About

Born and raised in rural Nebraska, Alana grew up active in 4-H and now gives back as a 4-H club leader and member of her local 4-H Council. After spending her teenage years (13–19) in foster care, she became deeply passionate about youth leadership and advocacy. In college, she joined the Nebraska Foster Youth Council, an experience that helped shape her into a strong advocate for foster youth and inspired her ongoing commitment to empowering young people.

With a degree in Agricultural Education, Alana loves to teach anything AG or STEM. She believes in youth-driven leadership, hands-on learning, and creating opportunities for all young people to thrive. For the past 15 years, she has also served her community as an EMT and contributes as a substitute teacher.

Amy has had several roles with the Snow-Redfern Foundation, formerly known as Nebraska Boys Ranch, over the 30 years she has served. First, she served as a house parent at the Ranch with her husband, Steve, which encompassed a variety of responsibilities for the care of the residents.

Amy then worked as an assistant to the campus administrator at the Ranch. The last few years before the Ranch closed, she worked at the business office in Alliance. After the Foundation evolved into a grantmaking entity, Amy was offered a part-time position as an executive assistant. Steve and Amy have three children—Danny, Allison and Scott—who grew up at the Ranch.

“It is very heartwarming to see how the Foundation continues Arvilla Snow-Redfern’s wishes of helping youth and families across Nebraska.”
Amy is a true living demonstration of the foundation’s mission and has given her all to serving her community and youth. Her dedication and hard work are beyond comparison and her smile lights up every room she enters.

Amy has been with Snow-Redfern for nearly 35 years!

Detail-oriented and dedicated human service/social service worker with 40 years of experience with day to day operational and logistical needs of social work practice, including: adhering to the social ethics my education and practice have developed in my work; while completing needs, building strengths, goals, and support network assessments, and program research, development, facilitation, and outcomes assessments. Assisting, encouraging, and motivating, diverse groups through direct care interventions, entrepreneurship, Executive Directing, business ownership, public speaking, consulting, community activism – Mental Health Awareness – Hope Squad – Black Lives Matter Movement (BLMM), cultural/racial restorative experience program developing, anti-bullying restorative circle developing, suicide prevention field advocating, program development, Life Skills program development for our youth, diversity educator, and specializing in relationship building. I am sought for invitations at many tables in our community & I consult around our community on the various projects & work that I have done.

My life experiences are important in the profession that I have chosen. I’ve had personal and life experiences with immediate and extended family that have given me first-hand knowledge of mental health, substance abuse, physical abuse, incarceration, sexual abuse, cultural bias, poverty, and teen pregnancy which has given me the resources and experience to help others in any given situation. As a woman of color, communities divided by culture/race is where I was reared. I assisted with daily tasks of caring for my grandmother & grandfather at the end of their life. I am a single parent of seven children, a few with challenges that has engaged me within Individual Education Plan (IEP) teams, mental/emotional/suicide prevention/behavioral services, and the adult & juvenile justice systems. I have been reared to march and protest against bias and police brutality & Murder in our village. I have protested in middle school against the closing of our beloved “Whittier School” & the divide and conquer of our village. Restorative Justice, Racial Justice, and various Circle Processes are the passions that I have acquired on my life’s journey. The traumas of being a woman of color is pivotal in the ministering and work I commit myself to on a daily basis because I have been trained & have developed the empathy to effectively effect the outcomes of the work, I commit myself to. I am committed to eliminating racism, and every ism that there are. A great deal of my education, skills, and knowledge come from my diverse life experiences.

Coming Soon!

Brett is a mental health therapist as well as co-owner at Seasons of Hope Counseling in Alliance. He earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2011 and completed his Masters in Community Counseling at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2014. Brett worked at Mercy Hospital’s inpatient psychiatric unit in Council Bluffs, IA for nearly 8 years. He then became the lead program therapist that the Child and Adolescent Partial Program. This position allowed Brett to work closely with youth struggling with mental health needs as well as coordinate care. He then joined a private practice in the Omaha area for two years before moving to Alliance and starting Seasons of Hope Counseling.

Brett was born and raised in Omaha and met his wife Taylor, an Alliance native, while she was living in Omaha. They moved to Alliance in 2020 and have a son Oliver who is 4 years old and currently attends St. Agnes Pre-School and a daughter, Theadora, who will be one years old in February.

Brett joined the board in January 2024.

Cameron was born and raised in Papillion, Nebraska. He runs a small web design company, Open Caret, and supports the digital efforts of Snow-Redfern Foundation and other local and regional nonprofits. Cameron resides in Gretna and enjoys the Good Life by exercising on local trails, chasing his son around playgrounds and exploring our numerous state parks.

