Facilitator Bios

Helping Youth Visualize their Future – Kristin Stephens

Ms. Stephens is a dedicated educator with nearly 20 years of experience in leadership, education, nonprofits, and financial counseling. She holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership and a Master of Science in Human Sciences with a concentration in Financial Planning, and is an Accredited Financial Counselor, a Certified Educator in Personal Finance, and a Certified Career Services Provider.

Professionally, Ms. Stephens works in higher education and has served as a faculty member for undergraduate leadership and business management courses. She is currently the Assistant Director for Experiential Learning at Old Dominion University’s Center for Career and Leadership Development and serves on the Board of Directors for Youth Volunteer Corps Hampton Roads.

Ms. Stephens has held several leadership positions in the nonprofit sector, including President of Okinawa Leadership Seminar, Director for Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and Education Manager for Junior Achievement, as well as served on numerous educational and military-focused nonprofit boards and committees. Recognizing the profound impact that youth leadership and service programs had on shaping her own journey, Ms. Stephens instituted a teen leadership conference for military-connected teens in Japan and later founded Tidewater LEAD, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to teen leadership education and development.

Fostering a Sense of Belonging through Service Learning – Heather Peterson

Heather Peterson serves as the president for the Board of Directors for YVCHR. She sees daily through her work in public education the crisis we are facing with youth suffering from a lack of belonging. Peterson has worked for Hampton City Schools for 22 years and also support school districts across the country. The past three years she has prioritized her research and workshops around a sense of belonging. Peterson knows a clear pathway for creating belonging is to develop opportunities for young people to grow their skills and connect through service. She knows the impact service learning makes and is so grateful that her role as a board member allows her to see meaningful volunteering at its finest. She wants to equip both young people and adults with knowledge and strategies to create a sense of belonging.

The Creative Change Model: Crafting Clear and Compelling Stories – Jeremy & Reagan Wall

Reagan Wall has a lifelong dedication to service. He co-founded SPLASH, a program focused on teaching children with special needs water safety. Additionally, he started the media committee at YVCHR, where he serves as the media coordinator and engages in meaningful conversations with community leaders on the Service Matters podcast. Reagan enjoys playing soccer and the piano and will be attending the Governor’s School of Science and Technology this fall. He is biliterate certified in Spanish, a skill he utilized during a mission trip to Nicaragua. With over 250 hours of volunteer service, Reagan is deeply committed to making a positive impact in his community.

Jeremy Wall is the Director of School Partnerships for Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads (YVCHR). He leads the Service Through STEM program and oversees the youth-led YVC Media Committee, guiding young people in using media to showcase impactful stories of service. Passionate about youth service and fostering vibrant communities, Jeremy is dedicated to promoting greatness, academic excellence, and college and career readiness. His primary goal is to support youth to exceed expectations, achieve personal, academic, and professional success, and instill a lifelong ethic of service.

Igniting Youth Engagement – Misty Coyle

Misty Coyle, St. Joseph Program Director, brings over two decades of experience as a dedicated Girl Scout leader, fostering the growth and development of young minds. During her three-year tenure as a youth employment case manager at Youth Alliance, she was recognized for her leadership skills and passion for mentoring. This led to her appointment as the Director of Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC), where she continues to combine a love for the outdoors, all things STEAM, and enthusiasm for working with middle school-aged youth. Training and empowering young people is not just a job, it’s her passion.

Action-Oriented Leadership: Turning Intentions into Impact – Tracy Hale

As YVC’s CEO, Tracy Hale is on a mission to unleash the leadership potential in every person. She’s a lover of elephants, spends way too much time on TikTok, and is a firm believer that Cherry Coke is the secret to happiness (and maybe a little extra pep in your step).

Activate Good! Create Your Own Civic Action Plan – Ethan Gabriel

Ethan Gabriel is the Youth and College Programs Coordinator at Activate Good, which hosts the Youth Volunteer Corps of the Greater Triangle. Ethan’s background consists of work in various industries, from study abroad, student affairs, sports, and entertainment. An alum of Elon University, Ethan was an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow, where he learned to take action with the motto “Think Globally, Act Locally.”

Youth Mental Health: What Does it Look Like and How do We Cope – Lindsay Sites, Casey Trexler & YVC Reading Youth

Lindsay Sites holds a BA in Behavioral Health and Addiction Studies from Alvernia University in Reading, PA where she received the “Betty Ford Award” for academic achievements. A previous professional in the mental health/substance abuse field for over 10 years. Lindsay held positions including prevention specialist, primary counselor, and family counselor. Lindsay is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Director where she leads youth mental health initiatives. She is a certified instructor for both QPR Suicide Prevention, CALM and Youth Mental Healfh First Aid.
Casey Trexler has a masters of science degree in Secondary School Counseling from Gwynedd Mercy University and was a secondary school counselor for over a decade. Through her school counseling career, Casey was SAP (Student Assistance Program) certified, trained in restorative practices, a mandated reporter instructor, and was a recipient of the Council On Chemical Abuse (COCA) Youth Prevention Award in 2014 and the Caron Foundation’s SAP Supporter Award in 2022. Casey is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Coordinator where she supports youth mental health initiatives as well as a QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention instructor.

