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About Us: DREAM Staff

Glenda Crump

Title: CEO

History/Job Description

Glenda joined DREAM in March of 1992 as Special Projects Coordinator. In 1994 she was named Director of Training. Two years later, she became Vice President of Training, and in 2001, Project Coordinator for Mississippi's State Incentive Grant. In 2003, Glenda became President and CEO of DREAM. As President and CEO, Glenda is responsible for carrying out the policies set by the Board and for overseeing all business of the organization. Glenda formerly worked with Friends of Children of Mississippi Head Start where she coordinated an award-winning JTPA program that helped economically disadvantaged women start micro-businesses. She served as an adjunct professor of Speech and Communication at Belhaven College in the adult and traditional programs. She is a sought-after motivational speaker and workshop presenter.

Education

Master of Science in Communications, Mississippi College; Bachelor of Arts in English/Journalism, Tougaloo College; Certified Prevention Manager

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Ellen Mitchell

Title: CFO

History/Job Description

Ellen joined DREAM in 1981. As one of the original founders of DREAM, which started as a volunteer Junior League project, she has served as Project Coordinator, Conference Director, Director of Personnel, and, currently, Chief Financial Officer.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Education, University of Mississippi; Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling, Jackson State University; Continuing Education Seminars in Finance and Human Resources

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Rachel Anderson

Title: Prevention Services Program Director

History/Job Description

Rachel has been with DREAM since November 2005. She began as program manager for the Rankin School Districts Against Substance Use (RSASU) student drug testing program which served Pearl Public and Rankin County School Districts. Currently, Rachel serves as the Prevention Services Program Director which coordinates DREAM’s prevention services under the MS Department of Mental Health's Substance Abuse Prevention Block Grant. She also coordinates the National Red Ribbon Campaign for Mississippi; coordinates distribution of DREAM’s Smart Choices curriculum; manages content for the Mississippi Prevention Network (mpn.ms) and Mississippi Executive Prevention Council Web sites; publishes DREAM’s Dateline and Red Ribbon Times newsletters; and manages DREAM's Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Resource Center (RADAR). She also conducts meeting logistics for the State Epidemiological Work Group (SEOW) and the Mississippi Executive Prevention Council (MEPC), facilitates various workshops and trainings, and locates and provides resources related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use to prevention professionals.

Education

Masters of Science, University of Southern Mississippi; Bachelors of Arts, University of Southern Mississippi; Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS), American Red Cross Certified Adult CPR and First Aid, Certified HIV/AIDS STD instructor

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Debbie Bates

Title: Mississippi SURETool Coordinator

History/Job Description

Debbie has been with DREAM, Inc. as the Mississippi SURETool Coordinator since 2001. She worked with treatment data at the MS Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse before joining the DREAM team. As the MS SURETool Coordinator, Debbie is responsible for ensuring that the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse meet all Federal prevention data requirements. This includes system design of SURETool, training users on the system, monitoring program data, and federal reporting.

Education

Associates in Applied Science, Holmes Community College

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Jan Ellington

Title: Receptionist

History/Job Description

Jan joined DREAM as recepionist in July 2009. She greets visitors and guests, as well as handles all incoming phone calls, assists our team with various projects, deadlines and programs. Jan is DREAM's first line of customer service.

Education

One year at Pittsburg State University

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Sharon Fleming

Title: Transition Coordinator

History/Job Description

Sharon joined DREAM in July 2009 as one of three Senior Transition Coordinators. Her role is to serve high school graduating seniors by assisting them in setting and attaining a work and/or college readiness goals. Sharon conducts training workshops and seminars aimed at educating young people about resources that are available to them upon graduation. She also works closely with principals, counselors and other school administrators to ensure that students are properly equipped to make a successful transition from high school.

