OUR TEAM

Standing together to ignite Potential.

About our CEO

Gary Friedman
Chief Executive Officer

Gary Friedman has led Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana for the past 5 years. During that time, the organization has earned three straight national awards for excellence from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Friedman serves nationally on the Big Vision committee, which consists of over 20 CEO’s from BBBS all over the nation looking at best practices and visionary concepts to help our youth, and locally on several committees as well, including the Louisville Metro Government’s Community Safety Commission.

Prior to working at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana, Friedman spent 26 years working as a college athletics administrator including ten years at University of Louisville.  He also worked locally for Kentucky Venues, Learfield Sports and St. Joseph Children’s Home. 

Friedman has a true passion for seeing that all youth in the Louisville metro and Southern Indiana area realize their full potential.

Meet The BBBSKY Team

  • Tiffany Allgeier

    Tiffany Allgeier

    Development Operations Manager

    Favorite childhood movie: Matilda

  • Keshia Bell stands smiling with long black hair, earrings, and a floral patterned dress

    Keshia B.

    Program Support Manager

    Favorite childhood TV show: Pumuckl

  • Caitlyn Barnes stands outside smiling in a dark green turtleneck sweater

    Caitlyn Barnes

    College & Career Coordinator

    Favorite childhood book: Percy Jackson & the Olympians

  • Middle aged woman wears a blue floral top while smiling outside on a sunny day

    Emily Carter-Essex

    Chief Strategy Officer

    Favorite childhood game: Red Rover

  • Kaitlyn Corbitt stands smiling outside the BBBSKY building while wearing a bright yellow sweater, yellow headband, glasses and earrings

    Kaitlyn Corbitt

    College & Career Program Manager

    Favorite childhood TV show: Bear in the Big Blue House

  • Rebecca Cottrell stands outside the BBBSKY building while wearing a green top and earrings

    Rebecca Cottrell

    Senior Manager of Special Events

    Favorite childhood TV show: Fraggle Rock

  • Kaylee Cunningham stands smiling outside the BBBSKY office while wearing a cream colored polo

    Kaylee Cunningham

    School to Work Coordinator

    Favorite childhood movie: Finding Nemo

  • Pat Davidson stands outside the BBBSKY office smiling while wearing a pearl necklace, black shirt, and earrings

    Pat Davidson

    Program Director

    Favorite childhood movie: The Wizard of Oz

  • Caucasian female with blond hair smiling

    Valerie DiGangi

    Remote Project Specialist

    Favorite childhood TV show: Full House

  • Lindsay Duncan stands smiling outside the BBBS office wearing earrings and a black button down

    Lindsay Duncan

    Director of Philanthropic Parnterships

    Favorite childhood book: I Spy

  • Woman smiling with dark hair

    Shakira Francis

    Remote Project Specialist

  • Sarah Frederick stands smiling outside the BBBSKY office while wearing a black top and white blazer

    Sarah Frederick

    Finance & HR Specialist

    Favorite childhood movie: Grease

  • Middle aged white man wearing a button down shirt and sport coat smiles outside on a sunny day

    Gary Friedman

    Chief Executive Officer

    Favorite childhood TV show: Speed Racer

  • Nikki Green stands smiling outside the BBBSKY office while wearing a floral patterned blouse and a navy blue blazer

    Nikki Green-McPhail

    Site-Based Programs Manager

    Favorite childhood TV show: A Different World

  • caucasian woman with curly hair smiles while standing in a field

    Stacey Hamilton-Nance

    Remote Project Specialist

  • Amy Hoene stands smiling while wearing glasses and a blue blazer

    Amy Hoene

    Director of Agency Engagement

    Favorite childhood movie: E.T.

