Leadership
Administration & Governance:
Terri L. Mercer - B.S. Ed., R.T.C., Executive Director:
Terri Mercer co-facilitates the
Passages class and leads the First Step team by providing the overall direction and leadership of the agency. She resolves personnel issues and acts as the official spokesperson for the agency. She also develops and administers all program activities of the agency in accordance with agency policy.
Mercer holds a Bachelors degree in Education from the University of Findlay and was Reality Therapy Certified in 1992 by the Institute for Reality Therapy, Los Angeles, CA. She is well known in the state of Ohio as a practitioner, teacher, and innovator of programs and services in the field of domestic violence. She has had more than 20 years of experience in consulting and teaching in the areas of family dynamics, parenting, child development, mental retardation, teenage pregnancy, and interpersonal development. Mercer has been active at the state level on domestic violence, having served as an officer and board member of ACTION OHIO, a member of the Ohio Women’s Budget Coalition, and as a member of the Institute of Reality Therapy. She has been responsible for the initial and continuing development of the
Passages psycho-educational program that has received acknowledgment from the Institute for Reality Therapy as an innovative and effective method to address the needs of victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.
Jesse Kauffman - B.S. Ed., Community Resource Coordinator:
Jesse Kauffman serves as the public relations coordinator and community networking liaison for First Step. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and provides public relations insight and direction for the agency by coordinating marketing efforts and communicating with the press and media as well as maintaining agency media resources such as the newsletter and website. He is also involved in promoting First Step’s fundraising projects.
Jesse works closely with the executive director to develop and coordinate promotion of First Step services to the public. He co-facilitates First Step’s
Passages psycho-educational program along with Executive Director Terri Mercer. Jesse also serves as a liaison between First Step and other social service agencies, law enforcement, and community partners to ensure an effective continuum of care for domestic violence victims and their families. As community liaison part of his function is to recruit volunteers, heighten community awareness, and develop partnerships with community leaders to ensure that First Step services best meet our clients’ needs.edit.
Advocacy
LuAnn Berry - B.S., M.B.A., C.A., R.A, Victim Advocate:
LuAnn Berry provides crisis intervention and individual court advocacy through assisting with filing protection orders and court accompaniment. She also provides domestic violence education, referrals, safety planning, and support for victims and their families.
LuAnn facilitates a program to assist First Step clients and their families with improvement of life and employment skills to help them better secure their futures through education and career development. She is a member of the Exchange Club of Fremont, Leadership Sandusky County Alumni Committee and is Vice Chair of the Sandusky County Homeless Coalition. She received her M.B.A. with a concentration in Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation through Colorado Technical University and has a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Franklin University. She has met the requirements for Registry status through the Ohio Advocate Network and is credentialed through the National Organization for Victim’s Assistance. She also holds a Certificate for Healthcare Providers in Chemical Assessment from Terra State Community College.
Residential Services
Mary Jacquot - A.S. Ed., Shelter Services Coordinator:
Mary Jacquot graduated from Terra Community College with an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. As the Shelter Services Coordinator, Mary’s primary duties consist of providing crisis intervention, aiding with the needs of the residential clients and providing assistance with childcare. Her other duties include operating the office reception area, filing and maintaining agency information. Mary became a member of the First Step staff in 2003.
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