ABOUT

Board of Directors

The Stella Maris Child Center board of directors is comprised of thirteen men and women, with expertise in fields ranging from financial services to academia. The Board hails from the Latino, African-American, Asian-American and Caucasian communities -- reflecting the Center's strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Mike Staed - President

Mr. Staed is the vice president of sales and marketing for NCO Group, a multi-national business process outsourcing firm providing customer contact-management services to major U.S. firms. Prior to joining NCO Group, he was an executive vice president for a national outsourcing services company, and served as a partner with the consulting division of Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Staed's involvement with Stella Maris began as a supporter and then co-chair for fund-raising events prior to serving on the board of directors.

Heather Allman - Secretary

Ms. Allman is an attorney licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois. She is a senior manager with a St. Louis based firm that provides electrical controls to the global metal forming industry. Ms. Allman has an MBA, a Juris Doctorate, and a BA in criminal justice and sociology from St. Louis University. Her work with SMCC is built upon her strongly held beliefs that every child should have access to a first-class education and a strong support system, and that these elements are the foundation for healthy, happy and productive lives.

Timothy G. Beffa - Treasurer

Mr. Beffa joined the Board in 2010. He has significant business credentials as former president and CEO of Outsourcing Solutions, Inc. and DIMAC, both based in St. Louis. He began his career as an audit manager for Arthur Young & Co., and as vice president of finance with Pet Incorporated. Mr. Beffa graduated with a BS in accounting from University of Missouri - Columbia, and is a CPA. He is a graduate of the Executive Management Program at Columbia University in New York City, and the Management Study Program at Washington University in St. Louis. He and his family reside in St. Louis and in Naples, Florida.

Barbara M. Bailey

Barbara is a native of St. Louis but left after high school to attend Fisk University in Nashville where she received a BA in Biology prior to beginning her career in healthcare. Upon her return to St. Louis, Barbara decided to pursue a BS in Nursing and dedicated many years of service to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in internal medicine, oncology practice as well as the intensive care unit. She then transitioned to focus on community health with St. Louis ConnectCare while completing her Masters of Healthcare Administration. Barbara is current Vice President and Chief Operating Officer with Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers.

John Fischesser

Mr. Fischesser practices general civil litigation at Eckenrode-Maupin in Clayton and has been with the firm since 2008. He is a native of Cincinnati and moved to St. Louis in the mid-1990s. He received his BA in political science in 1999 and his Juris Doctor in 2002 from St. Louis University. During law school Mr. Fischesser worked in the Missouri State Public Defender division. Prior to returning to St. Louis he worked for five years as an associate attorney at Beahm and Green in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Harolyn Harris

Ms. Harris was born and raised in St. Louis. She attended St. Louis public schools and graduated from Soldan High School and Northwest Missouri State University where she received a BS in education and became a high school teacher in the St. Louis Public Schools. She later received a MA from Webster University and an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Ms. Harris has served as a middle school instructional coordinator, high school assistant principal, interim principal (elementary and secondary), middle school principal, and district coordinator. Her educational philosophy is: "All children want to learn. They want a clean, safe, nurturing environment in order to achieve their full potential." She has a love of children which translates to her volunteer efforts. An active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Ms. Harris is the mother of three adult children.

Michael Kilker

Mr. Kilker is an experienced insurance industry executive who began his career in 1985 with a national mutual life insurance company. After many years as a major producer and a multiple "million-dollar round table" achiever, he established his own firm -- Corporate Benefit Strategies, a leading benefit firm based in St. Louis. In 2006, Mr. Kilker merged his business with Holmes Murphy to provide broader and deeper resources to his clients. He is a member of the Association of Life and Health Underwriters, the Society of Human Resource Management and serves on several insurance and hospital advisory boards. For many years, Mr. Kilker has been an active member of his local school board, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater St. Louis and the pastoral council of his church.

Jeanette McNutt

Mrs. McNutt graduated from Soldan High School and attended Harris Stowe in St. Louis. In 1966 she graduated from the Jewish Hospital School of Nursing and retired in August 2008. Mrs. McNutt's 42 years of nursing experience covered a wide variety of roles, including: Med-Surg, emergency room, staff nurse in the cardiac cath lab, several stand alone clinics, head nurse at an extended care facility, teaching LPNs in a short course to remove a waiver from their license, head nurse in a chemical abuse unit, psychiatric nurse, and as a school nurse working with pregnant and parenting teens. One of her most rewarding and challenging positions was at Scott Air Force Base as a family advocacy nurse where she worked to prevent domestic violence and child abuse through education and referral to available resources. She has practiced nursing in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and in Missouri, her home state. While working full time as a nurse, Mrs. McNutt graduated from Webster University with a B.A. in Psychology in 1981. She also holds a Masters Degree in Psychology, from Washington University. Mrs. McNutt retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army Reserves after more than 22 years.

Pam Miller

Ms. Miller is an associate attorney with Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis. She specializes in trademark and patent litigation, unfair competition and media law issues across multiple business sectors. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Miller worked as a research and development chemist designing environmentally friendly, water-based emulsions for application to plastic and electrical insulation. A St. Louis native, she received her B.S. in chemistry, summa cum laude and her J.D. from University of Missouri. Ms. Miller is a member of the Women's Law Association and is an IPO Trade Secrets Committee member.

Hector Antonio Molina, Jr.

Mr. Molina is a Stella Maris parent. Two of his children attended and currently two more are enrolled in the Center's programs. He is a professional Catholic Speaker and Evangelist with more than 20 years of experience in pastoral ministry and leadership in the Church. A 1995 theology graduate of St. John's University, Mr. Molina served for eleven years as Pastoral Associate at the historic St. John the Baptist Parish in his home Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. After relocating to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, he served as Director of Hispanic Ministry for six years under the leadership of Archbishop Emeritus Raymond Leo Burke. In 2007, he was appointed founding Director of The Office of the New Evangelization. In the Fall of 2009, Hector launched his own full time speaking apostolate which has taken him all over the United States. In addition to his service at Stella Maris, he is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Patrick Reddick

Mr. Reddick moved to St. Louis in 2008 as part of his company's expansion into the region. He is the general manager of Life Time Fitness, one of the country's preeminent health and fitness firms. A native of Seattle, Mr. Reddick overcame a difficult upbringing and became successful in both academics and athletics. He was a full scholarship football player at Eastern Washington University majoring in secondary education. He taught primary school in Seattle and later in Phoenix, before migrating to the health and fitness industry. He is an active volunteer with his church and with several youth organizations. Mr. Reddick is newly married and his wife is a social worker focused on at-risk children.

Steve Rhoades

Mr. Rhoades moved to St. Louis in 2003 as part of a geographic expansion of Rock Island, Illinois engineering firm, KJWW. KJWW focuses on management and mechanical engineering design for institutional, educational and commercial projects. Since moving to the area he has expanded both his business and his involvement in the community. Married and the father of three active boys, he currently serves on the leadership team of his sons' Cub Scout pack (100 boys), and on the finance committee of his church.

Duana C. Russell-Thomas

Ms. Russell-Thomas is Adjunct Professor at Sanford Brown Occupational Assistant Program and practicing occupational therapy professional. She has a B.S. in Psychology and a M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Washington University. Each of her three children have graduated from Stella Maris Child Center.