Education

Course work at Jackson State University and Mississippi College

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Sheldon Gooch

Title: Program Director

History/Job Description

Sheldon joined DREAM, Inc. in April 2009, and currently serves as Program Director for the Hinds County Senior Transition Program. In this role he is responsible for brokering services and building links between a cross section of business professions and graduating seniors in the Jackson Public School and Hinds County School Districts. His role also includes expanding awareness by speaking at civic clubs, conferences, and other venues. For over 20 years, Sheldon has been a motivational speaker on every university campus in Mississippi and has also delivered presentations for Drug Free Schools programs in Mississippi. He served as the Vice President of United Way and directed their million dollar campaign fund, was Supervisor of Community Development for Mississippi Valley Gas and has a wealth of sales experience. Other Activities: As a Singer, songwriter, and recording artist, Sheldon has performed and spoken in over 700 Mississippi churches as well as at numerous events around the Country. Most notable appearances include DATELINE NBC and the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Mississippi College; Three year certificate in community development, University of Central Arkansas

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Jordan Hillhouse

Title: Transition Coordinator

History/Job Description

Jordon Hillhouse joined DREAM in April 2008. Formerly, he worked in Prevention Education coordinating the logistics of DREAM’s many professional workshops. He currently serves as a Senior Transition Coordinator. It is his responsibility to assist high school seniors to transition from the high school environment into an independent lifestyle at work or in college. In addition to providing mentoring to students, Jordon is also responsible for scheduling qualified members of local community businesses and public agencies to lead the workshops for the students.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Communications, Mississippi College; Masters of Business Administration in progress, Alcorn State University

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Shirley Hubbard

Title: Senior Transition Coordinator

History/Job Description

Shirley Hubbard joined DREAM in September 2009 as a Senior Transition Coordinator. She is responsible for providing support and guidance to graduating high school seniors as they transition to the next phase in life. Shirley has a broad range of experience that includes mentoring middle school and high school youth. She has provided life skills training to youth struggling with adolescence and has served as guest panelist for open discussion on a number of youth programs. Shirley’s role as a senior transition coordinator is to facilitate training workshops that provide students with the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to meet life’s challenges after graduation.

Education

Bachelors in Social Services in progress, Belhaven College

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Tawni Lovorn

Title: Community Relations Coordinator

History/Job Description

Tawni has been with DREAM since June 2004. She served as the Program Director of the Partnership for a Healthy Madison and Yazoo Counties. In January 2007, she won the Program Director of the Year for her efforts in Madison and Yazoo Counties. She then served as Community Prevention Resources Director of the Prevention Training Division and as the Underage Drinking Coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. In 2008, the tobacco settlement was legislated under the supervision of the Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Tobacco Control. Thus, since April 2008, she has served as the Program Director of the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Rankin, Scott and Simpson Counties. Her goals are to prevent tobacco use among youth, advance statewide cessation services, minimize exposure to secondhand smoke and eliminate tobacco-related disparities. The Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Rankin, Scott and Simpson Counties is funded by a grant from the Mississippi State Department of Health. She recently received an award from the Mississippi Association of Addictions Professionals (MAAP) as the Prevention Professional of the Year, September 2009. She also serves as DREAM’s Community Outreach Coordinator. She assists the CEO with grant writing, public relations and community events.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Family & Consumer Sciences Education, Louisiana Tech University; Bachelor of Arts, Consumer Affairs with a minor in Business, Louisiana Tech University; Certified Training Professional: University of Southern Mississippi; Certified Prevention Manager (CPM)

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Danielle Milam

Title: Finance Administrator

History/Job Description

Danielle rejoined DREAM in July, 2009. Danielle manages DREAM's Human Resources and Personnel. Some of her daily operational responsibilites include managing accounts payable, receivables and purchasing. Danielle works side by side with the CFO on all budget allocating and reporting. She also assists with sales of DREAM's various prevention materials.

Education

BA in Foreign Language, minor in Business at Mississippi College; Series 7 Registered

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Vicki Mixon

Title: Strategic Prevention Framework Regional Master Trainer for the Central Region of Mississippi

History/Job Description

Vicki Mixon is the Strategic Prevention Framework Regional Master Trainer for the Central Region of Mississippi. Prior to joining DREAM in July 2008, she was an Educational Consultant for Josten's Learning Corporation. Vicki was also a classroom teacher in private and public education for over 27 years.

