Promoting lifelong independence

Donna McConnico has served as CEO of Signal Centers since 2005, guiding the organization with over three decades of experience in community-based services. She holds Master’s degrees in Counseling and Education, and a Bachelor’s in Sociology. Donna is deeply committed to social justice, education, and family empowerment. Her desire to be a part of the solution, rather than part of the problem is evidenced by her service on many committees and boards and committees, including the Miracle League, the Nonprofit Resource Center, the Board of Visitors for the University of Tennessee School of Social Work, the Task Force for the Center for Thriving Families, and Downtown Rotary Club, where she chairs the Literacy Committee. Her leadership has been recognized with honors such as the Women of Distinction Award, the Unbossed and Unbought Award from Girls Inc., and the One with Courage Award from the Children’s Advocacy Center. Passionate about being part of the solution, Donna lives by Eleanor Roosevelt’s words:

"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

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Heather Hicks is a nationally recognized leader in the early childhood education field through her career-long efforts to improve child care quality, access, and affordability. In her role as Executive Director of Statewide Services, she oversees the nonprofit’s two largest programs comprised of 250+ staff across Tennessee.

One of the programs under her purview, Child Care Resources and Referral (CCR&R), provides training, technical assistance, and coaching to child care agencies in the state’s 95 counties. The other, Child Care WAGE$® Tennessee, addresses the key issues of under-education, poor compensation, and high turnover in the child care workforce by dispersing salary supplements to early childhood professionals. Heather’s leadership, advocacy, support, and fiscal management keep these essential initiatives on track.

Prior to her most recent promotion, Heather was Signal Center’s Chief Officer of Statewide Initiatives and Director of CCR&R. She first joined the organization in 2008 as the Strengthening Families Network Coordinator. Prior, she served as the project manager for an Early Childhood Educator Professional Development grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Heather holds a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is well known for her expertise in the field, as both an author and national conference presenter.

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As Executive Director of Local Services, Christa Mannarino has overall strategic and operational responsibility for all local programs, including Adult Day Services, Assistive Technology, Hart Gallery, Family Forward, Children’s Services, Developmental Therapy, Early Childhood Assessments, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Work Ready, and The Speech & Hearing Center. She is charged with ensuring those programs bring the agency’s mission and vision to fruition and adhere to a high standard of quality.

Christa brings with her 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience leading teams within complex organizations to reach goals. She has extensive skills in strategic planning, facilitation and fundraising. She was most recently the Chief Marketing and Development Officer for Signal Centers. Prior, Christa was the Founder/Principal of Mannarino Consulting and worked as a partner for Community Consultants. She has also held various development roles at Cleveland State Community College, Girls Preparatory School, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She began her nonprofit career as the Executive Director of the Association for Visual Arts. Mannarino holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

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As Chief Officer of Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral, Sherry Harpole oversees the daily operations of the statewide network, as it continues to provide training, technical assistance, and coaching to all licensed child care agencies across the 95-counties of Tennessee. Prior, she was CCR&R’s deputy director of quality assurance and child care business services.

Sherry has been in the early childhood profession for 32 years, as a child care educator, director, owner, and college faculty member. Before joining Signal Centers’ ranks, she worked for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Social Work Office of Research and Public Service in the Child Care Assessment Program as a regional coordinator and assessment anchor. Sherry holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Science in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership with an emphasis in Early Childhood from the University of Memphis.

As Chief Programs Officer, Kelly-Ann Walker oversees the strategic direction, program development, and operational excellence for five of Signal Centers’ local programs, including Adult Day Services, Assistive Technology, Hart Gallery, Family Forward, and The Speech & Hearing Center. She is tasked with ensuring the delivery of innovative, high-quality services and will focus on enhancing client outcomes, fostering community partnerships, and driving growth.

Kelly-Ann has more than a decade of leadership experience in program management, nonprofit governance, and operational excellence across community and health-related programs. Prior to joining Signal Centers in 2023, she was the Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Erlanger Community Health Centers. Before that, she was both a Program Manager and then the Director of Open Arms Care Corporation, the Administrator of Spero Health and the Administrative Manager of Crozer Community Hospital.

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As Chief Programs Officer, Tracy Bryant oversees five of Signal Centers’ local programs, including Children’s Services, Developmental Therapy, Early Childhood Assessments, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and Work Ready. She strives to drive positive change for service recipients and the greater community, as well as oversee collaborative efforts and partnerships.  

Tracy has had ties to the nonprofit sector in Chattanooga for over 25 years, beginning her career with Chambliss Center for Children, where she served as Executive Director of the Extended Childcare program. She also served as Executive Director of Little Miss Mag Early Learning Center, before joining Signal Centers in 2019. Tracy currently serves on the Tennessee Association for Children's Early Education and the Chattanooga Association for Children's Early Education, as well as on Chattanooga State's Early Childhood Education Advisory Board. She is committed to improving the lives of children, families, and individuals with disabilities.  

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As Senior Development Officer, Mike brings a wealth of leadership experience and a passion for community impact to Signal Centers. Prior to joining the organization, Mike served as Vice President of Development at United Way for seven years, where he played a key role in advancing philanthropic initiatives across the region. His earlier career was rooted in the textile industry, culminating in his role as President of the Yarn Group at The Dixie Group. Mike holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Mississippi and earned his Executive MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. A former U.S. Army Captain, Mike’s commitment to service, both civic and professional, continues to drive his mission-focused approach to development and strategic partnerships.

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As Chief Financial Officer of Signal Centers, Angie Hester is responsible for guiding the organization’s financial strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability, and maintaining regulatory compliance. Over her two-decade tenure, she has played a key role in driving Signal Centers' exponential financial growth and reinforcing its reputation for fiscal integrity.

Angie holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. A dedicated leader in her field, she has served multiple terms as president of the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA). She is also a proud alumna of Leadership Chattanooga, Class of 2022.

Angie is deeply committed to community impact and continues to build collaborative relationships with local leaders to strengthen the mission of Signal Centers. Under her financial stewardship, the organization is empowered to deliver high-quality programs while earning the continued trust of funders through transparent and reliable financial practices.

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Sande Lambert, Chief Impact Officer, has served Signal Centers for 24 years. She collaborates with the programs and departments of the agency, community members, and other stakeholders to ensure Signal Centers has a positive impact for those it serves. She does this by raising funds, utilizing data, overseeing volunteer services, participating in strategic planning, and sitting at tables in the community.

Prior to her time at Signal Centers, Sande was a mental health and substance abuse counselor. She has also been a Loaned Executive for United Way of Greater Chattanooga. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Sande is a Past President and active member of the Chattanooga Kiwanis Club. She has served on nonprofit boards in Chattanooga and has volunteered on several nonprofit committees.

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Kyle Hauth joined Signal Centers in 2020 as the Chief Operations Officer. Prior to joining Signal Centers he served as Executive Director for community organizations serving people with intellectual disabilities for 35 years. He retired from his post as Executive Director at Orange Grove in November 2019. Prior to his 14 year stint with Orange Grove, he served with the Michael Dunn Center for 14 years and McNairy County Developmental Services for 7 years.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Union University and a Master of Science Degree in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Memphis. Kyle served for 15 years on the Tennessee Governor’s Advisory Council on Special Education. He served for an equal number of years on the Board of Directors for Tennessee Community Organizations and was Board President in 1995. He was the outstanding member of the year in 1998 and received Executive Director of the Year in 2006.

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Valerie Renfro is an innovative leader with over two decades of progressive experience in talent management, organizational development, and employee engagement. Currently serving as Chief Human Resource Officer at Signal Centers Inc., she plays a strategic role in shaping company culture, optimizing HR operations, and leading wellness initiatives that have significantly improved morale and reduced turnover. Valerie holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from Shorter University and maintains SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications. She is also an active member of SHRM and brings a passion for community involvement, demonstrated through her extensive volunteer work across the Chattanooga area.

Jessica Stewart is the Chief Technology Officer at Signal Centers and has been a dedicated member of the team for nearly 20 years. She leads the IT department with a focus on innovation, security, and operational excellence. As a certified Scrum Master, Jessica brings a collaborative and agile approach to technology leadership. She holds a business degree from Bryan College and has completed extensive leadership training to support her role as a strategic frontrunner. Her deep institutional knowledge and forward-thinking mindset make her a key leader at Signal Centers.

As chief marketing officer, Taylor Bostwick provides strategic planning and management of Signal Centers’ comprehensive communication efforts and public image. She brings more than a decade of marketing and leadership experience and was most recently the president and CEO of The Speech & Hearing Center, which merged with Signal Centers in July 2024.

Taylor always knew she was destined for the communications field. To date, she’s spent her career rounding out her experience to include internal and external communications, marketing, events, branding, digital marketing, and beyond. Taylor was the marketing director of Hamilton Place for CBL Properties and has also worked as an account executive at Waterhouse Public Relations, in corporate communications at Unum and as the head of marketing at Papercut Interactive.

She has also served on community boards and committees, including the Chattanooga Nonprofit Alliance, National Association of Speech & Hearing Centers, Erlanger NICU Family Advisory Council, ETSU Alumni Association, PRSA Lookout, and green|spaces. As a University Honors Scholar, Taylor graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication/Public Relations from East Tennessee State University (Go Bucs!).

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In his role as Deputy Program Officer, Joey Thomas focuses on the strategic and operational goals for Signal Centers’ 11 local programs. He is charged with collaborating to build strong programs that bring the agency’s mission and vision to fruition, meet real community needs, and adhere to the highest standard of quality. Joey maintains programmatic compliance and excellence by setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring measurable outcomes.

Joey joins the team from Cempa Community Care, where he served as director of community health since 2023. He holds a Master of Public Health from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a Juris Doctorate from The University of Memphis, and experience as a Lieutenant with the Chattanooga Fire Department. As a public health leader, Joey is well versed in community engagement and systems-level impact with the end goal of establishing preventative, comprehensive solutions to reducing disparities.

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As Deputy Program Officer, Jenny Wood focuses on the strategic and operational goals for Signal Centers’ 11 local programs. She is charged with collaborating to build strong programs that bring the agency’s mission and vision to fruition, meet real community needs, and adhere to the highest standard of quality. Jenny maintains programmatic compliance and excellence by setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring measurable outcomes.

Jenny was promoted from Signal Centers’ director of Children’s Services. She has been with the nonprofit since September 2022, when she joined as an early childhood development coordinator. As a veteran with a Master of Education in Early Childhood and Special Education from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Social Work from Austin Peay University, she brings with her specialized expertise in strategic leadership, personnel management, and systems design.

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As Deputy Financial Officer, Sharon Green assists with the management of the accounting department, including supervising staff and overseeing financial processes and reporting. She’s tasked with ensuring that fiscal functions of the organization operate in accordance with applicable regulations and financial management practices.

Sharon was most recently the Chief of Operations at Olivet Baptist Church. With a strong background in accounting, nonprofit leadership, and systems management, Green is known for building efficient processes, strengthening fiscal oversight, and driving results through collaboration and structure. She is completing a Master of Public Administration and holds a Master of Science in Leadership from Belhaven University.

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As Deputy Impact Officer, Max designs, implements, collects, and analyzes program outcomes, in collaboration with program leadership, staff, and clients, to help ensure that Signal Centers' programs are achieving their goals and objectives and having a positive impact on the lives of the people we serve. With a Master’s in Public Health and extensive experience in program evaluation and strategic planning, Max oversees outcome tracking for 13 diverse programs, manages multi-agency collaborations, and reports findings to stakeholders across city, county, and state agencies. He has successfully led grant reporting, database migration, and different workplace initiatives, including designing Signal’s Organizational Culture and Diversity Survey.

Previously, Max served as a Research Associate at UT’s Social Work Office of Research and Public Service and managed a federally funded pediatric health clinic. He brings bilingual fluency, cross-sector experience, and a deep commitment to ethical, inclusive practices that strengthen community impact.

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Tra Armstrong brings over 15 years of experience in project management and leadership to his role as Deputy Operations Officer at Signal Centers. Known for his strategic mindset and commitment to community impact, Tra is dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency and fostering innovation within the organization.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Technology, an MBA, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, equipping him with a strong foundation in business strategy, technology management, and project leadership. Tra is also a proud veteran, having served 9 years in the United States Army and the Virginia Army National Guard.

His proven track record of managing large-scale projects and leading cross-functional teams reflects his proactive and solutions-focused approach. His dedication to empowering colleagues and creating sustainable, impactful change aligns with the mission of Signal Centers.

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A native of Chattanooga, Tenisha King, graduated from East Tennessee State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in mass communications with a concentration in public relations. In 2013, she returned to school at Bryan College to obtain her Master of Business Administration. As deputy HR officer, Tenisha implements employee engagement strategies to enhance satisfaction and retention across the organization. Among other things, she assists in directing all functions of the human resources department to ensure excellent customer service and that employees and managers experience a welcoming and supportive environment.

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