Our Leadership

Brian Maness

President and CEO

As President and CEO since 2014, Brian is known as a champion for innovation and transformative change on behalf of children and families. He has led the growth and development of CHS from its traditional focus on adoption and foster care to its comprehensive array of child and family support programs today. Following an early career in marketing consulting and project management, Brian joined CHS in 2002 with the desire to improve the lives of vulnerable children. Brian has garnered respect within North Carolina and nationally for his leadership and contributions in organizational strategy, resource development, service innovation, advocacy, and public policy. Brian’s vision for the future is for CHS to continue to be a leader in innovative services that create, support and enhance loving permanent families. Brian, a father of four, brings his personal perspective on the importance of family and believes that nothing can replace the role of a loving supportive family in the life of a child.

Dave Shuford

Chair – Board of Trustees

As a CHS adoptee, Dave Shuford knows firsthand how CHS — furthering its mission to promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe and loving family — has the power to change lives for the better. He is therefore honored and grateful to have been able to support CHS’s critically-important work as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2016 and now as its chairperson.

 

For Dave and his wife, Liz, support for CHS is a family affair. Until recently, Liz served as the chairperson of CHS’s Community Leadership Council in Charlotte, which they have called home since 2011. Liz and Dave have two sons, Harley (11) and Teddy (10) and are both Hickory, NC natives.

 

Professionally, Dave serves as executive chairman of CV Industries, Inc., an employee-owned manufacturing and real estate company. A lawyer by training, he was previously with Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. in Charlotte and Covington & Burling, LLP in Washington, DC. Dave received A.B., J.D. and LL.M. degrees from Duke University. Following law school, he was a judicial law clerk to two federal judges and a legal advisor at The Hague, The Netherlands.

 

In addition to the CHS Board of Trustees, Dave currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Charlotte Latin School, the Advisory Council of Woodberry Forest School (his alma mater), and The Corners Society, a group of Charlotte men dedicated to honoring their community through philanthropy and direct volunteerism. Previously, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte and of the Council of the International Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.

Executive Leadership

Becky Alley

Chief Marketing Officer

Becky leads our marketing team guiding communications and branding efforts statewide as Chief Marketing Officer.  With more than 24 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and health care, most recently Becky spent 11 years at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist as Senior Director of Marketing.  This position represents a return to home for Becky who worked at Children’s Home Society from 2007-2011 in the role of Director of Communications. Her prior experience also includes leading marketing efforts for Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina and Pines of Carolina Girl Scout Council.

Vicki Barringer

Chief Financial Officer

Vicki has more than 20 years of financial management and operational experience with 501(c)3 nonprofit, educational, and healthcare organizations. She is a member of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. Vicki received her Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from North Carolina State University and her Master of Business Administration from Duke University – The Fuqua School of Business. She serves on the Board of PetPalsNC, a local nonprofit that promotes and supports the use of animal-assisted therapy and activities for K-12 students. She is an avid volunteer in the local elementary school, and works alongside her dog as a registered therapy team to support the students. Vicki is honored to work with an exceptional team that is dedicated to making every child’s dream of a permanent, safe, and loving family come true.

Joshua Townsend

Chief People Officer

With a unique perspective and appreciation for the value of human capital, Joshua believes that if you create a great place to work, great work takes place. He brings more than 20 years of experience including serving as Global Director, Human Resources, for Market America Worldwide | SHOP.COM. Joshua is certified as a Senior Certified Professional by the Society of Human Resources Professionals. He leads the areas of organizational culture, EDI, staff development, workforce planning, talent acquisition, and performance; employee relations; compensation and benefits; HR systems and technology; policy development and implementation; and CHS offices and facilities.

Allen Kim

Chief Technology Officer

Allen brings extensive experience in IT, having served in leadership positions in several industries including Chief Information Officer for two large companies. His people-focused approach and desire to collaborate will be assets as we continue to improve our services, IT support, and system-related experience of our staff.

Kristen Brown Smalley

Chief Development Officer

As Chief Development Officer, Kristen leads our Philanthropy team, guiding our fundraising and community engagement efforts statewide. She has more than 25 years of experience in tax law and fundraising in the nonprofit sector and higher education, and she brings significant experience and expertise in major gifts and planned giving. Prior to joining CHS, Kristen spent 10 years at Duke University, most recently as Senior Gift Planning Counsel for University Development. Previously she worked with the Triangle Community Foundation and as a tax attorney.

Rebecca Starnes, MS

Chief Program Officer

Leading programs for parents and youth for more than 25 years, Rebecca’s career has focused on working with children and families to support healthy, enduring relationships. In her role with CHS, Rebecca provides leadership across CHS’s broad spectrum of programs including parent education, youth development, family preservation, foster care, adoption, and professional training,

Executive Directors

Sebrina Cooke-Davis

Executive Director of Programs - HealthySteps, Community Navigation

Sebrina’s leadership focus is on the growth of Children’s Home Society’s prevention work. Sebrina has over 20 years of experience working with and supervising prevention and parent education programs in settings such as substance abuse treatment facilities, hospitals, schools, and community-based organizations. Sebrina has been with CHS for 19 years. She is a graduate of East Carolina University and holds a Master in Adult Education and Doctorate in Educational Psychology.

Shannon Enoch

Executive Director of Programs - Foster Care to Permanency, SPAN, Infant Connections, Lifelong Post Adoption

Throughout her career, Shannon has remained steadfast in her commitment to the well-being of children and families. A Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), during her 17 years at CHS she has held several positions including Clinical Post Adoption Specialist, Area Director, Program Supervisor, Senior Program Director, and Statewide Program Director. Shannon holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Webster University and a B.S. in Psychology from the College of Charleston.

Donna Henderson

Executive Director of Programs - Child-Focused Recruitment, Intensive Family Preservation, Training

Donna builds on the impact she has experienced in her 16 years with CHS. Throughout her tenure, she has led the statewide initiative and evaluation of the Family Finding Program, started the Resource Team, expanded the Intensive Family Preservation Program, and partnered to scale the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program statewide. Donna holds a Master of Social Work from Florida International University.

Jen Kimbrough

Executive Director of Strategy

Jen leads Strategic Initiatives & Grants, Business Development, Governmental Affairs, and the Institute for Family areas for CHS. She holds over 30 years of experience in public health program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Her background includes nonprofit executive leadership, academic research and teaching, and direct program supervision. Jen holds a PhD in Educational Leadership & Cultural Foundations and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

CHS Board of Trustees

David Shuford – Chair

Blair Alligood
Tucker Andrews
Robert H. Borden*
Gary L. Bowen, Ph.D.
Anthony F. Bucci
Kathleen Cannon
Jane L. Cochrane*

Ramona Denby-Brinson
Tanya Dickens
Jenni Gaisbauer
Rachel Hannon
Gail M. LeBauer
Cathy Levinson

 

*Life Member

Susan L. McDonald
Sallie A. McMillion*
Steve Richards
Molly Shaw
Mary Sheppard
Lee Youngblood
Tamera Ziglar

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