"I live about an hour north of Pittsburgh in Mercer. I’m from the Coraopolis/Moon area and my husband, Jason, is from Clarion, so Mercer was the perfect middle ground for us after college. It’s where we’ve built our life with our two girls, Camryn and Chloe.
I’ve always been in child welfare. I studied Child Development and Family Relations at IUP, took the civil service test, and became a caseworker in Allegheny County’s North office. After we moved north, I transferred to Venango, and that’s where I first learned about LSI. I didn’t see myself staying in frontline work forever, and the LSI model just clicked for me—it really brought together everything I’d learned as a caseworker, but in a different way. I joined Voce in 2011 as a paralegal in Butler, then became a coordinator, and eventually a DM. My region now stretches from Greene and Fayette up through the northwest counties, and I love the variety. Some days I’m working from home, other days I’m on the road or in Camp Hill. I also love working with a team.
Outside of work, life is busy in the best way. Both of my girls do dance and cheer, so we’re always running somewhere. I love watching them find what they truly love. Camryn started dance in kindergarten and immediately took to it. She’s even a student teacher this year, helping the little ones come out of their shell. Chloe followed in her footsteps, even though she started out shy.
We balance all the dance world energy with plenty of outdoor time too. Jason is very much from the country, and the girls love being out with him. Camryn got her first buck last year, and when the lake in our neighborhood freezes, we all go ice fishing together. When I do get downtime, I crochet. It started with watching tutorials and turned into something I really enjoy. I make small stuffed animals and do vendor events. I even do themed ones for the girls’ dance events. It’s the thing that helps my brain slow down at the end of the day.
My career has taken a lot of twists and turns, but it’s all stayed rooted in helping kids and families move toward permanency. I’ve always been in child welfare, and honestly, I can’t imagine myself anywhere else."
-Renee, Division Manager