QPR Training (Question. Persuade. Refer.) – Lindsay Sites, Casey Trexler & YVC Reading Youth

Lindsay Sites holds a BA in Behavioral Health and Addiction Studies from Alvernia University in Reading, PA where she received the “Betty Ford Award” for academic achievements. A previous professional in the mental health/substance abuse field for over 10 years. Lindsay held positions including prevention specialist, primary counselor, and family counselor. Lindsay is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Director where she leads youth mental health initiatives. She is a certified instructor for both QPR Suicide Prevention, CALM and Youth Mental Healfh First Aid.
Casey Trexler has a masters of science degree in Secondary School Counseling from Gwynedd Mercy University and was a secondary school counselor for over a decade. Through her school counseling career, Casey was SAP (Student Assistance Program) certified, trained in restorative practices, a mandated reporter instructor, and was a recipient of the Council On Chemical Abuse (COCA) Youth Prevention Award in 2014 and the Caron Foundation’s SAP Supporter Award in 2022. Casey is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Coordinator where she supports youth mental health initiatives as well as a QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention instructor.

Back-Up Plans for Your Back Pocket: Tips for Engaging Youth During Downtime – Katie Morgan

Katie Morgan was a YVC club sponsor from 2010 – 2017 in Newport News Public Schools and became Executive Director of YVC Hampton Roads in 2017. She loves keeping youth active during projects and strives to make every YVC experience educational.

Relax and Network – Michael Van Walleghem

Before joining the team at YVCHQ, Michael worked for 8 years as a Special Education instructor helping young people use their strengths to overcome their challenges. When he’s not doing the dishes or cleaning up the messes left by his own children, he tries to spend his free time learning new things.

State of the Network – YVCHQ Staff

Your YVCHQ staff are here to serve you and help you strenghthen your program! We work hard, share a lot of laughs in our office, like snacks, and created our own summer reading program this year (well, most of us at least).

Empowering Youth Leaders: Cultivating Cultural Intelligence (CQ) in Teen Volunteers – Heather Frommack

Heather Frommack, MS, RDN, CPTD, CBC is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Cultural Intelligence Partners. With over 25 years of experience as a learning and development professional, Heather leverages her expertise as a leader in education, volunteer leadership, and cultural intelligence to enable synergy within diversity. She holds a master’s degree in educational psychology and multiple certifications including specializations in cultural intelligence, unconscious bias, DISC and leadership coaching. Heather has led transformative initiatives in both corporate and nonprofit sectors, including spearheading a multicultural outreach program that enabled volunteer-led organizations to reach and serve across cultures. As a grateful mother of five in her interracial and adoptive family, Heather’s personal journey and faith inspires her commitment to help people and organizations normalize the experience of unity within diversity.

Visualizing Your Future – Kristin Stephens

Ms. Stephens is a dedicated educator with nearly 20 years of experience in leadership, education, nonprofits, and financial counseling. She holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership and a Master of Science in Human Sciences with a concentration in Financial Planning, and is an Accredited Financial Counselor, a Certified Educator in Personal Finance, and a Certified Career Services Provider.

Professionally, Ms. Stephens works in higher education and has served as a faculty member for undergraduate leadership and business management courses. She is currently the Assistant Director for Experiential Learning at Old Dominion University’s Center for Career and Leadership Development and serves on the Board of Directors for Youth Volunteer Corps Hampton Roads.

Ms. Stephens has held several leadership positions in the nonprofit sector, including President of Okinawa Leadership Seminar, Director for Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and Education Manager for Junior Achievement, as well as served on numerous educational and military-focused nonprofit boards and committees. Recognizing the profound impact that youth leadership and service programs had on shaping her own journey, Ms. Stephens instituted a teen leadership conference for military-connected teens in Japan and later founded Tidewater LEAD, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to teen leadership education and development.

Icebreakers & Team Builders – David Duck

Starting his youth programming career in Newport News, David has lead youth development efforts (with focuses on human services, case management, outreach, mentoring, tutoring, leadership, recreation and volunteerism) for the past 20+ years in Norfolk, Chester/Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, and Hanover before returning home to impact the lives of local citizens. In his spare time, David enjoys music/arts and entrepreneurship, as well as spending time with his wife [Tiffany] and children [Kathryn and Nathan].

