MEET OUR TEAM
Bob Lybarger
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bob is a humble and driven leader. Bob has served on non-profit boards for decades and loves to bring ideas to life that benefit kids throughout the Miami Valley. Bob also has a part of his heart in Nicaragua. He brings long-term relational care and transformation to that community over the 10 years and 30+ trips under his belt. Professionally, he brings a wealth of organizational wisdom and experience, creating and selling 2 businesses in his career.
Todja Stirtmire, LISW-S
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Todja is a strong mama bear advocate and nurturer of kids from hard places. Todja loves family time, good food, hard work, rest, and reading. She is a "healing nerd" who loves to investigate the inner workings of the human condition, mind, body, and soul. She's a wealth of knowledge, experience, and an open book. Ask away.
Kim Eller
Placements Coordinator
Kim is a foster and adoptive parent. She's an encourager, jazz lover, coffee and sushi connoisseur, OSU Fan, and Jesus Girl. She loves spreading hope and giving children in foster care a voice.
Shelley Stoltz
Office Manager
Shelley is our versatile office manager all-star. Shelley comes from a rich history of efficiently creating systems that benefit everyone in the organization from the top-down. Shelley enjoys spending time with her family, learning new things, and making everything in the office as efficient and as effective as possible.
Robby Lybarger
Development Coordinator
Robby is local to Troy, Ohio. He has been writing grants for us over the past year and is taking on more responsibility. He is married to his lovely wife Ketley and has a big goofy dog named Bodie.
Penny Hoekstra
Outreach Coordinator
Penny spent almost 15 years as the Director of Children’s Ministries at First United Methodist Church here in Troy. She has a huge heart for kids and loves to interact with them and support them. Penny and her husband, Jack, are both active in the community serving on multiple boards and being members of the Troy Kiwanis Club. Penny loves to bake, read and is a huge, lifelong Chicago Cubs fan!
Jennifer Knisley
MSW, LSW
Case Manager
Jennifer has been a social worker since 2004 and has worked primarily in the field of child maltreatment. She worked previously for Isaiah’s Place as a caseworker and again for several years doing licensing, recruitment and investigations. She lives locally with her husband who is a firefighter, 2 boys, chocolate lab and barn cat. She loves all things baking, dark chocolate and puzzles.
Elisha Hicks
Training & Licensing
Coordinator
Elisha is a child development college educator. She has been a teacher, administrator, and trainer in child development for the past 26 years. Elisha now administers our ever excelling training program and also provides training. She has 7 kids, 3 biological and 4 adopted. She praises TBRI for helping her get through it.
Nathan Cregar, LSW
Case Manager
Nathan is originally from Southwest Virginia. He moved to central Florida where he attended Southeastern University to study social work. Upon graduating, he moved to Troy, Ohio. Nathan is a licensed social worker with previous experience in child welfare and foster care. Nathan enjoys tacos, books, podcasts, coffee, and Target/Starbucks dates with his fiancée.
Sherri Abbott, LSW
Licensing Specialist
Sherri is blessed to have 5 beautiful children that call her momma. She has navigated 2 adoption journeys of her own and helped over 100 families to adopt children throughout her 18-year career as a Certified Adoption Assessor. Her passion for helping others has allowed her to learn through her work experiences. Highlights include- teaching parenting classes to parents recovering from addictions, helping women that are incarcerated to make adoption plans, crisis work in multiple settings, and providing individual counseling services to children with parents that have severe mental illness and addictions. She has been a home educator for 20 years and a LSW for 29 years.. Sherri loves to travel, enjoys cooking, running and swimming. She has a 1-year-old house bunny named Marley.
Kennedy Tucker
Licensing/Case Specialist
Kennedy is a self-proclaimed “Athenian”, but is originally from Columbus, Ohio. She has served children and families in different capacities for 3 years in settings such as a public child welfare agency and a domestic violence shelter. Kennedy is a lifetime learner and is always looking to improve her ability to advocate for her clients and empower them to dream big. Kennedy is a Disney lover and can often be found jamming to Disney tunes while working. She has a wonderful husband named Noah and a cute dog named Korpi. When she isn’t at work, Kennedy can be found either crafting and spending time outside or cheering on her favorite hockey team: The Columbus Blue Jackets.
Justin Norman
Family Recruitment Specialist
Justin has dedicated 8 years to serving his community in the field of education, social services and volunteering as a soccer and basketball coach. He understands the importance of bonding and strong relationship. Justin is a diehard Bengals fan, and he enjoys baking, gardening, and building small crafts.
Macie Schaffner
Family Liaison
Macie is a local from Piqua, OH. She graduated from Wilmington College in Middle Childhood Education. From babysitting to teaching, she continues to explore new paths in the world of children's services. She plans to teach middle school math, and also work her way up here at Isaiah’s Place!
Kaitlyn Mabe, LSW
Case Management Intern
Kaitlyn Mabe is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio. She has her associate degree in Social Work from North Central State College, bachelor’s degree in social work from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and is working towards her master’s degree in social work with a clinical focus from Indiana Wesleyan University.
She believes that every child has their own unique journey and would be happy to assist in teaching tools that would foster continued growth. She does not believe in a one-size fits all approach when it comes to working with children and parents. She has been in the field with two years of experience and a love of learning.
Serena Persky
Case Specialist
Serena is originally from Phoenix, AZ and moved to Ohio in 2020. She has worked in children’s crisis services, young adult mental health, and family support services and has a credential in infant and early childhood mental health. Serena, her husband, and their two children love to spend time outdoors and enjoy biking, kayaking, and exploring the beautiful nature trails across Southwest Ohio. Serena is a plant mom, a lover of spicy foods, a voracious reader, and a professed “coffeeholic”. Serena’s favorite aspect of working in foster care is witnessing the healing and growth of the children she serves and celebrating the little everyday victories.
Lonyea Leavell, LSW
Therapeutic Counselor
Board of Directors
Mike Cargill
PRESIDENT
Kay Kaebnick
VICE PRESIDENT
John Jung
BOARD MEMBER
Steve Ackley
BOARD MEMBER
Darla York
SECRETARY
Bob Parker
BOARD MEMBER
Kristy Holm
BOARD MEMBER
Bob Lybarger
BOARD MEMBER