Meet Our Team
Our team is of the community we serve – led by a former foster youth with team members with lived experience and decades of working with children and youth in care and youth transitioning into independence.
Our Staff
Click on a team member’s image to read their bio.
Elizabeth Belden
Regional Manager
Jill Bloch
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Claire Boyd
Communications Project Manager
Aren Carman
Regional Lead
Jordan Collins
Regional Lead
Eleah Colton
Regional Supervisor
Reid Cox
Co-Founder and CFO
Serita Cox
Co-Founder and CEO
Tyree Crawford
Member Specialist
Ivette Flores
Support Specialist
Timothy Foster
Communications Director
Meredith Jaremchuk
Chief Operating Officer
Shake Khachatrian
Government Benefits Counselor
Mike Maxfield
Controller
Angelina Medina
Regional Lead
Indie Painter
Support Specialist
Tonique Price
Regional Lead
Shellsea Reynoso
Digital Engagement Lead
Summer Rogers
Director of Jobs Programming
Jenny Walker
Regional Lead
Sarah Washington
Resource Management Manager
Elizabeth Belden | Regional Manager
Elizabeth is an iFoster Regional Manager and is based in Los Angeles where there are over 10,000 foster youth. Elizabeth has over 20 years working with youth and young adults. She worked over 12 years with foster youth at South Bay Workforce Investment Board. She worked as a Senior Case Manager where she had the opportunity to train and place foster youth in paid work experience and vocational training. Additionally, Elizabeth worked with low-income, probation youth, dislocated workers, re-entry population and veterans. She had the opportunity to build various partnerships with private and public education; public and private sectors.
Elizabeth worked in the education field as well. She was a substitute teacher for Lennox School District and Centinela Valley Union High School. She worked over 7 years as a substitute teacher where she worked with Preschool to 12th grade level.
Jill Bloch | Director of Strategic Partnerships
Prior to joining iFoster, Jill worked in the Child Welfare and Family Services Division at Children’s Aid, a large child welfare organization in New York City, for 11 years. There, she designed and implemented initiatives to improve education, health, housing, and employment outcomes for older youth. She also served as a dedicated Youth and Family Counselor with Esperanza, an alternative to detention program and a pilot of the Vera Institute of Justice.
Jill is deeply committed to supporting foster youth and has devoted her career to advancing opportunities and improving outcomes for young people in care, while also driving meaningful systems change.
Claire Boyd | Communications Project Manager
As Communications Project Manager, Claire’s role involves maintaining smooth communication and meeting objectives within the organization as well as engaging the public in events and initiatives to support iFoster’s mission. She holds degrees in Telecommunications Media Studies and French from Texas A&M University and has extensive experience in operations and project management, including previously serving as the Director of Operations for a local nonprofit that provides free music lessons to children in foster care. Claire is also a former music instructor, has volunteered at a number of organizations focused on helping disadvantaged youth, and is a foster parent herself, all of which have given her a passion for driving positive change and empowering children and youth to feel supported and achieve their goals.
Aren Carman | Regional Lead
Aren will utilize a network of resources and relationships to support iFoster’s members as they navigate to successful adulthood. After graduating from The Ohio State University, Aren developed professionally and has worked with foster youth as a Community Behavioral Health Worker—spearheading support services at a housing program to reduce housing insecurities for youth. He has seen through his work the impact that a community of support and care can have on a young person’s life and is excited to expand the iFoster community wherever needed.
Jordan Collins | Regional Lead
Jordan has built networks to improve the lives of disadvantaged populations, focusing on outreach in Appalachia. During his past role as Communications & Engagement Director with Hindman Settlement School, he assisted with compliance, recruitment, member support, service site management, and program implementation to ensure the success of Hindman Settlement School’s budding Program. In Jordan’s role as the Regional Lead, he will serve as a resource to foster youth and give them the tools to be successful during and after their service with iFoster. Jordan is fully committed to making a positive difference in the lives of the TAY he serves and helping them prepare for their bright future ahead.
Eleah Colton | Regional Supervisor
Eleah serves as a Regional Supervisor at iFoster, where she is passionate about guiding and empowering young people to reach their full potential. With a strong commitment to mentorship and personal development, she takes pride in supporting individuals as they navigate their paths towards success.
