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executive Staff

Connie Ricketts

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

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Connie’s CASA journey started when Connie and her husband Dennis witnessed firsthand the impact that a CASA volunteer had on the life and outcome of her youngest daughter’s CPS case.  Proud parents to three children adopted from Child Protective Services in Grayson County, Texas, Connie and Dennis served as foster parents for over ten years. After closing their home to foster children, Connie became a CASA Volunteer for Collin County CASA knowing that she would provide a “voice” for the children she would serve.  Connie went on to serve as a Board Member for Collin County CASA and as a member of staff.  Her CASA journey continued at Essex County CASA of Massachusetts for 7.5 years as a Program Director and then led her to CASA of Galveston County in October 2015.

Connie’s passion for the prevention and awareness of abused and neglected children has been recognized in many high-profile awards including the Children’s Champion of the Merrimack Valley (2015), the Liberty Bell award from the Galveston Bar Association, and in her nomination for The Galveston Daily News Citizen of the Year award in 2020. In addition, Connie has served her Texas CASA region as the Regional Representative to the Texas CASA Board (2019 – 2022), the Children’s Justice Task Force in Texas from 2018 – 2021 and is a certified Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner and has achieved the Non-Profit Leadership Certification from the Texas A&M University Center for Philanthropic Leadership Institute.

Connie believes that CASA volunteers are extraordinary in their service to children who have experienced abuse and neglect, and she is fully committed to seeing that all the children in Galveston County that need a CASA will have one appointed.  Outside the office, Connie enjoys spending time with family (ask her about her grandson!), enjoying the outdoors and listening to a good book.  

Alaine Nix

Chief Operations Officer (COO)

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Alaine is a trailblazer – the first female in her family to join and excel in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer. After her time in the military, she pursued her associate and bachelor’s degrees, graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University while gathering experience in young childhood settings, intermediate schools and juvenile centers. While working on the CASA team, Alaine recently graduated with her master’s degree with plans to continue higher education at a later date.

Alaine is passionate about helping children and their families and utilizes her wealth of knowledge, experience and education to lead the CASA Advocacy team in advocating for children and their families.  She is dedicated to making a difference and having a positive impact in her community.  Outside the office, Alaine can be found spending time with her daughter and spoiling her former rescue pets and enjoying a cup of coffee with a good book in hand.

Alli Hines

Program Assistant

Email: allison@casagalveston.org

Alli was born and raised in Dickinson, experiencing events that derailed their childhood. These events are what influenced their desire to start a career in supporting children. They graduated from College of the Mainland with an Associate of Arts in General Studies and plans on eventually getting a Bachelor’s degree to support their passions. Alli is very grateful for what CASA does and is happy to be on the staff.

Outside of work, Alli loves listening to music and podcasts, playing Scrabble with their family and friends, cooking (and mastering) vegan meals, and being a part of the non-profit organization, Higher Up Texas.

Jocelyn Smith

Recruitment and Training Lead

Jocelyn is a first-generation student who earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston – Clear Lake and is currently pursuing a master’s degree. Her journey in education and advocacy has fueled her dedication to making a tangible difference in her community. Through her volunteer work with the Houston Food Bank and local women’s and children’s shelters, she has developed a deep passion for supporting those in need and advocating for vulnerable populations. She strives to create a meaningful change and contribute to initiatives that positively impact others.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Jocelyn is an older sister who loves to spend quality time playing games and celebrating milestones with her family. Jocelyn also enjoys spending time outdoors, connecting with nature, and caring for animals. She is constantly seeking new opportunities for personal growth, seeing each new challenge as a side quest in her adventure through life. Whether it’s traveling to new places, exploring new cuisine or new experiences, she is always eager to learn and grow, and she believes in embracing every opportunity to expand her horizons.

Advocacy Team

Devin Siordia

Director of Advocacy

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After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas San Antonio, Devin worked for Seton Home, a shelter for teen mothers and their children who were in the foster care. While there, she heard numerous stories of the children in care and knew she wanted to do more.  Devin moved to Child Protective Services as a Family Based Services Specialist in Bexar and Harris counties and then joined the CASA team with her ultimate goal to make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

Born into a military family, Devin grew up oversees but Texas has always been her home. Devin enjoys spending quality time with her three children, various arts and crafts and her faith is central to her. 