Education

Masters in Education, Mississippi College; Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders, University of Mississippi; Certified Prevention Specialist, in progress

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Caroline Newkirk

Title: Underage Drinking Prevention Coordinator

History/Job Description

Caroline Newkirk joined DREAM in July 2008 as the statewide Underage Drinking Prevention Coordinator. As such, she acts as a resource to the Strategic Prevention Framework Statewide Incentive Grant sub-grantees in the development and implementation of community and evidence-based programs targeted at underage drinking. Caroline also conducts training workshops and seminars aimed at educating both professional and public audiences on topics related to the prevention of underage drinking. Additionally, she co-chairs the Mississippians Advocating Against Underage Drinking (MAAUD) Task Force and provides technical assistance and support to the Mississippi Executive Prevention Council (MEPC).

Education

Masters in Public Health, Health Behavior Concentration, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Millsaps College; Certification in Public Health; Certified Health Education Specialist; Certified Prevention Specialist, in progress

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Charles Orr Jr.

Title: Prevention Services Assistant

History/Job Description

Charles Orr, Jr. is the Prevention Services Assistant under the Substance Abuse and Prevention Block Grant. Since joining DREAM in August 2009, he is primarily responsible for providing administrative and logistical support for DREAM trainings and workshops along with assisting the Prevention Services Director. He also carries the duty of maintaining an up-to-date database of Mississippi prevention organizations, training logistics and key contacts. In addition, he maintains the RADAR Center by keeping the materials stocked and current. Also, Charles currently serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary for D’Project, Inc., a non-profit performing arts entity.

Education

Associates of Arts, Holmes Community College

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David Pepper

Title: I.T. Director/Programmer

History/Job Description

David has been with DREAM officially since April 2000. However, his relationship with DREAM began years earlier on a contract basis to develop such products as SURETool, SmartTrack , and an on-line version of GEMSTONES. Presently, David splits his time between developing software applications, providing data stewardship, training staff, authoring documentation, and serving as director of information systems.

Education

Bachelor of Professional Accountancy, Mississippi State University Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Mississippi State University Microsoft Product Specialist

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Aubrey Shute

Title: Administrative Assistant to CEO

History/Job Description

Aubrey originally joined DREAM in 2008 as receptionist and became Administrative Assistant to the CEO in August 2009. Her primary responsibilities include assisting the new Hinds County Senior Transitions Program (STP) team and acting as a liaison between the CEO and the team as they begin their important work with high school seniors.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development with a Minor in Special Education, Delta State University

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Gini Tucker

Title: Prevention Education Specialist

History/Job Description

Gini joined DREAM, Inc. in May 2009 as a Prevention Education Specialist, providing innovative and up-to date training for prevention professionals. She has worked in the prevention field since 2001. She is a CDC certified Trainer of Trainers in HIV/AIDS. Using that expertise, she became the statewide trainer for HIV/AIDS professionals in Tennessee. Gini was selected to become part of an elite cadre of trainers for the Teacher Training Cadre based at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. She trained thousands of teachers across the state of Tennessee to do effective prevention education in schools. Prior to moving to Mississippi. Gini worked as a Student Assistance Professional counselor in Virginia, counseling at-risk students in small group settings regarding substance use/abuse and other risky behaviors. She also developed in-service trainings for teachers and program presentations for parents to raise awareness of risky youth behaviors. In addition to her prevention experience, Gini’s 10+ years of management experience as Executive Director of two Sylvan Learning Centers in Chattanooga and as Regional Manager for Les Petite Academies (Middle Tennessee) has given her additional valuable insight as to how to help meet the needs of parents and children.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Louisville; Certified Prevention Specialist, in progress

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Risa White

Title: Community Outreach Specialist

History/Job Description

Risa became part of the DREAM team in March of 2009. In working with the Mississippi Underage Drinking Prevention Coalition of Madison and Rankin Counties (MUDPC), she is responsible for implementing and tracking coalition strategies. She also assists DREAM in developing and maintaining the MUDPC coalition primarily in Rankin County. Prior to joining DREAM, she taught in the Rankin County School District.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; Post-Graduate Studies at Sorbonne University, Paris, France; Certified Prevention Specialist, in progress

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Jenny Winstead

Title: Graphics Designer

History/Job Description

Jenny has been with DREAM since August 2005 as the graphic designer. Her duties include providing unique and inventive designs used for all of the grants DREAM receives, and she helps with many other projects as well.

Education

Associate in Applied Science, Hinds Community College

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