Executive Team
Druann Whitaker, MS, LSW, LPC - Chief Executive Officer
A lifelong professional in family and children services, Dru Whitaker has served Specialized Alternatives for Families & Youth since 1984 in a variety of executive and counseling positions. She has experience in numerous roles from Family and Youth Specialist to Chief Executive Officer of SAFY.
As CEO, she is responsible for overseeing all SAFY operations serving approximately 3,600 children annually and over 1,000 foster parents in eight states. She leads all staff in carrying out the SAFY mission to help foster families provide difficult-to-place youth with caring and stable home environments.
For many years, she has been a Licensed Social Worker and a Licensed Professional Counselor by the State of Ohio. She has a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University. She earned her master degree in counseling from the University of Dayton. Dru has been an active board member of Family Foster Treatment Association, Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies and Council on Accreditation. She and her husband Gary live in Celina, Ohio.
Linda Uebel, LISW-S - Senior Vice President Treatment Services
Linda Uebel joined SAFY in August of 2001 as the Senior Vice President of Treatment Services. Linda is currently responsible for the management of the clinical and programmatic direction and monitoring of service provision throughout SAFY. Her responsibilities include the supervision of eight state directors, supportive services, mental health services, quality improvement, and specialty programs.
Linda has over 30 years of professional clinical and management experience in the fields of healthcare, social work, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and child welfare.
Linda has a Master of Social Work from the University of Kentucky and is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in the State of Ohio.
John Hollenkamp, CPA - Senior Vice President Finance
John began his SAFY career in January 2005, assuming management responsibility for the Finance, Management Information Systems, and Facility Maintenance. As part of the Executive Team of SAFY, John participates in setting the strategic direction of the company, ensuring the financial and technological development portion of the plan.
Prior to joining SAFY, John worked for several Non-Profit Organizations in financial management, including Saint Mary’s College, a service organization for the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and Lutheran Social Services of Michigan.
John graduated from the University of Detroit with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, Magna Cum Laude, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Rusty Alexander, MBA - Senior Vice President Business Development
Rusty Alexander joined SAFY in 2001 as the Director of Contracts. Rusty was promoted to the Senior Vice-President of Business Development in 2007. Rusty is responsible for spearheading the foster care agency’s efforts to identify and pursue new business opportunities. Rusty also supervises contracts, public relations and marketing efforts.
In his previous position as the Director of Contracts, Rusty was instrumental in effectively negotiating contracts with county child placement agencies. He also assisted in the development of new programs implemented throughout eight states.
Rusty brings with him ten years of experience in social services. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University.
Barry McEwen, M.Ed., CFRE - Vice President Development
Barry McEwen began his career with SAFY in November 2003. As the Vice President of Development, Barry is responsible for all areas of fundraising including annual giving, planned giving, direct mail, board and employee giving, corporate and foundation grants, major gifts and special events. Barry’s motto is "Fundraising is not raising money, it is building relationships."
Prior to working for SAFY Barry has worked for the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Junior Achievement, Brush Wellman (a for-profit entity), and Lutheran Social Services of the Miami Valley (Dayton). For 18 years Barry was the President and CEO of the Toledo Society for the Blind/The Sight Center. He has also worked for the Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation, the Vision Center of Central Ohio, and the State of Ohio.
He is a graduate of Ohio Northern University (B.A., Psychology) and Bowling Green State University (M. Ed., Rehabilitation Counseling). He and his wife Cathy (a MSW) reside in Maumee, Ohio. Barry is an avid birdwatcher.
Roger Smith, Ph.D -Vice President Mental Health Services
Roger Smith, Ph.D. joined SAFY in August, 2002 as the Vice President of Mental Health. Roger is responsible for overseeing all of the mental health services provided by SAFY. He is responsible for the design and development of mental health programs, proposal and grant writing, and ensuring compliance with the different states’ Medicaid rules. He also provides training to staff and foster parents on a variety of mental health and therapeutic issues. He has been primarily responsible for the development and research of the SAFY Risk of Disruption Inventory and he is currently spearheading SAFY’s efforts to prevent disruption in out of home placements.
Prior to coming to SAFY, Roger was the Director of an Undergraduate Social Work Program in West Virginia. He spent twenty three years working in various positions in Community Mental Health Centers and Private Practice.
Roger received his Doctorate from Ohio University and is a licensed psychologist in Ohio. He received his Masters Degree in Social Work and a BS in Business Administration from West Virginia University.
Gary Whitaker, M.Ed. - Vice President Supportive Services
A long-time educator, Gary Whitaker joined SAFY in 1994 as the Vice President of Supportive Services. Gary supervises the corporate training department, the divisional foster parent recruiters, as well as Kreative Learning, SAFY’s preschool program. Gary is also SAFY’s Educational Liaison; he assists foster youth, foster parents and case managers with advocating for educational services from the school systems. He works very closely with the divisional foster parent advisory boards.
Prior to joining SAFY, Gary had spent 31 years in the public school system. He taught 2 years as graduate assistant at Bowling Green State University and 12 years at the high school level. Gary was an assistant high school principal for 2 years, a junior high principal for 8 years and an elementary principal for 6 years.
Gary is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Education. Gary also holds a Master of Superintendent/Principalship from Dayton University.
Rhonda Henderson-Laidlaw, MSW, LSW - Vice President Community Services
Rhonda joined the SAFY organization in 1991 and has held numerous positions including case assistant, case manager, foster home development specialist and Vice President of Quality Improvement. She also has experience in child welfare, mental health, and substance abuse.
In 2007, Rhonda took on a dual role in the organization and began to oversee Safe Harbor, the region’s only runaway shelter. Through her affiliation with the shelter, she has forged many community partnerships and serves as Treasurer for the Ohio Balance of State Consortium in Allen County. In an effort to foster collaborative relationships in the community, Rhonda become the Vice President of Community Services in May of 2009.
Rhonda holds a Bachelor of Art from Bluffton University and Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University. She also holds a certificate in AIDS education. Rhonda lives in Lima with her husband Carl and their three children.
Jim Sherman, MA, LPC - Vice President Quality Improvement
Jim joined SAFY in June of 2009 as the Vice-President of Quality Improvement. Jim is responsible for implementing the organization’s multi-phase Performance and Quality Improvement Plan and ensuring compliance with COA (Council on Accreditation) requirements, state regulations, contracts and licensing entities.
Jim has over 35 years of professional clinical and administrative experience in the behavioral healthcare field, with particular focus on development and management of specialized programs for children, youth and families.
Jim has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton, and a Masters degree in Mental Health Administration from Antioch University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio.
