Our Team
Together, we support families
Gay Litteken, BS
Executive Director
Gay, in her role as the Executive Director of First Chance for Children, sincerely believes in the organization’s mission, recognizing the trials of parenthood and the importance of occasional support. With over 36 years of diverse experience in working with families and children, she serves as our Chief Problem Solver, Big Picture Thinker, and Community Cheerleader, playing a vital role in our team.
Amy A., MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Amy manages the daily financial operations and holds accountability for all budgetary matters. With more than 13 years of experience in the financial sector, she has been diligently analyzing our financial data since 2011.
Tammy Byington, BS
Director of Parent Education Programming
Tammy oversees the intricate programming at First Chance and offers hands-on assistance to families. With a wealth of experience in early childhood education, she has been an integral part of First Chance since its inception.
Janìce Mericle, BS
Family Resource Specialist
Janice specializes in offering personalized and purposeful programming to families through home visitation initiatives. With over three decades of experience in the field, she brings a wealth of expertise encompassing various training programs, models, and curricula. Janice has been a valuable asset in assisting families within our organization since 2010.
Charity Quinn, BSW
Lend and Learn Coordinator
Charity offers parental support and organizes child development activities within an enjoyable and engaging environment. Leveraging her background in social work, she enriches family education initiatives, culminating in a dynamic and enriching experience for both parents and children. Her contributions to our organization have fostered an atmosphere of joy and learning since 2019.
Ludi Gienger, BS
Family Resource Specialist
Ludi provides essential support to families through home visitation programs, drawing on over two decades of professional experience and a multitude of specialized training sessions. Committed to tailoring assistance to individual family needs and meeting them at their current stage, Ludi rejoined our team in 2022 following a short hiatus.
Jessica Wieberg, BS
Family Resource Specialist
Jessica offers personalized and purposeful programs to families through home visitation initiatives. Her journey began as an early childhood educator specializing in infants and toddlers twelve years ago. Over time, she broadened her scope to support families with top-notch care and resources. She has been sharing her knowledge with families in collaboration with us since 2022.
Verena Wilkerson, BS
Baby Bags Diaper Bank Coordinator
Verena plays a crucial role in our diaper bank program by engaging with families, forming partnerships, seeking out funding, and everything in between. With a strong background in early childhood education, she understands the needs of families and effectively secures resources to fill gaps and enhance lives. She has been a valuable asset to our team, educating families alongside us since 2021.
Nicole Schmitz, BSW
Program Specialist
Nicole supports both Verena and Charity with their programs. She has been instrumental in all of our programs and events, jumping in with both feet to any task and making our team stronger. She shows genuine interest and care for families, makes both children and caregivers smile with her playfulness, and works hard to make sure everyone has a great experience.
Join the Effort!
Opportunities to support families
Volunteer
Make your community stronger by signing up to volunteer at one of our many opportunities.
Donate
With multiple ways to give, you can make a difference in the lives of families right here in our community.
Apply
Join our team of dedicated staff working to support families through the first years of parenting.