Lauren Davis

Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) Coordinator/Advocate Supervisor

As an experienced professional in recruiting, Lauren has a gift for connecting with people of all backgrounds. She is excited to use those skills to make an impact with the families that CASA serves.

With firsthand experience of foster care, Lauren has a deep-rooted passion for families in crisis and in need of support. Growing up throughout Texas, Lauren chose to plant her family roots in the Greater Houston Area. She is committed to providing compassionate care and support to the families of Galveston County, the community which she calls home.

When she’s away from work, her time is filled with family and community activities. You’ll likely find her enjoying quality moments with her husband and two sons, whether they’re out exploring or lounging at home. A big part of her week also includes serving at church, where she connects with others and gives back.

Joanna Mendoza

Marketing and Outreach Coordinator/Advocate Supervisor

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Joanna is a University of Houston graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations. She started her advertising career in the print media industry and continued on to the County of Galveston where she worked with over 230 volunteers. 

Joanna is an integral part of our Legislative Advocacy Team and serves as CASA of Galveston County’s Legislative Advocacy Team Lead. She believes it to be imperative for legislators to be well informed in order to establish new policies and improve the child welfare system. 

She is a self-proclaimed rockhound who collects rocks and minerals from all over the world and in her spare time, Joanna enjoys solo hiking and spending time with her adventurous pet bunny. Joanna has never met a stranger and appreciates every connection she makes along the way. 

Sitinna Blankenship

Advocate Supervisor

Email: sitinna@casagalveston.org

Sitinna moved from the East Coast to Houston, Texas in 2021 with her husband to pursue her passion of working in social services. Before becoming a CASA, she was working with domestic violence survivors and finding them safe shelters to get away from their abusers. Sitinna is excited to do all that she can within her role as a CASA to speak up for the children and advocate for them as they are the future of our world. 

Outside of work, Sitinna enjoys going on excursions/adventures with her husband, getting Boba tea with friends, and training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She also enjoys traveling and trying new foods from around the world.  

Amelia Smith

Advocate Supervisor

Email: amelia@casagalveston.org

Originally from Alabama, Amelia moved to Texas from the Alabama, Florida, and Georgia line in 2012.  As a former foster child, Amelia’s lifelong desire to work with children in the foster system was formed early – seeing the ups and downs of being a foster child lit a fire in her to do something to make a positive change in as many lives of children and families as possible.

Amelia’s goal is to help the children and families not become a statistic and to help them break the cycle. Prior to moving to Texas, Amelia was a GAL for the Jackson County, Florida for six years. Outside the office, Ameila is married to Brent and is a mother, grandmother (the lights of her life!) and a pet mom to 3 dogs, a cat and 7 chickens. 

Kate Sonnier

Advocate Supervisor

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Kate’s passion for kids in need started in the 6th grade when she received a PAL – a mentor and someone that truly cared and was a consistent person in her life. Along with her PAL, she also had a guardian with a huge heart! These special role models helped shape Kate to be the kind of person who wanted to do the same for others and led her to CASA. At CASA, Kate quickly knew this was the path she was meant to walk and that she would help kids realize their potential and to instill faith in themselves no matter their circumstances. Kate strongly believes that every child deserves to have someone in their corner who can help ensure their voice is heard.

Kate is a native to Galveston County, growing up in Santa Fe, Texas. When she has free time, Kate is a momma to 1 and enjoys spoiling her 2 dogs. Kate considers her friends to be family and they are a huge part of her life! 

Linda Starnes

Advocate Supervisor

Email: linda@casagalveston.org

Whether at home or in the office, Linda Starnes has been in leadership roles for over thirty years. Her career began with entrepreneurial pursuits but soon took shape as she realized her calling – Advocating for children. She specializes in organization, efficiency, and utilizing resources to their full potential. Her varied experiences in school districts, advocacy centers, and residential communities lead her to approach complex situations with patience, understanding, and a desire to build trust with those whom she serves.

Linda enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and four grandchildren. She takes every opportunity to comb the beach for sea glass, shells, and shark’s teeth. At home she tends to her extensive plant collection and enjoys being a member of her community garden club. More than these things, she loves supporting her community’s children through CASA.