STAFF
Pamela Seymour
Executive Director
Pamela Seymour joined River of Refuge in March of 2020 and is thrilled to lead this important organization. She spent the past 10 years as the Executive Director of a local non-profit focused on helping older adults age in place. Though not many people may realize, many of the same obstacles and challenges that children and families experience, older adults do as well. Food insecurity, affordable housing, and access to proper healthcare are not unique to one age group. Prior to non-profit leadership, Pam spent 15 years in high-performance computing as a Sales and Marketing professional. Prior to computing, she spent 10 years in banking. She is passionate about social equity issues regardless of age or demographics. Making a difference in the community is extremely important and what “drives” Pam each and every day.
Jacki Ezell
Program Director
Jacki joined River of Refuge as a volunteer after retiring from DST Systems as a Client Relations Consultant in 2013. Her 30 years of business experience, dedication, and shared vision quickly led to a staff position at River of Refuge. Jacki studied management and human relations at MidAmerica Nazarene University, graduating in 2003.
She previously developed and ran the Family Assistance Program, which helped homeless families primarily living in motels. When the dream of our Transitional Housing Program became a reality, she worked as a case manager for two years. Jacki was then promoted to Program Director, responsible for the daily operation of the Transitional Housing Program.
Clark Pickett
Accounting Manager
Clark Pickett joined River of Refuge in February 2023 and is grateful for the opportunity to serve in this organization. He spent the last three years volunteering as a member of the Board of Directors at Woodgate Farm Homes Association, including two years as president. Prior to that, Clark spent more than thirty years in Finance in various industries, including three years in non-profit, twenty years in insurance, and ten years combined in manufacturing, publishing, and warehouse/distribution. He is passionate about accuracy in numbers and systems, and compassionate in relations with people. Continuous improvement in work and encouraging others is what guides him each day.
Gregg Relaford
Facilities Manager
Gregg joined the River of Refuge team in 2018. He started his professional career in retail and customer service management. Gregg has over 15 years of ministry experience, currently serving with his wife as the Community Connection Pastor at River Church Family in Raytown. Prior to joining River of Refuge, he worked as a Maintenance Engineer with a focus on cost efficiency and preventative maintenance. He worked with "Efficiency Program Analysis" as well as with state and local energy guidelines. At River of Refuge, Gregg's goal is to lower the cost of running the facility while making it comfortable for the families in the program. Family is the most important thing to Gregg and he is proud to be at River of Refuge where making families stronger and keeping them together is key.
Dianna Poston
Case Manager
Dianna Poston joined River of Refuge in 2016 as a volunteer. In 2017, she became the Administrative Assistant for the organization. Even in this role, she spent time with the families becoming a positive influence in their lives because of her passion for people in need. She later became a Case Manager.
She previously worked at Salvation Army Crossroads Family Shelter and is the Founder and Lead Minister of Someone That Cares Int’l Ministry (S1TC).
She enjoys riding her scooter, escaping to her little lake property by Truman Lake for refreshing getaways, spending time with family and friends, fellowshipping and supporting one another in encouragement and prayer. She loves a good Bible study and recovery meeting. She loves a good cup of coffee with friends, a good laugh, and sometimes a good cry. And she loves being part of the heart of her community.
Michelle Baker
Case Manager
Michelle Baker joined River of Refuge in May of 2023 as a case manager. She graduated from the program in 2020. She has been through struggles and homelessness herself which is why she has such a passion in helping others. She enjoys spending time with her four children, going to church, and doing outreach in the community.
Laurie Carpenter
Clinical Director Volunteer
Laurie Carpenter is dually licensed as a Clinical Social Worker in Kansas and Missouri. Laurie is also a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP) and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, (CCTP) who is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Currently, Laurie is the CEO of Authentic Life Clinical Counseling and Wellness in Independence, MO as well as the Founder and President of, The Authentic Life Foundation (ALF), a 501(c)(3) corporation.
Laurie graduated with her master's in social work from Park University in, 2016. She completed her practicum at Lakewood Counseling Services where she completely revamped the services delivered in the Drug Addiction Recovery (DAR) program and won practicum placement student of the year. Upon graduation, Laurie took a lead position for Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc., at a residential care facility for people diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). While there, Laurie created a program which ultimately led to CARF Certification for the facility.
Next, Laurie became the Lead Therapist at Signature Psychiatric Hospital in the Intensive Outpatient Program for dual diagnosis creating many changes and improving delivery of services along the way. In 2020, Laurie started her own private practice and left agency work to create something of her own. At the end of 2022, Laurie gathered a few friends and started ALF.