Dr. Les Cole, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Cole is responsible for the overall operation of The Center for Children & Young Adults. He directs all services provided by The Center including the daily operation of the long-term residential care programs, Open Gate, Another Chance and the transitional living program, Turning Point. He also works directly with the board of directors to determine budgeting and future direction of the agency. As a licensed clinician he works directly with Northside Psychological Services to ensure all of the kids in care at The Center are receiving the necessary and required therapeutic services.
Dr. Cole's background is varied in the areas of social service, juvenile justice, counseling and management. He has directed various programs and agencies where he helped clarify and redefine the direction the organization needed to take for future success. Cole is a 1991 graduate of the Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia. There he received a doctorate in Ministry with majors in Psychology and Theology.
Dr. Cole served as Executive Director of The Center from 2001-2003. In 2003, he accepted the project of creating and developing a retreat center in New York. Upon completing this contract, Dr. Cole returned to Georgia and returned to The Center in the spring of 2005 as Chief Operating Officer. In the fall of 2005 he assumed the role of Executive Director. During a change in the organizational structure in 2007 his title became Chief Executive Officer.
Sherri Roberson, Chief Operating Officer
Sherri is responsible for the oversight of the agency's administrative programs including: marketing, development, revenue source enhancement, donor care, performance quality improvement, human resources, finance, and facility maintenance.
Sherri is a 1992 graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. Prior to joining The Center in 1995 she worked as the Assistant Manager of Public Relations at Six Flags Over Georgia. The 10 years she spent working in Six Flags’ administration gave her a vast array of experience in: event planning, media relations, collateral development, marketing, sales and advertising.
After serving as a volunteer for The Center’s major fundraiser and coordinating a fundraiser for the agency at Six Flags, she joined The Center in October 1995 as the Community Development Coordinator. Over the next 12 years Sherri’s title changed several times and her responsibilities increased to include overseeing the agency’s marketing, communications, crisis response plan, volunteer program and overall fundraising and special event activities. In 2007 Sherri became the agency’s Chief Operating Officer.
Tracy Wright, Chief Program Officer
Tracy is responsible for the oversight of all program activites for The Center. Her tasks are many and varied including: ensuring all required documentation is completed for the 43 kids on campus; ensuring each child has an updated service plan and it is being followed; planning on-site and off campus activities for the kids and providing direct supervision of each program's management.
Tracy is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology. Tracy is a native of Washington, DC, and while there she worked for four years at For Love of Children (FLOC). FLOC is a non-profit organization thatoffers educational services that equip high-risk children and youth with the skills necessary to break the cycle of poverty, become life-long learners, and make substantial contributions to their communities. Before coming to The Center,Tracy volunteered with numerous youth programs in the Metro-Atlanta area.
Tracy has over 12 years of experience working in the non-profit environment and her experiences range from budgeting,proposal & grantadministration and program management. Most recently, Tracy worked as a Client Care Professional at Turning Point and Human Services Professional Supervisor before accepting her current role as CPO.
Program Oversight
The Center has six very talented individuals responsible for the day to day operation of its programs.
Turning Point Program Director, Rhonda Hall
Another Chance Lead Coach, Alma Willingham
Another Chance Coaches: Casheba Blaire, Keeth Miller, Adriane Henry
Open Gate Coach, Latisha Williams
Each individual in leadership possesses and extensive background in working with children in youth in this type of setting. Combined they have over 40 years of experience in this industry.
