Casey Gwinn, Esq.
President
Casey Gwinn Bio
Casey Gwinn is the President and Co-Founder of the Alliance. He is the visionary behind the Family Justice Center Movement, first proposing the concept of the Family Justice Center model in 1989. Casey founded Camp HOPE America in 2003. He is a national expert on domestic violence dynamics, including investigation and prosecution, the handling of non-fatal strangulation cases, and is one of the leading thinkers in the country on the science of hope. Prior to this position, Casey was the elected San Diego City Attorney.
Gael Strack, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
Gael Strack Bio
Gael Strack is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of the Alliance. Gael is a national expert on domestic violence and strangulation. Prior to this position, Gael was the founding director of the San Diego Family Justice Center, former prosecutor with the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, defense attorney and deputy county counsel.
Yesenia Aceves
Director of Culture and Creative Services
Yesenia Aceves is the Alliance’s Director of Culture, and is responsible for measurably increasing employee Hope, engagement, and well-being while managing employee development and retention. In addition, as Director of Creative Services, Yesenia oversees branding and design for all of the agency’s programs and leads Art Heals, a creative initiative within the Alliance. Yesenia first joined the Alliance in 2015 as the Founding Director of the Pathways to HOPE Project, Camp HOPE America’s year-round mentorship program.
William Ackerman
Development and Multi-Media Coordinator
William assists with delivering virtual courses and engagement for the professionals and survivors, helping to launch the HOPEhub Online Learning Academy. Additionally, he assists with fund development and grant acquisition at the Alliance. William acquired his master’s degree in International Administration from the University of Denver, and studied International Affairs and Political Science as part of his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Joe Bianco
Law Enforcement Support Coordinator
Joe has a BA is in Criminal Justice (CJ) from John Jay College of CJ in NYC and an MS in CS from Saint Joseph’s University in PA. Previously, Joe was a police officer for 16 years with the NYCPD and SDPD, assigned as a detective to the DV and Child Abuse Unit for 6 years. Joe is recognized as a court expert in non-fatal strangulation cases and DV dynamics. Additionally, he spent a year working for child welfare services for the State of NH. Joe is passionate to help survivors and educating professionals on the dangers of intimate partner violence and strangulation.
Isabella De Silva
Program Coordinator, Family Justice Center Alliance
Isabella is a Program Coordinator for the Family Justice Center Alliance. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies – Political Science. During her undergraduate career she received department honors for her research on human trafficking in Tenancingo, Mexico. Her extensive experience working with non-profit organizations throughout San Diego has furthered her passion for human rights.
Jessica Kimsey
Events Manager
Jessica Kimsey is the Events Coordinator for the Alliance. She is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Alliance’s annual conference and provides administrative and organizational support for the Alliance’s training programs, workshops, and events. Jessica received her Bachelor of Science degree from Champlain College in Hospitality Management and has had extensive experience in all aspects of the hospitality industry. She is excited to bring her experience and management skills to a non-profit organization.
Nicole McKibben
Director of Finance
Nicole is the Alliance’s Director of Finance. She has 10+ years of non-profit experience working for organizations that provide therapeutic and preschool services to special needs children from birth to age twenty-one and an afterschool/summer youth intervention and development program. Nicole graduated Cum Laude from Lycoming College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting and Business Administration. She is working on her Master’s in Business Administration concentrating in Accounting and her CPA. Nicole volunteers her time throughout the year to the local high school.
Sarah Pike
Program Manager, OVC Vision 21 Technology Initiative
Sarah is the Program Manager for the OVC Vision 21 Technology Initiative. In collaboration with OVC, a National Advisory Board, and participation from three pilot sites, this project developed an updated centralized intake system tool for the Family Justice Center network. Her role requires leading the collaborative efforts to design, implement, adopt, and provide training around the centralized intake tool. Prior to working at Alliance, Sarah spent seven years serving the chronically homeless and supporting academic institutions. She comes to the Alliance with a Bachelor’s of Social Work and Master of Arts Degree in Economic and Social Development.
Ken Shetter
National Director, Family Justice Center Alliance
Ken Shetter is the National Director of the Family Justice Center Alliance. Ken earned a BS in Education from Baylor University; an MA in Applied Sociology from The American University where he was a Dean’s Scholar and a Sociology Department Fellow; as well as a JD from Baylor Law School. In addition to his role as Mayor of Burleson, TX, Ken became the first Executive Director of the Safe City Commission in Tarrant County, which collaborated with dozens of other agencies to build and operate One Safe Place, Forth Worth, the largest Family Justice Center in Texas.
Brynne Spain
Program Manager, Polyvictimization Initiative
Brynne is the Program Manager for the Polyvictimization Initiative. She graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in Human Rights. Brynne worked with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as a crisis counselor and support group co-facilitator at crisis centers in Sacramento and San Francisco. She looks forward to learning from and contributing to the groundbreaking work achieved by the Alliance.
Amy Stobbe
Finance Coordinator
Amy is the Finance Coordinator at Alliance for HOPE International.
She enjoys providing office support to all areas of the organization with an emphasis on finance. Amy is honored to be part of the team and looks forward to growing in her role.
Susan Williams
Director of Technical Assistance, Family Justice Center Alliance
Susan Williams is the Director of Technical Assistance for the Family Justice Center Alliance. Previously, Susan served as a Deputy Director in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), an Associate Director in the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), and Grant Advisor in the DOJ’s Office on Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). Susan brings 24 years of experience working at the federal level to enhance the nation’s response to violence against women and all forms of crime victimization.