Leadership
Our Management Team
Board of Directors
Currently, Rachel works for Leidos as a Project Manager, supporting ISS Cargo Integration and Orion Hardware project management on the Cargo Mission Contract (CMC) as well as a Task Order Manager on the Research, Engineering, Mission Integration Service (REMIS) Contract. She lives in League City with her husband, Rob Phillips, and two children, Lyra (9) and Micah (8).
In her free time, Rachel volunteers as an early childhood Sunday School teacher at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Houston and teaches infant care classes at Anchor Point crisis pregnancy center in League City. She has a passion for using her talents and experience to support underserved women and children and to battle the impacts of racial and gender inequality in her community.
In his spare time, Brock hangs out with his dog, Snickers, plays kickball, travels and attends as many of his nephew’s sporting events as possible
Shirley was born in Galveston, TX and has lived on the Gulf Coast her whole life. She has been married to her husband, Michael, for 46 years. Together, they raised a daughter, Savannah.
Giving back is a priority in her life. Shirley has been a substitute teacher, Girl Scout leader and licensed Private Investigator. In addition, she has been very involved in her church, First Christian Church of Pasadena for many years. Shirley has served in many capacities including Board Chair, Education ministry and Outreach Ministry. She has also served many years as a youth leader at Disciple Oaks Camp & Retreat Center working with grades 2nd through 12th. Shirley’s most cherished role is that of mother and grandmother. Shirley tragically lost her daughter to domestic violence in 2020. This has given her a new journey and purpose. She is now a devoted advocate to raising awareness of domestic violence, victim rights and bail reform by sharing her story and working with BATP. Along with Forest Park East, Savannah’s employer at the time of her death, Shirley and her husband began the Savannah Memorial 5K in 2021 to honor the legacy of their daughter and raise awareness of domestic violence.
The proceeds of this annual event benefit Bay Area Turning Point and the Disciple Oaks Camp & Retreat Center. Shirley and Michael have adopted their daughter’s children which keep them very busy. Shirley also enjoys traveling, live music, reading, gardening and spending time with family.
Jim is a seasoned Bay Area Turning Point Board member and currently serves as Treasurer. Jim was recently elected to represent the Central Region on the Purdue Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Additionally, he volunteers with SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and ESCH (Executive Service Corps Houston) advising small businesses and non-profits in developing robust business plans to achieve their goals. Jim and his wife, Diane, split their time between Houston and Galveston and have two adult children, Catherine (Chicago, IL) and Michael (New Orleans, LA).
Away from work and volunteering, his interests include travel, hiking and skiing in Colorado, and endlessly working on the family house with his wife Shauna, a singer. Dan and Shauna have three grown children who are all married and off successfully living their lives much to the delight of their (empty nest) proud parents. Dan has a life-long desire to be part of solutions to tough problems and is proud to support the mission of Bay Area Turning Point
After college, Tim worked at NASA Johnson Space Center for 16 years in various media and management roles, including a videographer crewmember aboard the famous reduced-gravity aircraft most commonly known as the Vomit Comet.
Outside of work Tim is actively involved in his community. He is a former board trustee for Bay Area Christian School and Operation Redemption. He and his wife Jamie also spend time volunteering with their two teenage kids at local organizations and charities such as the Birthday Joy Program, Houston Food Bank, League City Animal Shelter, and Bay Area Turning Point. He is an avid hiker, travel enthusiast, and makes the world’s finest homemade salsa.
LaRinda met her husband, Guy Cagle, through a mutual friend while singing in choir in the summer of 1988. They have three children, two son-in-laws, one daughter-in-law and seven grands. Guy is a retired minister of music and current Director of Senior Adults at University Baptist Church in Clear Lake.
Carla Medlenka has been a free-spirited entrepreneur much of her life working in publishing, marketing, media, and communications, and currently works for a small non-profit physician certification board. She has had a lifelong passion for helping others and has been a volunteer of some sort since elementary school – supporting individuals and small, local organizations where her resources can directly improve quality of life for people in her community.
This is the primary reason she has been involved with Bay Area Turning Point for nearly 20 years, and has served on the Board of Directors for XXX years. Their small, dedicated staff and volunteers have a huge positive impact on local families suffering from domestic violence and sexual assault.
