Cameo C. Holland – President
Cameo is the current City Treasurer for the City of Alton and previously served under the past City Treasurer. Cameo fondly remembers coming to YWCA of Alton for swimming and dance classes and joined the Board of Directors in 2017. Cameo has an Associate in Science from Lewis and Clark Community College, a BA in Business Administration and an MBA from Fontbonne University.Cameo
plays an integral role on our Finance Committee. Her skills, education and deep history with YWCA of Alton make her an excellent President.
Dr. Wendy Adams – Board Member
Dr. Wendy Adams is the Director of Human Resources for Alton Community Unit School District #11, and holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership. In her nearly 20 years in education, she has taught in several positions for the Edwardsville School District #9, including in a Regular Education Initiative (REI) classroom and as Assistant Principal of Lincoln Middle School. She has also led many extracurricular clubs and activities in STEM, Drama, and Black History.
Outside of the classroom, Dr. Wendy Adams has been involved in the Edwardsville, Illinois, and National Education Associations, where she has served on various committees, the Board of the IEA, and on the Black and Hispanic Caucuses. She is a member of the Bread of Life Church, where she is on the Praise and Worship Team and a member of the choir.
Erica Bratton – Vice President
Erica Bratton joined the Board of Directors 2018 and will be actively involved as one of the 2019 Women of Distinction Event co-chairs. Her event planning skills will be used to coordinate one of our most important events and fund raisers. Erica is on the Board of Directors for the Alton Women’s Home Association and is actively involved in the Alton Section of NCNW. She holds the office of Vice President of Education for the local Toastmasters Club.
Lisa Brown – Board Member
Lisa Brown is the Manager of Affordable Housing and Development for the City of Alton Housing Authority. In addition, Lisa is actively involved with the Alton Section of NCNW, Alton Black Alumni, Alton Area NAACP and numerous other local organizations. Lisa is actively involved with YWCA of Alton Get Out The Vote Initiatives and is a member of the Executive Committee.
Denise Collum West – Board Member
Denise Collum West relocated to the Alton area over 24 years ago. She obtained a BA in Psychology from Grambling State University in LA and a Master of Social Work degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She is currently a Medical Social Worker for SSM Health, with a background in Behavioral Health treatment, Substance Abuse Treatment, Community and Program Development.
Denise has worked with various non-profit boards throughout the Metro-East and served on the Allocations Committee for the United Way of Greater St. Louis. She currently serves on the Governance Committee for YWCA of Alton and is an active member of the Alton Section of National Council of Negro Women where she serves as Treasurer. Denise has spent many years volunteering with local community churches and non-profits in both IL and MO.
Yolanda Crochrell – Board Member
Yolanda is the Executive Director of Quad City Community Development Center serving youth in the Venice/Madison area. She is the first to provide a full summer camp for out of school youth that includes meals. Yolanda has a passion for service. She works closely with Joe Willie Roberts Youth, Future All Stars Mentoring Program, Madison County Transit Outreach Service, St. Louis Food Bank, and the Pack a Sack program. Yolanda is a 2019 YWCA of Alton Woman of Distinction and serves on the Board of Directors for Madison County Housing Authority.
Donna Dixon – Board Member
Donna Dixon is a retired nursing professor and researcher. After growing up in Alton and graduating from Marquette High School, she received degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northern Illinois University. She previously lived in the Chicago area and Columbia, Missouri where among other positions taught nurses at Saint Xavier University and the University of Missouri. Ms. Dixon has had numerous research articles published and contributed to two books. She returned to Alton in 2007 to eventually retire. Her family includes her late husband, a daughter, her husband and two granddaughters who live in Olympia, Washington, a son and his fiancé in Columbia, Missouri, and four siblings who live in Alton. She keeps busy traveling Illinois photographing Victorian homes, reading mysteries, and planning Marquette HS class reunions.
