Leadership
Executive Director
Kathleen Alter joined the Women’s Bureau as the new Executive Director in July of 2013. She is a strong leader in a team of strong women; she is committed to paving the way to implementation of the mission of the Women’s Bureau, Inc. Advancing women through advocacy, education, and economic empowerment.
Kathleen is a native of Fort Wayne. She has worked at the Fort Wayne Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Fort Wayne Ballet and was the former Executive Director of Three Rivers Festival. Kathleen left Fort Wayne in 2005 to become the President/CEO of the French Quarter Festivals, Inc. in New Orleans. She has since worked in Dayton, Ohio as the Executive Director of Cityfolk, Inc.
Special events, fundraising and nonprofit management are among the skills Kathleen brings with her to the Women’s Bureau, Inc. She has served on the boards of the Fort Wayne Hospitality Association and the French Quarter Business Women’s Association. She was also the past president of the Indiana Festivals Association and a founding member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northeast Indiana Chapter.
Kathleen’s hobbies include cooking, wine tasting, reading, and volunteering in the community. She is an arts enthusiast and values giving back in any way you are able.
Kathleen has a Bachelor of Science, in Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana.
Director of Operations
Amanda Fall first joined the Women’s Bureau in 2005, where she was the Director of the Transitions Program until 2011. She returned to the Bureau in her new capacity in March of 2013, following a one and half year hiatus to Tobacco Free Allen County, where she gained experience as the Executive Director.
Prior to her work at the Women’s Bureau, Inc., Amanda worked at the AIDS Task Force, first as an intern in undergraduate school, and then as an employee. She was a case manager and remained there for 8 years. Amanda Fall has worked in the non-profit sector in Fort Wayne for the last 15 years and is a valued member of our team. She was instrumental in obtaining a 3-year CARF accreditation for the Women’s Bureau, upon her return.
Amanda is the Women’s Bureau, Inc. representative and liaison for the Promising Partnerships collaboration and supervises two case managers there. She also sits on the Homelessness Planning Council, the Local Housing Committee, the Drug and Alcohol Consortium, and Homeward Bound Planning Committee.
Amanda enjoys spending time with family, including vacationing in Canada annually. She is an avid football fan, plays fantasy football, and spends a few evenings a week at the gym doing Turbo Kick among other classes.
Amanda has her Bachelors in Social Work from the University of Saint Francis, and her Masters in Business Administration from Indiana Tech.
Director of Finance/HR Officer
Earlene first worked at the Women’s Bureau in 2000 and was here for more than 10 years. In 2010, she took another position at Turnstone in Fort Wayne. She has since returned to the Women’s Bureau, Inc. for which we are so grateful.
Earlene has worked in the non-profit sector for over 25 years. Much of that time has been spent in the Finance/Human Resources arena.
She volunteers in the themed gardens at the Allen County Extension Office, as a judge in the SCFVA program and the annual Allen County Blue Ribbon Flower Show. She enjoys spending time with her family and 4 grandchildren, traveling, and antiquing.
Earlene holds a Bachelor of Arts, from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. She is a State certified Indiana Master Naturalist and a Master Gardener certified by Purdue University.
Clinical Director, Transitions Program
Lezly Scott began her career at the Women’s Bureau as Clinical Director of the Transitions Program in April 2013. Lezly oversees the clinical team of the Transitions Program, including the case management and therapy teams, she provides clinical counseling to clients of the program, and works to improve the programming to meet the needs of the clients during and after their residential stay.
Lezly previously worked for The Rescue Mission and at the Charis House Ministry as a residential care staff. She worked at the Haymarket Center in Chicago, Illinois, as a counselor in the Undomiciled Mentally Ill Substance Abuse unit for women and the Integrative Care Program for men prior to moving to Fort Wayne.
Lezly has experience working with diverse populations including dual-diagnosed clients, the homeless population, severely emotionally disturbed girls in residential, children diagnosed with behavioral problems, and men in acute states of crises. Lezly uses an integrated approach toward treatment as she believes that while we are all the same; we all should embrace our differences. Lezly has developed a passion for working with women in addictions and believes strongly that people can change. As a woman, Lezly is very compassionate to the unique set of issues that women face. Lezly believes that when properly treated and given the proper motivation and coping skills, women can maintain sobriety, and become mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy not only for themselves, but for their children, families, and communities, as we are all interconnected.
Lezly is a member of The Association for Addictions Professionals (NAADAC), Indiana Association of Addiction Professionals (IAAP), and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Lezly is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Lezly enjoys visiting family in Chicago, furthering her scope of practice through education, and spending time with her husband. She also enjoys dance and the outdoors.
Lezly obtained her Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology from the University of Illinois and her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Adler School of Professional Psychology. Lezly became a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois in 2006.
Director, Dress for Success Fort Wayne
Trina joined the Women’s Bureau in May of 2013 as the Dress for Success Fort Wayne Coordinator and was quickly promoted to Director, due to her ability to coordinate volunteers, relate to the community, and organize for the cause. She also previously volunteered at Dress for Success Indianapolis. She spent several hours of her own time researching what made our veteran mentor, Dress for Success Indianapolis such a success.
Trina was a retail manager in Indianapolis prior to coming on board at the Women’s Bureau. She was able to stay home with her three children for ten years, which she is greatly appreciative to have been able to do.
Trina has spent many years on the volunteer side of nonprofit organizations. She was the president of the Parent Teacher Association at her children’s school for several years and has always enjoyed being engrossed in the activities that were held. Trina believes that in order to be a good leader you also have to be a good follower, and she has carried this concept through parenting, volunteering, and now her career.
In her free time, Trina runs her kids around or plays in the mud at obstacle course races. She also enjoys reading, riding her bike and completing artistic pieces, like mosaics and graffiti.
Trina has a Bachelor of Science in Fashion and Retail Management from the Art Institute of Indianapolis.
Board Members
Leslie-Anne Harants, President
Cecile Buchanan, President-Elect
Stacey Smith, Treasurer
Shelly Beard, Secretary
Michelle Gladieux
Sarah Heil
Leslee Hill
Richard Samek
Nancy Steigmeyer
Jason Stanford
