Program Director of Recovery Services – Brandi Cuellar
” There is nothing that I want more than to see these girls succeed…”
Brandi is a full-time employee and has been working for Captive Hearts since 2008. She first came to Captive Hearts as an intern for her Addiction Studies major in school. She holds the position of Program Director and is very effective in this area having been through the addiction that most of our ladies face. She is four years clean and sober, after a 12-year battle with a methamphetamine addiction.
Today, she heads up a team of amazing employees and volunteers. She is able to lead and help the sick and hopeless back to a normal life through recovery as they fight to overcome life-threatening diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction. There is nothing that she wants more than to see these women succeed in what will truly be the biggest battle they may ever face in life. Through structure, programming, education, support, compassion and the treatment they receive while at our facility, her hope is to send them back to their family and friends as productive and successful members of society. Brandi is enrolled at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California, in addition to her duties as program director and is working on her drug and alcohol certification.
Food Bank Community Service Manager/Grant Researcher – Meg Bing
Meg graduated the Captive Hearts’ program in December 2008 and was an ongoing volunteer until she was hired full time in February 2010. She is a divorced mother of three daughters, two of whom are in college and one is in junior high. She has been sober for 1½ years. Meg is targeted to help with grant research/writing to help bring much-needed funds into our organization. She is currently receiving instruction in that area to further supplement her experience as an accountant, where she will be assisting with the bookkeeping.
Meg has also assumed responsibility for our outreach program to the hungry that come to our office within the Five Cities area. Her oversight of the Food Bank Community Service, which consists of management of our food pantry and weekly shopping at the San Luis Obispo Food Bank, fulfills our mandate to aid those in need. She also teaches the “Boundaries” class to the women in the home so they will learn to say No when questionable things come into their lives that can be destructive and compromising.
Certified Grant Writer – Shannon Pizano
Shannon is a full-time employee working out of her home. She is a former manager for H&R Block and has an extensive background in taxes. She is licensed with both the Internal Revenue Service and the Franchise Tax Board for the State of California as a professional tax accountant. Her major in college was business administration and accounting and she will be working on her Masters as soon as her baby starts school.
Shannon recently was certified through Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California, as a Grant Writer after completing the required courses. She has three teenagers in addition to a toddler.
We are thrilled to have Shannon on board with us. Her thoroughness, attention to detail and expertise in the tax area are great assets to our organization.
Receptionist – Gina Sheridan
Gina is a part-time employee working 30 hours per week and handles the front desk and the telephones. She fits perfectly in this position being a vivacious individual who has a smile for everyone who enters the door. She also distributes food to those who come to the office seeking help. She requests their driver’s license or a photo ID and makes a copy which is placed on the back of a card where we keep record each time they come into our office to ask for help.
After only a month of job searching, she found Captive Hearts. ”It is an absolute dream come true being a part of an organization that gives so freely, loving, and compassionately. I feel privileged to be able to give back the gift that was so freely given to me.”
Gina graduated from a six-month residential treatment center which gave her a life and sense of self-worth, learning how to be there in every way a mother should, for her beautiful little girl. She has experienced similar pain, guilt, and shame as these women do. She has almost two years clean and sober after 16 years of self abuse and destroying relationships with her family. ”I cherish my blessings every day, knowing I’m making huge, healthy differences in these women’s lives.”
Driver and House Staff – Kristin Mayes
Kristin is a full-time employee and transports the women in the recovery home to and from their daily meetings, doctor and dentist appointments, Court and Probation Department appearances and classes. We could not run our recovery home efficiently without her dedication.
Since 09/19/08, Kristin has been free of drugs, alcohol and the behaviors that come with it. After struggling with her addictions and severe anger for 16 years, today she stands tall with her head held high and her heart is filled with compassion. She is a woman with dignity who wants to give back the incredible gifts that were given to her. She strives to help those in need, to show these women there is a way out and walk beside them as they are struggling with no hope.
She is a proud mother of three beautiful daughters.
Bookkeeper & Grant Writer/Researcher – Janis Vescovi
Janis is a part-time staff member who has been with Captive Hearts since 2003. She handles all of the business financial affairs for the organization. She also prepares financial statements for the board of directors each quarter.
Janis designs and publishes the monthly newsletter that is mailed and sent electronically to over 700 each month across California and out of state. Managing the website is another project that she oversees and enlists the expertise of volunteers to help in this area.
She also helps in the area of grant writing and researches potential funders that are aligned to our goals and needs. She provides the needed documentation to put together a proposal to send to organizations, foundations and private donors.
JINNA GILLIAN
SHEILA HARDY
