Meet Our Leadership Team

Allison served as the Chair for New Hope of Indiana’s Board of Directors for a year and a half until she accepted the CEO position in September 2014. As CEO, she is responsible for providing strategic leadership throughout New Hope. Allison is working with the New Hope Board of Directors and its Associates to expand services while at the same time continue the long-standing and excellent dedication to service New Hope has always provided. Prior to working with New Hope, she was the Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer for St. Vincent Health and served as Vice President for Government Relations at the Indiana Hospital and Health Association. Allison has degrees from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and Indiana University School of Law. Allison describes herself as a lawyer by training but a social worker at heart. She loves to dance with both her husband and daughter.

Allison Wharry

Chief Executive Officer

Laura came to New Hope in 2002 with more than 15 years of experience in accounting. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Butler University and is a Certified Public Accountant. As CFO, she manages the accounting department and all of its functions. In her spare time, Laura enjoys reading, bowling and watching sports. She also loves hugs and is always willing to give them out if you stop by her office.

Laura Tomlin

Chief Financial Officer

Margo is a graduate of Purdue University and is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) with an extensive background in employee relations and talent management in both the public and private sectors. She joined the New Hope team in 2019 as Director of Human Resources. In her role, Margo is responsible for establishing and implementing strategic goals for recruiting, training, retaining and empowering associates. She is committed to maintaining the support and services that make New Hope of Indiana a Top Workplace. Outside of work, Margo enjoys reading, singing in her church choir, playing volleyball and shopping at Menards.

Margo Green

Director of Human Resources

Prior to her career with New Hope of Indiana, Leah studied at the University of Indianapolis. She received her Bachelor of Arts in visual communications and Spanish and graduated with Honors in 1991. That same year Leah started working with New Hope and since then has held a variety of Group Home and Staff Development roles. In her current position as Director of Group Homes she oversees the operation of 11 group homes and medically fragile group homes. Through daily oversight of operation and compliance to federal and state regulations, she hopes to make group homes a place staff want to be, and a place families want their loved ones to live. Leah used to play defensive end for the Indianapolis Vipers, a women’s professional football team!

Leah Steere

Director of Group Home Program

Kathy is the Director of the Community Outreach Department which includes Day Services, Family and Community Services, Home-based Counseling Program and Vocational Rehab Services. Kathy holds a PhD in Special Education. She built her career working in the field of disabilities and child welfare, and she enjoys program development. Kathy has been with New Hope for 14 years and brings a vast amount of knowledge and experience to the team. Kathy loves animals and is Zeller’s (our facility dog) handler.

Kathy Ballard

Director of Community Outreach Department

Cassi has over twenty years of experience serving individuals with disabilities. She started at New Hope as a Team Leader in Supported Living in 2007 and left in 2017 after becoming a Manager. Since then she has gained leadership and program development experience at other disability providers. As Director of Supported Living Program, Cassi ensures the safety and well-being of the individuals served while balancing the business needs of the program. She is proud to carry on the commitment to excellence that her team has established over the years. At home, Cassi is a proud mom and stays busy watching the Colts and having fun with her family. She loves black coffee, is exceptionally girly and has a bad habit of losing pens.

Cassi Dean

Director of Supported Living Program

Amy received her Bachelor of Arts from Ohio Wesleyan University and her master’s from The Ohio State University. She has been an integral part of New Hope for 30 years working as a social worker for persons with traumatic brain injury, as a supervisor of the social work department and in her current position. As the Director of Community and Family Connections, Amy builds partnerships in the community, leads program admissions and provides resources and referrals to families seeking services. She also oversees New Hope's Behavior Services department. When she’s not working to make New Hope a better place, she loves spending time at bead stores and making jewelry.

Amy Flint

Director of Community and Family Connections

Jenny joined New Hope in November 2020. A graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Jenny spent the first 12 years of her career in the for-profit sector where she served in sales management roles. She then moved into nonprofit fundraising, serving in leadership roles for a number of organizations including United Way of Central Indiana, WFYI and the American Red Cross. At New Hope, Jenny’s role is to increase community awareness and financial support of the organization through meeting with donors, building community partnerships and telling the New Hope story to whoever will listen. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, cooking, traveling and Cubs baseball.

Jenny Pfeil

Director of Fund Development

Maija has been an employee at New Hope since 2003. After graduating from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, Maija went on to work with children in the foster care system, eventually accepting a position at New Hope in the Home-Based Counseling Program. In her current position, she ensures that New Hope provides high quality services to individuals and ensures their safety and well-being. She is also the designated Corporate Responsibility and HIPAA Compliance/Security Officer for New Hope and is in charge of the CARF Accreditation Team. Maija loves sparkling water, peanut butter, and Paper Mate’s Flair pens.

Maija Augenbergs

Quality Assurance Coordinator

Ken has worked in the human services industry since 2005 in various roles including case management, program management and operations. He came to New Hope in 2009 as a Team Leader, and after leaving to gain experience elsewhere, returned to New Hope in 2015. Since then, Ken has been a leader for change and growth at New Hope, working directly with the clients and supporting associates in HR and IT. Today, as Manager of Capital Operations, Ken oversees the daily operations and maintenance of New Hope's many programs and facilities. Outside of work, Ken enjoys relaxing with his family, houseplants, watching a Red Sox game and shopping on eBay.

Ken Rose

Manager of Capital Operations

Board of Directors

Gretchen Sussman, Chair, LEAD3 Consulting

Steve Cook, Vice Chair, Retired 

Pat Gamble-Moore, Secretary, PNC Bank 

Alan O’Rear, Treasurer, Old National Bank 

Sheri Alexander, Retired 

Audra Blasdel, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Steve Cook, Retired 

Daryl Daugherty, Retired 

Jayme Donnelson, Hess Hess & Donnelson LLP

Denise Irons, New Hope of Indiana Parent 

José Lusende, Edward Jones 

Devin Moore, Moore Surety Bonds Agency 

Jennifer Northern, Ascension St. Vincent 

Bill Stinson, Indianapolis Airport Authority 

Parker Willis, McGowan Insurance Group 

Allison Wharry, CEO, New Hope of Indiana 

Sr. Francine Brown, Emeritus Member, Daughters of Charity 

Susan Robinson, Emeritus Member, Retired