Institute Personnel
Administration

Dr. Jeanne Allert
Executive Director

Chelsea Longo
Operations Manager

Dr. Clint Elliott, Esq.
Legal Counsel

Linda Thomas
Director of Administration

Rita Baker
Bookkeeper
Shelter Academy

Paula Harper
Ministry Fundamentals Program Manager
Communications & Development

Amy Woeller
Communications Manager

Eric Howard, MML
National Development Director

John DeMichael
Creative Director

Amanda Fillebrown
Communications/ Development Associate

Ann Taylor
Impact Volunteer

John McKenna
Strategic Giving Director
Research

Chris Lim, MBA
Director of Research
Community Engagement

Jeanne L. Allert, PhD
Founder and Executive Director
In 2007 Jeanne was convicted to leave the trappings of a lucrative career as an Internet consultant to establish one of the first long-term restorative care programs in the Mid-Atlantic for victims of domestic sex trafficking. She immersed herself in learning—mostly from survivors themselves—and created TSW-ISC’s unique Care Model. Over the years TSW expanded its service and took on several national research projects. In 2018-2019 she led the organization through a major shift to create the Institute of Shelter Care, which leverages the expertise of TSW-ISC and industry peers across the country to train and mentor new shelter programs in the areas of greatest need.
Publications:
- Allert, J. (2021, June 21). Justice Professionals’ Lens on Familial Trafficking Cases. Criminal Justice Review. doi.org/10.1177/07340168211024719
- Allert, J. (2017). SHELTERED – National Practices Survey Report. The Samaritan Women – Institute for Shelter Care.
- Allert, J. (2016). Funding Landscape for Residential Service Provider Agencies for Victims of Domestic Sex Trafficking. The Samaritan Women – Institute for Shelter Care.
- United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia. (2015). Residential Service Provider’s Guide to Working with Law Enforcement Referrals of Human Trafficking Victims.
Education: Doctorate of Philosophy in Counseling and Psychological Studies, Masters of Church Ministry; Masters of Education, Bachelor of Arts
Life verse: Luke 12:48 –“To whom much is given, much more is expected.”

Rita Baker
Bookkeeper
Rita brings us 30 plus years of bookkeeping experience. She has had bookkeeping experience in the Real Estate, Rentals, Pharmacy, Health Care and Office Supply industries. However, most of her later career was spent in the area of tourism. She has 20+ years as Controller of an Amusement Company in Tennessee.
Rita and her husband moved to Louisville, KY in 2020. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Rita, from an early age, dedicated her life to God. Unfortunate events of her childhood, drew her to seek out something greater than herself. She found that, in Church and it saved her life. However, it was through her own trials, she found the greatest gift one could give or be given…the gift of compassion.
Rita has worked in many aspects of ministry, over the years. However, nothing is as rewarding as the very moment you see someone transform from victim to victor, from darkness to light, from weak to strong, from lost to found, from hopeless to hopeful.
Upon praying for a change in direction, career wise, Rita was presented with an opportunity to join The Institute for Shelter Care, as bookkeeper. She did her research and found herself overwhelmed with admiration and gratitude for the work they were doing. She instantly felt this was where she was supposed to be, where compassion, abides.
Life verse: Isaiah 40:31 –“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Linda Blackiston
Special Projects Director
Passionate about changing lives through education, Linda Blackiston specializes in raising awareness about various forms of abuse and neglect. For nearly a decade, Linda served on the Board of Directors and as a volunteer for the Institute for Shelter Care. Because of her direct involvement with survivors, Linda was invited to contribute to curriculum development on human trafficking for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service. In her previous professional capacity, she served as Mid-Atlantic Manager of Professional Education for Philips North America, developing and delivering training for dental professionals.
Linda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry
Life verse: Psalm 46:10 –“Be still and know that I am God”