Coming from a family deeply rooted in the field of education, Eleah developed an early appreciation for the transformative power of guidance and learning, This background has shaped her dedication to helping others grow both personally and professionally.
Eleah is proud to be part of the iFoster team and is committed to fostering growth, building confidence and providing the support needed for individuals to achieve their goals.
Fun Fact: Eleah attended film school in Santa Barbara, California, and had the opportunity to work on a pilot that was pitched to Netflix.
Reid Cox | Co-Founder and CFO
Reid is responsible for partnerships and financials. Reid provides over a decade of experience in executive-level management, investment banking, business development, financial reporting and corporate communications. Reid has come a long way from a two room school house in rural Canada and is a first generation college graduate. For his work with iFoster, Reid has been recognized with the AARP Purpose Prize.
Serita Cox | Co-Founder and CEO
Serita is responsible for strategy and programs. As the driving force behind iFoster, Serita brings to bear her personal experience with foster care, devoted commitment to a number of youth development initiatives, and over a decade of experience in executive-level management in Silicon Valley, corporate strategy consulting and non-profit strategy consulting. Despite all this corporateness, she is also the person “most likely to be hugged” by a client. For her work with iFoster, Serita has been recognized as a White House Office of Social Innovation Citizen Innovator, an Echoing Green Fellow, and an American Leader of Change.
Tyree Crawford | Member Specialist
Tyree is a former iFoster Intern who served four years before joining iFoster as a Member Specialist! At 15, Tyree entered both foster care and the juvenile justice system. At this crucial point in his life, Tyree was determined to turn adversity into motivation and worked tirelessly to graduate high school. Today he is currently enrolled at Mt San Antonio College. Tyree seeks to use his life experiences navigating systems often void of youth perspectives to help forge change in these systems and guide other youth to self-sufficiency.
Ivette Flores | Member Specialist
Ivette spent three years as an iFoster intern before moving into her current role as an iFoster Member Specialist. She holds associate degrees in Psychology and General Studies, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Drawing on both her education and her own experience in the foster care system, Ivette is dedicated to helping foster youth build the skills they need to become self‑sufficient.
Timothy Foster | Communications Director
As iFoster’s Digital Marketing and Communications Director, Timothy leads communications strategy, messaging and creative development. He is responsible for ensuring that iFoster’s communication efforts support our mission of closing the resource gap and supporting youth self-sufficiency. His previous experience includes working as Digital Communication Director for U.S. Congressman Sander Levin (MI) and as a Senior Manager & Lead Designer at America’s Promise Alliance. Timothy earned his B.A. from Pepperdine University in Political Science.
Meredith Jaremchuk | Chief Operating Officer
Meredith joins iFoster as Chief Operating Officer, focusing on and being responsible for iFoster programming, staff management, cross-functional collaboration, innovation, and culture. Meredith most recently served as the Chief Program Officer at Year Up, a national workforce development Program with a mission of closing the opportunity divide by connecting Opportunity Youth to career pathways with living wages. Meredith has extensive experience leading and managing large teams to achieve consistent, high-quality results with a focus on people development. She spent much of her early career doing crisis intervention and intensive therapy with children and families in Chicago, where she could implement holistic interventions with multi-disciplinary teams. Meredith received her Masters in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago with a specialization in nonprofit Leadership and Management and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame, where she was a member of the women’s lacrosse team. Meredith is based in Chicago, where she lives with her two young sons, who are 9 and 10 years old.
Shake Khachatrian | Government Benefits Counselor
I joined iFoster as the Government Benefits Counselor, where I use my knowledge and experience to help foster youth access the resources and support they need to succeed. As a first-generation Armenian immigrant, I have a deep passion for helping others and positively impacting the world around me. With a Master’s degree in Educational Counseling from the University of Southern California (USC), I have worked in the educational field and tried to create opportunities for students and community members, supporting them in their personal and professional growth. Whether I was advising a student on their academic path, developing a new program to meet the community’s needs, or simply lending an ear to someone in need, I always found great fulfillment in my work. With a deep commitment to empowering youth and helping them achieve their full potential, I want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of foster youth, providing them with the tools and guidance they need to thrive and become self-sufficient members of society. As a self-proclaimed “foodie,” I believe that just as every dish needs the perfect combination of ingredients to be truly great, every individual needs the proper support and resources to reach their full potential. I am committed to helping provide those ingredients to foster youth as a Government Benefits Counselor at iFoster.
