SHIP is managed by a staff of committed and passionate professionals who live and work in Frederick County. This team takes the initiative – to do what’s right, take care of these children’s immediate needs, and to do it right now. SHIP works in cooperation with Frederick County Public Schools, human relief agencies, government, and other organizations to create positive outcomes in the lives of homeless youth here in our Frederick County community.
It takes a village and ours is unmatched.
Meet Our Village:
Melissa
Executive Director
As our fearless leader, Melissa wears many hats within the organization and our local community in general. With an impressive professional history in legislative work, advocacy, and tourism, she is able to draw from knowledge and experience to help set our students up for success. When asked what she loves most about leading the organization she says, “I love leaving work every day feeling like I made a difference in the lives of young people in the Frederick community. Seeing the success of our students is incredibly rewarding and worth every ounce of effort we put into our programming.”
Melissa also shares a quote that she is reminded of through her work here with SHIP – As the great Leslie Knope said, “Sometimes you have to make the hardest climb to see the most beautiful sunrises.”
Laurie
Development and Marketing Manager
Laurie is joining SHIP with almost 10 years of experience of marketing ranging from social media to Community Liaison work within the community. She has lived in Maryland for 6 years and says that she can’t express enough how much she loves Frederick! “I’m a big fan of the amazing restaurants and atmosphere, the vibe downtown is so unique that it doesn’t compare to other cities.” She emphasizes that she loves to support local businesses and shop little vendor markets at breweries.
Her favorite activities include watching movies, going wine tasting or breweries, and enjoying time with her husband, son, and wonderfully weird dog.
Monica
Program Administrator – New Horizons Program
Ellen Ruby
Program Administrator – Thrive Housing Network
Amber
Administrative Assistant and Resource Coordinator
Laura
Case Manager – New Horizons Program
It’s a privilege to work at SHIP and bear witness to students’ stories, especially those they may not have had the chance to tell before. Helping students realize that life’s challenges are not meant to paralyze them, but rather to help them discover who they are, what they can rise from, and how they can still thrive. SHIP has deepened my passion for serving many of our most vulnerable students in the Frederick area, creating a space of belonging and hope for them to pursue diverse and equitable higher education opportunities.
As Mother Teresa said, “We sometimes think that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty.”
Outside of work, Laura enjoy traveling with my family, indulging in diverse and delicious foods, spending time at the beach, and watching movies with her husband.
Kiyah
Case Manager – New Horizons Program
Kiyah joins our team after recently graduating college in 2023! When she is outside of the office, she enjoys reading, especially loves a good thriller or romance novel. She also loves the colors pink, blue and orange as well as enjoys traveling!
When asking Kiyah her favorite quote, she shared, “It’s not where you come from, its where you belong”. This quote is significant to her because our students come from many different backgrounds and it emphasizes that their current or past circumstances do not define their worth or limit their potential.
Fun fact, Kiyah graduated high school at 16 years old, graduated college at 20 years old, and will have two degrees before she’s 22 years old!
Wanda
Case Manager – New Horizons Program
Wanda joins our team motivated to make a difference in our students lives. After striving and struggling to finish nursing school, she took her first job at a Hospice and became their staffing coordinator. After 20 years, Wanda decided it was time to change her path and joined the staff at FCPS where she worked in specialized programs for the last 10 years before joining the SHIP team. When asking Wanda an important quote, she responded, “no matter how bad things get you can succeed, and I’m proof of that.” She thinks Rita Pearson said it best when she said, “Every child deserves a champion-an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.
Cameron
Case Manager – Thrive Housing Network
Cameron has been involved in nonprofit work with focuses ranging from environmental to education for the last two years, doing all he can to make the world a better place. He enjoys playing sports, hanging out with friends and always learning more about the environment. When we asked Cameron about that he is most excited for when joining the SHIP crew, he responded, “I am most excited for is helping students get where they want to be and creating new relationships.” We’re thrilled to have Cameron join our Thrive Housing Network team.
Mark
With nearly 15 years of experience in youth development, Mark has dedicated his career to empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential. At SHIP, he is most excited about supporting students as they grow and thrive, no matter their circumstances.
Outside of work, Mark enjoys producing music and spending quality time with his family. A fan of Disney movies, he never misses a chance to watch his favorites. His love for Ledos pizza, the color green, and chimps adds to his fun and vibrant personality.
One of Mark’s favorite quotes comes from Andre 3000: “You’re only as funky as your last cut.”
Diana
Case Manager– New Horizons Program
Diana O. Castro has a background in care management, community outreach, and school coordination, where she has focused on supporting families, empowering youth, and building strong community connections. She is excited to be part of SHIP and its mission to help develop future leaders and entrepreneurs who will make a positive impact in their communities.
Outside of work, Diana enjoys painting, crafting, dancing, singing, interior decorating, and spending time with friends and family. She especially loves DIY interior design projects, transforming spaces with vintage décor and unique lighting.
Diana’s favorite things include Japanese ramen, warm neutrals, and butterflies. A quote she loves is, “At the end of the day, you are where you are because of your decisions, not because of your circumstances.”
Kaitlyn
SHIP Intern
Kaitlyn has a background in volunteer work and customer service and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Social Work, with plans to continue on to her master’s degree after graduation. She is passionate about creating positive change and making a meaningful difference in the lives of the students she serves.
Outside of school and work, Kaitlyn enjoys arts and crafts, gaming, spending time in nature, practicing yoga, and relaxing at home. Her favorite animal is the tiger, although she loves all animals so much that she is a vegetarian. Kaitlyn is excited to support students and help create positive change through her work with SHIP.
Macy
SHIP Intern
Macy has spent nearly 10 years working in helping services, primarily supporting students with intellectual disabilities. She continued this work throughout college and plans to continue making a difference in the lives of others after graduation.
Outside of SHIP, Macy loves spending time outdoors, being active, hanging out with friends, and going to the beach. What draws her most to SHIP is the people and the sense of community. She appreciates how everyone comes together to support one another and describes the people she has met through the program as some of the kindest she has ever known. Their care and encouragement are what keep her coming back.
Macy’s favorite color is pink, her favorite animal is an otter, and her favorite food is Panda Express. A fun fact about Macy is that she used to be a heptathlete!