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| Board of Directors · Employment | |||||||
Meet our Staff
“The Colonial CASA staff works as a team to promote and encourage child advocacy in the greater Williamsburg area.”
- The Honorable George C. Fairbanks
Executive Director
Tressell Carter
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Tressell Carter possesses a unique background as a public servant in both the nonprofit and government sectors. Her career has provided her the privilege to contribute to the early success of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and to serve as the executive director of the former Days of Grace of Senior Services. In her more recent role, she served as the division director of Neighborhood Connections for James City County. After the division was disbanded 2010, she continued to serve the community as the Civic Engagement Coordinator. Her career also includes serving in the Victims Services Department for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and as the grant writer for the Historic Triangle Substance Abuse Coalition.
Tressell holds a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a minor in Business Administration from Christopher Newport University. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Administration, with a concentration in Urban Planning, from Old Dominion University. Additionally, she is certified in the areas of Charrette Planning and Management by the National Charrette Institute, and a certification in Community Building by NeighborWorks America.
Her life’s work has centered on enhancing the lives of others through access to information and resources to empower people to take ownership of their lives to become contributing members of society.
Sarah provides administrative coordination and monitoring of Colonial CASA Volunteer Advocates throughout their involvement on each case. Sarah prepares the initial case file for each advocate, provides assistance in court procedures and case management. She carefully reviews each case prior to assignment. This ensures that the needs of the case are met by the skills of the appointed volunteer advocate.
Sarah works closely with the advocates, keeping them apprised of any new developments in their cases. She also reviews all advocate reports to the court before they are filed with the court. Sarah is a member of the Association for Volunteer Administration,, Greater Williamsburg Association for Volunteer Administration (GWAVA), National CASA. Sarah also represents Colonial CASA at the area Family Assessment and Planning Team, (FAPT) meetings. She has been with Colonial CASA since 1996.
Sarah shares the best thing about her job: "Working with an extraordinary group of volunteers who work selflessly and tirelessly to give the abused and neglected children of Williamsburg/James City County hope, a safe and permanent home, and a better future. They constantly reinforce my belief that anything is possible and I am honored to work with each and every one of them."
Program Director
Sarah S. Serra
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Volunteer Services Coordinator
Victoria L. Canady
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Victoria has filled the role of Volunteer Services Coordinator since early 2007. She shares the responsibilities of recruiting, supporting, training, and supervising volunteer Advocates. Victoria has had over five years management experience in financial institutions and over eight years of experience working with infants and children in both volunteer and business roles. Her undergraduate degree is in finance and she recently earned her MA in counseling. Her hope in working with families of abused and neglected children is to help people help themselves through education, love, and limits.
Victoria was introduced to Colonial CASA six years ago as a foster parent, and through that experience, she became aware of CASAs and the contributions they make in changing the course of a child’s life.
Victoria shares the best thing about her job: "Seeing the dedication and attachment exhibited by the staff and volunteers for each family in need, and knowing that each CASA is sharing his/her time and life investing in the well being and quality of the future - through our children."
Shawn joined Colonial CASA in September of 2010 and is filling the role of Development Associate/Volunter Coordinator. She comes to CASA having served twelve years as the Business Manager for Sage Software ( formerly JSI Fundraising Systems, Inc.) where she helped nonprofits and government organizations gain insight, develop comprehensive management solutions and make strategic decisions toward growth in their missions and fundraising.
Shawn has held several volunteer positions in the community including President of the PTA of Matoaka Elementary School and currently is the PTA President for DJ Montague Elementary School.
"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to help abused and neglected children in our community."
1311 Jamestown Road, Suite 201, Williamsburg, VA 23185
Phone: (757) 229-3306 Fax: (757) 229-3972. E-mail Us | Employment
© 2010 All rights reserved. Colonial CASA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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