CEO SPARK Exchange Hosts: A Conversation About Rapid Scaling

Will Jones has devoted his career to child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health services in residential and community-based programming. Since joining Thompson as President/CEO in 2017, he has steadily moved the organization forward and upward, guiding a staff of the most talented and sought-after professionals in the industry. Considered a thought leader and subject matter expert for speaking to the unique challenges that diverse populations and communities face; Will is frequently requested to report on Thompson’s impactful work that brings tangible resources and real-world solutions to children and families across North Carolina, Upstate & Midlands of South Carolina, and Tampa, Florida.

Margaret Holland McDuff is the CEO of Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI), a behavioral health and human service organization providing services to children, individuals and families across the state. As a respected leader in the child well-being community, she has worked with vision and passion to address the needs of a diverse range of Rhode Islanders. During her time as CEO, she has greatly increased the organization’s ability to make a positive impact across entire communities through a unique blend of high impact partnerships and high-quality, innovative programs. Under Margaret’s tenure, FSRI has grown into a $22 million organization with 300 highly skilled team members actively strengthening the fabric of Rhode Island by enhancing health care for improved well-being; supporting social and economic mobility; delivering trauma response and recovery; and fostering safe and loving homes. Margaret was recently appointed by Governor McKee to serve on the Governor’s Council on Behavioral Health. She holds an MBA from Bryant University, an MA in Developmental Psychology from Rhode Island College, and a BA in Psychology from St. Anselm College.

Kirsten Olson is CEO of Children & Families First (CFF), a $31 million social services organization that operates statewide throughout Delaware in more than 15 agency locations with a staff of 400. CFF’s mission is to champion children and families using evidence-based, equity-centered, and innovative approaches.  CFF envisions diverse, healthy, and resilient communities where all children and families thrive.

Ms. Olson has worked in the non-profit human services sector for more than 30 years, providing services and supports across a variety of target populations including the homeless, persons with behavioral health conditions, and youth in child welfare. She joined the staff of CFF in 2008, and held several roles at the organization, including grant writer, chief development officer, and chief strategy officer prior to becoming CEO in January 2020.

Ms. Olson is an appointed member of the Delaware Early Childhood Council and also serves on Delaware’s Community Advisory Board for Home Visiting, and the Board of the Children’s Home Society of America. She has a B.A. in sociology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, an Executive Leadership Certification from Social Current, and was a National School Justic Partnership Fellow at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.

Andry Sweet has more than three decades of experience in child welfare and behavioral health, and specializes in system improvements designed to provide comprehensive and innovative services to Florida’s children and families. She previously worked at the Department of Children and Families, Substance Abuse and Mental Health program office overseeing performance-based contract management and system of care improvements that were later adopted in chapter 394, FS.

Sweet joined CHS’ executive team as an executive director in 2000. She has since served as vice president of operations, vice president of innovation and quality management, chief strategy officer, chief of staff, chief administrative officer and COO.

In the early 2000s,Sweet managed the transition of child welfare services from government to the private sector at CHS. She led innovative work at CHS, including the development and replication of Community Partnership Schools in Florida, integrated health care pilots with Medicaid HMOs and the development of CaseAIM™ to improve child welfare outcomes. She has held leadership positions for a variety of community boards, including the Heart of Florida United Way Council of Agency Executives, the Children’s Cabinet of Seminole County, and the Children’s Cabinet of Orange County. Most recently, she was the chair of the Evans Community Partnership School Cabinet. She was the chair of National Conference 2020 for the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. She is currently the vice-chair of Children’s Home Society of America (CHSA) and the chair of the Data Strategy Committee (leading an initiative to use national data for public policy and advocacy for Families First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)).

Andry has advocated in Washington DC to address the IV-E waiver expiration and advocate for FFTA funds to bridge Florida between the waiver and implementation of FFPSA. She has also testified in Florida legislative committees to support prioritizing funding forfrontline workforce stability in child welfare.

Andry Sweet holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida.