OUR PEOPLE
Executive Management Team
Kathy Colbenson, LMFT
President and Chief Executive Officer
Kathy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 40 years of experience. She has been the Chief Executive Officer of CHRIS 180 since 1987. Under her leadership, CHRIS 180 has grown to include eight group homes, a permanent supportive housing program, a counseling center, a comprehensive community program designed to strengthen families, a drop-in center for homeless youth and young adults, an adoption program, a homeless outreach and community housing program, the At-Promise Center in partnership with the Atlanta Police Foundation and a training institute – all of which focus on behavioral health, recovering from the impact of childhood trauma, and helping people develop the skills necessary for self-sufficiency.
Over the years, Kathy has provided consistent leadership through innovation and initiatives that break down barriers and result in outreach and help for underserved, invisible populations. New programs include the opening the Southeast’s first program for homeless youth that targeted outreach to LGBTQ youth in January 2000, creating the first supportive housing program in the state for homeless youth and youth aging out of foster care in 2010, creating new trauma-informed models for service delivery and adoption, and many other positive changes in services for children and families throughout the state.
In 2003, Kathy was humbled to receive the Dan Bradley Humanitarian Award from the Human Rights Campaign; in 2010 Kathy was recognized with the Evelyn Ullman Innovative Leadership Award; and in 2013, Kathy was honored to receive the Turknett Leadership Character Award. CHRIS 180 programs, services, and staff have been recognized for expertise and leadership in trauma-informed care. Recent recognitions include the TeleHealth Facility of the Year Award from the Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth for the CHRIS Counseling Center, and our Keeping Families Together Program received the National Innovation and Excellence Program Award from the National Center for Excellence and Innovation. Additionally, CHRIS 180 is the two-time winner of the Managing for Excellence Award (1998 & 2011) from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. In 2019, Kathy was honored as one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Most Admired CEO’s. In 2020, Kathy was named to the Atlanta 500 and as one of Atlanta Magazine’s Women Making a Mark. In 2021, she was once again named to the Atlanta 500 list. Kathy is married, has two daughters, three dogs, three cats and enjoys hiking, gardening, traveling, and photography.
Dr. Anne Cornell, PhD, LPC
Chief Clinical Officer
Dr. Anne Cornell joined CHRIS 180 as the Chief Clinical Officer in September 2021. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she began her professional career as a houseparent in a residential shelter for boys. where she still has family.
She has a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and is a licensed professional counselor with over thirty years’ experience providing a variety of behavioral health, wraparound and residential services to children, adolescents, and families across the country. She has provided clinical services in residential and community-based programs in North Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Dr. Cornell is responsible for oversight of CHRIS 180 counseling centers, our contract with the Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, our school-based mental health counseling services and our integrated health clinic.
Dr. Cornell has developed several behavioral health programs from conception and has extensive training in trauma-informed care and clinical supervision. She has a commitment for serving people in the least restrictive environment keeping families in their home communities. Dr. Cornell, a native of North Carolina, loves the sun, baking and college basketball.
Matthew Mitchell, MS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Chief People Officer
Matthew (Matt) Mitchell joined CHRIS 180 in 2022 as the leader of CHRIS 180’s Human Resources (HR) operations.
With more than 12 years as an HR executive and professional, Mitchell’s retail, public sector, creative services and healthcare people operations experience has covered areas across North America, Mexico and South Africa.
During former President Barack Obama’s second term in office, he served as a Presidential Management Fellow within the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he led teams and administrative functions within the eight southern states. He is known as a servant leader who is motivated to empower HR professionals and teams to embrace and bring value to their workplaces.
Mitchell received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Florida A & M University and Master of Science in Human Resources Management from the University of Central Florida. He is an avid writer of HR and management content and has been published in HR Executive Magazine, HRM Today and several HR blogs.
He volunteers his time with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Society for Human Resource Management and coaching local youth. Mitchell lives in Metro Atlanta with his wife, two children and dog.
