Our Leadership

KateLyn Perry

Founding Executive Director
31:8 Community Services

KateLyn has a master’s degree in social work graduating top of her class from the University of Michigan as well as a master’s degree in Trauma and Resilience from Spring Arbor University. She brings twelve years of child welfare experience working in foster care, adoption and Children’s Protective Services. She also has two years of experience providing mental health services to children. Her vision is to continue to meet gaps in the community through serving children in various ways. She brings her own lived experience including, but not limited to adopting multiple children from foster care.

Megan Galvin

Board Secretary
Jackson Public Schools

Megan a bachelor’s degree of science in Human Services Leadership from University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan. She graduated with honors from both universities. As the Board Secretary, Megan brings vast knowledge working with youth in and out of Jackson County. She has spent the past 10 years working in human services within nonprofits. She is committed to serving youth and providing a safe space and determined to plant seeds of hope and community. In her free time, Megan loves spending her time outdoors and with family.

Board Member
Department of Health and Human Services

Christine Smedley

Christine has a Bachelors Degree in Human Services from Baker College. She is an experienced child welfare professional with nearly a decade of experience serving children and families. Throughout her career, she has worked in Families First, Child Protective Services, and Foster Care, giving her a well-rounded understanding of the child welfare system and the unique challenges families face.

Currently serving as a Lead Worker with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Christine provides leadership, guidance, and support to staff while continuing to advocate for quality, family-centered services. She is passionate about strengthening practice, supporting professional development, and finding practical ways to improve processes for both workers and the families they serve.

Genna Kleinknecht

Board Treasurer
Business Development Specialist

Genna brings almost a decade of experience to the board as a business development professional and financial consultant. She has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management, a master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Operations and Supply Chain Management. Genna is fluent in German and has managed many accounts including Volkswagen Mexico, SmartCar, Toyota, Audi, and Amazon. She is a Jackson native and is dedicated to helping children and families remain safe in every capacity. She is an advocate for meeting gaps in the community, and wants to bring this desire to the board.

Genna is the Board Treasurer for 31:8 Community Services and brings copious amounts of lived experience to the board. This includes, but is not limited to, providing kinship care to her family members, and being adopted out of foster care as a teenager.

Andrew Phelps

Board Member
Spring Arbor University

Andrew has been working for Spring Arbor University for nine years, and has been the Associate Director of Annual Giving since 2022 where he gets to communicate the impact of the institution and cultivate relationships with alumni and donors. His passion is to tell the stories of students and alumni with the greater SAU community as well as sharing the importance of Christian higher education. He too is part of the SAU alumni community as he has a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master's degree in Business Administration from Spring Arbor University.

Andrew gives back significantly to the community. This includes, but is not limited to serving as a member of the Jackson Young Professionals, serving on the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Jackson Alumni Committee, and serving as a youth leader at his church. In addition, he serves on the board of Sister Connection, a Christian nonprofit dedicated to serving the widows and orphans of Burundi, as well as the Jackson chapter of the Salvation Army. In his spare time, Andrew stage manages at the Croswell Opera House in Adrian, Michigan.