Executive Director
Shirley Caylor
Ext. 2727
scaylor@crisiscenterysb.org

WINE FEST Contact

Shirley Caylor is the co-founder of the Crisis Center, and its current executive director.

Caylor is a member of the Lake Area United Way Agency Execs; the Porter County United Way Agency Executives. She is the chairperson of the Consortium of Residential Providers; a member of the Indiana Youth Services Association; the National Network of Youth Services; The Times Editorial Advisory Board; president elect Gary Rotary.

Caylor was recently inducted into the Society of Innovators, and honored at Northwest Indiana Times Women of Merit (2005).

Fun Fact: You can read many of Caylor's editorials here.

Associate/Financial Director
Barbara Wisdom
Ext. 2710
bwisdom@crisiscenterysb.org

WINE FEST Contact

Barbara Wisdom directs the agency's financial activities, in addition to being the Associate Director. 

She has a post graduate certificate in accounting from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science degree in community psychology from Purdue University Calumet.  She started her career at the Crisis Center by working part-time as a college student.

Barbara annually attends the AICPA conference for non-profit organizations' financial executives.  She is a founding member of a national focus group for non-profit finance and management executives, and also belongs to the National Association for Female Executives and the American Association of University Women.

Fun Fact:  Barbara's hobbies are ballet dancing and bicycling.

Program Coordinator, Safe Place.

Event Coordinator 
Nikki Wielgos:
Ext 2720
nwielgos@crisiscenterysb.org

WINE FEST Contact

Nikki Wielgos,Safe Place Coordinator /Special Event's Coordinator, has supervised Safe Place since May, 1989.

Past Chair of the National Safe Place Advisory Board and has served on the board for over 15 years, currently serving on the Quality Enhancement Committee. 

In 2004, received a National Award for Outstanding Commitment & Dedication To National Safe Place.

Fun Fact: Nikki is a mother of 3, and grandmother of 5.

Program Coordinator, Alternative House.

(Counseling Services contact)
Kathleen Marencik
Ext 2722
kmarencik@crisiscenterysb.org

Kathleen Marencik, Alternative House Coordinator, has a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a specialization in Human Service Management from Indiana University and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Political Science from Ball State University.

She is a licensed teacher and a licensed social worker. She attends CHINS or probation Juvenile Court hearings for youth during the time they are sheltered.

Marencik, is a member of the Continuum of Care Homeless Coalition;  participates in the monthly meetings and in the yearly homeless assessment; IVY Tech School of Nursing Advisory Board; IARCCA regional training committee.

Fun Fact:

Program Coordinator, Teen Court.

Human Resources Specialist:
Sandra Porter-Phillips
Ext 2741
sphillips@crisiscenterysb.org

Sandra Porter Phillips, Teen Court Coordinator, has supervised the program since its inception in 1989. Mrs. Phillips has a Master’s degree in Science Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana State University.

Porter Phillips is the chairperson of the Tobacco Coalition whose goal is to increase community’s awareness and award mini-grants.

She is also a member of the Partnership for a Drug Free Lake County, on the Prevention sub-committee.

Mrs. Porter-Phillips is a member of COFFY (Community Organization for Families and Youth) a coalition of Gary-based services that meets to respond to the needs of Gary citizens. She is also on the board of the National Association of Teen Courts.

Fun Fact:

Program Coordinator,

Public Relations Specialist

Technical Support/Webmaster

Youth As Resources Coordinator
Gavin Mariano
Ext 2707
gmariano@crisiscenterysb.org

Gavin Mariano earned a B.A. from Indiana University Bloomington in 2001 with a major in Political Science and Spanish.

Mariano serves on the Board of Directors for GRANTS, Inc.;

Advisory committee member for Community Corrections Advisory Board; Committee member, Hispanic Organization Promoting Excellence (H.O.P.E); Co-chair of the United Way Networking Group; and National President, Indiana University Latino Alumni Association.

Past columnist and blogger for the TIMES bilingual publication, 'VIVA', and blogger for the National Safe Place "Safety Net for Youth" blog.

Mariano was the keynote speaker at the 2002 National Safe Place conference, the 2004 Drug-free rally, and 2004 21st-century scholars banquet

Mariano was honored by the NWI Times as one of the "20 under 40" professionals in Northwest Indiana in 2008.

Fun Fact:  Gavin is a huge music fan.

Program Assistant

Reassurance Contact

Arlene Lyons

Ext 2709

arlenel@crisiscenterysb.org

A.A., 1998, Purdue University Calumet
Gary Entrepreneurship Certification, 1998
B.S., 2005, Indiana University Northwest
Master Certificate Non for Profit Management, 2006, Indiana University Northwest.

Masters of Arts, Communications 2009 Purdue University Calumet

Lyons is currently working as the Program Specialist for the Crisis Center’s Reassurance Contact Program which services senior citizens, disables and homebound residents in Lake and Porter Counties.

Over the past 20 years Lyons has worked for and volunteered with several social agencies including, TradeWinds Rehabilitation Center, Calumet Township Trustee, The Gary School Community Corporation, Gary Mental Health Center (now Edgewater for Balanced Living) and the Salvation Army. In addition to her current position Lyons also operates a freelance event coordinator and writing service.

Fun Facts: Favorite color is green.  Favorite food is Italian.