Fostering a Sense of Belonging through Service Learning – Heather Peterson

Heather Peterson serves as the president for the Board of Directors for YCVHR. She sees daily through her work in public education the crisis we are facing with youth suffering from a lack of belonging. Peterson has worked for Hampton City Schools for 22 years and also support school districts across the country. The past three years she has prioritized her research and workshops around a sense of belonging. Peterson knows a clear pathway for creating belonging is to develop opportunities for young people to grow their skills and connect through service. She knows the impact service learning makes and is so grateful that her role as a board member allows her to see meaningful volunteering at its finest. She wants to equip both young people and adults with knowledge and strategies to create a sense of belonging.

The Creative Change Model: Crafting Clear and Compelling Stories – Jeremy & Reagan Wall

Reagan Wall has a lifelong dedication to service. He co-founded SPLASH, a program focused on teaching children with special needs water safety. Additionally, he started the media committee at YVCHR, where he serves as the media coordinator and engages in meaningful conversations with community leaders on the Service Matters podcast. Reagan enjoys playing soccer and the piano and will be attending the Governor’s School of Science and Technology this fall. He is biliterate certified in Spanish, a skill he utilized during a mission trip to Nicaragua. With over 250 hours of volunteer service, Reagan is deeply committed to making a positive impact in his community.

Jeremy Wall is the Director of School Partnerships for Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads (YVCHR). He leads the Service Through STEM program and oversees the youth-led YVC Media Committee, guiding young people in using media to showcase impactful stories of service. Passionate about youth service and fostering vibrant communities, Jeremy is dedicated to promoting greatness, academic excellence, and college and career readiness. His primary goal is to support youth to exceed expectations, achieve personal, academic, and professional success, and instill a lifelong ethic of service.

Activate Good! Create your own Civic Action Plan – Ethan Gabriel

Ethan Gabriel is the Youth and College Programs Coordinator at Activate Good, which hosts the Youth Volunteer Corps of the Greater Triangle. Ethan’s background consists of work in various industries, from study abroad, student affairs, sports, and entertainment. An alum of Elon University, Ethan was an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow, where he learned to take action with the motto “Think Globally, Act Locally.”

Youth Mental Health: What Does it Look Like and How do We Cope – Lindsay Sites, Casey Trexler & YVC Reading Youth

Lindsay Sites holds a BA in Behavioral Health and Addiction Studies from Alvernia University in Reading, PA where she received the “Betty Ford Award” for academic achievements. A previous professional in the mental health/substance abuse field for over 10 years. Lindsay held positions including prevention specialist, primary counselor, and family counselor. Lindsay is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Director where she leads youth mental health initiatives. She is a certified instructor for both QPR Suicide Prevention, CALM and Youth Mental Healh First Aid.

Casey Trexler has a masters of science degree in Secondary School Counseling from Gwynedd Mercy University and was a secondary school counselor for over a decade. Through her school counseling career, Casey was SAP (Student Assistance Program) certified, trained in restorative practices, a mandated reporter instructor, and was a recipient of the Council On Chemical Abuse (COCA) Youth Prevention Award in 2014 and the Caron Foundation’s SAP Supporter Award in 2022. Casey is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Coordinator where she supports youth mental health initiatives as well as a QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention instructor.

QPR Training (Question. Persuade. Refer.) – Lindsay Sites, Casey Trexler & YVC Reading Youth

Lindsay Sites holds a BA in Behavioral Health and Addiction Studies from Alvernia University in Reading, PA where she received the “Betty Ford Award” for academic achievements. A previous professional in the mental health/substance abuse field for over 10 years. Lindsay held positions including prevention specialist, primary counselor, and family counselor. Lindsay is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Director where she leads youth mental health initiatives. She is a certified instructor for both QPR Suicide Prevention, CALM and Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Casey Trexler has a masters of science degree in Secondary School Counseling from Gwynedd Mercy University and was a secondary school counselor for over a decade. Through her school counseling career, Casey was SAP (Student Assistance Program) certified, trained in restorative practices, a mandated reporter instructor, and was a recipient of the Council On Chemical Abuse (COCA) Youth Prevention Award in 2014 and the Caron Foundation’s SAP Supporter Award in 2022. Casey is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Coordinator where she supports youth mental health initiatives as well as a QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention instructor.

Unleash Your Inner Leader – Tracy Hale

As YVC’s CEO, Tracy Hale is on a mission to unleash the leadership potential in every person. She’s a lover of elephants, spends way too much time on TikTok, and is a firm believer that Cherry Coke is the secret to happiness.

