For Immediate Release
May 27, 2011

For more information, contact:
Chet Compton
785.296.3271 (office)
chet.compton@srs.ks.gov

 

SECRETARY SIEDLECKI ANNOUNCES

NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM AT SRS

Experienced Leaders to Direct Initiatives and Spearhead Department Reform

Topeka – Kansas Secretary of Social and Rehabilitation Services Rob Siedlecki announced today his new leadership team, highlighting their expertise and experience in their collective fields.  Each brings with them dedication to the children and families of Kansas and commitment to Governor Sam Brownbacks’ Road Map for Kansas and Secretary Siedlecki’s family centered initiatives.

“We have assembled a team of experienced leaders who will focus on transforming SRS into an agency committed to improving the well-being of children and families, while remaining accountable to the taxpayers of Kansas through transparency and reform,” Secretary Siedlecki said.

“This transition marks a new day at SRS,” continued Secretary Siedlecki. “Our team is intent on changing how this Department does business and improving the lives of families in Kansas.”

The new SRS leadership team includes:

Deputy Secretary of Integrated Service Delivery Jim Kallinger: Kallinger served as Florida's Chief Child Advocate from 2007 - 2011.  He also was the Director of the Office of Adoption and Child Protection within the Executive Office of the Governor, and was the Chairman of the Governor’s Child Abuse Prevention and Permanency Advisory Council.  Kallinger was also a member of Florida’s Children and Youth Cabinet.  As a former two-term member of the Florida House of Representatives, Kallinger served as Chairman of the Trades, Professions and Regulated Business committee, and Vice-chairman of the Select Committee on Constitutional Amendments.  Kallinger also served as Commissioner on the Commission on Marriage and Family Support Initiatives. He also served on the boards of the Interfaith Hospitality Network which arranges temporary housing for homeless families, and the Florida Housing Development Corporation.

Deputy Secretary of Disability and Behavioral Health Services Pedro Moreno: Moreno has extensive experience in social policy, program development and implementation and management of complex operations.  He has served for more than ten years in the private sector and another ten years in both federal and state government in the fields of welfare reform, disabilities, substance abuse, refugees, education of low income individuals, children and family issues and related fields. Moreno served with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities. In addition to a law degree, he holds a Master's in Law and Economics from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and a Specialization in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Harvard University.

Deputy Secretary of Administration Greg Harris: Harris served 14 years at the federal level, working both for the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Senate. His management experience includes serving as the Deputy Administrator for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which funds mentoring, family strengthening, and child protection programs. He also has worked as the Chief of Staff for a federal law enforcement agency with more than 5,000 employees and a $1 billion budget. In addition to his work experience, Harris has volunteered as a board member for a non-profit agency in Virginia that provides residential shelter for at-risk youth, as well as foster care and adoption services. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University, and a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University.

Deputy Secretary for Strategic Development and Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Anna Pilato: Pilato served five years with the Bush Administration.  In her last position, she was the Director at the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the Department of Health and Human Services.  In this Presidential Initiative, she worked to empower faith-based and community organizations to effectively partner with the Federal government to be better equipped to provide human services to more people. Prior to joining HHS, she served over three years as Director of Administration in Presidential Correspondence, the largest department at The White House.  There she assisted in the overall recruitment and management of staff and interns, as well as the day to day operations of the department.  Additionally, Pilato worked as a social worker in state government directing a state and federally funded teen parenting and living skills program.  She later served as a certified caseworker in child protection.  Pilato has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Counseling.   

Northeast Kansas Regional Director Robert Estell: Estell has more than 20 years experience as a social worker, educator and speaker in many areas of community and social services.  He comes to SRS from Hospice Care of Kansas, where he was a medical social worker and educational trainer.  Estell also worked for the University of Kansas in the School of Social Welfare, as the Director of Recruitment and Academic Counseling. He recruited students into the MSW and PhD. programs, taught a wide variety of continuing education classes within the School of Social Welfare and worked with at-risk students. Estell is also an adjunct professor at Donnelly College in Kansas City, KS and has worked in the area of child abuse and neglect, substance abuse and mental health education and support.

Acting as Interim Director in the Northeast Regional office will be Matt Boddington.

Kansas City Metro Regional Director Phyllis Gilmore: Gilmore has served as the Executive Director of the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) for more than 11 years; the BSRB licenses and regulates most of the mental health professionals in Kansas.  Gilmore is a licensed specialist in clinical social work.  After earning her master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, she worked primarily in the areas of health care and adoptions.  Gilmore is a former State Legislator, serving in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1994-2000.

Wichita Regional Director Diane Bidwell: Bidwell brings 16 years of child welfare experience to the position of Regional Director of SRS in Wichita.   She is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker and obtained both her Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees at Wichita State University, where she also served as an instructor at the Master’s level.  Practicing as a clinical social worker, Bidwell worked in collaboration with other professionals and community stakeholders as an advocate in the development of solutions to stabilize and promote restoration to families in distress.   Prior to her service as a clinical social worker, Bidwell participated in the recruitment and placement of children waiting for permanency.  She most recently has utilized her creative skills to assist other professionals increase their knowledge and understanding about trauma and the mental health issues that impact the persons that they serve.   

Southeast Kansas Regional Director Scott Thompson: Thompson has served as the Assistant Regional Director for Strategic Operations for the SRS Southeast Region since July 2004.  Prior to that appointment, he served as the Child Support Enforcement Program Administrator for the Chanute Area/Southeast Region, was a District Manager for contractors in both the foster care and child support fields, and served as a staff attorney for SRS. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law and Pittsburg State University and is currently enrolled in the Certified Public Manager program at the University of Kansas Public Management Center.

Western Kansas Regional Director Shari Campbell: Campbell started her career with SRS in 1991 and has worked as Regional Director for the West Region since 2007.  She started her career in Liberal, Kansas as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and was the Rehabilitation Services Program Administrator in Hutchinson and then in Garden City from 1999 to 2007.  Campbell received her Masters of Education degree from West Texas A & M University in Canyon, Texas, and served as a teacher and coach in Texas before joining SRS.

South Central Kansas Regional Director Cyrilla Petracek: Petracek has served as the South Central Regional Director since its inception in January 2004. She has three decades of experience in the Human Services field in the public, non-profit, and private sectors.  Petracek served as the Executive Director for the Menninger Foundation’s PWI National Demonstration Project, Executive Director of Marketing and Customer Service for Professional Rehabilitation Management, Inc., Assistant Administrator for the Division of Workers Compensation as well as numerous management positions within the Rehabilitation Services Division of SRS.  Petracek obtained a Master of Science Degree in Guidance and Counseling, from Ft. Hays State University.

The following will serve as program directors for the new leadership team: Kathe Decker as Director of Economic and Employment Support; Gina Meier-Hummel as Director of Children and Family Services; Theresa Thomas as Director of Child Support Enforcement; Monica Remillard as Interim Director of Child Support Enforcement; Michael Donnelly as Director of Rehabilitative Services; Phil Anderson as Director of Operations for ISD; Lois Weeks as Director of Financial Management; Theresa Addington as Director of Accounting and Administrative Operations; Mary Hoover as Chief Auditor; Steve Leary as Director of Community Support Services; Rick Shults as Director of Mental Health Services; Shaun Gardner as Director of Operations for DBHS; and Kim Brown as Acting Director of Addiction and Prevention Services. 

 

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