Our Team
Jennifer Fagenbaum, Executive Director
Jennifer received her Bachelor degree from Purdue University in Family and Consumer Science Education and Child Development and Family Studies. She has worked within school corporations and community colleges, working with high school students and young adults for 9 years while also supervising colleagues. During that time, she worked to educate individuals in life skills so they could obtain an appropriate education, a satisfying and fulfilling career, and consumer knowledge needed to become self-sufficient. These experiences helped Jennifer to understand the population we are serving and have provided her the unique ability to educate our clients while providing a strong foundation for our program. Jennifer has been with Family Promise SSC since they opened in 2015 and serves as the Executive Director.
In order to help Family Promise SSC grow to do the most good, Jennifer has participated in the following: Venice Area Chamber of Commerce (VACC) member 2016-present, Gulf Coast Community Foundation Leadership Class of 2018, VACC CEO Round Table 2018-2021, Sarasota County Community Action Agency Board (CAAB) 2018-present, Sarasota County Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) 2019-present, VACC Leadership Class of 2019, FL Housing Coalition member 2019-present, Englewood Chamber of Commerce member 2020-present, North Port Chamber of Commerce member 2020-present, Osprey Nokomis Chamber of Commerce member 2020-present, Family Promise National Affiliate Council 2020-present, National Low-Income Housing Coalition member 2021-present, North Port Leaderships Class of 2022, Venice Police Department Citizens Police Academy 2022.
Kim Ulrich, Assistant Director
Kim Ulrich is excited to serve families of South Sarasota County as the Assistant Director of Family Promise of South Sarasota County. Kim was born and raised on the south side of Chicago where she graduated Highschool from Alan B. Shepard High School in 2015. Kim went on to graduate from Western Illinois University with a BS in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration and a minor in Homeland Security. Kimberly has spent over 7 years in the customer service industry. Kim and her husband moved from the Chicagoland area to Port Charlotte in the beginning of 2021. Prior to coming to Family Promise, Kim served as a Child Protective Investigator with the Department of Children and Families in Port Charlotte, FL. In her free time, Kim enjoys fishing and traveling. She’s excited to utilize her talents with the staff and volunteers at Family Promise of South Sarasota County.
Maddie Sims, Open Doors Family Service Coordinator
Maddie grew up in Champaign Illinois and later moved to Mackinaw Illinois where she graduated from Dee-Mack High School in 2016. Maddie and her family moved to Florida in 2018. Maddie is attending Florida Gulf Coast University to get her bachelor’s in social work and will get her degree in May of 2023. She plans to further her education by getting her master’s degree in social work. Maddie was in the service industry for 6 years before coming to Family Promise. Maddie enjoys fishing and spending time with family and friends. She is very excited for what her future holds at Family Promise. Department Citizens Police Academy 2022.
Shantel Berry, Bridge Housing Family Service Coordinator
Shantel grew up in Denver Colorado and graduated from Iver C. Ranum High School in Adams County Colorado in 1991 (which is now a middle school). Shantel earned an Associates degree in Massage Therapy from Heritage College in Denver Colorado in 2005. Shantel resides in Port Charlotte with her two youngest daughters, 2 guinea pigs, and one cat. Shantel has an extensive background in customer service and finance through various companies, such as JP Morgan Chase, Charles Schwab, and Kaiser Permanente as well as working as a massage therapist. Prior to coming to Family Promise Shantel was working as a self employed delivery driver, for companies such as Walmart, DoorDash etc.
In her free time Shantel enjoys watching documentaries about nature, science, psychology and finance, spending time with her family, meditating, being outdoors (roller skating), and going to the beach. Shantel takes pride in her organization and interpersonal skills in which she hopes to utilize to help others be self-sufficient and stable.
Alleyna Collins, Administrative Assistant
Alleyna grew up in Lima, Ohio. During high school moved to Venice, FL with her family which allowed her to familiarize herself with the area. Venice shortly became her “second home”. Alleyna graduated from Bath High School in 2018, continued her education at Rhodes State College. At Rhodes State College, Alleyna, earned an associate degree in Early Childhood Education in 2020. While enrolled at Rhodes, Alleyna completed observation hours at a preschool called The Learning Tree. Alleyna worked in Childhood Education/Care from 2019-2023. In October of 2023 Alleyna decided to make the big move permanently to Venice, FL. In Alleyna’s free time, she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with family and friends.