Mission 25 Staff

Shawn believes in the mission statement of Mission 25 because the staff lives it out daily throughout all of the programs. From Mission 25 Shelter Services to Mission 25 Supportive Housing, the Recovery Engagement Center, and after-school programs, our staff provides access to recovery supports, services and coaching, prevention for present and future choices and needs and support for all areas within mental, physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. At the end of the day Mission 25 fosters long-term success for those we serve - regardless of age or person. We are just one "line" on their life timeline, and our job is to make that one "line" count for healing.

Shawn has been married for nearly 28 years and has a daughter in Wabash and a son in New Haven. She has two cats who she loves so much! Henrie is nearly two years old and Lilly is three. Lilly was recently adopted from the Whitley County Animal Shelter.

When Shawn isn’t enjoying time with her family, she enjoys working out throughout the week- it’s her daily self-care. She loves long bike rides with her husband in different towns throughout Indiana and finding new places to eat after bike riding. Mexican food is her favorite! She enjoys watching birds come to their bird feeders and looking up all the bird sounds in the Merlin Bird ID app. Shawn loves to read and enjoys playing Candy Crush Saga for downtime.

Christian and 80s music are Shawn’s jams. She enjoys movies, except scary ones – they’re a hard pass. Her favorite book is the Bible and enjoys reading to learn, but when she has some time off, she reads fun fiction books.

“My favorite part of my job is the ability to serve people well. To meet them in some of their most vulnerable and hopeless moments and then watch them find hope that creates healing, determination, strength, forgiveness, and a new perspective. Watching people change the trajectory of their life from the time they engage in Mission 25 programs to when they believe they are on the right path to long-term success is the most rewarding seat to be in (it takes people-watching to a whole new level). I love watching people change and our staff team rally around each adult and child throughout the process.”

Originally from Pierceton, she has lived in Columbia City for 25 years and has served in the nonprofit sector for 23 years - all within Columbia City and Whitley County and is a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC).

Tammy believes in the mission statement of Mission 25 because she believes we are all recovering from something in life.

“I believe we are all just one decision away from sometimes making that wrong decision. I never want to give up on anyone who could come out on the other side better despite all life threw at them. Our folks have been given up on so many times in their lives that hopefully we get to be the ones to help make a difference and help them become who they are truly trying to become!”

Tammy is a third-generation Columbia City native and has been married to her best friend Keith for 29 years. They have three children, Alyson, Jada and Carter.

Tammy has a recently found love for recycling thrift items and making it into beautiful upscale pieces of decor.

Mexican food is unquestionably her favorite, and she loves all kinds of music. All kinds, her playlists are eccentric at best.

“I believe in kindness and have always tried to live by ‘treat others the way you would like to be treated.’”

Suppose it is helping someone with their addictions at our new Recovery Center, being positive role models to children at our Miami Village location, assisting a mom with healthy connections with her kids in transitional housing, or providing support to those who have moved on to our supported housing, Tenel believes in Mission 25.

“Mission 25 takes the time to listen and care about their future,” Tenel said.

Tenel has been in Columbia City since the eighth grade. She married her high-school sweetheart, David, nearly 30 years ago and has three kids, Keith, Kyle and Kendra. She has two daughters-in-law, Mackenzie and Abby and has been blessed with two grandchildren.

Her favorite things are spending time with her husband, kids and grandkids hiking and playing games. Her hobby is baking! She loves ice cream and 90s rock music. She also enjoys poetry and collects antique poetry books.

As a Huntington University alum, Tenel studied Accounting for her Bachelor’s and then earned her Master of Business Administration.

“Being in a position to help enable those experiencing a crisis in their lives, pull themselves out and change for the better, and to know I played just a small part in that, is by far the most rewarding part of working at Mission 25. I can't think of anything more fulfilling than seeing a mother reconnect with her children, watching a dad regain financial independence, celebrating milestones in one's recovery, or helping a child struggling with their homework; we work with some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community, build their strengths and genuinely contribute to their lives,” Tenel said.

Check back soon to read Sydney Maloy's story!

She believes in Mission 25 because “we help build pathways, provide tools and resources, listen, cry, laugh, support, journey and most importantly- we CELEBRATE and BELIEVE in every client we serve.”

From Warsaw, she grew up primarily in Whitley County. She’s a mother of four and has two grandchildren.

She doesn’t count carbs when eating her favorite food – Italian with lots of bread! Her favorite music is contemporary Christian and 70s, 80s and 90s music.

Her hobbies include spending time with family and friends, cooking, sitting outside while reading, listening to music, watching movies and documentaries, and thrift store shopping.

Joy believes in the organization's mission because Mission 25 is addressing people's problems on a bigger scale.

“We are not just treating people for 30 days and then they are gone. They have a complete program they work through from the beginning first steps (things like getting an I.D., job, doctor established, and SNAP benefits) to saving their money to move to their place. We support our clients and wrap around them through the whole process and we are even available to support them after they leave our building. At Mission 25 we bring healing to the whole person and the family in all aspects of their life. This is what we believe brings real restoration.”

Her husband, Barak, and she have three teenagers, a married son in the USAF, and a dog named Winnie.

Joy enjoys reading, writing, gardening, listening to music, spending time with her family, and doing anything by the water!! She loves almost every type of music - has a very eclectic taste. Her all-time favorite is still the Dave Matthews Band. “I am a huge fan of older Jim Carrey movies and a massive Harry Potter fan. I love reading about a lot of topics with my favorites being addiction and recovery, historical events, and murder mysteries”.

From Napa Valley, California, Joy moved to Markle/Huntington area at 13. She has a bachelor's degree in Human Services, a minor in Addiction Services, and is a Certified Peer Recovery Coach. She has a lot of lived experience with people in all different types of trauma, whether it is substance use recovery, homelessness, the criminal justice system, or suicide.

