The Source Spokane Team

**Zara Knowlton** - Chief Operating Officer

Zara began her work with at risk youth in 1999 as a case manager for a not for profit in Puyallup WA. She has over 20 years experience working with at risk youth and has a heart and passion to see orphans placed in families. Completing their family of 8, Chris and Zara foster/adopted 2 beautiful girls in 2009 and a sweet little boy in 2016. She was a part in developing The Source by bringing support and input to the team in the earlier stages of growing the ministry. She officially came on board in 2018 as the compliancy officer, and now brings support and strength in a variety of ways.

**Chris Knowlton** -
CEO and Founder

Chris started his youth development career in 1996 while in college. Prior to starting The Source, Chris has served as a Teen Program Director, Community Service Coordinator, children’s lead teacher, junior high pastor, juvenile detention life skills teacher and as a Case Manager for a not for profit in Puyallup Washington. After moving back to Spokane in 2002, Chris started the Youth Investment Program with the YMCA and served as a Teen Program Director from 2003-2011. During his time with the YMCA, Chris created multiple vocational training programs for at risk youth, developed a large youth outreach ministry serving hundreds of youth per week. Chris also taught in juvenile detention providing life skills development to incarcerated youth. In 2011, to address the need of ministering to at risk youth who are both in foster care and part of the juvenile court system, Chris resigned from the YMCA and started The Source. Since the start in 2011, Chris has grown the ministry from being the sole employee serving troubled teens to having approximately 50 full time staff serving in both Spokane Washington and Malawi Africa. Chris is responsible for ministry development and oversees case management, Division of Children Youth and Families relations and overall ministry operations. He has been a grass roots pioneer developing programs and ministries serving the most vulnerable youth for the past 24 years.

**Julie Vinson** -
Vice President and CFO

Julie Vinson has been with The Source since 2012. She has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Public Administration. Julie has several years of case management experience dating back to 2002 as well as 10 years finance experience working with a local CPA Firm. Julie has a huge heart for the foster care system in Washington State. Julie and her husband, Sean, served as a licensed foster/adopt home from 2011 to 2014. In 2014 Julie and Sean were able to adopt two children, completing their family of 8. Since that time, Julie has continued working with The Source serving in various roles. In 2019, Julie came on full-time as the Program Director of the ministry.

Kristal brings insight and organization to our team through her many adventures and 11 years of experience in hospitality, management and special education. She has strong multi-tasking & problem-solving skills which she uses to help each of our four homes run smoothly. Kristal is an advocate for our kids and had worked at our Riverbluff home before becoming Program Director. She connects with the kids and goes above and beyond to show them love even as she looks after the staff and house managers. She perseveres through any challenge, strives to give her best, & has personally invested in our vision to help youth to find a new pathway in life.

**Kathy Hager** -
Clinical Director

Kathy is the social worker for The Source Youth Home. She has a Bachelor and Master degree in Social Work and is licensed in WA State as an Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). She has over 30 years experience in the field. She carries on the healing ministry of The Source Youth Home by providing clinical care for our vulnerable young men & women.

**Kiley Lemery** - Office Manager

Kiley graduated from Whitworth University with a B.A. in Education. She is passionate about creating a space for individuals to reach their highest potential. She keeps the office running smoothly and helps the team stay organized and on schedule in our fast pace environment.

**Naphtali Morden** -
Ministry Director

Naphtali grew up on the Spokane area and has been involved in leading youth outreach & ministry efforts since 1998. She has served as a worship leader and Bible teacher for 27 years and loves connecting with & encouraging people of diverse cultures and beliefs. She joins us after spending several years serving in the South Pacific with YWAM Family Ministries. Naphtali creatively teaches on relationships, communication, team building & emotional/spiritual health. She has leadership experience in a variety of roles with all age groups and multiple cultures. Her greatest desire is for each person to discover their unique value and how deeply loved they are by their Maker and Creator.

Brad Knott - Youth Mentorship Director

Brad graduated from Evangelical Seminary with his Master of Divinity and is passionate about helping young people reach their full potential through mentorship and encouragement. Brad has adopted three wonderful children and has a heart for helping those in the foster care system. Before coming to the Source, Brad worked as a Youth Pastor at a local church and continues to be involved in ministry in various capacities.

**Riverbluff DDA Home Management Team**
Our Riverbluff team is made up of Kelsey Buccat Sagar Rai, and Savannah Kerr. They strive to bring structure, love, and respect to the home. Kelseyhas 8 years experience in DDA which has been her passion. her own 16 year is developmentally and intellectually disabled, andhas taught her the skills she utilizes in her profession to be a wonderful caregiver and team manager.
Savanna is in nursing school and grew up around kids with special needs/disabilities. She loves the opportunity to support our DDA clients and has learned so much from them. Every client is unique and being around the different personalities and perspectives is her favorite part of this job.
Sagar was born and raised in a refugee camp and moved to the States at the age of 16. He has a B.A. in film from Eastern Washington University and has spent 10+ years volunteering to help local kids and teens with refugee backgrounds. He has a heart to help our DDA kids achieve the full potential of their dreams.

Our Office Team is comrpised of Noelle Knowlton, Kinzy Knowlton and Rhema Williamson.

**Mike Witherup - Program Director**

Mike has been a friend of The Source for several years and joined the team in 2024 to focus on growth opportunities that will allow us to serve more youth. He has a background in business, management, and insurance. He and his wife have fostered and adopted and been a part of that local community for more than 15 years. Mike is excited to make his passion for youth an avocation.

**Carrie Ellenwood** - HR Director
Carrie first started with The Source in 2019 as a program manager. She quickly realized this was what she felt called to do. She has had years of experience working in a medical office, as well as years as a private Nanny. She dreamed of starting an orphanage when she was a little girl and has traveled to Africa multiple times to work with the children there. Assisting young people in overcoming obstacles and watching them walk in victory fills her with purpose and joy.
Carrie has been married to an amazing husband for 10 years and inherited two lovely girls and two sweet grand babies.

Daniel Taylor - Director of Operations

Daniel began working with foster children in early 2017 in an attempt to find a career that was more fulfilling. He worked at multiple short-term facilities before finding his calling working longer term with the youth at The Source. Daniel has worked in all of the homes during his time at with the nonprofit and became the Program Manager at Hilltop before moving into the office as the Director of Operations.
Daniel has found passion in using his experience and expertise to work with The Source staff to create an environment that helps our youth overcome their struggles and grow into contributing members of society, as well as helping staff and managers feel equipped to handle the challenges of this job.