Chaundra Luckett
Chief Marketing Officer
Chaundra joined CHRIS 180 in 2018 as our Director of Marketing and Communications, before being promoted to Chief Marketing Officer in 2020. With more than 15 years of extensive experience in journalism, marketing, communications and nonprofit public relations, Chaundra uses her unique abilities as a storyteller to leverage CHRIS 180’s brand throughout Atlanta. Chaundra holds a BA in Mass Communications from Bennett College and her award-winning career in television news helps her bring a one of a kind insight to her work leading the strategic internal and external communications, marketing and advertising efforts for CHRIS 180. Chaundra spent several years as the Public Relations Manager at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, where she led and contributed to both paid and earned media campaigns around major fundraising and awareness events. Chaundra spent 10 years in the television news industry producing newscasts, webcasts, current events shows, election night coverage and breaking news. She is a three-time Southeast Emmy Award Nominee, a Telly Award winner and was honored with the Associated Press Award for South Carolina’s Best Newscast. In 2019, she was inducted as a member of the inaugural Forty Under 40 Class presented by the Georgia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Chaundra is an avid community volunteer and is a member of The Ivy League of South Gwinnett- an official Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. Interest Group, the Vice President-Elect of Learning & Development for The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc., where she just wrapped up a successful year on the board of directors as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the 104 year old nonprofit. Additionally, she serves as Parliamentarian for the Atlanta Chapter of the Bennett College National Alumnae Association and is the Public Relations Chair for the Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance. She is a proud graduate of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2019, a member of the LEAD Atlanta Alumni Association and is a member of the Georgia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the Promise All Atlanta Children Thrive (PAACT) Communications Committee and the Marketing Committee for Ferst Readers. Chaundra resides in Brookhaven and is a member of Buckhead Church, where she volunteers with the college ministry.
Elizabeth Goldberg
Chief Development Officer
Elizabeth Goldberg joined CHRIS 180’s development team in 2018 as a senior development professional bringing her experience in fundraising and resource development, cultivating major donors and mentoring staff. In 2021, she was promoted to Chief Development Officer after serving in the role in an interim capacity.
Elizabeth began her nonprofit career fifteen years ago at Emory Hillel in Atlanta. Later she joined the Milwaukee Jewish Federation fundraising department and ended her tenure there as the Assistant Campaign Director where she managed a $2 million annual campaign. From there, Elizabeth became the Director of Community Campaign of the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore’s $30 million annual campaign. In 2014, Elizabeth returned to Atlanta as the Senior Director of the General Campaign at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta where she managed a $17 million annual campaign and a team of eight.
Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wheaton College and earned a Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Leadership from Brandeis University. Elizabeth lives in Brookhaven with her husband and enjoys spending time with their two dogs, friends, and family as well as cooking, working out and traveling.
Ashleigh Dennis-Silas, MA, LPC, CPCS
VP, Mental Health & Wellness
Ashleigh is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor with over 14 years of professional experience in the mental health field. Ashleigh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a specialization in Special Education from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia. She earned her Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Since beginning her career, Ashleigh has worked in both community and agency settings, with diverse populations toward her goal of supporting the healthy development of children youth and families. While working for the Hampton Newport News Community Services Board in Newport News Virginia, Ashleigh coordinated and facilitated the delivery of Botvin’s Life skills Curriculum to over 750 public school students. While in Virginia she served as a community organizer and worked extensively to support community-based youth serving organizations in gaining millions of dollars in federal funding to support substance abuse prevention programs.
Since joining CHRIS 180 in 2014, Ashleigh has focused her work on providing trauma-informed care to youth and families involved in the Juvenile Justice system. Ashleigh has served as Program Manager of the Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant, Multisystemic Therapy Supervisor and Program Manager. In her current role as Clinical Manager, Ashleigh manages the day to day operations of the counseling center and provides direct clinical supervision to Therapists and Community workers. She is a part of interagency and interdisciplinary teams which work to improve access to and ensure effective implementation of counseling services to children adults, youth and families in Georgia. Ashleigh oversees service delivery of Multisystemic Therapy and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy programs in both Gwinnett and Fulton Counties.
