Our Staff
Founder & Executive Director
Rev. Dr. Rondy M. Smith, Ed.D.
Dr. Rondy M. Smith is Founder and Executive Director of Rest Stop Ministries, Inc. Rondy is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene and served as Community Life Pastor of the Hermitage congregation from 2001-2015. Previously, she was Associate Professor of Management and directed the graduate degree program at Trevecca Nazarene University from 1991-2001. Dr. Smith began her career in the corporate sector serving the Leadership Development Center at Northern Telecom, Inc. She was also a consultant with Executive Learning, Inc. and continued her consulting practice after joining the academic ranks as university faculty.
Rondy earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from the University of Kansas in 1987 and a Doctorate in Human and Organizational Development from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 1996. She and her husband, Bobby, have been married 37 years. Bobby retired from AT&T after 25 years. They have 2 adult sons who brought them two daughters to love and now a first grandchild! Rondy loves to travel and read.
Senior Director for Organizational Advancement
Dr. Dawn Digrius Smith, Ph.D.
Dawn Digrius Smith joins Rest Stop Ministries as Senior Director for Organizational Advancement. She began her journey with Rest Stop as external evaluator for a federal grant from 2020-2022 through her consulting corporation DMDS Partners, Inc. With a background in Higher Education and NonProfit Administration, Dawn brings a wealth of expertise in project management, strategic planning, research, grant writing and evaluation, and development. Graduating from Drew University, Madison, New Jersey with a Ph.D. in Intellectual History, a MPhil in European History/History of Science, and a BA in Anthropology, her research and social science skills provide opportunities for growth. Dawn has served as a faculty member, administrator, and consultant to school districts, non profit organizations, and institutions of higher education since 2009.
Dawn was introduced to Rest Stop Ministries by a former colleague at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor in 2019 and has a personal experience with human sex trafficking that led her to work with the organization. Her commitment is to stopping the oppression and assisting in holistic and trauma-informed care through advocacy and education. Dawn is married to Robert Smith, a cinematographer based in Los Angeles. She has two children of her own and three step children and enjoys hiking, travel, and reading. She is an elder in her church and is active in her local Rotary Club.
Director of Programs
Jill Woicik, LPC-MHSP, NCC
Jill Woicik grew up in North Alabama where she graduated from The University of North Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology. She then moved to Dallas, Texas and earned an Associate’s Degree in Practical Theology from Christ for the Nations, Institute. Nearing the completion of her time at CFNI, the Founder of a residential girls’ home ministry spoke at a chapel service and Jill knew at that time that God was calling her to play a part in the restoration of hurting girls/women. This led her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Dallas Baptist University.
Jill is licensed in the state of Tennessee as a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider, and was previously licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas for 16 years. She is also certified as a National Certified Counselor. Jill has held positions from Case Manager to Program Director in various nonprofit social service agencies providing therapeutic services to survivors of sexual assault, sex trafficking and other violent crimes, homeless single mother families, individuals in recovery from substance abuse in the criminal justice system and children in foster care. Around 2011, she became aware of the problem of sex trafficking in the United States and has volunteered with several anti-trafficking organizations since that time. Her passion is helping women heal from trauma and seeing them discover their unique strengths and purpose.
Along this journey, in 2003, Jill met her husband, Randy, at Church. They were married in August 2004. They enjoy traveling and spending time in the mountains whenever possible. Jill also enjoys having coffee with friends, horses, and being entertained by her cats. Jill is very happy to be back in this part of the country where she can fully realize the dream God put in her heart over 20 years ago to walk alongside hurting women in their journey to freedom. She is grateful to Rondy Smith and the Rest Stop Ministries Board of Directors for allowing her and her husband to work together using their complementary gifts to support the Executive Director, Rest Stop Ministries staff and residents.
Director of Operations
Randy Woicik, BA
Before accepting the position of Director of Operations with Rest Stop Ministries (RSM), Randy served as the Program Manager for an organization that provided two years of residential services to homeless single mother families. He also brings to RSM several years of experience from his time as the Director of Operations for an outpatient chemical dependency counseling program.
Randy has a Bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Assembly of God University, where he studied a diverse array of courses to better prepare for the demands of leadership. Before entering the non-profit world, Randy held positions in a hospital emergency room, retail management, and in insurance inspections. This combined with his non-profit experience gives him a well-rounded base with which to meet the challenges of being the Director of Operations of Rest Stop.
Before moving to Tennessee in September of 2017, to join the Rest Stop team, Randy lived in Texas where he was born and raised, and he is proud of his Texas heritage. At the age of 33, in 2004, by God’s grace he met and married the woman of his dreams; and his parents and friends rejoiced. Randy and Jill now reside in Lebanon, Tennessee with their 3 cats. Randy enjoys good food, trips to the mountains, and cruises.
Director of Development
Caitlin Strecker, BS
Caitlin grew up in Kansas and graduated from Emporia State University with a degree in Elementary Education. After learning about the presence of slavery and injustice around the world, she decided to serve overseas. Caitlin went on the World Race, an 11-month mission trip to 11 countries around the world, where she witnessed first-hand the vast array of injustice as well as endless glimpses of God’s faithfulness.
