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Experience Matters

Choices has served youth and their families for more than 25 years. We celebrate their strengths and coordinate care that fits their preferences. Families drive decision making, and we help them strengthen ties within their own communities. 

Executive Team

Melissa Norman Choices CCS CEO

Melissa Norman, LCSW

Chief Executive Officer
Karen Anders

Karen Anders, CPA, CGMA

Chief Financial Officer
LaTrece Thompson-Headshot

LaTrece Thompson

Chief Operations Officer

Greta Conley-Clements

Vice President of Human Resources
TaWanda Dent Choices CCS VP of Culture and Communications

TaWanda Dent

Vice President of Culture and Communications

Richard "Ty" Rowlison

Vice President of Clinical Services
Lindsay Bergman

Lindsay Bergman, LISW-S, LCSW

Executive Director, Mississippi
Anna-Headshots

Anna Dugas

Executive Director, Louisiana

Rhonda Allen

Executive Director, Indiana
Esther Urick

Esther Urick

Executive Director, Ohio

Board of Directors

Patricia Howes

Patricia Howes, MSW, LMSW

Board Chair
Regina Ashley Headshot

Regina C. Ashley

Vice Chair
Bogers_Michael

Michael Bogers

Board Secretary

Neeta Pulliam

Treasurer
Dr Preston Adams

Dr. Preston T. Adams III

Board Member
Michelle Kimbrough

Michelle Kimbrough, MA, LMHC

Board Member
Anne Whaley Headshot

Anne Whaley

Board Member
photo coming soon

Rhonda Craig

Board Member
Taryn Stone

Taryn Stone

Board Member
Joy Hogge

Joy Hogge

Board Member

Jak Kramer

Board Member

Brad Duncan

Board Member

We believe in families

Whether working directly with families or part of the administrative team, we know that the work we do each day can positively impact families and communities. Find out more about our programs.

Read about our programs
Melissa Norman Choices CCS CEO

Melissa Norman, MSW

Chief Executive Officer

Melissa was named as Chief Executive Officer in 2022, following ten years of service to Choices in the roles of Chief Operations Officer and Indiana Executive Director. She has more than 25 years of experience of working with youth and families and held various leadership roles within Indiana’s Department of Child Services. Her last position with the state, before joining Choices, was the Deputy Director of Permanency and Practice.

A passionate believer in providing individuals with effective and efficient services and supports so they can experience positive outcomes and productive lives, Melissa uses the principles of strength-based supervision to motivate her team. She is a graduate of Ball State University and received her Master of Social Work from Indiana University.

Karen Anders

Karen Anders, CPA, CGMA

Chief Financial Officer

Karen is an experienced financial professional in the healthcare industry and builds financial and operational foundations that strengthen an organization financially, functionally, and culturally. Her expertise is in financial accounting and reporting, internal auditing, internal controls, compliance, and due diligence. Prior to joining the Choices team, Karen worked at Advantage Health Solutions and its sister company for a combined 25 years and was Executive Controller and Interim CFO. Throughout her tenure, she was a trusted advisor and strategist to their Board of Directors, CEO, and CFO. Among the benefits she brings to Choices are her specialties in strategic planning and reporting, internal controls, process improvement, and healthcare compliance. During her career, she was senior faculty/lead instructor for 20 years at Becker Professional Education and taught, mentored and assisted students in successfully passing the Certified Public Accounting (CPA) examination.

LaTrece Thompson-Headshot

LaTrece Thompson

Chief Operating Officer

LaTrece Thompson has a 25-year career in child welfare, with impactful leadership roles at the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS). As Deputy Director of Staff Development, she showcased her adeptness in shaping training initiatives crucial for frontline workers’ effectiveness. Her leadership of the DCS/IU Training Partnership notably enhanced staff skills, ultimately benefiting children and families.

She now serves as Executive Program Advisor at DaMar Staffing Services, she extends her experience and influence beyond child welfare, spearheading the health and human services consulting division at DaMar. Her dedication and expertise make her a valuable asset, leaving a positive impact on the health and well-being of underserved communities in Indiana and beyond.

LaTrece holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration and a Master of Social Work (MSW), both from Indiana University.  She has been married to Todd Sr. for 31 years, and together they have two children, Todd Jr. and Jayla, as well as a granddaughter named Zara.

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Greta Conley-Clements

Vice President of Human Resources

Greta oversees all aspects of human resource management for Choices and its employees. Since joining Choices in 2002, she has been promoted to a number of diverse positions in human resources. Greta has more than ten years of generalist experience with strengths in strategic human resources leadership, multi-location operations, policy and process development, infrastructure design, legal compliance, employee relations, and talent and performance management. Greta is a graduate of Marian University in Indianapolis. She became certified as a Professional in Human Resources in 2010.

TaWanda Dent

TaWanda Dent

Vice President of Culture and Communications

As Vice President of Culture and Communications at Choices, TaWanda Dent provides leadership and strategic direction to the provider relations and communications teams. She is dedicated to fostering collaboration among stakeholders and community partners to support the organization’s mission and impact.

