CASA TEAM

Although CASA programs use volunteers to advocate for children, they also have paid staff to recruit, screen, train and support the volunteers, to seek funding for the organization, and to increase community awareness.

Nancy Springer - Director

Nancy joined the CASA team in February 2018 after serving as CHINS administrator for Allen Superior Court, Family Relations Division for 2 years, working with the Court Improvement Project, Family Court Program, and implementation of the Dual Status Youth program. Nancy also served as Coordinator of Great KIDS make Great COMMUNITIES, the court's grant funded, positive youth development initiative from 2012 to 2016, providing training and support to youth workers in Allen County. Nancy holds a BA from Lyon College and a MM from Ball State University.

Suzanne Lange - Assistant Director

Suzanne has been the Assistant Director at the Allen County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program for over 30 years (March 1994). She has a BS in Social Work from Ball State University and has worked in the field of Child Abuse and Neglect since the early 90’s, witnessing many of the changes that have happened in our local Child Welfare and Family Court systems during that time. Suzanne was a foster parent for over 10 years. She has three children, both biological and adopted …and three Yorkies, all adopted.

Brooke Neuhaus - CASA Supervisor

Brooke graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She has been with the Allen County CASA Program for 10 years. Brooke enjoys meeting new volunteers who want to make sure that a child’s voice is heard in court. She is an avid runner and has coached girls basketball for the past 15 years.

Nicole Fischer - CASA Supervisor

Nicole graduated from Ball State University in 2005 with a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science. Nicole joined Allen County CASA in January 2015. Before coming to CASA, Nicole worked at the Department of Child Services and also with a local service provider.

Aaron Reidenbach - CASA Supervisor

Aaron joined CASA in the fall of 2019. Since 2003, Aaron has worked with children in community youth development programs, residential and community-based treatment and, most recently, in child welfare. Aaron holds a BS in Pastoral Ministry with a minor in Criminal Justice from Taylor University and an MA in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University. Aaron is married and has two children. In his spare time, Aaron is also involved in coordinating a scholarship program that recruits high school students to deliver positive health and safety messages to elementary school children.

Yvonne Nthiwa Praet - Recruitment and Training Specialist

Yvonne brings an extensive background in Human Resources and has also worked with DCS prior to joining CASA. As a Recruitment & Training Specialist, Yvonne is dedicated to identifying, attracting and supporting passionate volunteers who are committed to advocating for children who have experienced abuse/neglect. Yvonne holds a Bachelors in Management and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a major in Human Resources from Purdue University Fort Wayne. Guided by the belief that one of our primary purposes in life is to help others, Yvonne is passionate about creating opportunities for volunteers to make a meaningful difference.

Christopher Hamilton - Attorney

Chris holds a BA from DePauw University in English and Spanish; a JD from Washington University in St. Louis; and, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Earlham College. He joined the CASA team as an attorney in 2020.

Laura Goodwin - Office Manager

Laura began work with the Allen County CASA Program in September 1994. She loves working with the CASA volunteers and truly appreciates their passion for advocating for children. Laura is married, has 3 children and 2 fur babies. Laura and her husband are also foster parents. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and anything relating to the beach.

Christina Sutter - Program Assistant

Christina has been a volunteer with CASA since 2008 and previously worked at our office on Lima Road. She loves volunteering and working with the children on her cases. Christina can help with any issues with Optima that volunteers may have. Christina spends her off time running her own Beagle rescue out of her home. She also enjoys having horses and working on her mini-farm.

Michael Howell - CASA Supervisor

Michael trained as a CASA volunteer advocate for children in fall 2019 and then joined the CASA team in June 2020 as a part-time staff, primarily working with youth placed outside of Allen County. He holds a BA in Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame and a MA in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. During his 50-year career, Michael has spent four decades working with youth and their families through a diverse set of programs in six different states. He is married with two children and one grandson. In his free time, he reads, reads, reads!

Karen Coleman - Child Visitation Specialist

Karen became a CASA volunteer in February of 2020 and a member of the staff in April 2021 as a Child Visitation Specialist. She loves being an advocate for the kids, and the bond and trust that is established once the kids know you are in their corner advocating for them. She loves that the kids know she is listening and hearing them, but most of all, the happy endings!

Roxanne Tuesley - Child Visitation Specialist

Roxanne became a CASA volunteer in 2017 and later joined the staff to assist the appointed attorney Guardian ad Litem with child visits. Roxanne’s previous roles included counselor at Woodburn Elementary School, Family Support Worker with the Healthy Families program, and Youth Services Provider in the Self Sufficiency program for domestic violence at the YWCA. Roxanne holds a MS from Indiana University in Education, Counseling and Counselor Education.