MEET THE TEAM

FOUNDER & CEO

Annette Klinefelter, AKI’s founder and CEO, has been advocating for young people since 2000—and with more than 20 years of experience, she brings a vast and timely perspective to the development of recovery housing for Washington youth.

Annette’s passion for the social and economic empowerment of women was realized during her time at Lewis & Clark College, where she received her master’s in educational administration and her undergraduate degree in political science. During that same time, she founded Girls Inc., having a hand in many of the programs that continue to support youth at every level of prevention and intervention to this day. Annette then went on to oversee the development and launch of Washington’s first psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth in Vancouver, WA, which evolved into the largest youth residential treatment provider in the state.

With this great undertaking came a meaningful resolve: to develop a more robust continuum of services and care for youth with behavioral health conditions and substance use disorder. “All of my personal and professional experiences have converged at AKI,” Annette surmises. “Here, women are empowered to grow and lead in the pursuit of healing for our youth. And working among fearless, daring women is the joy of my career.”

PROGRAM MANAGER

CeCee Hubert, Program Manager at the Butterfly House, AKI’s first Behavioral Rehabilitation Services (BRS) home, is proud to stake her claim as a “Day One” employee since their doors opened in 2020.

CeCee has had a front row seat to Annette’s mission to find a more holistic way to serve youth for years—it’s the same prowess she observed when working with Annette in their previous roles. Upon learning she would have the chance to diverge from the “standard” model of care by recreating the feel of an authentic, relationship-based home with AKI, CeCee was filled with possibility. Now she, too, has found the perfect home for her decade-long experience with drug and alcohol rehabilitation, crisis intervention and mental health recovery. CeCee continues to match Annette’s urgency for this line of work, diving headfirst into its demanding nature. “It’s very hard, courageous work,” she says. “But we do not give up on the kids.”

PROGRAM MANAGER

Jenna Grant, Program Manager at the Hummingbird House, arrived to the organization at the end of 2020, where she, Annette and CeCee laid the groundwork for the relational model that’s at the very heart of AKI.

Jenna’s history is steeped in advocacy for people of all ages, backgrounds and needs; working in a children’s crisis nursery, then a women’s prison. One constant in both experiences has been her role in managing most of the moving pieces of an organization, like the scheduling and upkeep of daily structure, as well as coordinating educational and spiritual enrichment activities and volunteer opportunities. Jenna believes this adherence to a predictable daily rhythm is the backbone of AKI, especially when matched with an emphasis on highly-individualized care and enduring relationships. “The thing we do best is that we lean into a relational model,” Jenna explains. “With kids, sure—but also with staff.”

PROGRAM MANAGER

Allison Johnson, Program Manager at AKI’s Lily Pad House, comes from a long line of behavioral health experts. And with nearly two decades of treatment and behavioral health experience, she continues to carry the torch of her family’s legacy forward.

Allison’s first job in drug and alcohol counseling gave her real-time insight into the intrinsic value of a built-in support system for those in recovery. She then dove into special education as a paraeducator, helping previously non-verbal students find language and eventually start using complete sentences. A move to Oregon in 2020 led Allison to AKI with an opportunity that felt, in her words, “cosmically aligned.” She began working in the BRS houses and now finds her groove in AKI’s Adolescent Transitional Living Program (ATLP), where she’s even more motivated to be involved with youth coming up against the clock of an 18th birthday. “(It’s) emotional work,” she confesses. “But I’m all in. We really have the opportunity to raise such healthy humans.”

CASE MANAGER

Caitlyn Marks, Case Manager at AKI’s Lily Pad House, relies on a certain quote as a guiding principle: “Be the person you needed when you were younger.” While working with teens wasn’t initially where she thought she would find herself, Caitlyn’s realized it’s where she sees herself the most. She wholly relates to how pivotal these moments are for the young women and non-binary youth at AKI.

Caitlyn graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a double major in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Philosophy. From there, she became a lead staff for a teen residential youth program, then worked as a case manager with children under 10. She comes to AKI equipped to work with the full spectrum of youth in transitional living; from case management and mental health support to curriculum and enrichment development. “It's my favorite thing in the world to validate their experience; to help them understand that their feelings and their perspective isn't wrong, simply because they’re young,” Caitlyn illustrates. “But I also shed light on how choices they make now can affect their future in really big ways.”

OVERNIGHT PROGRAM MANAGER

Tessa Liebman, Overnight Program Manager at AKI, works the nightshift in both of AKI’s BRS homes and as an on-call staff for the ATLP home. Like several of her colleagues, Tessa arrived to AKI in its infancy; beginning first on swing shift and now overseeing overnight staff—on any given night, there’s at least five AKI employees tuned in to youth, performing 30-minute checks and offering a comforting presence when needed.

Tessa has long gravitated to recovery services, knowing her capacity for care is deeply rooted in mental and behavioral health. “Working with people who need extra support in life has always been a passion of mine,” she confirms. Her first job, right out of high school, was as a rehabilitation counselor at a residential treatment facility for those confronting substance abuse disorders intertwined with mental health. Tessa eventually hopes to graduate from college with a degree in social work, although she’s in no rush to close the chapter of her life dedicated to AKI. “I’ve never worked for a company that’s so supportive, all of the time. Annette is so involved in every piece and process, and that’s extremely appreciated.”