Founders and Executive Director

Rodger and Denise have 10 years of experience in ministering to the sexually exploited in Kansas City, MO and abroad. Their experience involves outreach, housing, restoration, counseling, and training. Rodger and Denise were key contributors to the establishment of a church located in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil that reaches victims of human trafficking in the oldest Red Light District, Villa Mimosa. Denise is also dedicated to the process of holistic healing for victims of sexual abuse, exploitation, and prostitution. Rodger and Denise have a heart for the fatherless and the sexually abused. They desire to see all people have an opportunity to restore their lives with the help of their community.

Board Member
Treasurer

Jeremy Tyus is the owner of Tyus & Co., a firm offering bookkeeping services and business solutions to forward-thinking business owners. He grew up in Central Florida riding horses, playing baseball, and reading lots of books. Since graduating from Southeastern University in 2005, he has worked as a ranch hand, taught high school mathematics and sciences, and served as a missionary.

Board Member
Secretary

Jennifer has worked for Saint Luke’s Health System for over 19 years in Intensive Care, the Emergency Department, and Critical Care. She is currently the Clinical Forensic Care Program Manager for the Saint Luke’s Health System over 14 hospitals. She's been a SANE/Forensic Nurse for 12 years and provided thousands of Forensic Exams to patient’s that have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, strangulation, child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, and assault. She is an expert witness, provider, and researcher for strangulation, choking and suffocation and has trained more than 4000 police officers, prosecutors, advocates, and health care professionals in anatomy, physiology, assessment, and documentation of strangulation, choking, and suffocation. She provides expert testimony in multiple jurisdictions in Kansas City.

Board Member

After completing 2 years of university as a psychology major, Cailtyn has decided to pursue a career in nursing with an end goal of becoming a licensed Nurse Practitioner. She will complete an accelerated nursing program at Mid America Nazarene, Feb of 2020. Caitlyn is passionate about the medical field because she understands the need for the sick to receive compassionate and excellent medical care.

Board Member

Ed has a Master of Divinity degree and has more than 20 years experience as a senior pastor. He is a former member of the Department of Homeland Security's Terrorism Task Force where he held Secret Security clearance for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ed has ten years of experience as a licensed investment advisor. He was a vice president for Bank of America and is a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer for Mortgage Lenders of America.

Ed served as the Director of A Countywide Victim/Witness Advocacy Program in Illinois. This program connected victims and witnesses of violent or sexual crimes with professional assistance programs and accompanied them to court proceedings. He has been married to Debbie for almost 36 years and together they have eight children.

Board Member
Trauma Therapist

Richelle has a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with
additional training in trauma and crisis situations. Richelle is a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri and is a Certified Family Trauma Professional. She is skilled in crisis intervention, and utilizes several different therapeutic interventions such as family systems and person-centered, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapies. She is experienced in using play therapy, sand tray therapy, mindfulness and psychoeducation modalities. She is an active member of two academic and professional honor societies, and she is a member of the International Association of Trauma Professionals.

Executive Manager
Director, Health Advocacy

Sarah is a Registered Nurse and received her MSN with a concentration in Administration and Leadership from Western Governor’s University in 2016. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri Kanas City School of Nursing in 2009. She has worked at the Veterans Affairs for over nine years, beginning at the ICU in the Kansas City Veterans Affairs. During her tenure with the KCVA, she also served as the Inpatient Psych Nurse Manager. Sarah currently works for the Veterans Health Administration office of Strategic Integration where she provides professional consultation, technical expertise and project/program management for enterprise-wide initiatives. Her most noteworthy accomplishments include her contribution to the development of the VA’s innovative enterprise-wide management strategy, the Integrated Systems Deployment method, and co-founding the UMKC 2008 Quad Health Care, a multidisciplinary community service initiative to provide free health care screenings to the KC inner city. Her professional practice focuses on health care education, innovative enterprise-wide solutions, and transformational leadership.

Survivor Advisory Board Member

Chiquita was born and raised in Caruthersville, MO, but lived most of her life in Los Angeles, CA. She is an Inspirational Speaker, Author, Advocate and Survivor. She tirelessly works to bring awareness to Sex Trafficking by sharing her experience and the process of healing for the victims. In 2009 Chiquita earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and Christian Counseling. In 2015 she published her autobiography titled, “I Am a Ruby, Not a Sapphire”, which tells the story of her journey into Sex Trafficking and her struggle to finding her worth. In 2016 Chiquita became the Business Owner of Rubies INK, LLC. She has been a guest speaker at various churches, Radio, and Organizations across the country. Overcoming her personal experiences places her in a position to inspire and counsel others.

Survivor Advisory Board Member

Pastor Georgette Stillworth is a true testament to the power of God. She is a survivor of human sex trafficking who has journeyed a narrow path full of redemption and blessing. She is an ordained minister, having obtained a doctorate degree in 2002 from Faith Bible College in Christian Counseling with an emphasis on teaching. Georgette is the author of Praise Dance "It’s Not Just a Dance It’s a Ministry". Georgette has over fifteen years of volunteering experience in the Greater Kansas City Community. She has volunteered with outreach services to the homeless, created and facilitated personal development classes for women, trained volunteers how to do street ministry; life coach women that have been in prison; and coached men and women in drug rehabilitation facilities. She has also led many prison ministries in Kansas City MO and KS county jails, Ft Leavenworth prison, Topeka Correctional Facility, and Hutchinson Correctional Facility. Georgette was a part of the pilot mentoring program at the Topeka Correctional Facility for Women. She is the founder of the non-for-profit KC Restoring Women Chapter which helps transition women to a hope-filled life.

Survivor Advisory Board Member
House Manager
Public Relations

Kayleigh Curatalo has experienced some of the darkest depths of man. While in the midst of a life of sex trafficking and drug addiction, God miraculously intervened in her life. She graduated Youth with a Mission (YWAM) KC in 2019. During her time there, she completed a 3-month missions trip to Thailand at which she worked with sexually exploited and trafficked children. Kayleigh also loves to serve the homeless. Her testimony is an inspiration to many and as a motivational speaker, she has seen many lives restored. Through her own testimony, she has been instrumental to each client that has sheltered at the Rended Heart House.