Board & Staff

We are people like you who want to restore opportunity to our abused and neglected youth. We are parents and concerned citizens of all kinds - foster and kinship parents, birth parents and grandparents, child welfare professionals, health care providers, attorneys, the juvenile justice community - anyone with an interest in the best interests of our children.

Kids Matter Inc. Board of Directors

Melissa Dombrowski-Boling, MSW

Ms. Dombrowski-Boling has worked in the child welfare community (both Milwaukee and state-wide) since 1990, in a variety of settings. She earned her Master of Arts in Social Work in 1995, specializing in child welfare. Currently, she is employed as Program Coordinator/Social Worker Supervisor for Teipner Treatment Homes, a statewide treatment foster care agency. She has demonstrated a commitment to the child welfare system by assisting several agencies/organizations via volunteer/consulting work. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents.

Thomas L. Frenn, JD

Mr. Frenn, JD earned his degree in 1976 and has been an attorney with the firm of Petrie & Stocking S.C. for many years. Among his areas of expertise are real estate, tax, and family law. He also specializes in probate and estate planning. Mr. Frenn brings to the Board his expertise as Chairman of the Nonprofit Organization Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar, as well as his experience with small business law, nonprofit corporations, and other business organizations. Mr. Frenn is a Board member of the Milwaukee Public Museum. Mr. Frenn’s interest in children’s issues is exemplified by his former Board membership for The Ranch Community Services, Inc., a nonprofit rehabilitation agency for the developmentally disabled. He has actively written and lectured to other lawyers on nonprofit and business issues.

Janice E. Jones, PhD

Ms. Jones has a PhD in psychology, and teaches in the doctoral program in the College of Education and Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University. Ms. Jones is a frequent author on issues of adoption, and is an active member of the American Psychological Association. Ms. Jones is dedicated to children in both her personal and professional lives, having recently completed training as a foster/adoptive parent in the first dual-licensed class in Milwaukee County.

Sharon M. Keigher, PhD

Ms. Keigher specializes in the theory and application of policy development and analysis, with an emphasis on issues related to mental heath, HIV, aging and women. The work of Kids Matter with children being raises by relatives, especially grandmothers, fits well with Prof. Keigher's expertise and interest. Ms. Keigher holds a BA in Sociology, a MA in Social Service Administration, and a PhD in Social Development (Policy). She has been a professor in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare since 1992.

Francisco (Paco) Martorell, MSW

Mr. Martorell is a passionate advocate for opportunities for growth and success of Milwaukee’s Hispanic youth. Prior to his retirement, he was Director of Community School Partnerships for Milwaukee Public Schools. He has been involved in school/child welfare partnerships for over 25 years, and is a prior member of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare Partnership Council. Mr. Martorell is currently involved in transnational immigration issues.

Lucille Rosenberg, MD

Dr. Rosenberg graduated from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1950 and has specialized in pediatrics and child psychiatry. She is a retired professor of Psychiatry at UW-Milwaukee Medical College Campus and the Medical College of Wisconsin. She has been Medical Director of Sinai Samaritan Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic and was Director of Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison services for Children’s Hospital. She is a past president of the Wisconsin Psychiatric Association. In addition to her vast professional experience and expertise in children’s issues, Dr. Rosenberg was President of the Board of the Children’s Outing Association, and is a past chair and director of the Mental Health Association of Milwaukee County, and past director of the Milwaukee Jewish Society for Community Relations.

Gladys Simandl, PhD, RN

The nursing profession has always been Dr. Simandl’s calling, especially in community health. Currently a professor at Columbia College of Nursing, she has taught in university settings for over 20 years while also voluntarily contributing to the profession in a number of ways for 30 years. Gladys is a founder of the Health Center at the United Community Center, and recently added the first free dental clinic in the largely Hispanic community served by the United Community Center. Gladys has published & presented papers at conferences. The experience and wisdom she gained as a foster and adoptive parent make her an ideal Kids Matter board member.

Sibylle Tasker, J.D.

Ms. Tasker has advocated for abused and neglected children since college. Ms. Tasker ‘s tenure on the Kids Matter Board began as Chairperson of the Community Partnership committee of the Junior League of Milwaukee. This committee spearheaded the ongoing partnership between Kids Matter CASA and the Junior League of Milwaukee. Ms. Tasker’s leadership has increased community partnerships for foster children – particularly increasing the number of free educational and community events open to foster children. Ms. Tasker believes that it is vital to help children heal and thrive in addition to stopping abuse. Ms. Tasker and the Junior League of Milwaukee were instrumental in developing a new space for Kids Matter that will be welcoming to the children and to our many volunteers. Ms. Tasker also initiated the partnership that brought the first children’s art to Children’s Court and making that space more welcoming to the children who spend so much time there.

Rev. Harold Moore, Sr.

Rev. Moore has been Pastor of Mercy Memorial Baptist Church for the past twenty-one years, and director of the School Safety for Milwaukee Public Schools. Rev. Moore is a community leader in many capacities, serving as Co-Chair of the Community Safety Coalition, Director of Community Ministries for Lakeland Baptist Association, and on the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board. In 1988, Rev. Moore founded the Dr. Howard L. Fuller Educational Resource Center to meet after school needs of children. In 1996, the Center broadened its mission to “Educating Children and Restoring Families.” The Family Resource Center opened the same year. The youth initiative begun by Rev. Moore grew to serve over 300 youth annually with program services, and provided meals to 400 youth daily through a summer meals program. In May of 2001, he opened the 3rd District Community Justice Center, which expanded to the Metcalfe Park area in 2004. Rev. Moore’s daily actions exemplify his concern and commitment to the children of Milwaukee.

