President

Adama Blagrove is a special educator and trainer for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder). Her work is based on current New York State knowledge and the work of leading experts in the field of Autism. She primarily uses methods from TEACCH (Treatment Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped children). This incorporates structured teaching, individualized instruction, and a focus on communication and socialization. She has experience in implementing PECS (Picture Exchange Communication Systems), working with children to improve their functional communication skills and teaching children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Adama is a graduate from York College the City University of New York where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and is certified in TEACCH method of instruction for individuals with Autism. She did work in Special Education in New York City at Herbert G. Birch Family Services for 8-10 years before moving to Jamaica where she is currently the Founder and Principal of the Montego Bay Autism Center. She resides in Montego Bay, Jamaica with her husband Wayne and 2 daughters.

Vice President and Chairman of the Board

Patti Jo is a registered nurse who has spent much of her career in pediatrics. She has a deep concern for children and teens with special needs and desires to see them receive all possible means to achieve their greatest potential. She believes God is working His mercy and grace through Montego Bay Autism Center for the Jamaican youth and their parents. Patti Jo has a degree in Human Services in addition to her nursing degree. Her work experience includes healthcare as an RN at Ridgecrest and Ridge Haven Summer Camps, Camp All American, Passport Health, Pediatric Physicians Inc, St Joseph's Hospital, and Doctors Hospital. She has also been a Clinic Assistant at Centennial High School. Patti Jo has served in a number of leadership roles with the Tres Dias International Christian Retreats. She has led or been a part of teams serving in Jamaica, Denmark, Ecuador, Canada, Cuba, Georgia, Tennessee, Arizona, and Colorado. She has also served on missions for other ministries such as Honduras Outreach, Inc; Heart For Africa (Swaziland); Good Samaritan Clinic (Georgia); Remote Area Medical (Tennessee); Appalachia Service Project (West Virginia); Habitat For Humanity (Guatemala); Global X (Macedonia); and El Shaddai Children’s Home (Swaziland). Patti Jo has a special love for the people of Jamaica. Over the past eight years, she has made multiple trips to Jamaica serving on and leading Tres Dias teams, leadership training and development. She is a member of the Association of Camp Nurses, Georgia Association of School Nurses, Montego Bay Tres Dias Steering Committee and is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. She resides in Alpharetta, Georgia with her husband John and has 2 sons and 3 grandchildren.

Secretary

Christie Williams has served in a variety of leader and governance roles over her life. Her early career was in retail and marketing research. She was executive director with Jackson Associates in medical and business research. Then as project manager with Sophisticated Data Research, she assisted companies such as Coca-Cola and United Parcel Services with research supporting new product development. After 8 years in the research and marketing business, Christie shifted her focus to founding and serving non-profit organizations. She served as founding Director and Board member of a Royal Family Kids Camp in Georgia serving children from eight counties. She also served in Illinois and North Carolina in additional camps serving foster and abused children. Christie’s other involvement and leadership currently includes Camp Hope, Love Out Loud, Camp Winshape, and Wake Forest Healthcare Guild in North Carolina. Christie has served at Special Olympics and earlier in life was a full-time nanny for a lovely young girl with Cerebral Palsy. Christie has directed Tres Dias Christian retreats/conferences in Georgia and Jamaica, which help build community leaders. She is very creative and has served in a variety of roles with local school productions, such as plays and films. She is passionate about life and serving others. Christie has been active in a number of churches in the past 25 years and resides in Winston Salem, North Carolina with her husband Terry and 2 sons.

Public Relations

Cheri Elmore has grown to love the people of Jamaica and believes in the value of services and improvement in the quality of life of those fortunate enough to attend Mrs. Blagrove’s center and school. Cheri attended Baylor University before receiving her paralegal certification through the National Association of Legal Assistants. Her twenty years of legal experience includes corporate formation, mergers and acquisitions, construction defect, premises liability, product liability and personal injury law. She has been a Senior Paralegal with Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP for the past fifteen years. Her compassion and desire to see people healed and walking in freedom has led her to her current volunteer position as a Freedom Minister at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. Cheri developed the Singles Ministry at Waxahachie Bible Church where she served as the Singles Ministry Coordinator for six years. In addition to ministry positions, she has served on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations. She has held many leadership positions throughout the ministry of Tres Dias Christian retreats, locally, nationally and internationally, including Jamaica. Currently, she serves as the Secretary on the Steering Committee for Montego Bay Tres Dias. It was this experience that led her to Adama Blagrove and the excellent work being accomplished at the Montego Bay Autism Center. Cheri resides in the Dallas, Texas area with her husband, Blake, and four children.

 

Cheryl Vanderpool has over 25 years experience in leading children in a number of capacities. As a teenager into her young adult years, she volunteered as a Lead Teacher in her Church’s Children’s Ministry. She also mentored children in the Community through the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Atlanta Program and Hands on Atlanta. From 2003-2005, she attended RHEMA Bible Training Center to pursue further training in Children’s Ministry; as well as, attended Oral Roberts University, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, with a concentration on Curriculum Development. While in school, she lead Children’s and Youth Ministry at Calvary Baptist Church in Sapulpa, OK; and simultaneously, served as a leader in the Children’s Ministry at Church on the Move, in Tulsa, OK. Upon graduating from both programs, she served on staff at Victory World Church for 8 years, as a Children’s Pastor overseeing the Nursery/Preschool Ministries of 600+ children birth to 5 years of age and 350 volunteers. Cheryl has served in various leadership positions on Tres Dias Christian Retreats for women in Georgia and Montego Bay, Jamaica. Beyond her experience with children, her undergraduate degree is in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. She has a combined 10 years of experience in the Finance and Accounting industry, with the large corporation GE Capital and several smaller Companies throughout her business career. Cheryl resides in the Atlanta area with her husband, Mark, and 3 children.

Treasurer

Ms. Sandra Wright-Fofanah currently works for the U.S. Federal Government holding a leadership position. Over the course of her 23 year career, she has held positions with increasing responsibility for leading teams and offices. She previously served in the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone. She is a long time member of Victory World Church where she has served in teaching English as a second language, Hospitality and Financial Stewardship ministries, among others. She has a BS in Biology from Eastern Michigan University and MPH from University of Michigan, School of Public Health. She has served on a number of Tres Dias Christian retreats for women, including three times in Jamaica. With a nephew who is autistic, she has an understanding of the unique challenges of educating children on the autism spectrum. Sandra resides in the Atlanta, Georgia area.