Christina Smith, President/CEO has worked for Community Support Advocates since 1998. She originally worked within the Integrated Services Program as an Integrated Service Coordinator, Team Leader, and then Director. Christina took over as CEO for Community Support Advocates in 2009.
She attended both Central College (Pella, IA) and Iowa State University (Ames, IA). She has a Bachelors Degree in Family Services and has over 22 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities. Christina graduated from the Greater Des Moines Leadership Academy’s Transformational Leadership program in 2004, and the From Vision to Action Leadership Academy in 2009.
Melissa Ahrens, Director of Programs has been employed by CSA since 1998. She serves as the Director of Targeted Case Management, Service Coordination Services, and the Integrated Health Program for CSA. Melissa received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Simpson College with additional graduate study in Counseling at Drake University.
Melissa is Licensed in Iowa as a Bachelor’s level Social Worker. She graduated from the Greater Des Moines Leadership Academy’s Transformational Leadership program in 2004 and has over 26 years of experience in the human services field.
Angela Wacker, Director of Operations moved from Minnesota to Iowa in 2003 and began working with CSA as a Targeted Case Manager. In 2006 Angela became the Team Leader for the KEY program. Angela took over as Director of Operations in March, 2018.
She has a Master’s in Psychology from Capella University. Angela has over 20 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities.
David Higdon, Director of Accounting and Clinical Services has spent 38 years working in various service delivery and system planning roles in the disability field.
He has an undergraduate degree in social work from Iowa State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Drake University. He completed Unity Point, Polk County and Vision to Action Leadership programs. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at Grandview University.