ONE STEP AT A TIME
WHO WE ARE
Kelly Kolberg
Executive Director
Kelly Kolberg worked in the child welfare system for 11 years employed in the intake and ongoing departments serving as an investigator, home study assessor, and independent living coordinator. She also worked for the local homeless shelter serving the unhoused population in her community. It was during this time Kelly saw the need for a program to help support former foster youth and young adults impacted by the child welfare system. She obtained an Associate of Arts at Lakeland Community College, a Bachelor's in Sociology and Criminology at The Ohio State University, and is currently in graduate school at Youngstown State University working towards obtaining a Master's degree in social worker. She first served OSAAT, LC as a board member, house manager, then Program Manager. She has been the Executive Director since January of 2024.
Mindy Hughes
Vice President/Founder
Mindy C. Hughes, MSSA, Caley Home Program Manager, Lake County Department of Job and Family Services (LCDJFS). Ms. Hughes started her career in Lake County Government in 2001. She has worked with youth and families in the child welfare and juvenile justice fields. Since joining the team at LCDJFS in 2004, Ms. Hughes served as a Child Protective Services Social Worker for 7 years before being promoted as the county’s Independent Living Program Manager for the next 10 years. It was in this position that she specialized in supporting young adults as they emancipate from foster care and face the challenges of entering adulthood. Since 2020, Ms. Hughes has been a Program Manager at the Caley Home, a residential treatment center for youth in foster care with LCDJFS. In addition to implementing a program of trauma-informed care at Caley, Ms. Hughes is responsible for developing the programs policies and procedures to maintain CARF accreditation and QRTP compliance. In addition to direct practice experience, Ms. Hughes offers lessons learned through her participation on numerous local, regional, and statewide collaborations dedicated to best practice in serving this population. Among these, Ms. Hughes was appointed to the ODJFS statewide Advisory Council for the implementation of Bridges, which extends housing and other essential supports necessary for emancipating foster youth to achieve self-sufficiency. From 2012-2015, Ms. Hughes represented Lake County on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Connecting the Dots pilot program, designed to improve outcomes for Ohio youth at increased risk for homelessness, incarceration, and poverty. Ms. Hughes also serves as the Board President for Ravenwood Health, the Youth Committee Chair for the Lake County Workforce Development Board, and a long-time adult supporter of the Northeast Ohio Youth Advisory board. In 2012, Ms. Hughes implemented an MOU between LCDJFS and the Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority which continues to provide Family Unification Program Housing Choice Vouchers to youth emancipating from foster care and families for whom their lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the children being placed in foster care. Prior to coming to the field of child welfare, Ms. Hughes obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Heidelberg University in 1999 and her Master’s Degree in Social Administration from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University with a concentration in mental health, substance abuse, public policy, and community development.
Brooke Bordeau
Board President
Brooke worked in the field of social work for 21 years and worked in a group home for teenage girls for 11 years in different capacities, from line staff to Unit Director to Coordinator of Residential Services. Over the past 10 years has worked for Geauga County Job and Family Services, first as an Ongoing Social Worker and currently as the Independent Living Coordinator. As an Independent Living Coordinator, Brooke worked with youth in custody aged 14 and older to help prepare them for adulthood, and with youth who emancipated from custody between the ages of 18 and 21 to help them transition into adulthood. Brooke relished the opportunity to continue her passion of supporting young adults as a member of this board.
Amy Spencer
Treasurer
Amy Spencer is a former staff member of the Emma Caley Home in Painesville, OH. She has been a police officer with the Madison Township Police Department for 16 years. She has been a Patrol Sergeant for the last two years. She specializes in accident reconstruction, crisis intervention and evidence room management. Amy earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Mercyhurst University. Amy is a Captain in the United States Army Reserves. She has extensive training in Military Police Operations and has deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Amy is currently the company commander of the 624 th Quarter Master Company located in Michigan City, IN.