Since joining Choices in 2002, TaWanda has played a vital role in expanding the organization’s provider network, which has nearly doubled in size over the past two decades. Her expertise in cultivating strong partnerships has strengthened Choices’ connections in Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Dayton, Ohio.

With a background in child welfare and juvenile justice, TaWanda previously held leadership positions in Lake and Marion Counties, Indiana. Prior to her time at Choices, she worked in business development and marketing, bringing a unique perspective to her role in the nonprofit sector.

Committed to service beyond her professional responsibilities, TaWanda is an active member of the Marion County Child Protection Team and serves on the board of the Healthy Hamilton County System of Care. In 2018, she became a certified trainer with Favorite Part of My Day, LLC, and later completed a certification program at Cornell University, focusing on improving engagement at work and fostering employee collaboration.

A graduate of Indiana State University, TaWanda has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, social services, public relations, marketing, and service development. She is a member of the Advisory Council for INfancy Onward, a subsidiary of Mental Health America of Indiana (MHAI), and was honored to join the 19th class of The Executive Journey Fellowship in 2021.

Richard "Ty" Rowlison

Vice President of Clinical Services

Richard “Ty” Rowlinson is Vice President of Clinical Services, providing technical support and consultation for Choices program staff, as well as oversight for PQI, compliance, policy and strategic initiatives.

Ty received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University, his master’s degree in community psychology from Auburn University, and his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He completed an internship in clinical psychology at the Indiana University School of Medicine and is endorsed as a Health Services Provider in Psychology (HSPP). 

Lindsay Bergman

Lindsay Bergman, LISW-S, LCSW

Executive Director of Mississippi Operations

Lindsay has over 15 years of experience in behavioral health. Lindsay received her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Southern Mississippi and began her career as a clinician conducting group therapy. She has worked with a variety of clients throughout the lifespan in multiple levels of care. She is certified in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Lindsay has spent several years in director positions at various agencies building strong clinical operations that produced client satisfaction and treatment success. Prior to joining Choices, Lindsay served as the CEO for a substance use treatment center in Cincinnati, Ohio that she was tasked with creating.

She is a firm believer that building hope in clients and families is imperative while utilizing strength-based interventions to create positive outcomes.

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Anna-Headshots

Anna Dugas

Executive Director Louisiana Division

Anna has been a dedicated leader since her start as Clinical Director in Hammond, Louisiana, later serving as Director of Clinical Operations. With over 14 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S), Anna brings exceptional expertise, vision, and compassion to her new role.

Her leadership reflects her deep commitment to supporting children, families, and communities across Louisiana.

Rhonda Allen

Executive Director, Indiana

Rhonda Allen serves as the Indiana Executive Director at Choices Coordinated Care Solutions, bringing more than 30 years of experience in public child welfare, direct practice, and executive leadership.
Prior to joining Choices, Rhonda served as Deputy Director of Field Operations for the Indiana Department of Child Services, where she helped lead major strategic initiatives focused on strengthening child safety, expanding resources for foster parents, and improving workforce retention.
Rhonda is a passionate advocate for children, youth, and families facing complex social challenges. Her work is rooted in improving practices, building meaningful resources, and supporting vulnerable populations through systems of care that are responsive, collaborative, and family-centered. A key part of her leadership approach is developing and sustaining resilient, highly skilled teams that are equipped to empower children, youth, and families as they overcome adversity, navigate complex systems, and work toward long-term stability.
Rhonda holds a Master of Social Work from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University. She brings together her clinical foundation and executive leadership experience to advance effective, compassionate, and sustainable care throughout Indiana
Esther Urick

Esther Urick

Executive Director, Ohio

Esther Urick is our Executive Director for Ohio services.  She oversees the OhioRise and MRSS teams.  She brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in clinical services, foster care, residential treatment, and independent living programs.

A passionate advocate for youth transitioning to adulthood, Esther conceived and developed an independent living program for young people aging out of foster care and led the implementation of the evidence-based Transition to Independence Process (TIP).

Esther is known for her collaborative, mission-driven leadership style and her ability to build strong teams, foster community partnerships, and ensure a seamless continuum of care. She brings a strategic, compassionate approach to organizational leadership and is deeply committed to high-quality services, staff development, and sustainable growth.

Patricia Howes

Patricia Howes, MSW, LMSW

Board Chair

Patricia Howes, MSW, LMSW is the Director for the Child Welfare Education and Training Partnership, the collaborative effort between the Indiana University School of Social Work and the Indiana Department of Child Services. She has worked in child welfare for many years, in both Indiana and Michigan. She has a BSW from Alma College (Alma, Michigan) and a MSW from Michigan State University.

Gina Ashley

Regina C. Ashley

Board Member

Gina has extensive experience from her work at the Indiana Department of Child Services and Marion County Juvenile Court (Indianapolis, IN). She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for United Way of Central Indiana where she is responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership across all areas of the organization and with the board of directors. She joined the Choices Board of Directors in October 2022. She also serves on the Juvenile Detention Advisory Board (February 2021 to present) and was on the board of directors of Employ Indy (June 2016-August 2022), Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment (June 2016-August 2022) and Alternatives in Education/Marion Academy Charter School (May 2014-August 2019). Among her honors are Sagamore of the Wabash (2022), Office of the Inspector General Excellence Award (2022), and UWC UI Integrity Award (2021). She earned her juris doctorate from the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University, Bloomington in 1997.