  • Danielle Horne stands smiling outside the BBBSKY office with bangs and long hair while wearing a blue top

    Danielle Horne

    Engagement Manager

    Favorite childhood movie: The Goonies

  • Amber Howard stands smiling outside the BBBSKY office with long black hair while wearing a chunky blue sweater

    Amber Howard

    Enrollment & Match Support Specialist

    Favorite childhood books: The Magic Tree House series

  • Hunter Kissel stands smiling outside the BBBSKY building while wearing a patterned button down

    Hunter Kissel

    Senior Manager of Grants

    Favorite childhood game: Donkey Kong Country

  • Kaitlynn May wears glasses while smiling inside the BBBS office

    Kaitlynn May

    Group Mentoring Coordinator

    Favorite childhood movie: Finding Nemo

  • A dark haired woman in a blue sweater stands outside smiling while wearing a necklace

    Razija Mehinović

    School to Work Coordinator

    Favorite childhood book: Olive’s Ocean

  • Bald white man with a lengthy beard and an earring wears a polo shirt outside while smiling

    Donald Palmore

    Chief Financial Officer

    Favorite childhood TV show: Bewitched

  • middle aged black woman with short hair wears a professional blazer and glasses while smiling outside

    Lisa Powell

    Chief Program Officer

    Favorite childhood book: Harriet the Spy

  • Kimeta Pryor stands smiling outside the BBBSKY office while wearing glasses, earrings, and a chunky pink sweater

    Kimeta Pryor

    Program Administrative Assistant

    Favorite childhood TV show: The Cosby Show

  • Samantha Risen stands smiling outside the BBBSKY building with long hair while wearing a black blouse.

    Samantha Risen

    School to Work Program Manager

    Favorite childhood TV show: Are You Afraid of the Dark?

  • Andrea R. stands smiling while wearing a yellow blouse and silver necklace

    Andrea R.

    Senior Director of People

    Favorite childhood TV show: Family Matters

  • Bryce Shreve stands outside the BBBSKY building smiling with a red beard while wearing a black polo, glasses, and earrings

    Bryce Shreve

    Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications

    Favorite childhood books: A Series of Unfortunate Events

  • Hope Stivers stands outside smiling while wearing a red cardigan

    Hope Stivers

    School to Work Coordinator

    Favorite childhood book: Are You My Mother?

  • Marianna Strasz stands smiling inside the BBBSKY office while wearing a floral patterned blouse

    Marianna Strasz

    Remote Project Specialist

    Favorite childhood game: Candyland

  • A woman stands smiling with red hair, a green shirt

    Stayton Thompson

    Enrollment & Match Support Specialist

  • Jalayne Tillery stands smiling outside the BBBSKY office wearing glasses, hoop earrings, a purse, and a brown sweater

    Jalayne Tillery

    Senior Enrollment & Match Support Specialist

    Favorite childhood TV show: Sister Sister

  • Leah Wade stands smiling outside the BBBSKY office with long flowy hair while wearing a striped sweater and earrings

    Leah Wade

    Strategic Volunteer Recruitment Manager

    Favorite childhood TV show: Lizzie McGuire

  • blonde-haired woman smiles while wearing green earrings and a professional blazer outside on a sunny day

    Jessica Wells

    Chief Development Officer

    Favorite childhood game: Pretty Pretty Princess

  • A young African American woman stands smiling outside with natural hair and a gray shirt

    Ren'ada Winston

    Enrollment & Match Support Specialist

    Favorite childhood TV show: My Little Pony

  • African american male with dreads smiles while wearing a colorful button down shirt

    CJ Yancy

    Remote Project Specialist

Contact Us

join our village

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana team represents a diverse mix of lived experiences, professional expertise, and personal passions. But we’re all united by one thing: a belief in the power of mentorship. With 150+ collective years of experience, we’re proud to stand behind our mission. Every day, we work together to ignite potential in young people across our community and to ensure every child has someone in their corner.

View current openings

Board of Directors

  • Meg Dietzel

    Meg Dietzel

    Board Chair
    Confluent Health

  • Matt Millies

    Matt Millies

    Vice Chair
    Edward Jones

  • Eric Stout

    Eric Stout

    Secretary
    U.S. Department of Agriculture

  • Todd Rosenbaum

    Todd Rosenbaum

    Treasurer
    Cherry Beckaert Advisory LLC

  • Whitney Allen

    Whitney Allen

    Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Joe Bargione

    Joe Bargione

    Bounce Coalition

  • Mark Bobo

    Mark Bobo

    Samtec

  • Corey Ewing

    Corey Ewing

    WellCare

  • Scott Godthaab

    Scott Godthaab

    Republic Bank & Trust

  • Randy Hamilton

    Randy Hamilton

    Norton Healthcare

  • Wendy Jacob

    Wendy Jacob

    Truist

  • Jeanna Jones

    Jeanna Jones

    LBMC

  • John Launius

    John Launius

    One Southern Indiana

  • Craig Mackin

    Craig Mackin

  • Leann Magre

    Leann Magre

    Aetna

  • George McMinn

    George McMinn

    Messer Construction

  • Dr. John Miller

    Dr. John Miller

    University of Louisville

  • Phil Milliner

    Phil Milliner

    Zoeller Pump Company

  • Bridget Pennington

    Bridget Pennington

    First Class Air

  • Nate Simon

    Nate Simon

    Churchill Downs Inc.