After the World Race, Caitlin attended G42 Leadership Academy, a Christian leadership and discipleship program in Spain. Her dreams came alive during her time at G42: to fight slavery and injustice, and to see women fully alive and free by embracing their true worth.
After graduating from G42 Leadership Academy, Caitlin lived in Chicago, serving on International Justice Mission’s Chicago volunteer team as the Events Coordinator.
Caitlin moved to Tennessee and joined Team RSM in 2019. She served as the Weekend Residential Manager for one year, then Community Engagement Manager for three years before transitioning to her current role. You can typically find Caitlin listening to music, coffee mug in hand, and looking for her next hiking spot!
Therapist
Laurenda Whisenhunt, MMFT
Laurenda Whisenhunt serves as our resident counselor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and Human Relations from Trevecca Nazarene University. She also earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Trevecca Nazarene University. While in graduate school, she began to pursue extensive training in trauma through EMDR and Brainspotting.
Laurenda’s interest in residential treatment began fresh out of high school. She began working as a weekend residential staff member at a home for orphans. Her work in residential treatment continued during her time at TNU. She was able to provide counseling to the women in Hope Center Ministries in Portland, TN and for the women in recovery at The Emmanuel House in Carthage, TN.
Laurenda and her husband, Danny, have a large family. She met her husband and his young son in the early 90’s. They married in Amarillo, Texas in 1993. His career brought them to Nashville in 1995. In 2003, they became foster parents and by 2008 they had adopted six girls from the Tennessee Foster Care System. In 2009, they were selected by the Department of Children’s Service as the Tennessee Foster Parents of the Year. They have six grandchildren.
Survivor Care Coordinator
Heather Edwards, MMFT
Heather graduated from Cumberland University in 2003 with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. After graduating from college, Heather worked for 5 years for the Domestic Violence Program in Rutherford County as live-in shelter staff at the program's women's shelter. Additionally, she served as a Child Advocate working with the children that came to the safe shelter with their mothers. Ironically, this is the same program that served Heather and her family when she was a child, giving her mother and siblings a safe place to stay at a time when their own home was not a safe option. Spurred on by the hope that was instilled in her through that trying time, Heather determined that she wanted to help other people to survive and thrive in similar circumstances. She now views her traumatic experiences as a child as a blessing that has allowed her to relate to hurting people in a deeply empathetic way that would not have been possible had she not walked her path. She brings this incredible empathy with her to Rest Stop in her service to the women in the program.
Heather is currently enrolled in the Graduate Counseling Program at Trevecca Nazarene University in pursuit of her Master's of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. She plans to continue on towards licensure and hopes to one day open a private practice in order to help families be the best they can be.
Heather has two little boys who are almost as goofy as she is. She enjoys spending time with her boys and their dog, Dazie. Laughing is their favorite pastime, and they take every opportunity to do so.
Residential Manager
Tara Stieber
Tara Stieber joined the Rest Stop team as Residential Manager in 2023. Born and raised in Colorado, she attended Mid-America Nazarene University as a vocal major until 1987 when she transferred to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville.
In 1994, she settled down and began living her dream of being a wife and mother. She had the privilege of being a stay-at-home homeschooling mama. As her boys entered their later high school years, having always been passionate about Jesus and “Littles”, those two passions merged, and Tara became the Preschool pastor at her church. In prayer one day, God told her that in order to truly impact the lives of those “Littles”, she would need to impact the lives of their mama’s. She did so, first, by launching East Nashville MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) in 2016, and a couple years later, Moms University, which initially offered cooking classes and menu prepping to young moms with plans to expand into other supportive homemaking skills such as simple budgeting, gardening, and hospitality.
In 2020, God led her through deep mourning as He began separating her heart from MOPS. It wasn’t until early 2021 that she received the “why” and God planted a new dream in her heart: to eventually work in a residential setting, serving and loving on minors who had been rescued out of sex trafficking.
Saying “Yes” to this new calling, and walking it out step-by-step, has been a rewarding journey for Tara! Step One was to begin volunteering with Rest Stop Ministries on the Transport Team in 2021. This gave her the opportunity to begin developing relationships with our Residents. In 2022, she took the next step and joined our Respite Care Team as a PRN, where she became familiar with their evening schedule and routines. Stepping into the Residential Manager role in January 2023 is expanding her experience to include the many administrative tasks required in long-term residential care. It is in this current position that Tara desires to influence our Residents by developing and fostering trust that leads to deep relationships. She further desires to impact the healing journey of these ladies by equipping them with positive life-skills, all while making their residential stay with us truly feel like “home”.
Social Enterprise Manager
Kala Davis
My name is Kala Davis, and I am so excited to have joined the Rest Stop Ministries team as the Social Enterprise Manager. My own journey of overcoming addiction has empowered me to dedicate my life’s work to helping those in need.
