Staff

Erin Ness
Executive Director
​Erin has been in the non-profit sector, championing for those individuals who are marginalized for over 20 years. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Erin served as the Program Director with St. Joseph Missions since its inception.  Erin also worked with families who were experiencing homelessness as the Director of Operations at Vincent Village.  Erin earned her Masters of Social Work from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.  Erin is the Regional Chair for Region 3 Planning Council on Homelessness and sits on the Advisory Board of the Fort Wayne Salvation Army.

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Christi Baker- Case Manager
William Rowles - Resident Advisor
Harper Hensley - Resident Advisor
Ora Pace - Resident Advisor
Gail Curry - Resident Advisor
Dianne Jenkins - Resident Advisor
Cynthia Chandler - Resident Advisor
Kathryn Mbwellera - Resident Advisor
Jennifer White - Resident Advisor
Cheyenne Beeman- Resident Advisor

Board of Directors

Dr. Monique Levesque-Hartle
BOARD PRESIDENT - ALLEN CO. CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER
Named to the board in 2018, Monique serves as President.  She is a Doctor of Chiropractic and owner of Allen County Chiropractic Wellness Center.  A member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Monique has volunteered with Catholics on a Mission, Executive Women International - Fort Wayne Chapter, and Boy Scouts of America.  She has always been passionate about helping the homeless.  "Those who have need to help those who don't.  Single homeless women are the only people in our area that have nowhere to go.  I know that by joining the board of St. Joseph Mission I would be able to be a part of making a lasting difference in the lives of these women."

Jennifer Bearman 
TREASURER - BADEN GAGE & SCHROEDER

​Selected a board member in 2020, Jennifer is a Tax Supervisor with Baden Gage & Schroeder. A volunteer with Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana, Jennifer is grateful to share her financial expertise to support our mission. “After hearing a few real-life stories of what these women have to do to merely survive,” says Jennifer, “I wanted to make a difference in my community and contribute to this great and necessary cause.”

Thomas F Weir, LCSW
​​​​SECRETARY & PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE CHAIR -
THE CARRIAGE HOUSE

Thomas was selected to serve on the Board in 2016. As Associate Executive Director of The Carriage House, he brings 30 years of valuable experience in the mental health rehabilitation field. He lends his expertise to the Programming Committee as its Chair. A parishioner of Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Thomas serves on the Indiana University - School of Social Work Advisory Committee - Fort Wayne Cohort, and is a member of the Clubhouse International Faculty. “I've witnessed the heartbreaking stories of too many women in Fort Wayne who had nowhere to go in their housing crisis. I firmly believe this project is a response to this need and God's call to love and serve each other.”

Geanie Edgington
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR - BF GOODRICH OF MICHELIN

Geanie, named to the board in 2020, serves as Chair of the Development Committee. She is Site Communications Manager and Community Relations Manager for BFGoodrich of Michelin North America. A long-time member of Executive Women International - Fort Wayne Chapter, Geanie also served on the board and helped organize fundraisers. “Being that I grew up in Fort Wayne and have raised my family here, I felt drawn to contribute what I’ve learned in strategic planning, event planning, and development to St. Joseph Missions. The shelter is a much-needed resource for women in our area and will have an enormously positive impact on our community.”

Joseph Schenkel
BOARD MEMBER

For over 37 years, Joe has been a leader in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining the St. Vincent de Paul District Council as Financial Operations Consultant, Joe served as the Associate Director of the Lincoln Financial Group from 1981-2001, and then served AVP Property and Casualty Insurance Run-off Manager for Swiss Re from 2001-2008. Joe went on to become President/CEO of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeast Indiana (CCCS / FinancialHope), a non-profit community service organization committed to helping people with financial problems. A Fort Wayne native, Joe graduated from Bishop Luers High School and received his B.S. degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Indiana University.

    Sharon Kacprowicz 
    FOUNDING & ACTIVE BOARD MEMBER - COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
     Sharon is passionate about working with the poor, the displaced, the marginalized and
     vulnerable members of our society.  She and her husband Mike support several formerly
     homeless individuals as they transition to a steady and productive lifestyle. Sharon   
      volunteers with Allen County Jail’s substance abuse program for women, JA Finance Park,
     Confraternity of Penitents and serves on the board of The Rose Home, a recovery home for
    women and the Solanus Casey Society, a Catholic organization to promote and support 
    vocations.  She is a founder of DeKalb County Cares 100+, a philanthropy group who raises 
    money for DeKalb County non-profits. 

                                                                                                    She retired from Signature Construction of Auburn, Indiana, where was she was Office
                                                                                                    Manager and Project Manager/Estimator for commercial construction and high end 
                                                                                                    residential projects. Sharon has been an active member of her parish community. She has 
                                                                                                   served on several school boards: Fine Arts, Athletics, Fundraising, and Boy Scouts. 
                                                                                                  Sharon grew up in Avilla, one of nine children, and has been happily married to Mike for 38 
                                                                                                  years. She has two grown sons; Zach lives in Milwaukee, and Nick lives nearby. She loves to 
                                                                                                  travel, volunteer, read, hike and spend time with family and friends.

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        Linda Williams
        Communications Committee Chair l Coldwell Banker Real Estate
       Group

​       Linda is a licensed REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group here in Fort Wayne.
        She and her partner co-lead the Gates Williams team of 8  agents.  She has been in the 
        Marketing and Sales field since graduating from Indiana University in 1994.  Linda was looking
        for an organization where she could use her time and talents to give back to the community.
       “The feelings I have about this mission are overwhelming.  Housing is near and dear to my
       heart of course, but the fact that there are so many without a basic need of shelter should stir
      in us a very big call to action.  I am thankful for SJM - they are answering this call!”  

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   Kristin Redmond

•    BOARD MEMBER l PARKVIEW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INSTITUTE PROGRAM MANAGER

  Kristin is a graduate of University of South Florida with a Bachelors in both Psychology and Criminology.  She also holds a Masters in Arts in Counseling from University of Maryland. Kristin has spent the past 20 years serving the adult mentally ill population of Allen County with Park Center (now a part of Parkview).  Kristin has served the communities mentally ill population in many ways over the last 20 years with the majority of this time focused on community case management for our adults living in the community.  Kristin has participated in the Indiana Supported Housing Institute for the last 3 years and is actively working with various agencies in the community to bring permanent supported housing to our chronically homeless population.
   

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Aaron Kennerk
​CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Aaron is the business manager of the Catholic Community Foundation of Northeast Indiana, President of the Solanus Vocation Society, and a recent graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne.  Aaron felt called to intern with St. Joseph Missions through his passion of giving back to the community.  He said "St. Joseph Missions is a necessity in Fort Wayne to support women in time of need.  I am honored to be an intern in helping women find housing, jobs, medical care and more."

​Jenny Shepler
University of Saint Francis

Jenny is the Risk Management Coordinator for the University of Saint Francis. She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Saint Francis. Her passion for the homeless grew in 2015 when she began serving with Catholics on a Mission. “It really opened my eyes to the homeless population in our city. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. It broke my heart to hear the challenges they face, especially the women. I am thrilled SJMWS is filling a much-needed void. I look forward to helping SJMWS succeed in their mission, grow in their scope, and continue to empower the women they serve.” A Fort
Wayne native, Jenny is a graduate of Bishop Dwenger High School and the University of Saint Francis.