Jane Anderson

Executive Director

My name is Jane Anderson, LPC and I am the Executive Director at CHOICES, Inc. I have been a member of the CHOICES team since January of 2015 and have been working in the field of child welfare and social services since the year 2000 in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. I have been a foster care case manager, in home services worker, and have worked with developmentally disabled adults. I have a passion for serving and improving the lives of children and families through staying informed about laws, policies and legislature that affect how we deliver our services. I enjoy using that knowledge to positively impact the systems that can change the lives of children and families in our community. I believe I bring a unique perspective to the team with my knowledge of direct service provision coupled with broader systems knowledge.

Tina Miller

Finance Director

Hello!  I am Tina Miller and I joined the CHOICES Team in December 2012.   I had just been let go by a company due to my position being eliminated locally and moved out of state.   I had worked in the corporate world for 20 years in business management and operations.  I knew the next job I would have needed to be making a difference in people’s lives.  I also hoped it would be child focused.

WOW did God provide that for me.  I couldn’t have asked for a better place to land.

I started as the Financial Assistant and helped manage the day to day operations of the office.  I didn’t get to work directly with the kids or families since I had Accounting and Finance degrees but I knew I could make sure the Social Workers and Case Workers could focus on their clients and families and not have to worry about CHOICES running smoothly.  They could just know it would.   In July of 2019 I moved into the Finance Director position.   I have a wonderful staff to help manage the day to day operations now and I can focus more on the big picture of CHOICES and all we can accomplish.

In my years here at CHOICES I know I have been a part of making a difference.  I have seen foster youths graduate high school and college.  I have seen kids receive their first ever birthday cakes as teenagers.   I have seen kids be adopted.  I have seen families be reunified.  I have heard the stories of kids now excelling in school when they once were absent most days.  I have heard about the kids that saw the ocean for the 1^st time when CHOICES took them to a conference.    I have heard of clients acknowledging the need for and accepting Mental Health services.

Each month at All Staff the direct service workers get to share their client’s positive happenings and there are always so many.   Every day the hardworking caseworkers at CHOICES get to directly impact the kids and families we serve.  I am so proud to be a support for them and do my part.

“Alone, We Can Do So Little. Together, We Can Do So Much.” Helen Keller

Jessica Michels

Clinical Director

“Vision without action is merely a dream, Action without vision just passes the time, and vision with action changes the world”

My name is Jessica Michels, LISW-S, I have been a social worker for 10 years. I have a master’s degree in clinical social work that I received from the University of Cincinnati in May of 2012. I obtained my independent license in 2015 and my supervisory credential in 2016.

I have worked with a wide variety of mental health dx including Oppositional Defiance, Conduct Disorder, Major Depression, Generalized Anxiety, PTSD, and Reactive Attachment. I have a certification as a Certified Trauma Specialist in the evidenced based practice from the trauma and loss institute (TLC). I am also certified in Cognitive Behavioral Trauma informed care. I have experience and specific training working with clients diagnosed with Reactive Attachment

I have assisted the agency in COA accreditations, strategic planning, and professional development.

I am a certified trainer of TLC and specifically train children of trauma and sensory-based interventions. I provide ongoing education to therapists and other mental health professionals on evidenced based practices, Medicaid billing, and HIPPA compliance.

“The secret of leadership is simple: Do what you believe in. Paint a picture of the future. Go there. People will follow.”

My current role is Clinical Director, which allows me to be a part of all the programs at CHOICES. Throughout my 10 years, I have held multiple roles in my career at this agency. I have been a foster care manager, home based therapist, clinical manager, and now the clinical director. With the diversity of positions, I have held at the agency, it has given me a unique vantage point to oversee the direct service programs.   As the supervisor of the three program managers, I provide clinical insight, strategic oversight, and support to the program managers. I am passionate about the growth of all of the programs so we can continue to serve the youth and families in our community.

Ashley Pester

Development Director

“No one has ever become poor by giving” – Anne Frank

Hello I’m Ashley Pester and I joined the CHOICES family in February 2010. I worked in an admin position for two years, which gave me a greater understanding of our organization from the inside out. In January of 2012 I transitioned into the development role, raising awareness about CHOICES and helping kids in our communities. I graduated from WSU in August of 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science. However, I attend The University of Cincinnati for 3 years prior, and consider myself a Bearcat at heart!