Kim Checkeye
Director of Shelter Mentorship
After working 12 years in the legal field and volunteering her time to various women’s advocacy organizations, Kim’s passion for empowering women who were struggling became the backbone of her career change into the nonprofit world.
For 14 years, Kim served as Executive Director of a nonprofit organization recognized in providing restorative care for sexually exploited women. Kim has assisted law enforcement on sting operations by providing services and support to recovered victims. Kim has firsthand experience on the devastating effect trauma has on survivors and the individualized care needed to provide a safe environment for the healing process.
Life verse: John 8:32 –“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Eric Howard
National Development Director
Eric Howard joins our team out of Indianapolis, Indiana, with an extensive background in development and advocating on behalf of the marginalized. Eric is the founder and former CEO of a ministry equipping and empowering homeless teens and young adults to achieve stability and life transformation. During that time, Eric built a ministry from the trunk of his car to a team of twenty-two staff and over 300 volunteers. After building a new facility, Eric stepped aside and brought on a new CEO to build the organization.
During his time working with homeless teens, Eric served in numerous positions within the community. He served on the board of organizations serving women in prostitution, helping them exit that life, obtaining counseling services and new employment. Eric is a member of class 23 of the Stanely K Lacy Leadership series, YMCA Mission Impact, Stopover, Inc. Community Impact, Jefferson Award, Monumental Awards – Merit Award for Neighborhood Revitalization, Tobias Leadership Series Fellow and Better Business Bureau Pillar of the Community Torch Award.
Eric has helped numerous organizations build capacity, sustainability, and growth to advance their mission and impact the Kingdom.
Eric has been married for 22 years and has three children, a dog, and two cats. He has been a Bootcamp instructor for 16 years and an avid kettlebell instructor. He is an “urban farmer” with several chickens and a small garden.
Life Verse: Micah 6:8 –“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

John DeMichael
Creative Director
John first worked with Jeanne in the business sector in the 90’s, and has since become invaluable for his creative direction, strategy, and implementation. As an experienced communicator in all aspects of commercial marketing, he now directs his creative energies towards designing for social change. John has worked alongside TSW since their inception in 2007.
Life verse: John 15:5 –“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Dr. Clint Elliott, Esq.
Legal Counsel
Clint is a founding partner in Doane & Elliott, PSC, a Cornerstone Law Group established to serve, defend, and support faith-based businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in the face of an ever-shifting legal landscape and new cultural challenges. As a formative foundation for this law practice, Clint has served as an affiliate attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom since 2001, representing clients in cases involving the First Amendment, Title VII, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, as well as helping clients navigate new state and local laws that impact religious liberties and ministry effectiveness. In addition to his law degree, Clint also obtained a master’s degree and a graduate certificate in urban ministry from seminary, an experience that shapes his law practice in protecting ministries so that they may flourish as a blessing to the communities they serve.

