Our Team
Executive Leadership
Emily Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Emily prides herself in being the CEO of Wyoming’s only nonprofit specializing in both life and financial management services. She has worked to fill gaps in community services in Wyoming for more than 20 years. Ms. Smith has a degree in Social Work from Boise State University, has been a certified social worker in Wyoming since 2002 and a Nationally Certified Guardian through the Center for Guardianship Certification since 2011. In 2010 she began working at Wyoming Guardianship Corporation, becoming Executive Director in 2011. She has an eclectic work experience which includes home health social work, psychiatric social work, community mental health and crisis work. She sits on the boards of both the National PLAN Alliance, an organization dedicated solely to meeting the planning needs of families with adult children having lifelong disabilities, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne. Ms. Smith currently lives in Cheyenne with her husband and rescued dogs.
Jeana Kress
Chief Financial Officer
Jeana is WGC’s Chief Financial Officer and joined the organization in 2018. Jeana has an Associate's Degree in Business Administration and Accounting and has has an extensive background in business management; accounting; project management and process development. Before joining WGC, Jeana was the Business Operations Manager for Small and Medium Business for IBM Global Business Services managing project financials. Jeana enjoys spending time with her family, pets and the beautiful outdoors.
Life Management Services
Brendi Jensen
Director, Life Management Services
Brendi Jensen, Nationally Certified Guardian, is the Director of Life Management Services and has been with the organization since 2020. Brendi has spent her career working in human services with at risk and disabled adults, youth, and children. She is attending the University of Wyoming where she will receive her certification as a Community Health Worker in December of 2024. Brendi and her husband have owned and operated Double Shoe Farm in Casper since 2011. They provide farm fresh Berkshire pork and Angus beef to Wyoming communities and donate their pork & beef to raise money for many nonprofits in Wyoming. Brendi enjoys spending time with her husband and children as well as teaching horseback riding lessons and providing equine therapy to individuals with challenges such as autism, anxiety, and PTSD..
Kenna Hill
Facility Liaison and Guardianship Team Coordinator, Kenna Hill has been with WGC since 2007. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wyoming and has been a Nationally Certified Guardian through the Center for Guardianship Certification since 2009. Ms. Hill has extensive experience working with individuals who have serious mental health illness, acquired brain injury and intellectual disability. She volunteers regularly in her community, enjoys all types of sporting events and loves spending time outdoors as much as possible.
Liz Hamann
Liz joined WGC as a Guardian in 2014. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a master’s degree in guidance counseling from Tennessee State University. Her professional experience includes managed care, medical case management, quality improvement, federally qualified health care/grants, utilization management, workers compensation case management and cardiac intensive care. In her spare time, Ms. Hamman enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing and swimming and gardening.
Yuri Freeman
Yuri Freeman, LPC, joined WGC in August of 2024. She is a highly experienced therapist with a passion for empowering individuals and families. Licensed in Wyoming since 2005, Yuri holds a Master's degree in Community Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado, where she also earned dual undergraduate degrees in Psychology and English.
Before and after obtaining her license, Yuri honed her skills in diverse settings, including family shelters, group homes for children and adults with disabilities, assisted living facilities for the elderly, and providing infant and child care. Witnessing the challenges faced by these populations fueled her desire to pursue counseling as a career.
Yuri's expertise encompasses a wide range of therapeutic environments, including acute care hospitals, residential treatment centers, community mental health clinics, drug court programs, correctional facilities, schools, and client homes. She skillfully assists children, adults, and families in recognizing and leveraging their internal strengths and community resources to achieve their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.
Beyond clinical work, Yuri enjoys playing darts, exploring new games, and engaging in creative endeavors like crafting. She cherishes family time, traveling, and exploring nature with her children.
Kelly Headley
Kelly Headley joined the WGC team as the Substance and Mental Health Ombudsman in June of 2020. Kelly currently lives “off the grid” on the Wind River Reservation. Kelly has worked as a care coordinator for Wyoming Services for Independent Living, a paraprofessional in the Fremont County School District, a young adult librarian at the Fremont County Library, a kitchen manager for the National Outdoor Living School in Lander, and most recently as a barista at her daughter and son-in-law’s coffee shop, where she honed her coffee brewing skills. Kelly is an avid outdoors woman, a mother to four successful adult children, and loves helping others, making her a great advocate and ombudsman.
Rebecca Solovey
Rebecca joined WGC in December of 2023. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Eastern Washington University. Rebecca has spent her career serving children and the disabled and geriatric populations. She is actively involved at her church and has volunteered in the youth ministries for over three years.
In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys playing Peppa Pig and Ninja Turtles with her son, doing science experiments with him, cooking, and reading.
Sean Archer
Sean Archer began his journey with Wyoming Guardianship in March of 2024. Sean has an extensive amount of experience working with individuals with disabilities from front line to an administrative manager. Now as a Guardian, he looks forward to embracing what is ahead and ready to advocate for those who he is entrusted to assist.
In Sean’s free time he enjoys being outside walking with his dachshund and enjoying the scenery. He loves going for motorcycle rides and practicing the sport of archery. He is active in church and is a devout family man, often enjoying dinosaur adventure with his 3 year old.