A Leaders’ CQ Advantage: Understanding Yourself and Others through the Lens of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) – Heather Frommack

Heather Frommack, MS, RDN, CPTD, CBC is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Cultural Intelligence Partners. With over 25 years of experience as a learning and development professional, Heather leverages her expertise as a leader in education, volunteer leadership, and cultural intelligence to enable synergy within diversity. She holds a master’s degree in educational psychology and multiple certifications including specializations in cultural intelligence, unconscious bias, DISC and leadership coaching. Heather has led transformative initiatives in both corporate and nonprofit sectors, including spearheading a multicultural outreach program that enabled volunteer-led organizations to reach and serve across cultures. As a grateful mother of five in her interracial and adoptive family, Heather’s personal journey and faith inspires her commitment to help people and organizations normalize the experience of unity within diversity.

Blueprint for Success: Crafting Resumes, Finding Purpose, and Balancing Life’s Priorities – Sonali Ratnasinghe

Sonali Ratnasinghe is a student at UNC Chapel Hill and the founder & Executive Director at Youth Ambassadors of Service. Sonali’s engagement with the nonprofit community started during COVID-19 at age 16 and has grown ever since. In her other roles, the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award winner is on the board of Activate Good & is a Leadership Triangle Alumni Board Member. She was recently named one of The United Way of the Greater Triangle’s 10 to Watch.

Hands-On STEM Exploration – Suzanne Sprague

Suzanne Sprague is the Executive Director of Virtual Science Teachers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making STEM education accessible and engaging for students and teachers. With a background in science education, Suzanne has developed interactive resources that promote hands-on learning and foster curiosity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Her work reaches thousands of students across the U.S., with a particular focus on supporting schools and educators in the Hampton Roads area. Suzanne is passionate about connecting students to STEM career pathways and empowering teachers with innovative tools.

The Purpose and Value of a Story – Ahsha Bass

Ever since Ahsha was a little she always wondered if she had any purpose or value? As she got older she began to not only question if she had value but if she had anything to add to the world. Throughout middle school she struggled with being bullied about her body size, hair, and her struggle with math academically. Overtime she began to develop extreme levels of insecurity, self hatred, and doubt. In the middle of her 8th grade year her family abruptly moved down to Georgia as a result of a change in her Father’s job. Fearful of the future while still carrying the weight of her insecurities she was encouraged by her mother to attend her local Boys and Girls Club. When she first entered the Kings Bay Youth Center, she had no idea what to expect and was certain she wouldn’t make any friends or pursue any opportunities there. But as soon as Ahsha met the Teen Program Lead and learned about all the public speaking and scholarship opportunities available through the Boys and Girls Club, she couldn’t contain her excitement.

In the Youth Center, Ahsha was encouraged and invested in by her mentor’s who told her that both she and her story were special, beautiful, and unique. This encouragement activated her love for public speaking and discovered her passion of helping youth find purpose and value in their stories. was even selected to perform with spoken word artist Massiah Ramkissoon. “So here I am today, standing before you proud and purposeful,” Ahsha said alongside the artist. “When politicians sometimes forget to represent me, the Boys & Girls Clubs became my home, my residency. Been my safety net since the day we met. To the elders who helped us, I pay respect. From a baby step to taking a big leap. To find the diamond inside, thank you for making me dig deep.”

Ahsha says it was challenging for her to find public speaking opportunities in a small, rural community. But through the youth center, she’s participated in multiple Boys and Girls Club Youth leadership programs such as National Keystone Steering Committee, the Presidential Circle, and the Military Teen Summit Steering Committee. She’s now a junior in college at Regent University with a major in marketing and a minor in communications.

After participating in all these groups and committees, Ahsha realized two of the most important skills she would need for success were time management and the ability to interact with diverse audiences. She’s honed these skills in the youth center and says she’s excited to continue to carry them into the next chapter of her life.
Quote: “If this is MY generation, then I should do MY part to help it flourish and succeed!”

Lighting the Way: A Talking Mural Workshop – Dominic Nkuubi

Nkuubi Dominic Savio is a seasoned youth development professional and passionate climate and sustainable development advocate from Uganda. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Master of Science degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, equipping him with a strong foundation in data-driven decision making and program effectiveness. As the Program Director of the Youth Volunteer Corps in Kampala, Dominic oversees initiatives that empower young people to become active citizens and leaders in their communities. He brings his expertise in monitoring and evaluation to ensure programs are impactful and effective. In addition to his role at the Youth Volunteer Corps, Dominic serves as a Co-Facilitator at CEF Africa, where he facilitates programs, workshops, and community engagement initiatives focused on community development, education, and youth empowerment. As a dedicated climate and sustainable development advocate, Dominic works tirelessly to promote environmental awareness, sustainable practices, and climate action among young people and communities. He believes in the power of youth-led initiatives to drive positive change and address the pressing challenges of climate change, inequality, and social injustice. Through his work, Dominic aims to inspire and equip young people to become agents of change, advocating for sustainable development, and environmental stewardship. His passion, expertise, and collaborative spirit have led to meaningful partnerships and initiatives that support a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.