  • Dr. Mary Stoddard

    Dr. Mary Stoddard

    Stoddard & Associates

  • Mike Vickers

    Mike Vickers

    Qk4

our values / who we are

Our values are the foundation of how we work and who we are at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana. They guide our decisions, shape our culture, and define the experience we create for the people we serve.

We ask every member of this team to embrace them as a daily personal commitment, both inside this organization and in the broader community we represent.

  • We believe success comes from mutual trust, mindful mentorship, and shared responsibility.

  • We stand for honesty, transparency, and taking responsibility for our choices and actions.

  • We value curiosity, courage, and ownership in turning ideas into meaningful action.

  • We value openness, clarity, and accountability in how we listen, speak, and collaborate.

  • We believe attitude matters, and we choose optimism and respect in how we show up.

  • We value dedication, ownership, and pride in doing our best work, while encouraging opportunities for growth.

  • We believe enjoyment and excellence go hand in hand, and we take responsibility for creating a positive and inclusive workplace.

“Every decision that we make each day revolves around our mission and vision, to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationship that ignite the power the potential in youth. I could not work with a more passionate group of people to make this positive change in our community!”

- Lisa Powell

A group of people socializing indoors, with the main focus on a man wearing a colorful holiday-themed blazer with Christmas decorations and Santa faces, and a woman in a bright green blazer smiling at him. The setting appears to be a cozy, well-decorated room with warm lighting, black curtains, and large windows.
A geometric pattern of black and green stripes arranged in a spiral or rectangular shape.

From left to right: Donald Palmore, Chief Financial Officer; Lisa Powell, Chief Program Officer

Emerging Leaders Council - FY27

Joshua Atkins with St. Matthews Fire & EMS

Joshua Atkins
St. Matthews Fire & EMS

Lily Boone with Churchill Downs Incorporated

Lily Boone
Churchill Downs Inc.

LaPrecious Brewer with Heaven Hill Brands

LP Brewer
Heaven Hill Brands

Damien Corbett with Kaiser Home Support Services

Damien Corbett
Kaiser Home Support Services

Nyree Crawford with SVS

Nyree Crawford
Stored Value Solutions

Breanna Finley with AffirmedRX

Bre Finley
AffirmedRX

Kendal Gibbons with GE Appliances

Kendal Gibbons
GE Appliances, a Haier Company

Destinie Johnson
J&L Marketing

Courtney Wray Konopinski with First Class Air

Courtney Konopinski
First Class Air

Travis Thompson
Unum

Advisory Councils

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana currently serves 10 counties between Indiana and Kentucky. There are two current Advisory Councils: Southern Indiana and Hardin-Grayson-Nelson. Council members serve as ambassadors who help spread the word and build relationships in those communities.

  • Alicia Atchley
    Jimmy Branham
    Matthew Downey
    Pam Grieb
    Nicholas LaBorde
    Scott Lechner
    Suzanne Ruark
    Kelley Troutman
    Josh Turner
    Jenna Orwick
    Laurie Ellerbe
    Jill Sceifers
    Ashley Snyder
    Amanda Stonecipher
    Amanda Masterson

  • Camila Falcon
    Lisa Johnson
    Chris Kira
    Amanda Portman
    Rob Reynolds
    Toshie Singleton Murrell
    Brian Smith

Big Brother and Little Brother posing arms crossed
Large, turquoise, scribbled number two on a white background.

Big Futures Youth Voice Board

  • Asia Tunstull

    Asia Tunstull

    PRESIDENT/CHAIR

  • Tyreesha Morris

    Tyreesha Morris

    VICE PRESIDENT

  • Chenille Taylor

    Chenille Taylor

    ADVOCACY CHAIR

  • JAH'keem Gladney

    JAH'keem Gladney

    RECRUITMENT CHAIR