Leadership
Executive Team
Vanessa Gardner
CMCA President
Education:
M.A., Criminal Justice
Ordained Pastor & Chaplain
Continuing Education: Wheaton College–Pastoral Counseling & Reentry Certifications
Vanessa is the Sr. Centralized Leave Program Manager for Client Dedicated Avant Specialty Benefits. Vanessa has a wealth of knowledge and experience in Correctional Ministry and specializes as a Community Liaison.
Karen Swanson
Education:
B.A., Calvin College and Cornerstone University
M.A., Western Michigan University
Ed. D., Curriculum Leadership, Northern Illinois University
Karen has been the Director of the Correctional Ministries Institue (CMI), Wheaton College Billy Graham Center since 2005.
Tim Curington
CMCA Vice President
Education:
B.A., Pastoral Theology, Hyles-Anderson College
Tim has been with Prison Alliance since June 2019, as Operations Director and as Executive Director for the last few years. Prior to this, Tim served faithfully in local church and church planting ministries.
Romney Ruder
CMCA Treasurer
Education:
Ed.D. Organizational Leadership, Pepperdine University
M.B.A., Texas A&M University
B.S., Illinois State University
Romney Ruder is the President of Lifeline Global Ministries, dedicated to working with the incarcerated and their families.
Sammy Perez
CMCA Executive Team Member
Education:
B.A. Psychology, Liberty University
M.A., Professional Counseling
Sammy Perez serves Prison Fellowship’s advocacy team by building and mobilizing a network of people passionate about justice that restores.
Evelyn Lemly
CMCA President Emeritus
Education:
B.S., North Carolina State University
M.B.A., Columbia Business School, Columbia University
Evelyn Lemly is the CEO of Kairos Prison Ministry International (“Kairos”) serving over 500 communities in ten countries utilizing over 30,000 volunteers.
Advisory Council
Don Allsman – CEO/Founder, Completion Global, Inc.
Charles Anderson-CEO, Epiphany Life Change
Angie Bauman-Chief Operating Officer of Discipleship & Accountability, Courage for Life
Doug Cupery – Director of Church Mobilization, Crossroads Prison Ministries
Tim Curington–Executive Director, Prison Alliance
Vance Drum – Prison Seminaries Foundation/ret. Dir. of Chaplaincy Operations, TX DOJ
Andrew Foster– Founder/CEO Inspiration Ministries
Johnny Frambo – Retired, Chief of Chaplaincy Services, Florida DOC/Prison Seminaries Foundation
Melanie Griffin– Director, Prison & Ministry Connect, Global Leadership Network
William Harrison– Executive Director, New Creation
Mark Inch– Retired Secretary of Corrections, state of Florida
Peter Kim – Licensed Social Worker, Lake County Health Dept, Associate Director, CMI
Stacey Palmer– President/CEO, Prison Fellowship Canada
Sammy Perez– Sr. Director Grass Roots & Reintegration, Prison Fellowship
Joe Pryor-President & CEO, Crossroads Prison Ministries
Jeff Shafer – Founder, CEO Commongood Capital
Greg von Tobel-Founder/President, Prisoners for Christ Outreach Ministry