Leadership Team

Having retired a colonel after 30 years in the U.S. Army, Bill brings a wealth of organizational leadership to Saint Francis. During his military tenure, he commanded troops overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and Bosnia, as well as in the United States as Garrison Commander at Fort Riley, Kansas. Most recently, he served as president of St. John’s Military School in Salina. When first joining Saint Francis as Chief of Staff, he acted as a resource and support to the chief operating officer by guiding and supporting staff to complete strategic initiatives and goals set by the leadership team. As interim President and CEO, Bill guides the leadership team in supporting all services.

Trish’s entire professional career has been spent in the service of children and families. She joined Saint Francis more than three decades ago, and over the years has occupied multiple leadership positions within the ministry. Her current responsibilities include oversight of Saint Francis residential programs, including our Salina West Residential Treatment Facility, two Youth Residential Centers (Willow House and Cottonwood House), Bridgeway Apartments and Cheshire Homes, and Saint Francis at The Mount. Trish’s leadership and strategic planning have been integral to Saint Francis’ expansion of residential treatment and trauma services to the children, families, and adults we serve.

Matt began his career as a social worker with the State of Kansas, then later served as administrator of Neuvant House, an adult care facility in Lawrence, Kansas. He joined Saint Francis in 2016 as Director of the Innovation Center, where he helped guide and support process improvement and performance excellence initiatives. In his current position, Matt coordinates Saint Francis’ Kansas Quality Award efforts, while providing oversight to our performance improvement and quality assurance programs.

A West Texas native, Cristian came to Saint Francis directly from Buckner International, where he served as regional director for foster care and adoption for West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. Prior to that, he spent seven years with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. After finishing his B.A. at Texas Tech University, Cristian earned an M.S. in Human Services from Lubbock Christian University. In 2020, he was a recipient of the “20 Under 40” award presented by the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce. He joined Saint Francis to serve as regional vice president of Saint Francis’ Texas programs in Region 1 and 41 counties. In his current role as Vice President of Programs, South, Cristian oversees foster care, adoption, and reintegration programs for Saint Francis Ministries in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

John brings more than two decades of legal experience to Saint Francis Ministries. He began his career as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Manhattan, Kansas. John then transitioned into private practice for many years, handling a variety of legal matters including Child in Need of Care cases. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Kansas State University and regularly spoke at legal seminars around the country. As General Counsel, John provides advice and legal guidance on a broad range of issues that support the organization’s mission.

Cheryl joined Saint Francis four decades ago as a social worker and therapist. A licensed specialist in clinical social work, she has served as an individual and family therapist, supervising all social work and clinical services provided through Saint Francis’ outpatient and residential facilities. She has also co-authored several professional papers on treatment for children and youth. As Saint Francis’ chief clinical officer, Cheryl provides strategic direction on all of Saint Francis’ clinical care initiatives - both nationally and internationally - and oversees accreditation standards, operating procedures, performance improvement, and professional ethics for all clinical services.

Lora joined Saint Francis in September 2020, bringing expertise in organizational transformation, evidence-based leadership, business process improvements, multi-dimensional budgeting, and strategic planning. Most recently, she served as CFO for Hunter Health, during which she oversaw four finance departments, led two department restructures, and served as mentor for the National Association of Community Health Center’s CFO institute, a six-month CFO training program for new leaders. Prior to that, she served as CFO for Boys & Girls Clubs of South-Central Kansas and as senior tax associate with Grant Thornton LLP. Active in the Wichita community, she has served on numerous boards of directors, including Ballet Wichita and the Kansas Children’s Foundation. As CFO, Lora provides leadership and oversight for all of the Saint Francis Ministry’s finance functions, while managing business operations.

A lifelong human resources professional, Tracy has always applied her skills to the service of children, starting with the Kansas Children’s Service League more than 20 years ago. Joining Saint Francis in 2007, she has served as director of human resources for our offices in Wichita and throughout western Kansas, as well as Mississippi, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Tracy currently provides leadership over critical support functions within the Saint Francis ministry that include human resources, training and development, compensation and benefits, organizational excellence, and strategic planning.

An experienced Information Technology professional, John has a history of success formulating IT business strategy and building professional technical teams within the budget-limited environments of non-profits. With over 13 years of experience as an Information Technology Consultant and Network Administrator, John comes to Saint Francis most recently from St. John’s Military School where he served as the IT Director/Chief Information Officer. John is responsible for building high performing IT departments and designing and overseeing IT infrastructure improvements across all states and countries Saint Francis serves.

A self-described “lifelong believer in the Saint Francis mission,” Holly came to the ministry more than 20 years ago, first as a youth service worker at the Ellsworth residential facility. Since then, she has served Saint Francis children and families as a reintegration social worker; Care Center placement coordinator, supervisor and director; and Customer Care director. Holly was named a “40 Under 40” award recipient by the Wichita Business Journal in 2017. As Director of Risk Management, she provides oversight for the ministry’s risk management activities, including development of risk management policies, protocols, and training procedures. She is responsible for leadership, innovation, and governance necessary to identify, evaluate, mitigate, and monitor Saint Francis’ operational and strategic risk.

A U.S. Army veteran, Raymond retired after 24 years in service. During those years, he was deployed multiple times in support of U.S. combat operations while serving in Airborne and Ranger units. Upon his retirement from active duty, he served as a deputy sheriff, helping local schools and businesses plan for emergency situations. Eventually, he was appointed Patrol Supervisor and still serves as a part-time law enforcement officer. In 2017, he assumed the position of Commandant of Cadets for St. John Military School in Salina, until St. John’s merged with Saint Francis Ministries in 2019. As director of facilities, safety, and security, Raymond provides employee training and protocols that help Saint Francis proactively prepare for emergency situations.

Morgan joined Saint Francis Ministries in 2019 after a 30-year career as an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. She followed in the footsteps of her mother, a foster care social worker, in wanting to make a difference in the lives of children and families. Morgan manages the organization's marketing and communications work, and strives to tell stories that help people understand the complex world of child welfare.