Rob Misner
Board Member/Secretary
Rob Misner is a dedicated professional with over 15 years of experience at JPMorgan Chase, where he currently serves as a Business Analyst. With a strong background in Complaints Management he has spent more than 5 years passionately researching customer complaints to identify areas of improvement and working with lines of business to implement change. As a member of the board for OSAAT LC, Rob brings a wealth of business acumen and analytical skills to the organization. He joined the board to leverage his unique expertise in business analysis and is enthusiastic about making a positive impact and supporting the mission of OSAAT LC.
Tia Lawrence
Board Member/Founder
Tia Lawrence has worked for Torchlight Youth Mentoring Alliance (formerly Big Brothers Big Sisters Northeast Ohio) for the past 14 years. Tia started at the agency as an after school mentoring program coordinator for 8 years, and then transitioned to the Director of After School Programs for one year before becoming the Director of Programs. Before working at Torchlight Youth Mentoring, Tia worked for Geauga County Job and Family Services as a social worker. Tia received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Lake Erie College in 2000. Tia is a graduate of the Leadership Lake County Signature Program 2016 and the Leadership Lake County Community Builders Program 2015. Tia has previously sat on the Camp Sue Osborn Board and currently sits on the Lake Geauga Head Start Board. She is passionate about youth and resides in Painesville with her husband and 3 daughters.
Carmen Hamper
Board Member
Carmen Hamper (she/her/hers) is an attorney and Guardian ad Litem practicing in Northeast Ohio. She brings a unique trauma-informed approach to the law and is passionate about justice, both in the courtroom and in her community. She received the Ohio State Bar Foundation's Community Service Award for Attorneys Under 40 (District 18) in 2024. Carmen spends time volunteering as a trustee for community organizations, mentoring, engaging in legislative advocacy, and providing pro bono representation to non-profits and individuals. She provides trainings on human trafficking and child abuse for professionals, community groups, and students of all ages. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, reading, singing, and making good food to share.
Rory Randall
Board Member/Marketing Chairperson
Rory is a certified nurse practitioner with a masters degree in nursing from Kent state University. Rory has a certification in Oncology and care for our veterans at the Cleveland VA. "The mission of OSAAT means a lot to me which is why I volunteered to be on the board."
Amber Thomas
Board Member
Amber Thomas, MA, LPCC-S, is the Chief Clinical Officer of Youth Services at Crossroads Health. She has worked in community mental health settings for over 20 years as a volunteer, direct service provider, clinical supervisor, and administrator. She has extensive experience working with youth and adults with a variety of mental health issues, including trauma, mood disorders, grief and loss, and anxiety disorders. Amber has a strong passion for helping build resiliency in those who have experienced trauma and specializes in the treatment of children with complex developmental trauma, as well as autism spectrum disorders. She has provided training and consultation related to trauma, trauma informed care, de-escalation, suicide prevention and child and adolescent mental health in a variety of community and school settings. Amber has an active role in her community, serving as a volunteer for several organizations including Leadership Lake County, the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities Human Rights committee and the United Way of Lake County. The mission of One Step at a Time is near and dear to Amber's heart as she has spent much of her career working with youth in the foster care system and has seen firsthand how important is it for youth transitioning out of the foster care system to have a sense of safety, connection, guidance and support. Tia received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Lake Erie College in 2000. Tia is a graduate of the Leadership Lake County Signature Program 2016 and the Leadership Lake County Community Builders Program 2015. Tia has previously sat on the Camp Sue Osborn Board and currently sits on the Lake Geauga Head Start Board. She is passionate about youth and resides in Painesville with her husband and 3 daughters.
Jordan Smith
Board Member/Social Committee Chairperson
Jordan Smith grew up in Middlefield and attended Cardinal High School. He is currently the Senior Manager of Operations for a manufacturing company in Concord. He is currently serving on this board because "It is a great opportunity to help young people. My mother, and her two brothers as well as my paternal grandmother were all adopted. Not everyone in foster care is as fortunate as they were, that’s who I want to help and try to make a positive impact on their lives."