The importance of volunteerism was instilled in Denise at a young age by her parents, who demonstrated the value of giving back to a cause greater than themselves. Her motivation stems from a deep appreciation for nonprofits that seek to improve the quality of life for others—one program at a time.

Denise is a native of Alliance and has been an active volunteer in the nonprofit community. Most recently she served as the board president for the Alliance Recreation Center from 2014 through 2020. She is the materials manager at Parker-Hannifin, where she has worked for the past nine years.

Denise joined the Snow-Redfern Board of Directors in 2021.

My name is ET and I am currently a first-year student at University of Nebraska- Omaha, studying neuroscience. I love playing horror games, shopping, and collecting. I also like meeting new people and exploring areas around me. I hang out with my friends a lot too, since we laugh a lot together.

Faith Mills is the Executive Director of Panhandle Partnership, Inc., supporting collaborative work across the eleven rural and frontier counties of the Nebraska Panhandle. She grew up in Colorado, but has deep roots in the Panhandle. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and completed two life-changing years of National Service with AmeriCorps. Faith brings more than 15 years of experience in the behavioral health field to her work and has been involved with the Panhandle Partnership, in one way or another, for over two decades.

Faith is a skilled facilitator and trainer who enjoys bringing people and systems together to do meaningful, innovative work. She is committed to collaboration, practical solutions and community-driven change. In her down time, Faith is a fan of yurt camping and enjoys a good debate on the redundancy of the Oxford comma. In another life, she was an opera singer, but now mostly sings in the car and to her two adorable tuxedo cats.

My name is Jacquelyn Salas and I go by Jackie. I am a former foster youth, involved within the system for a total of 8 years. I am currently an RN in Nebraska City. There are 5 areas that make up a healthy person, which include access to consistent income, housing, food, and personal items. I believe that everyone should have access to these things to be healthy. Empowering youth is important to me because youth hold our future in their hands.

Coming soon!

Jason became Associate Dean of Community and Workforce Education for Central Community College in March 2020. Prior to his current role, Jason served as the Associate Dean of Skilled and Technical Science for Central Community College at the Columbus Campus, serving Columbus, Grand Island, and Kearney for one year. Jason was promoted to Associate Dean of Students in August 2012, serving until 2019 on the Hastings Campus. Jason joined Central Community College as Grand Island's Career and Employment Services Director in September 2010. Before coming to Central Community College, Jason served in many leadership roles at the Boys Town Emergency Shelter in Grand Island, NE. Jason served as a Youth Care Worker, Shift Supervisor, and the Director of In-Home Family Services for the area. Under his leadership, Jason has been involved in many areas of growth for Central Community College, serving students and staff in many strategic endeavors. Jason has been instrumental in developing the CARE team college-wide, and he is a Civil Rights Investigator credentialed as a level four investigator since 2013 through AXTIxA. Jason has served as a student conduct administrator (ASCA certified) as well as worked collaboratively with Residence Life, Admissions, Disability Services (504), Counseling Services, Financial Aid, and Equity Action Committee, as well as serving on many committees within the college. Jason recently has shifted focus to providing leadership in Community and Workforce Education. Jason works collaboratively with Early College students, Certified Nursing Assistant/ Medication Aide, CPR/First Aid, EMS, and Community Education. In addition, Jason works with area Businesses and Industries to provide Training and Development opportunities in the areas of Leadership Training, Industrial Training, Environmental Health Training, and Customized training to meet the needs of employers within the region.

A 2009 Graduate of Bellevue University, Jason graduated with a Master of Science degree in Counseling. Jason earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Jason completed his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership (Ed. d) at Doane University. Jason defended his dissertation (How Women in community college leadership experience gender bias) in November 2023 and Graduated in December 2023

Jason is active in the Hastings community and hopes to be more involved at the State level. In Hastings, he is a current Executive board member as well as serving on the board for the United Way of South-Central Nebraska as well and a past Board Member of the Area Substance Abuse and Alcohol and Abuse Prevention Board (2012-2019). In addition, Jason served as a Board Member for the Spousal Abuse Sexual Assault Crisis Center (SASA) for two years. Jason is serving a term on the Leadership NE Alumni Board and he is a member of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce. Jason graduated from Leadership Hastings and Leadership Tomorrow (Grand Island, NE). Jason is a member of the Hastings area Whitetails Unlimited chapter, the Hastings area Ducks Unlimited chapter, and the Hastings Pheasants Forever chapter. Jason is a 4 Rivers Sportsman Club member and is active in many community committees.