I live in Lebanon, TN with my husband Tim and our 2 year old son Rhett. I am the daughter of Holly Cooper, owner of Fried Green Tomatoes, and walked alongside my mom to form a social enterprise partnership with RSM in 2021. My husband and I are also entrepreneurs and started a farmhouse furniture company, Davis Woodworks, in 2020. I have a background in the addiction recovery field and previously helped develop a social enterprise for Doors of Hope in Murfreesboro, TN.
I am looking forward to seeing God’s hand move in my new role as social enterprise manager at RSM. I am praying we will be good stewards of all the opportunities God has set before us as we work to provide economic empowerment for every woman that walks through the program.
Program & Volunteer Coordinator
Claire Greene, BBA
Claire is from a small town outside of Ft. Worth, Texas and graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Entrepreneurship. She then was led to serve abroad and moved to Nicaragua as a missionary for two years. There she learned Spanish, helped the team with business initiatives, and mentored a group of teenage girls.
During her time in Nicaragua, God put a desire in her heart to serve the oppressed, specifically victims of human trafficking. She moved with the same organization to Ecuador for another two-year commitment where she helped end slavery through a ministry that offered residential and non-residential care, a business-as-missions for the women survivors, and participated in street outreach to women in prostitution.
Claire moved to Nashville after her engagement to Jacob Greene. God answered her prayers in giving her the opportunity to continue working alongside women survivors at Rest Stop Ministries. She is thankful to be a part of a team that is committed to helping those who have been rescued by providing a process of healing through God's love.
Community Engagement Manager
Kelly Orlowski, MSW
Kelly is originally from Arizona. She graduated from Arizona State University receiving a BS in Cell Biology, a Master of Social Work degree, as well as a certificate in Trauma and Bereavement.
Kelly left her social work career to care for her 4 children. During that time she founded and managed a nonprofit shop dedicated to raising funds for anti-trafficking organizations globally. This work brought her to Tennessee where she developed relationships with many organizations including Rest Stop Ministries.
Kelly has also been an active volunteer in the faith community and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Gateway Seminary. She is passionate about agriculture, gardening and beekeeping, and enjoys spending time with her family outside on their small farm.
Residential Coach
Brenda Miller
Brenda was born in Ohio, and then at 10 years of age moved to Fort Worth Texas. She grew up most of her life there, graduated high school and married not long after. Brenda worked in a veterinarian hospital for 5yrs, then she quit working to raise a family and homeschool her three children.
There was a 20-year span before she would come to RSM. During that time, God had her on a journey of healing of her own childhood trauma, and found that her healing journey helped to equip her for helping hurting women who are walking through their trauma.
In 2015, she and her family moved to Hendersonville, TN, and started volunteering at RSM in the Spring of 2021. Brenda drove residents to appointments, meetings, and other activities, forming relationships with the women. That Summer, she was hired to be officially part of the team as Residential Coach.
In her time off, Brenda enjoys trying new restaurants with friends, photography, the outdoors, hanging out with her kids, and walks with her dog.
Residential Coach
Danyalle Youngers, RN
Danyalle Youngers is a Certified Professional Life and Recovery Coach, as well as a Registered Nurse. She became a Coach to help others who struggle with unhealed wounds from childhood, and gently guide them to a space of healing, restoration, and peace. When the job for a residential coach came across her computer, she saw an opportunity to be of service to the beautiful women who would come to RSM for help. This is her 1st “official” job in 25 years.
Danyalle and her husband have been raising 5 children and homeschooling each one though High School in their home just outside of Nashville, TN.
When she is not working, one can find her with her own coaches, reading a book, having family dinners with her growing children and husband, or working on her own recovery from the effects of growing up with trauma and in a dysfunctional home.
Bookkeeper
Susan Donghia
Susan Donghia joined the Rest Stop Ministries team in 2021 as our Bookkeeper.
Survivor Mentor and Coach
Cynthia Bailey, BS
Cynthia Bailey grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. Cynthia spent the first 24 years of her life as what many label “a victim”. More accurately, however, she is a survivor and found freedom from sex-trafficking, along with the many freedoms that entails, in September of 2000. Her journey in freedom includes a BS in Pre-law, a minor in Psychology and certification as a life coach. Cynthia spent 15 years in Senatobia, MS mentoring and coaching women inside the jail system and within her community. During that time, Cynthia desired and sought a home for women as a place of healing and refuge. Her path was led to Nashville, TN in July 2019 where she connected with Rest Stop Ministries, initially volunteering and then serving as a Residential Coach for over a year. She has since moved back to Memphis, TN where she works remotely with the residents as a mentor and coach as well as traveling back to engage with the women on site as often as she can.
Cynthia finds joy in teaching and reaching women. She knows she is who she is today only by going through and coming out of painful, traumatic life experiences. She is passionate about the life she has been given and seeks to see women of various backgrounds, ages, and cultures find true freedom, becoming all they were meant to be. She loves the outdoors; hiking, biking, running, and exploring. She is excited and thankful to be part of the Rest Stop family, fulfilling her God-given calling to walk with women as they seek their own path to freedom.
Cynthia has three grown children as well as two grandchildren, whom she sees as much as possible. They are a close family, always laughing and enjoying life.