Our Leadership
The CASA office is staffed with 8 professionals. The CEO Nancy Harris, Operations Manager, Jill Cantarella, Recruitment and Training Manager, Diane Anderson, and Program Director, Pat Creighton, are the administrative staff managing the entire operation.
The remaining professionals are Case Supervisors who both support Advocates and carry their own cases advocating for children. A new Case Supervisor will join CASA in August.
Nancy Harris – CEO
Nancy Harris joined CASA in September 2001 as a Case Supervisor and in October of the same year she was asked to assume the CEO role. She came to CASA after 25 years in education. For eleven years she was a classroom teacher having taught Kindergarten through third grade, she was an Assistant Principal for three years and served as a Principal in the Conroe ISD for eleven years until her retirement. Nancy has a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University, an MA from Ball State University and a Mid-Management certification from Sam Houston State University. She enjoys spending her leisure time reading non-fiction best-sellers and freshwater fishing. Her son, Brooks, adds much joy to her life.
Jill Cantarella began as a volunteer Advocate in 1994. In September of 1996 Jill was asked to join the staff part-time as the office assistant, and in June, 2007 she became the Operations Manager. Along with her full-time position at CASA, Jill has co-chaired the children’s annual Holiday party for the last five years. Her commitment to the children is demonstrated by her desire to provide each child with a lasting memory of joy. Jill is married with 2 children, 3 step-children & 5 grandchildren.
Pat Creighton is a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a Child Advocate. After 25 years in the Airline Industry, she became a CASA Advocate in February 2002. Six months later, she joined the CASA staff as a Case Supervisor. Pat is now the Program Director and considers herself fortunate to work with volunteers and staff who are committed to the mission of CASA and the children they serve.
Doris Foulkes
Mary Gillen started with CASA as a volunteer advocate over six years ago. Mary and her husband Michael have 2 children. Their son Patrick is a 2006 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and is currently stationed in San Diego, California. Daughter Catherine is a 2009 graduate from the United States Coast Guard Academy and is stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia. Mary works the Kinship program for CASA and is always looking for a few hands on the 4th Saturday of the month. Mary and Michael live in the Woodlands with their bird LOLA.
Mark Goerlitz started working for the CASA organization in 2000 as a casework supervisor in Austin Texas. In 2005 Mark transferred to the Montgomery County CASA as a Case Supervisor. Beginning in January 2010, Mark will assume the position of Volunteer Director/Trainer. Mark is married and has one child.
Marilyn McQueeney came to CASA after working 30 years in early childhood education. For twenty of those years she owned and directed a large private school and child care center. After selling her school, she and her family moved to Montgomery County and became a CASA Advocate in February 2009. Marilyn joined the CASA staff November 2009. She is married with 2 children, 3 step-children and 5 grandchildren.
Patti Sexton joined CASA in May of '09 as a volunteer advocate and became a part of the CASA staff January 2010. She has spent the past 24 years serving the victims of crime in Montgomery County beginning with the Sheriffs Department as a Victim Liasion and as an advocate and volunteer coordinator with the Montgomery County Women's Center. As a sworn law inforcement officer for 15 years, Patti has worked with children in the community for 7 of those years. Patti achieved a lifelong dream of receiving her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2008. She and her husband enjoy camping gardening and crafts. They have 6 grown children and 5 grandchildren.
Wanda Smith started with CASA October 2006 as a Volunteer Advocate. In February 2007, she became a part-time Case Supervisor and in June 2007 she became a full-time Case Supervisor. Prior to working with CASA, Wanda, her husband and two children lived overseas for 6 years in Singapore, moved to Louisiana, where she attended the University of New Orleans and worked as a paralegal.