Coming Soon!

Jordan Diedrich is the Executive Director of Twin Cities Development. Jordan started with the organization in January of 2022. He has lived in Nebraska for 12 years, 7 of those years in Western Nebraska. Jordan was previously the Deputy Director of Public Works for the City of Scottsbluff for five years. He has a passion for community engagement and has been involved with NEXT Young Professionals, Riverside Discovery Center, and United Way. He is also a graduate of Leadership Scotts Bluff. Jordan has a 5-year-old daughter, Olivia who is a kindergartener at St. Agnes, and a two-year-old, Charlotte. His wife is a counselor at Gering Public High School.

Jordan joined the board in January 2024.

Kandi Weinbender serves as the Grants and Flow Coordinator for the Snow-Redfern Foundation, where she helps keep information, relationships, and resources moving smoothly to support the Foundation’s mission. Her background in mediation and nonprofit collaboration gives her a strong appreciation for clear communication, thoughtful process, and the quiet details that make lasting impact possible.

With more than a decade of experience as a mediator, Kandi also operates her private practice, Integrated Options, where she mediates with families to navigate conflict with respect and understanding. She has worked alongside nonprofits that uplift individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and children’s mental health needs—work that continues to shape her commitment to helping people feel heard and valued.

Throughout her career, Kandi has been drawn to spaces where voices can rise above barriers and connection can take root. She sees her work, whether in mediation or coordination, as a quiet calling to foster clarity, empathy, and forward movement in challenging spaces.

Saying Kelley is a nonprofit marketing guru is an understatement. She makes a habit out of combining her marketing expertise with her passion for helping great causes. After nearly 12 years as an agency creative director, Kelley founded Pen&Pug - a small business that offers marketingly delicious strategy, creative writing, and nonprofit fundraising services.

When she’s not busy putting her pen to work, Kelley enjoys spending time with her family, teaching an Experience Lab at UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications, spearheading Purpose Palooza! (a matchless event that brings local nonprofits and local marketers together for good) AND managing her pug Chubs’s dogfluencer career.

My name is Lauretta and I am from Omaha, Nebraska. I am Togolese, and I love hanging out with my friends, shopping, trying new things, and working on my small business! I currently go to school at University of Nebraska- Omaha, where I am studying Molecular Biology.

Leslie is currently the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. She is originally from Hemingford and prior to her career in higher education, Leslie worked for seven years as an attorney practicing law throughout the panhandle with Simmons Olsen Law Firm. Leslie has experience with a variety of boards and organizations aimed toward impacting lives and communities within the panhandle, and throughout the State. The importance of giving back to others and the community was instilled in Leslie from her parents and grandparents, as well as from the family found in her employers. She looks forward to the opportunity to continue to make an impact with the Snow-Redfern Board of Directors.
Her service to the Snow-Redfern board is informed by two strong beliefs. First, “Each person is made in the image of God and each life is sacred.” Second, “Each of us is blessed to be a blessing.” These beliefs echo in Snow-Redfern’s efforts to help young people strive and succeed in spite of challenging circumstances. The young poet Amanda Gorman reminds us that “…there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” The Snow-Redfern Foundation, those we support and our benefactors who make the work possible are lights. The light that is shared helps young people embrace their own light, ensuring we all will have a brighter future.

Ellen joined the Snow-Redfern Board of Directors in 2015.

Dr. Maya Chilese is an organizational consultant and the founding principal of Blue Agate Collaborative, LLC. In pursuit of equitable well-being, we commit to elevating just, inclusive and human centered systems and work environments in which everyone thrives. Dr. Chilese has over 20 years’ experience in health and human service systems at the local, regional, state and national level. She holds advanced experience with community and systems assessment and planning, workforce and strategic planning, program development and evaluation, data governance, performance management and quality/process improvement, building collaborative systems and national public health accreditation. Dr. Chilese has earned undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Anthropology, a Master’s in Counseling, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership (in Health and Human Services).

Dr. Maya created the Root2Rise curriculum for Snow-Redfern and continued to facilitate and coordinate the workshops. Additionally, she has been assisting and guiding Snow-Redfern since 2022 with various projects, most recently on the implementation of participatory practices.

Maycee Quick is an Events Producer at planit inc., based in Omaha, Nebraska. She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. A Western Nebraska native and previous Youth Engagement Coordinator at SRF, Maycee is thrilled to facilitate community engagement and youth empowerment through the Admin Circle. This role aligns perfectly with her vision of empowering youth and strengthening community systems across Nebraska.