I love my job because I get to meet fascinating people, and with their support create opportunities for our kids to succeed and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of their success. When I see 100 kids playing and smiling at our annual Christmas party, it brings me such great joy. For that evening they aren’t thinking about anything but being a kid and having fun. So many people come together to make events like that happen, and things like that give you a new outlook on life and a renewed sense of hope within your neighbors.

Professionally I am member and the first Young Scholarship recipient of The Association of Fundraising Professionals of the Greater Dayton Region Chapter. I am a 2012-2013 graduate of The Kettering Leadership Academy. In 2013 I was named Notable Networker of the Year by the Kettering, Moraine, Oakwood Chamber.

Outside of work I like spending time with my family. Especially watching OSU and Browns football. We spend spring and summer living our best life at the softball diamond watching my oldest and visiting the concession stand often with our two youngest kids. 

I have come to learn the wonderful work CHOICES does within our communities, and every day I am grateful to be part of this amazing organization.

Donna Knasel

Foster Care Manager

Hello! My name is Donna Knasel. I joined CHOICES, Inc. in May, 2013 as a Licensing, Training, and Recruiting Social Worker. I am super excited to be a part of the CHOICES team!

I graduated from The Ohio State University in 1990 and became a Licensed Social Worker in 1993. I have experience with foster care from both sides: I previously worked for 2 other private foster care agencies, and I was also a therapeutic foster parent for 5 years. I have 4 amazing children who I consider to be my biggest inspiration as well as my motivation!

The following story sums up my passion and drive as a Social Worker:

A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up. She began to throw the starfish back into the ocean, one at a time. After a few minutes, a man approached her and said, “Why are you doing this? You can’t save all of these starfish! You can’t even begin to make a difference!” The girl bent down and picked up another one and hurled it into the ocean. She looked at the man and replied, “I made a difference to THAT one!”

-adapted from the “Starfish Story” by Loren

Robert Bruce

Independent Living Manager

My name is Robert Bruce, LSW. I am the Independent Living Manager for CHOICES I love the Independent Living Program and know just what kind of a difference that the program can have on a young person’s life. I served as an Independent Living Specialist at CHOICES for over 8 years and have been employed at CHOICES for 26 years. I was born and raised in the greater Miami Valley. I am a very proud husband and the father of three awesome young ladies and one amazing son. I started working at CHOICES as a group home staff at CHOICES, Inc.’s transitional living facility in Springfield called Poplar Cottage. At Poplar, we worked with co-ed youth between the ages of 15-18 on preparing them to live independently. After working there for several years, I was promoted to shift supervisor. I had earned a state certification from the Ohio Association of youth and Child Care Professionals and was very excited to continue my work with young people.

After a few more years, CHOICES began to experience some unforeseen challenges at the cottage and was forced to close the doors. I was given a new position of foster care case aid within the agency. That was short lived and I soon accepted a position as IL specialist in the Independent Living Program. I went back to college and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati in 2011. I was then promoted to Independent Living Manager where I remain today. This continues to be very exciting job and a huge opportunity for me to make a difference in the lives of young people “aging out” of foster care. I have the awesome opportunity to work with some very intelligent young people in some challenging situations. A very wise mentor once told me that “the key to developing young people is to catch them doing something right”. I have tried very hard to live and work by that advice. I have a very deep Christian faith and I am in awe and inspired by the work God continues to do in my life. Working at CHOICES has made me a better man. I am sure that these experiences with the youth we serve will make me a better father to my children and a better servant in my community. I love my co-workers dearly and greatly appreciate all they do to positively influence the lives of the youth that we work with. CHOICES is home to me.

Samantha Lakes

Home-Based Services Manager

“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” 

Hello, my name is Sam Lakes and I am the Home Based Manager at CHOICES. I started out at CHOICES 6 years ago as a home based therapist, working with youth ages 4 to 18 with multiple different mental health diagnoses. I specialize in attachment disruptions and trauma symptoms. As the manager, I currently help support our mental health staff/home based staff by providing them with supervision, guidance and ongoing education. I received my Master’s Degree in Social Work from Miami University/Wright State in 2015 and obtained my Independent Social Work license in 2020, with my Supervision designation in 2022. I am trauma certified and train our staff to provide trauma-focused care to their clients and families. . Here at CHOICES we follow an approach that includes the family as a whole, to better the overall and not just a piece of the puzzle. I firmly believe that life is a journey and sometimes it can be difficult to walk it alone, it could be time for your child to find someone to help walk through their journey with them.