My own journey was shaped by an unwavering support system around me. Mentors, community, and relationships steadied me through uncertainty and showed me what it looks like when someone truly invests in another person’s potential. Those experiences didn’t just influence me; they defined the leader I chose to become.
Over the past 32 years working in child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when young people have that same kind of support, and what happens when they don’t. The difference is rarely about talent or drive. It’s about access to the right people at the right time. It’s about whether someone shows up.
That’s why I show up every day. As President and CEO of Thompson, I have the privilege of leading an organization that serves more than 10,000 children and families across the Southeast each year. But the mission has never felt institutional to me; it feels personal. Because I know what it means to face growing challenges in the world as a young person, and I know how transformative it is to have someone in your corner who believes in your ability to overcome them.
I lead because I was led well. I invest in younger generations because someone invested in me. I believe with every strategy we build, every program we fund, and every family we serve, people don’t just survive their circumstances. With the right guidance and the right support, they thrive beyond them.
That belief is not a mission statement. It’s the foundation everything else is built on.