives. She has worked for Delta Center for more than 10 years.

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Cynthia Gander
Veteran’s Options Counselor

Cynthia is our Veteran’s Options Counselor. She has been with Delta Center since January 2022. She is a St. Louis native has lived in the upper Midwest and the South. Cynthia has worked in social services for fourteen years.

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Tracy Kondla
VDC Options Counselor

Tracy comes to Delta Center with more than 28 years of experience in social services. The common theme throughout her career has been her dedication to advocating for people with all types disabilities.  To ensure they have access to choices and opportunities to live life on their own terms as independently as possible.

She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in Washington DC and her master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis. In her free time, she enjoys soaking up every minute of her time with her fun, loving, fiercely independent 2 year old daughter. As a family, they enjoy anything involving the outdoors from water sports to hiking to gardening.  In addition, her husband in his free time is a fiddle player in an old time string band and they are a part of an awesome contra dance community. They share their home with their beloved dog Blanco, and two cats Rocky and Edmund.

 

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Chris Larsen
CDS Intake Specialist

CDS Intake Specialist Chris Larsen was born in Illinois and has been a resident of Missouri since 1994.  She was employed 22 years with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, followed by 15 years of employment with MO Department of Health and Senior Services where she managed Community-Based Services.

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Sherron Lomax
Independent Living Specialist

Independent Living Specialist Sherron Lomax graduated from the University of Missouri St. Louis. She has worked in Social Services for more than 18 years. She has worked to protect abused children, and children with disabilities. She also spent several years working with homeless individuals and families.

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April Mason-Donovan
Independent Living Specialist

Independent Living Specialist April Mason-Donovan joined the Delta Center in December 2022 with a Master degree in Social Work form Missouri State University and a Bachelor in Social Work from University of Missouri – St. Louis, along with more than 25 years of related social services with the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind and other disabilities in the area of Vocational Rehabilitation, Employment, Education, Assistive Technology, Telecommunication services, Advocacy, Transition, and myriad of others. April loves to provide educational workshops and presentations! April is Deaf and is fluent in American Sign Language and has a huge heart for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community.

April is married to a wonderful husband, with whom she shares a beautiful daughter, two older stepsons, a son from a previous marriage, along with a cute mini-Aussie/Border Collie dog named Corky. April enjoys socializing with close friends, being with family, reading, cooking, and going to winery if time permits. Even though she was born in Mobile, Alabama, her heart remains with St. Louis! Go Blues, Cardinals, and sometime Auburn!!

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Shana Newsom
Equipment Exchange Program Coordinator

Shana Newsom is our Equipment Exchange Program Coordinator. Shana was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. Her personal goals are to get better with self-care and to live a healthier lifestyle. Professionally, she is happy to be a part of this great Delta Center team and wants to continue to grow the Equipment Exchange Program. Shana wants to help as many people as possible live their most independent life.

Shana loves spending time with her 12yr old twins, her dogs (Dolce and Gabbana), family and friends.

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Kathy Schopp
VDC Payroll Specialist

Kathy Schopp is our VDC Payroll Specialist. Kathy has over 30 years accounting experience, as well as her Bachelors’ Degree from St. Louis University.

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Erin Shanks
VDC Options Counselor

Erin Shanks is an VDC Options Counselor working with Veterans at Delta Center. She comes to Delta Center with 9 years of experience working with people with physical and developmental disabilities of all ages in multiple settings. She graduated from MacMurray College with a degree in Special Education in 2012. Erin grew up in a small central Illinois town, but now enjoys living in St. Louis with her 3 cats and many plants.

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Sheila Shive
Office Support Specialist

Sheila Shive is the Office Support Specialist at Delta Center; she joined Delta Center in June 2022. Sheila brings with her over 20 years of Administrative and Accounting experience. She is always willing to assist her co-workers and thoroughly enjoys helping our Consumers and their Attendants.

Sheila is the proud grandmother of 2 grandsons (Garrett and Liam) and two granddaughters (Natasha and Mila); all of whom she says, “gives the best hugs.”

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Tanith Swinney
Business Support Specialist

Tanith Swinney is our Business Support Specialist providing support to all staff at DCIL. She joined the team in July 2023 and comes with 10+ years of experience in IT, accounting, reporting, and business support. Tanith was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She currently resides in St. Charles County and is dedicated to her family, the community, and her Delta Center.

Tanith is the proud mother of 4 boys, ranging from 7 years to 22 years old. To say they keep her busy is an understatement. Between school, sports, and extra curriculum activities Tanith is worn out by the end of the day. She says she wouldn’t trade this time for anything! She is so happy that she works for a company that allows her the flexibility to spend time with her children and support them in their lives.

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Elizabeth “Liz” Wright
FMS Payroll Specialist

Liz Wright is our FMS payroll specialist, she joined Delta Center in November 2022. Liz was born and raised in St. Louis. She graduated from Webster University with a BA in English. Liz went on to get her master’s degree in counseling and psychology in Seattle, Washington. She has worked intermittently for a local accountant and comes to Delta Center with over a decade of accounting experience.

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