Bogers_Michael

Michael Bogers

Board Secretary

As a Vice President with The National Bank of Indianapolis, Mr. Bogers provides outstanding service to commercial clients while also developing new commercial relationships. He specializes in professional service providers in medical, legal, accounting, and other fields.

Mr. Bogers earned his M.S. Degree in Accounting from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. With over 20 years of professional experience with financial institutions such as, Union Planters Bank, Regions Bank, CIBM, and First Financial Bank, Mr. Bogers remains committed to providing outstanding service to his clients.

Mr. Bogers currently serves on the boards of Music For All, Storytelling Arts of Indiana (Treasurer), Choices Coordinated Care Solutions (Secretary) and as an advisor to the Ball State University Center of Information & Communications Sciences.

Neeta Pulliam

Board Member

Dr Preston Adams

Dr. Preston T. Adams III

Board Member

Dr. Adams is the founding and senior pastor of Amazing Grace Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis. For more than 26 years, he served Indianapolis’ Light of the World Christian Church in a variety of leadership roles, including children and youth pastor, executive pastor, and CEO of Project Impact–a youth diversion program that ministered to teens in the juvenile justice system. A published author, Dr. Adams is a member of the Christian Theological Seminary board of trustees, 100 Black Men, and a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy. He also counsels youth and adults through his role as a chaplain at the Marion County (Indianapolis) Jail. Dr. Adam has earned degrees from Central State University in Ohio, and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Dr. Adams joined the Choices Board of Directors in 2011 and currently serves as a board member.

Michelle Kimbrough

Michelle Kimbrough, MA, LMHC

Board Member

As a manager in Eli Lilly’s division of Advocacy and Professional Relations, Michelle works to establish and maintain Lilly’s corporate relationship with global and U.S. patient advocacy and health professional organizations in a variety of therapeutic areas. Prior to joining Lilly, Michelle worked in the non-profit sector for more than 10 years with an emphasis on mental health. She has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings. Michelle is a graduate of Indiana University and holds a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Indiana. Michelle joined the Choices Board of Directors in 2009.

Anne Whaley

Anne Whaley

Board Member

Annie is the Chief Operating Officer at Firebrand Revivalists, a non-profit corporation, where she oversees the Organization’s operations and multifaceted efforts to see restoration to the livelihoods of God’s people, with a strong focus on youth and family.

Her prior experience consisted of serving as General Manager of Legal Operations and Assistant General Counsel for Holland, L.P. in Crete, Ill., a full-service rail solutions provider with a footprint in 36 countries. She served on the Diversity Advisory Council where she assisted in leading the implementation of fair and equitable business practices in compliance with applicable laws. During her tenure in the railroad industry, Annie served on the Executive Team of the League of Railway Women, a professional association connecting women in rail, resulting in the promotion of diversity and improvement of business results in the railroad industry.

She has extensive experience in strategic issue resolution and problem-solving, profit and loss management, complex legal, operational, and commercial negotiations, parliamentary procedures, operations management, and process redesign and change management.

She earned her Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2015. She joined the Choices board in October 2022.

photo coming soon

Rhonda Craig

Board Member

Taryn Stone

Taryn Stone

Vice Chair

Taryn is a partner at Ice Miller, one of Indiana’s largest law firms, where her practice concentrates on various aspects of health law. She counsels clients on matters involving Medicare conditions of participation, Medicare and Medicaid billing and reimbursement issues, the Stark and Anti­-Kickback laws, the False Claims Act, HIPAA and other state privacy laws, and state licensure laws and regulations. Previously, Taryn served as in­ house counsel for a large, publicly traded home health and hospice company. She also worked as a health care consultant for a national consulting firm helping clients develop and implement co-management arrangements. Taryn is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and received her juris doctorate, magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis in 2005. She joined the Choices Board of Directors in 2012 and currently serves as the board chair.

Joy Hogge

Joy Hogge

Board Member

Dr. Hogge has an extensive background in the development, implementation, and assessment of family-driven, community-based services and supports for children with mental health challenges and their families. She currently serves as Executive Director for Families As Allies which provides parent-to-parent support services in Mississippi. In her role, she engages in policy work to improve services in all child-serving systems. Dr. Hogge has served as a board member of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health since 2016 and is the current Board President. Previously, she served on the Mississippi Attorney General’s Mental Health Task Force (2017-2020). She joined the Choices board of directors in February 2023.

Jak Kramer

Board Member

Jak Kramer is a Principal and Risk Advisor with Gibson Insurance, where he works with organizations on risk management, insurance strategy, and long-term planning. He has been with the firm since 2019. Jak earned his degree in Insurance and Risk Management from Indiana State University and remains actively connected to the university through alumni and community involvement including the Alumni Association Board & the Networks Alumni Advisory Council. He is also actively involved in the Indianapolis nonprofit community and currently serves as President of Young Professionals of Central Indiana, where he helps drive engagement and professional development for young leaders across the city. 

Brad Duncan

Board Member