Brittney Walters, MSW, LCSW
VP, School-Based Mental Health
Brittney joined CHRIS 180 in 2017 and brings a diversified background of mental health experience to our leadership team. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and earned both her Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development and her Master of Social Work degrees at the University of Georgia (UGA). It was at UGA where she also obtained a graduate certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. Brittney has extensive experience working with Community Service Boards across the state, as well as the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) level of care. Brittney’s areas of expertise include acute and chronic psychiatric disorders, complex trauma backgrounds, co-occurring developmental disabilities, crisis intervention, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
From 2017-2020, Brittney served as our Clinical Director of our Atlanta CHRIS Counseling Center in addition to supervising our Drop-In Center for young adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness, our Permanent Supportive Housing Program (TransitionZ), and our Integrated Health Clinic. It was this vigorous growth and experience as a CHRIS 180 leader that positioned Brittney well to shift to supervising our school-based division in the summer of 2020. Brittney operates as CHRIS 180’s representative for the Georgia Alliance of Therapeutic Services (GATS), currently serving in the nominated role of Vice Chair for a second term. She is frequently called upon to speak on panels with reputable organizations, a few of whom include The Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Georgia Pacific, and The Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority. Brittney is honored to work with a robust, dynamic team of clinical professionals as they lead the charge for providing quality trauma-informed services within our school communities. She aims to ensure that barriers are broken down and access to care is increased for all individuals, with the goal of providing the highest quality mental health services and supports possible. With an eye for strategy, a solution-focused approach, and a trauma-informed style of supervision and accountability, Brittney continues to expand our partnerships and relationships within the academic realm of Metro Atlanta.
Kathy Keeley
Interim VP, Training
Kathy Keeley joined CHRIS 180 in 2022 as the Interim VP of Training after spending more than 20 years as a consultant with the organization. Keeley’s expertise includes strategic planning and solution-building, project design, performance assessment and management, board and staff retreats, social enterprise, finance and economic development, and executive coaching.
At CHRIS 180,her work is focused on growing the impact of the CHRIS Training Institute into a social enterprise, as well as implementing and supervising internal and external trainings for the organization and providing oversight to our Clinical Pastoral Education program and Compliance Department. Keeley comes to the work of CHRIS 180 with a wealth of experience in the nonprofit and for-profit sector. Most recently, Keeley was the EVP at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, managing the membership, Nonprofit University and consulting practice. Keeley has started nine nonprofits in her career and is best known for the first alcohol drug treatment program for women and the first loan fund for women owned businesses.
Her unique portfolio of expertise has led her to serve cities including the District of Columbia and Nashville, and to be featured in major media outlets, including 60 Minutes, The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC Evening News, BBC News and Voice of America Radio.
Keeley received her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of Iowa and holds a Masters of Science in Community Development from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
She resides on a farm with horses, mini donkeys, and the requisite chickens, dogs, and cats with a new passion of beekeeping! In her spare time, she is an avid gardener and a fiber artist—spinning, weaving, knitting and sewing—but most enjoys being outdoors with her family and grandchildren.
Nina Mena, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Nina Joy Mena joined CHRIS 180 in 2018 as a Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow from Emory University School of Medicine. She continued to work for CHRIS 180 upon graduation at CHRIS Counseling Center-Dekalb as a contract psychiatrist and at Fulton County CHRIS Counseling Center locations through Morehouse School of Medicine for the past four years. In 2023, Dr. Mena was hired as Chief Medical Officer for CHRIS 180.
Throughout her career, Dr. Mena has been committed to providing compassionate and effective care to all of her patients. She has a deep understanding of the challenges that individuals face when dealing with mental health issues and works tirelessly to help them overcome these challenges.
Dr. Mena was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She earned her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and completed her residency in psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and her fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Mena is board-certified in both General Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is licensed to practice in both Georgia and Iowa.
Outside of her duties as a psychiatrist and motivational speaker, Dr. Mena enjoys traveling the world, running, trying out different restaurants in the city of Atlanta and spending time with her husband and three boys.
Haynes Morrison, MSW
VP, Community Initiatives
Haynes Morrison joined CHRIS 180 in 2021 and has more than 15 years of executive and senior leadership experience in residential care, community based-services, program auditing, implementing vital programs and activities to support non-governmental organizations and for-profit missions. Throughout her career she has managed complex projects, drafted and evaluated policies, developed programs and implemented programs in service-based industries.
Haynes comes from a diverse background in the Caribbean and West Africa, which has allowed her to engage in international residential and outreach work both in the African Diaspora and United States. Haynes obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Boston and a Master of Social Work and Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Nonprofit Management with a Specialization in Leadership. Haynes is a wife and mother to three children, and has a passion and commitment to serving others, especially families.
Helen Yohannes
VP, Prevention & Stability Initiatives
Helen Yohannes joined CHRIS 180 in 2017 as the Program Manager of our YouthBuild 180 program, before being promoted in 2023 to her current role.
With more than a decade of nonprofit experience, Yohannes’ career has been focused on community development, equity, and youth advocacy, while also providing high-quality trauma-informed mental health care to marginalized communities.