Carla has three grown kids and lives in League City with her husband, Galen; Lylah the rescue dog; Moby the old Beagle; and Eggo the barn cat.
John Braun became a board member of Bay Area Turning Point in 2024. After serving honorably in the United States Marine Corps, John became a real estate professional. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business, as well as professional credentials CCIM, CPM, and is Broker, President, and Owner of Bayou Properties Realty & Management. He has been practicing real estate for over 20 years, heavily focused on Commercial Real Estate. John began his association with Bay Area Turning Point on a professional level and is the non-profit’s long-time real estate broker.
John has a long history of volunteering and holding leadership positions in civic, private, and professional organizations. He served on the City of Seabrook’s Board of Adjustments, Vice President of the school board for Westminster Christian Academy, various leadership positions at his church, and has professionally served on the Board of Directors for the Houston Association of Realtors and the Texas Association of Realtors. John also holds many professional accomplishments, such as being voted 20 Rising Stars in 40 in Real Estate by HAR. John resides in Clear Lake with his family.
Susan was born in De Smet, South Dakota. She moved to East Texas in 1981. She began her career in the funeral and cemetery industry in 1991, in Lufkin, Texas. She earned her Associate of Applied Science degree in Office Administration from Angelina College, Lufkin, Texas. She relocated in 2004 to Forest Park East Funeral Home and Cemetery, Webster, TX where she holds the position of Office Manager.
Susan continues to participate and support the Savannah Memorial 5K Walk in memory of Savannah Kinchen, an employee at Forest Park East who tragically lost her life as a result of domestic Violence. The Savannah Memorial 5K provides financial support for Bay Area Turning Point.
Susan is a member of League City United Methodist Church. When she isn’t traveling to Lufkin to visit her daughter, she spends time with her beloved Chihuahua, Sophie. Susan also enjoys attending Astros games, sewing gifts for friends and family and bike riding.
Detective Monica Fortson is a veteran law enforcement officer, joining the Houston Police Department in 2011. She has her Master Peace Officer certification as well as her Basic Instructor certification.
She has been working complex criminal investigations in Sexual Assault and Crimes Against Children since 2015. During this time, she has served as the Curriculum Coordinator and Lead Instructor for the Adult Sex Crimes Unit as well as the Crimes Against Children Unit; overseeing the development and execution of curriculum as it pertained to the unit while making sure the content was up to date in local, state, and federal laws as well as engaging.
Outside of her work with HPD, she is an Advanced Instructor for Texas based SAFVIC (Sexual Assault Family Violence Investigation Course); training law enforcement, NGO’s, and prosecutors in conducting trauma informed investigations in the areas of sexual assault, family violence, human trafficking, and Strangulation. Monica is also an instructor for Fox Valley Technical College; National Criminal Justice Training Center- teaching a 40 hour sexual assault academy for officers across the U.S.
Outside of law enforcement and advocacy work Monica is a published author and writing consultant with Cocoon to Wings Publishing Company and The Fortson Group, LLC. She enjoys volunteering with for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as a member of the Speakers Committee.
Carey Worrell joined the Bay Area Turning Point Board in 2024, bringing with her over two decades of diverse legal experience. As the founder and owner of SimpleLawTX, Carey leads a practice dedicated to making legal assistance affordable, accessible, and straightforward for clients.
A graduate of the University of Houston and Harvard Law School, Carey’s extensive career spans various legal settings, from prestigious law firms to the federal government. This breadth of experience has honed her ability to serve clients across a wide spectrum of legal needs.
Beyond her professional achievements, Carey is deeply committed to community service. She frequently volunteers as a guest speaker, educating real estate agents and fellow attorneys on topics ranging from probate and estate planning to real estate and business matters.
In her personal life, Carey embodies a spirit of adventure and appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. She cherishes time spent with family, often embarking on travels in search of new experiences. Whether savoring a cup of coffee, immersing herself in a good book, or taking in a scenic view, Carey finds joy in life’s everyday moments.
Carey’s addition to the Bay Area Turning Point Board reflects her ongoing dedication to community service and her passion for making a positive impact in people’s lives, both through her legal practice and volunteer work.
We are members of the following Chambers of Commerce