Her favorite part of the job is helping people find hope, healing, and recovery.

Tami believes in Mission 25: "I had a childhood that would mirror many of the kids I work with. I love being part of a program whose mission is to provide a toolbox to show these kids a different (from what they know) way to live, function, and express themselves appropriately. I love that I get to build relationships with these kiddos and their families. I pray each day that they see Jesus in me and that I can show them the love of Jesus-the love that sticks by them when they are going through the most challenging days and celebrates with them on their best days, the love that shows them that they will never be alone.”

This Noble County native grew up surrounded by corn fields, cows and pigs and the smells that go with them. She went to West Noble schools from the third grade and had a Cromwell address but an Etna phone number.

Now, Tami and her husband Dick have a son and granddaughter and three dogs – an Austrailian Shepherd mix, a Staffordshire Terrier mix and a Shih Tzu.

Tami loves snowmen, the color purple, unsweetened tea and Mexican cuisine. She enjoys worship music, all of the Nicholas Sparks books and her go-to movies are Grumpy Old Men, Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing and Cool Runnings.

She likes an evening with a puppy on her lap and the others lying nearby. She enjoys pretty much any game and likes to read and watch movies, but they put her to sleep quickly.

“I love the kids I serve at Miami Village. I love seeing them grow, learn and build their community. I also love when every kid at Miami Village knows and says, ‘Miss Tami, I know you love snowmen, don’t you?’,” Tami said.

“Being a part of the mission of Mission 25 makes you want to be the person paying it forward and help others pay it forward too,” Pam said.

Pam loves pizza, board games and cards with family and friends. She grew up between Wolf Lake and Albion area. She’s a proud mom of three and a grandma, too. She also considers her six outside cats part of her family.

Pam worked for Mission 25 for six years and then left before making her way back 13 years ago. Her early childhood education degree and recovery coaching certificate make Pam proud and connect to her favorite part of the job.

“Watching people come to the shelter a ‘hot mess’ and then giving them the tools to learn, grow and make their pathways is my favorite. To see them blossom into someone they did not even know they could be and watching the transformation is amazing,” Pam said.

She enjoys cooking competition shows like The Great British Baking Show but Blue Bloods and Bones are her favorites.

She also believes in Mission 25 because she has had her own journey and had people who made a difference on her journey. The training she has received on the job has changed her and the clients of Mission 25. Watching broken people, in despair and hopelessness, turn into someone who can use skills and accomplish goals and so much more is what Mission 25 is about.

“I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and Mission 25 is a prime example of just that. We strive to grant long-term success, giving individuals a safe, sober, healthy place to stay to better themselves. I believe in Mission 25 and what it stands for; I have seen firsthand the successes that have come through our building. It's an honor to help individuals find themselves, recreate their new healthy lifestyles, and help celebrate their success with them,” Alyson said.

A sucker for Chinese and Mexican food and spending time with family and friends, Alyson also enjoys a good medical TV series and music with a story behind it.

Alyson has two younger siblings and she grew up right in the heart of small town Columbia City.

With an associate's degree in Applied Science, Alyson also works in a Cancer Institute and truly enjoys being able to help people who need it most.

The best part of working at Mission 25 for Alyson is going to each shift and watching each resident lean on each other and build a community throughout their stay and journey with Mission 25.

“Life is GREAT when it's GREAT and it's ROUGH when it's ROUGH. We all need support, a cheerleader, a smile, and a kick in the tail when the overwhelming takes over. EVERYONE deserves a team rallying around them when defeat is the only view someone might see,” Karen said, which is why she believes in Mission 25.

Married to Kevin, they’re busy raising their three very active, almost adult children.

From Muncie, Karen especially likes cheese. She even loves to wrap bananas in a piece of cheese!

She’s a cheerleader for her kids and others in this community, organizes events and enjoys playing cards. She loves everything about the 80s – even the big hair! Her favorite music is when her son plays his guitar and sings country music. She enjoys all the movie and book titles and genres.

Karen’s favorite part of the job is when she walks in the door and a smile pops up on someone's face. “Its value is worth more than a paycheck. I can use my God-given talents to get in the messy, rocky trenches with these men, women and children.”

“Seeing firsthand someone who has hit rock bottom come into our program and watch them achieve success one level at a time,” is why Denise believes in Mission 25.

Denise is married and a mom of three and grandma to one.

From Fort Wayne, she enjoys take-out food, being outdoors, traveling, and remodeling.

Her favorite music is 80s bands, favorite movies have Al Pacino and her favorite books are all the banned ones.

Watching residents gain employment and become self-sufficient are her favorite parts of the job!

Gabrielle believes in Mission 25 because “it works.”

I have witnessed people's lives change firsthand. I have seen so much love, hope, tears, energy, and excitement poured into the lives of the people we serve. We love our clients and do our very best to help them succeed. We always meet them where they're at and love them through the storms they face. We cry with them, celebrate with them, and cheer them on. The relationships we build with these people are so much more than a client/case manager relationship. It's a friendship and a partnership. When our people face setbacks, we face it with them. When they reach their goals, we celebrate with them. I have seen so much growth in these people's lives in so many aspects,” Gabrielle said.

She is from Fort Wayne and has two younger sisters. Her favorite food is Mexican, and she loves all music! Finding Nemo, Beauty and the Beast, Big Daddy and Radio are her favorite movies, and her favorite author is James Patterson.

Her favorite part of the job is serving others and impacting their lives and the community. When she’s not at work, Gabrielle enjoys coloring, listening to music, hiking, fishing, and just being outdoors.