Theresa Franklin – Board Member
Theresa Franklin lives in Alton with her husband, Larry. Together they have 3 grown children. Theresa is a co-owner of Be Well Now, a healthy lifestyle center in Alton. She has been a licensed massage therapist and certified yoga teacher for 16 years. Theresa’s passion is helping others, especially women, in their journeys to feel better. Through Be Well Now she has been able to help jump-start many women’s, and a few men’s, careers in the business of massage and yoga as well as other health-related careers. She has served on numerous fund-raising committees in the past and is happy to serve on the Board of Directors for YWCA of Alton. A life-long animal advocate, she is also currently on the Board of 5A’s. Theresa was selected as a YWCA of Alton Woman of Distinction in 2018.
Jessica Griffin – Board Member
Jessica graduated with her Bachelors in Business and Finance from University of Missouri, St. Louis followed by her Masters in Business Administration from Missouri Baptist University and Masters in Accountancy from Kaplan University. She is the Controller for Cedarhurst Senior Living, managing the accounting team for over 50 Senior Living Facilities in eight different states. Prior to that she worked at Cushman and Wakefield in their Accounting department as well as in the legal industry. Jessica is married with 3 kids and 2 dogs. She was born and raised in Alton and loves raising her family in the area as well.
Tawnya Hooper – Board Member
Tawnya Hooper, has a BA in Psychology from Millikin University and a Masters of Social Work from Washington University and resides in Alton.
Tawnya worked for 4 years at Center for Youth Services/Tri County Counseling in Jerseyville IL serving five counties (Jersey, Greene, Macoupin, Montgomery, and Calhoun Counties) responding to crisis situations between youth and their parents/families. She began her career at IL Department of Children and Family Services as a caseworker for intact families and children in foster care associated with maltreatment. She later became Child Protection Investigator in 1990 where she investigated allegations of abuse/neglect predominantly in Madison County. In 2016, she became a Public Service Administrator of Investigations at the Wood River DCFS office. She supervises a team of 6 Investigative Staff who work tirelessly to ensure child safety.
She has been and continues to volunteer at numerous organizations in the area including Habitat for Humanity, Junior League of Greater Alton, YWCA of Alton (event Woman of Distinction Event Co-Chair in 2018). In addition, she was recognized by YWCA of Alton as a Woman of Distinction in 2016 for her significant contributions to the area and to the mission of YWCA.
Deborah Denhoff Krofa
Deborah is a Minnesota native, from the Twin Cities, that relocated to Illinois in 2018 for a career opportunity at JCH Healthcare in Jerseyville. Her and her husband Eric are managing a long-distance marriage while he is still in St. Paul. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communications, and a Master’s in Leadership from Augsburg University in Minneapolis. She is also an active member of the National Association for Healthcare Access Management. Deborah is passionate about human rights and equity in healthcare. She loves to travel and has learned so much about humankind and herself on her travels in this country and internationally.
Monique LeFlore – Board Member
Monique Rachelle LeFlore is a PhD Candidate in the field and specialization in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Monique received her Bachelors of Arts with a specialty in Human Resource Management. She received her Masters of Arts in Psychology, concentration on Industrial Organization and she is currently completing her PhD in Psychology. She knew early on she had a knack for helping people and solving problems. After college she completed 8 years in special education, before transitioning into the world of Human Resources where through the years she progressively held positions beginning with Executive Assistant to Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development. Monique is the mother of three beautiful girls ages 24, 25 and 30 who she is very proud of. Her daughters are teachers as well. In her spare time she creates handmade jewelry. She is working towards the goal of opening her own Counseling & Consultation business of Psychology.
Julie Schranck – Board Member
Julie Schranck is an active volunteer in the Riverbend Community and mother of 9 children. When she is not helping out with her children’s athletic and other activities, she is volunteering at Memorial Hospital at the Reception Desk or working with the White Cross Auxiliary for Memorial Hospital.
Julie has served on numerous committees at YWCA but especially loves being involved in the Women of Distinction Event Committee.