Megan is currently the Manager of Customer Engagement for the fifth largest public gas utility in the United States, Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) of Omaha. In her work there, her passion lies with community outreach and helping fundraising efforts for the M.U.D. Home Fund, a program where 100% of donations goes directly to helping families in need receive utility assistance.

Megan is excited for the opportunity to have an impact on the lives of children in Nebraska. She was raised in Alliance, NE before leaving after high school to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney and ultimately moving to Omaha to be closer to family. She still has strong ties to her hometown as the softball complex in Alliance is named after her father, Hal Murray.

Megan joined the Snow-Redfern Board of Directors in 2023.

Ramona Tarin has served children and families for over 30 years in the foster care system. A first-generation college graduate who got her diploma later in life, Tarin has a passion for building up and supporting people through connection and encouragement. Currently, she serves as Director of Sibling, Youth, Family Connections through Nebraska and Children & Families Foundation, where she promotes families and communities coming together to support her passion of connection in a world where it is so easy to be isolated. She hopes to see people from hard places learn to thrive with the help and support of community just like she found over the years. Tarin is married to her husband David, has two children, one granddaughter who she adores!

Eirich is a native of Bayard, NE, raised on the family farming/ranch operation near Chimney Rock. He is passionate about youth development, resilient rural communities and being an advocate for agriculture.

With degrees from the University of Wyoming (BS) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (MS), he has spent nearly 20 years with Nebraska Extension focusing on 4-H & Youth Development and Beef Cattle Systems, but more recently in University Engagement and Extension Administration.

Rob and his wife, Joanna reside near Scottsbluff. They enjoy spending time with Joanna’s grown children and two grandsons. Other interests and hobbies include photography, watching or judging livestock show, and visiting his brothers on the family operation.

Rob joined the Snow-Redfern Foundation board in 2023.

RuAnn Root is the Executive Director of CASA and has spent about 25 years doing this work. She cares deeply about kids and believes in doing the work thoughtfully and side by side with communities. She values Snow-Redfern and the Community Circle for making room for honest conversations and practical ideas. After all these years, she’s learned that progress is usually slow, a little messy, and fueled by coffee.

Sara Wilcox is the Executive Director of the Snow-Redfern Foundation, where she leads the organization's efforts to empower youth, inspire changemakers, and energize partnerships for impact. With a background in nonprofit management within child and youth systems of care and a passion for participatory philanthropy, Sara is committed to amplifying community wisdom, youth voice, meaningful engagement, and collaborative learning. Prior to joining the Snow-Redfern Foundation, Sara held leadership roles in several nonprofit organizations, where she gained valuable experience in program implementation and development, strategic planning, and building partnerships for impact.

Sara is passionate about weaving innovative solutions and youth-driven practices into all aspects of the child-serving spectrum, cultivating opportunities, and leveraging the power of collaboration. She envisions a future centering on the leadership, wisdom, and voices of youth and the communities that raise them up, including redistributing power to youth and communities directly affected by issues addressed through philanthropic funding support.

Sara is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney and has received various certifications over the years. Her greatest blessing is to be a wife and the mother of two amazing young adults, two active teenagers, and a dog that believes he is a child. Though she is passionate about her work, she also enjoys teaching yoga, hiking, reading, camping, and serving on other nonprofit boards.

Sean joined the board in January, 2022.

Stephanie Vadnais serves as the Program and Compliance Specialist at Beyond School Bells, a program of Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. In her position, Stephanie plays a crucial role in providing support to Afterschool and Summer programs throughout the state of Nebraska. Growing up in Aurora, she is deeply committed to strengthening all of Nebraska’s communities by fostering strong relationships and providing extensive resources. Stephanie flourishes in collaborative environments that acknowledge, empower, and celebrate the unique qualities of individuals. Stephanie currently lives in Lincoln with her husband Jesse, two sons (11 and 8), and their lovable Goldendoodle.

Teresa, her husband Tom, and their two children Wade and Josie ranch northeast of Alliance in the sandhills. In addition to ranching, she manages Diamond T Livestock Services, a business she started 26 years ago that operates nationally with a focus in the beef industry.

Teresa is passionate about youth programs and not only has a vision to see all youth thrive, but to grow and develop into leaders. She devotes many volunteer hours to youth and community programs and loves everything about western Nebraska – especially the rural setting and the people.

She is blessed to have the opportunity to serve on the Snow-Redfern Board of Directors and is committed to having a positive impact on the people and organizations they are involved with.