Mike Maxwell | Controller
As Controller, Mike is responsible for managing iFoster’s day-to-day financial operations. Mike comes to iFoster after 30 years in public accounting and technology and is thrilled to be working for an organization that is laser-focused on improving the lives of young people. He is a Certified Public accountant with a Bachelors and Masters degree of Accountancy from Brigham Young University.
Angelina Medina | Regional Lead
Angelina is a Regional Lead at iFoster who is passionate about supporting underserved populations and creating meaningful opportunities for youth. As someone with lived experience in the foster care system, she is dedicated to empowering young people to achieve stability and success. Angelina is committed to strengthening communities through advocacy, mentorship, and connection to resources.
Indie Painter | Support Specialist
Indie is a former iFoster intern who now works on the member support team ensuring all youth are connected to the resources and supports needed to ensure their best quality of life. Indie is certified as a peer support specialist and is graduating with their drug recovery coach license. Indie is passionate about the work iFoster does and is continuing their education to ensure they best know how to advocate and support all people.
Tonique Price | Regional Lead
Tonique is a dedicated youth advocate with experience supporting young people as they navigate critical life transitions. Her work centers on Transitional Age Youth (TAY) who have been impacted by foster care and the justice system, with a focus on empowerment, stability, and long-term success. Through individualized support and practical skill-building, she helps youth strengthen their confidence, independence, and ability to navigate adult systems. Tonique’s approach is informed by extensive training, hands-on experience, and a deep commitment to meeting youth where they are while helping them move forward.
Shellsea Reynoso | Digital Engagement Lead
Shellsea is a former iFoster TAY Intern who has been with iFoster since 2019 and now serves as the organization’s Digital Engagement Lead. In her role, she is responsible for content development, digital marketing strategy, and increasing iFoster’s presence across all social media platforms. She is also responsible for digital design and video production, helping bring iFoster’s mission to life through engaging and impactful storytelling. As a former foster youth, Shellsea brings her lived experience and professional expertise to her work, demonstrating a strong commitment to iFoster and its mission. She holds a Master’s degree in Marketing and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, combining both disciplines to create meaningful, data-driven engagement. In addition to her professional work, she became a certified foster parent at the age of 21 and is a proud guardian to her sister.
Summer Rogers | Director of Jobs Programming
Summer is iFoster’s Director of Jobs Programming and has been with the organization since July 2018. Based in Los Angeles, she oversees all jobs programming, including AmeriCorps, Peer Support Specialist Training and Certification, and apprenticeship initiatives. Since 2019, Summer has helped support the expansion of iFoster’s AmeriCorps programming into six states. She brings extensive experience supporting transition-age youth through her work at St. Anne’s housing program for pregnant and parenting youth, leading employer recruitment and partnerships at one of Los Angeles’ most successful One-Stop Business and Career Centers, and serving as a college counselor to low-income, first-generation students.
Jenny Walker | Regional Lead
Jenny has dedicated her career over the last 20 years to pursuing a stronger community by building relationships, advocating for equitable access to housing and food stability while empowering every individual to grow and thrive. Prior to joining iFoster, Jenny worked as a Program Director overseeing a 54 bed low barrier shelter, guiding clients and staff in navigating and addressing barriers to secure affordable housing. Jenny is passionate about building community partnerships and has a strong understanding of the impact that community can have on an individual’s life. She serves on the local counties Human Trafficking Task Force and volunteers with local events.
Sarah Washington | Resource Management Manager
Sarah Washington leads iFoster’s Resource Management team, overseeing the distribution of technology and essential resources for transition-age youth (TAY), caregivers, and partner agencies. Her work focuses on strengthening systems and partnerships that bridge resource and digital access gaps, helping youth pursue education, employment, and long-term stability.