Kari Vedder Janavitz

Kari Vedder Janavitz is the Public Relations and Marketing Director for RedPrairie Holding, Inc., where she manages North American and corporate public relations, brand marketing, and website operations. Ms. Janavitz is responsible for all corporate press release creation and distribution, media placement, brand development, and web initiatives. Ms. Janavitz is also deeply committed to issues affecting children in the community, and involves her young family in reaching out to children in need. Among her other community involvements, Ms. Janavitz is the Elm Grove Junior Guild Scholarship Chair and past Publicity Chair and Community Service Co-Chair.

Nikiya Q. Harris

Nikiya Harris has her M.S. in Administrative Leadership in 2007 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, along with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Helen Bader Institute of Nonprofit Management Graduate Certificate in 2008. Ms. Harris is currently the Development Assistance at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, where she assists with the planning, organization and implementation of funding events and the annual campaign. She also prepares, develops and writes grant proposals. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Kids Matter Staff

Susan Conwell JD- Executive Director

Susan Conwell is a founder of and the Executive Director of Kids Matter Inc. She was inspired to start Kids Matter after she and her husband became foster parents, and spent years advocating for basic services for the children in their care, and on behalf of other children they came to know in foster care.

Prior to developing Kids Matter, Sue was an attorney at Foley & Lardner, and later worked for Legal Action of Wisconsin. Sue graduated with honors from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University in 1986. She received her law degree from Harvard Law School in 1992 and was elected to membership in the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau and the Harvard Board of FreshmanAdvisors . She is a frequent writer on issues relating to children and has received several awards for her work. She is very proud of the many foster and kinship families and Kids Matter volunteers making good things happen for kids.

Anita Cruise JD

Attorney Cruise is employed by Kids Matter Inc. where she serves as legal director for a multidisciplinary team that provides services for families who are caring for children that have been the victims of abuse, neglect or some other crime. Anita recruits and trains volunteer attorneys to provide representation to these families.   She provides resource, referral and technical information to staff and clients.

Prior to joining Kids Matter, Anita was a staff attorney for Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. where she provided representation in children and family law matters to child victims and their families through the Racine County Children’s Advocacy Program, a collaborative effort between Legal Action, the local women’s domestic violence shelter and a local mental healthcare provider.  Anita served as guardian-ad-litem for Racine County.

Anita received her B.S. from Northwestern University and J.D. from Marquette University.  She is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Family Law Section, the American Bar Association and the National Association of Counsel for Children.  She serves as president of Julian Thomas Elementary School PTA and as a board member of Girl Scouts of Racine County. 

Lance Jones JD - Program Manager, Kids Matter CASA

Lance Jones is a 1989 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. He has an extensive background in child welfare and poverty law. Lance taught legal ethics, trial advocacy and child welfare law for three years as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the multidisciplinary Child Advocacy Law Clinic at the University of Michigan. He has also been a staff attorney and interim executive director of the Children's Law Center of Grand Rapids, Michigan and a staff attorney with the Child and Family Law Center of Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services in Detroit. From 1999 to 2001, Lance was executive director of Community Legal Resources, a pro bono legal assistance program serving nonprofit community development organizations throughout metropolitan Detroit.

Lance has also studied pastoral care and counseling in Detroit and Chicago. He is currently a third-year Master of Divinity student at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. When he is not playing the banjo, Lance is equally happy preaching about child welfare or religious belief.

Susan Raines MSW- Program Manager, Kids Matter CASA

Susan Raines earned her B.S. degree in Marketing at the University of Arizona.  Susan became a CASA volunteer in 2001 and her interest in children and families led her to pursue a M.S.W. degree at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, which she earned in August 2006.  Susan completed her M.S.W. internship at W-2, where she facilitated services to clients who had barriers to employment and researched W-2 policies and procedures.  Susan has been an active volunteer at various community organizations.

Megan Bruzan - Program Manager & Web Developer

Megan Bruzan provides technology assistance and maintains the website for Kids Matter. She also is one of the Program Managers for Kids Matter CASA. Megan earned her BS degree in Information Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has worked as a Marketing Associate for S-Media, a Milwaukee-based eCommerce and web and application hosting company. Her most recent position was co-coordinating the downtown Milwaukee College Ministry program sponsored by Elmbrook Church, working with students, volunteers, and outreach programs. Megan loves introducing and integrating technology into the lives of people, especially youth and marginalized people and is excited to develop the Kids Matter website as a resource for the kids, the volunteers, the community, and the organization.

Zachary Reichard

Zachary Reichard came to Kids Matter as a member of the 2009-10 Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Zach works with the donations program and helps with policy initiatives Kids Matter is working on. In April 2009, Zach graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and comparative religion. Through volunteer opportunities in college, Zach developed an interest in working with children, and would like to use that passion to help improve children’s welfare.

Mauricio Gachuz - Intern

Mauricio is the Carmen High School Intern. Mauricio graduated top of his 8th grade class receiving the title of Valedictorian. He attends Carmen High School of Science and Technology where he received a 2008 High Achiever award. He will be interning at Kids Matter Inc for the rest of high school. Mauricio is really interested in joining the CASA program once he is old enough to become a volunteer. He loves working with everyone else in the office and has fun doing all that is needed. Mauricio’s future plans are to either become an architect or a lawyer.