She is passionate about addressing systemic violence and sharing resources to increase stability in the lives of Georgia’s most vulnerable youth.
Yohannes has served organizations in Toronto, New York and here in Atlanta. In 2017, Yohannes joined CHRIS 180’s YouthBuild 180 Program leading a workforce development initiative for young adults.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from York University and is also a published writer. Yohannes has also been featured in New York’s Black August Film Festival documenting her work around immigration, culture and storytelling as a site of power.
Yohannes lives in Metro Atlanta, and when she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her children and fiancé.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jay Bernath, C & S Wholesale Meats
Chair
Lori B. Chennault, Georgia-Pacific
Vice Chair
Ana Amato, Protiviti
Treasurer
Cyril Turner, RORS
Financial Secretary
Isys Caffey-Horne, Stripe Theory
Emily Chambers, TEGNA
Kathy Colbenson, CHRIS 180
Nicole Crowder, Accenture
Lenore Cusick, CIBC Atlantic Trust
Dan Diffley, Alston & Bird
Deirdra Glover, Conserte Consulting
Julia Houston, Equifax
Bo Keatley, Savills US
Michael W. Lammons, KPMG
Paula “LaLa” Larson, Dugan Unlimited
Pascal Lewis, Delta Air Lines
Maney Mazloom, MM Investment Holdings
S. Karimah McFarlane, Google
Terrin McKay, Community Volunteer
Araya Mesfin, UBS
Erika Montag, Community Volunteer
Condace Pressley, WSB-TV
Sheila E. Ray, Cadence Bank
Maria Smith, Federal Reserve
Steve T. Tedder, Live Oak Capital Partners
Rebecca Woods, Seyfarth Shaw
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Advisory Council Chairs:
Chris Arrington, Truist Bank & Susan O'Farrell, BlueLinx (retired)
Wes Adams, SV Consulting Group
Alice Ball, Community Volunteer
Dr. Sheryl Bear, Private Practice
Jackson Bedford, Fulton County Government
Patty Bedford, Community Volunteer
Janine Anthony Bowen, BakerHostetler
Kathy Bremer, BoardWalk Consulting
Kathy Clemons, BlackRock
Ann Cramer, Coxe Curry & Associates
D.J. Dammann, Cricket Wireless
Carolyn C. Donnelly, CIBC
Emily M. Douglas, Accenture
Chad Duncan, Accenture
Joy Dyess, The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc.
Ken Felts, NFP Executive Benefits
Kurt A. Ford, Delta Air Lines
Susan Fulginiti, Georgia-Pacific
Robert S. Harkey, Delta Air Lines (retired)
Steve Hart, HLGstudio
Mona Harty, Delta Air Lines
Marc Heilweil, Gratus Capital
Tad Hutcheson, Delta Air Lines
Melissa Jewkes, Community Volunteer
Jonathan Karron, Sandy Hook Promise
J.D. Kellum, Keller Williams Realty
Robert L. Kight, Delta Air Lines (retired)
Kip N. Kirkpatrick, Alston & Bird LLP (retired)
Dr. James Kohler, Emory University School of Medicine
Bertram L. Levy, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
Elizabeth S. Li, Bain & Company
Mark Lindenbaum, JLL Capital Markets
Valarie Mackey, WrightNow Solutions
Todd Markle, Court of Appeals of Georgia
David W. Mathews, Sterling Seacrest Pritchard
Malcom McComb, CBRE
Kristen McGuffey, Serta Simmons Bedding
Nandy Millner, Merrill Lynch Private Bank
Brandon Monteith, Community Volunteer
Tatiana F. Nemo, Invesco
John Olsen, ManifestRx
Martha A. Pacini, Leo A Daly
Robert Partee, Accenture
Claudia Patton, Edelman (retired)
Brooke Pendleton, Community Volunteer
Christopher Reddinger, Community Volunteer
Deborah J. Sessions, Wipfli LLP (retired)
Arnie Silverman, Silverman CPM
Andrea N. Smith, Scholarship America
Carla C. Smith, American Heart Association
Chuck Sparrow, Jabian Consulting
Rondah Thomas, Georgia Power
Kate Q. Walker, Equifax
Thomas Watson, Hyundai Capitol
Sheila Weidman-Farley, Georgia-Pacific
Karen Wilbanks, The Robert & Polly Dunn Foundation
Thomas Woodward, Architect (retired)
Frank Wrenn, Habitat for Humanity International