Amanda Fillebrown
Communications/Development Associate
Amanda is an advocate for social justice and is committed to working for equity for all people in our community and world. She has over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector as a volunteer, board member and staff member. She is excited for the opportunity to use her skills to manage and cultivate TSW donors.
Education: B.A. Psychology, M.S.L. Christian Education
Life Verse: Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Paula Harper
Ministry Fundamentals Program Manager
Paula has a passion for helping non-profit organizations be obedient to the calling the Lord gives them to be His hands and feet. Her first experience with the Institute for Shelter Care, was in March 2021 when she participated in Intensives 1 and 2 of the Shelter Mentorship Program. Paula left the training with the vision of a larger opportunity – making the foundational training available to all non-profits. She first joined the team in February of 2022 as an adjunct faculty member to facilitate human resources courses. In June 2022, she started creating and implementing the Ministry Fundamentals program which gives non-profit founders and executive directors the skills and confidence they need to implement the fundamental building blocks of a strong organization.
Paula has 15+ years of human resources experience for 2 national companies. She also served on several boards of directors and is a member of multiple committees that serve and encourage non-profits.
Education: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education
Life Verse: John 15:11 –“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Chris Lim, MBA
Director of Research
Chris has trained service providers and investigators on both sex and labor trafficking domestically and internationally. He has also conducted undercover and security operations, taught a human trafficking course at the University of Alabama, and regularly speaks at conferences and conducts trainings for key stakeholders. His work has brought him to the Philippines, Cambodia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Taiwan, Jamacia, Thailand and throughout the United States. In 2021 Chris was appointed Coordinator of the Alabama Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance by the Alabama Attorney General.
Publications:
- Lim, C. (2017) The Heart of a Healer, Meadville, Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
- Williams, J., Lim, C., Trull, V. (2020) Assessment for child trafficking victims. (Roberts, A., Ed.) Social Workers’ Desk Reference. Oxford University Press.
- Williams, J., Lim, C., Trull, V. (2020) Case management for child trafficking victims. (Roberts, A., Ed.) Social Workers’ Desk Reference. Oxford University Press.
- Williams J., Lim C., Trull V., Higgins M. (2020). The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. In: Geffner R., Vieth V., Vaughan-Eden V., Rosenbaum A., Hamberger L., White J. (eds) Handbook of Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_182-1
- Lim, C., Trull, V. (2020) Alabama Uniform Human Trafficking Initiative
- Lim, C., Bolland, A.C., Guzzo, D., Higgins, M., Trull, V., & Williams, J. (2021). Human trafficking and child welfare: A discussion of advocacy, promising practices, and implications. Best Practices in Mental Health.
- Lim, C. (2021). The Heart of a Healer, Second Edition Expanded and Revised, Meadville, Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
Education: Chris has an MBA and is currently a Ph.D. candidate for Public Policy at Liberty University.
Life Verse: Proverbs 31:8-9 –“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Chelsea Longo
Operations Manager
Chelsea has a passion to serve and help others. In recognizing this, she found her true calling in administrative support roles. With experience in retail, finance, hospitality and event planning as well as the non-profit sector, she brings a diverse skillset to the Institute for Shelter Care.
Education: B.A. in Theatre, University of Florida
Life Verse: Psalm 23:4 –“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

John McKenna
Strategic Giving Director
As a lifelong Catholic, John attributes his spiritual development to the Sisters of Providence at St. Clement Elementary School, the Xaverian Brothers at Mount Saint Joseph High School and the Jesuits at Loyola University in Baltimore.
John is a small business owner in Baltimore. After many years of chasing his sons around athletic fields, he felt a void in his life as his sons got older and stumbled across the work of the Institute for Shelter Care. He feels blessed to have been a part of this great ministry almost since its inception. He has served as a volunteer, a board member and is now part of the development team.
John is a member of the Alumni Board at Mount Saint Joseph High School and co-chairs their annual golf tournament. He enjoys travel, playing guitar and enjoying life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland at his home in Cambridge.
Life verse: John 14:6. – “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Mel Meyer
Instructional Designer

Life verse: Ezekiel 47:12 – “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

Ann Taylor
Impact Volunteer
Ann comes to the Institute for Shelter Care with over 30 years of varied experiences in the healthcare and education fields. Having served with TSW through multiple mission trips starting in 2015 she felt called to volunteer on a regular basis. She is humbled and honored to be able to serve at TSW to make their mission known both locally and nationally.
Life verse: Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Linda Thomas
Director of Administration
After spending 30 years as an advertising and marketing professional, Linda had a life-changing experience while serving with a mission team from Southeast Christian to the Institute for Shelter Care. Linda felt called by God to use her communication skills in a volunteer capacity for the Institute for Shelter Care. Since 2016, Linda’s passion for the Institute for Shelter Care has continued to grow, and in September of 2018 she joined the staff as Communications Manager. Linda’s primary role is to help grow the Institute for Shelter Care’s exposure on a national level and be the primary media contact for outside communication.
Education: BA in Advertising with a minor in business administration
Life verse: Hebrews 12:1 –“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Amy Woeller
Communications Manager
Amy comes to the Institute for Shelter Care with more than 25 years of experience in public relations, including the education, nonprofit and business sectors. She hopes to catalyze her passion for TSW to find creative and effective ways to raise awareness about trafficking, the need for shelter care and the important work of TSW-ISC.
Education: B.S., Retail and Marketing, Miami University; Oxford, Ohio
Life verse: Psalms 62:5-6 –“My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken”.

Have a question?
If you have any questions regarding our personnel or open positions, please contact Linda Thomas at lthomas@instituteforsheltercare.org