Trent Newbury-VanLove
Trenton (Trent) Newbury-VanLove, MS, joined WGC in November of 2024. Trent holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology and will soon complete a second master’s degree in sociology. Trent has bachelor’s degrees in psychology and social sciences with a minor in sociology from the University of Wyoming. Also, he has an associate’s degree in education and communications from Laramie County Community College.
Trent’s work history predominantly comes from being a case manager assisting clients who are under the developmental disability waiver and the community choices waiver. Trent has worked side-by-side with veterans under the veteran directive care program. Additional experience came from Trent’s early 20s as a behavioral health technician.
Beyond work and education, Trent enjoys playing Magic the Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, videogames, and reading horror, fantasy, romance, and non-fiction or fiction science-based books. Trent loves to spend time with family, exploring nature via hiking and skiing, and spending time with his dog.
Financial Management Services
Tristan Johnson
Director, Financial Management Services
Tristan is WGC’s Director of Financial Management Services, joining the organization in 2023. She is a Cheyenne, WY native and a University of Wyoming graduate with a bachelor’s degree in finance with a Minor in Banking & Financial Services, as well as having her IOM designation in Non-Profit Management. In addition, Tristan is a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator in the State of Wyoming and has an extensive background in various areas of the financial services industry.
Tristan is a highly active member of the Cheyenne community. She has been a lifelong volunteer for Cheyenne Frontier Days is a former Miss Frontier, and a current member of WHEELS. Tristan also currently serves on the Leadership Cheyenne Steering Committee and the Cheyenne Animal Shelter Board.
Tristan is a proud mom of two amazing children, Jenna, a junior at the University of Wyoming, and Logan, a junior at Central High School. .
Mary Zuber
Mary joined the WGC team in August 2022, as a Financial Navigator. She loves working with the public and has spent 35 years working in customer service with 17 of those years in Human Services. Mary spent 14 years with DFS, the last 7 years as an Economic Security Analyst.
Mary is an advocate for children and adults who have suffered or are suffering abuse. While at CWC, she completed internships with the Victim’s Assistance Programs in Fremont County. She interned for the RPD, FCAO, and the FCSO. Mary is an Independent Damsel Pro and promotes situational awareness and self-defense.
In her spare time, Mary loves spending time with her husband. They love to ride Harleys, travel to museums, art shows and as many concerts as time allows.
Amanda Walsh
Amanda joined WGC in April 2023 as the Trust Coordinator. She has a passion for helping people and has spent the last decade in various roles that allowed her to do that. Her professional experience includes being a Realtor and working as a Legal Assistant in a busy family law office. She is looking forward to working with the clients of WGC.
Amanda loves to spend her spare time enjoying quiet cups of coffee, snuggling her two kitties and enjoying every spare minute with her two amazing kids.
JoDee
JoDee joined the WGC team in 2012 as the Accounts Manager in the representative payee program. She attended Business College in South Dakota obtaining an associate degree in business and accounting. JoDee has experience in bookkeeping, office management and accounting. She enjoys scrap booking and mixed media, antiquing, calligraphy and camping.
Winter McGee
Winter enjoys accounting, loves to crunch numbers and figuring out how to make the most of what money people have. She loves helping people working towards goals and figuring out ways they can achieve them financially.
Winter and her family love to go camping, four wheeling and just being in the mountains. She and her husband have three beautiful daughters, one son, 2 cat and 12 chickens.
Michaella Rauwolf
Michaella, Team Coordinator, joined WGC in September of 2021. She holds a degree in Computer Science and has spent most of her career in accounting and office management.
She is the proud mom of 2 military veterans and Mimi/Oma to 5 grandkids. In her spare time, Michaella enjoys most things outdoors such as camping, hunting, ice fishing and hiking. Her dream is to eventually live on a large parcel of forested land and spend time gardening and taking care of farm animals and pets.
Administration
Danica Lamb
Human Resources & Office Manager
Danica joined WGC in August of 2020 as the Office Manager and Human Resources Administrator. Danica has spent the majority of her career working in all facets of Human Resources within the healthcare field at hospitals located in Tennessee, Alaska and Wyoming. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources/Management as well as a certification specialty in recruitment. Danica enjoys being in the mountains, backpacking, hiking , photography and concerts.
Molly Johnson
Molly joined the WGC team as an Office Assistant in December 2020. She greatly enjoys helping clients and community members by getting their information to the correct person within WGC. Molly also loves spending time with her husband and daughter at home in the country with their dogs, chickens, and cat. Her other joys include running and reading a good book.
Amber Barnhart
Community Liaison
Amber Barnhart is the Community Liaison at WGC. She has been working collaboratively with community agencies, and the court system on an array of projects that focus on advocating for individuals who have experienced abuse and neglect, poverty, and mental health concerns. Amber is proud to serve on the board of directors for the Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund as well as the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless. In her free time, she enjoys rucking, road tripping, and floating the river while listening to 80s music.
Memorie Self
Memorie joined the WGC team as an Accounts Receivable Clerk in April 2023. Originally from Oregon, her and her husband moved to Cheyenne in 2022. Memorie has previously worked in the finance industry, with a proven track record of accurately processing payments and maintaining financial records. She is detail-oriented, organized, and committed to providing excellent customer service. When she’s not crunching numbers, Memorie enjoys all things outdoors, catching up on reality TV shows, and spending time with family.