Leadership | Kids Escaping Drugs

Meet The Team

Jodie Altman has worked in the addiction field with adolescents for over 35 years. Jodie has been with the campus for many years fulfilling leadership roles as the Campus Director and Deputy Director prior to her role as the Executive Director.

Along with her work on the Campus, Ms. Altman served from 2007 through 2013 as a Court Liaison with Amherst Drug Court. In 2012, she was named the Counselor of the Year by the Amherst Drug Court and Therapeutic Foundation.

Early in her career, she worked for three years for BryLin Hospital, as a Family Therapist, a Senior Clinician, and finally as the Adolescent Supervisor in their Chemical Dependency Unit.

Jodie is a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Masters of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Syracuse University.

Executive Director
Jodie Altman

Robin comes from a strong finance and banking background. She worked at numerous banks in Western New York. Her finance career began in 1982 at Buffalo Savings Bank. From there, she worked at Goldome Reality Credit Corp. in 1986.

After 18 years, Robin began working at Sgroi Financial LLC. She began her career at Kids Escaping Drugs in 2001 as a volunteer with her family. She saw the benefits of her teenage children coming to the Campus to educate them about the dangers and consequences of substance abuse and addiction.

In 2007, Robin became the Volunteer Coordinator at Kids Escaping Drugs, and was quickly promoted to Finance Director. In 2012, Robin became the Executive Director of Kids Escaping Drugs.

In 2014, when Renaissance Addiction Services Inc. was established, Robin became Executive Director of both KED and RASI. Robin is a member of the Erie County Opioid Task Force.

Director Emeritus
Robin Clouden

Patti Chimera has over 30 years of diversified professional experience including time with the Buffalo Sabres, Key Bank Arena, the Buffalo Bills, and Coca-Cola. She graduated from SUNY Canton with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing.

Patti has been active as a volunteer with many local charities including Kids Escaping Drugs and Roswell Park and now is active in several local animal rescue groups. Patti has 3 children and 3 grandchildren and felt working with KED was one more way of giving back to the community she and her family call home

Administrative Coordinator
Patricia Chimera

Brittany Smorol is a Face2Face Program Coordinator at Kids Escaping Drugs. Brittany works with local schools to provide educational presentations and helps at risk youth through the Face2Face Early Intervention Program.

Prior to joining Kids Escaping Drugs in January 2022, Brittany had worked as the Assistant Director at Independent Living of Niagara County for six years. She also completed an internship at the Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center. Additionally, Brittany has extensive volunteer service with the EMW Boys and Girls Club and previously volunteered with the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps - Sullivans Division. Brittany received the Volunteer of the Year Award for the EMW Boys and Girls Club in 2010 and was awarded the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce Student Star Award in 2013.

Brittany is passionate about working with children and through Kids Escaping Drugs, she educates youth on the dangers and consequences of substance use and addiction, ultimately guiding them to live a healthy lifestyle.

Face2Face Specialist
Brittany Smorol

Dana is the Marketing & Events Coordinator at KED. She'll be working to create marketing material to strengthen the impact of KED. She'll also be looking forward to organizing KED's annual events!

She has a Bachelor's of Fine Arts from Buffalo State College in Communication Design. While attending, she received the James Lombardo Sr. Award for Excellence and quickly launched her own freelancing career. Her specialty was working with local non-profits and local mom & pop businesses.

Before working at KED, Dana was the Program Director for a non-profit arts organization called Locust Street Art. There she was able to oversee their free arts programming and build their workshop and camps offerings. Locust Street Art won “Best Art Classes” for 2021, 2022 of which she is very proud of.

Wanting to contribute to youth in a larger capacity, she landed at KED. Her favorite part about working for KED is the ability to educate the public about the complexity of addiction and tell stories about the possibility of recovery.

Outside of work she’s obsessed over obsolete inventions of yesteryear, her two cats, national parks and photography.

Marketing & Events Coordinator
Dana McPhaden

Ashley is a Face2Face Program Coordinator at Kids Escaping Drugs. In her current role, she provides both education as well as community outreach to local youth through Peer2Peer Panel Presentations at schools, and Early Interventions for at risk youth.

Prior to joining KED, she spent seven years as both a staff trainer and direct support professional for a non-profit agency that serves developmentally and intellectually disabled adults, as well as many years as both a volunteer and paid EMT.

Ashley is a 2008 graduate of Frontier High School and has remained in the area to raise her family. Ashley began working at Kids Escaping Drugs in January of 2022 and has enjoyed every day. Interacting with the youth both on the campus and in the community is enjoyable and fulfilling. She hopes her passion and enthusiasm comes across in the presentations and Early Interventions she conducts and can make a difference in someone's life.

Face2Face Specialist
Ashley Gedra

Meghan Boarts has jumped headfirst into the important fight against substance use among youth through her work as the Face2Face Coalition Director at Kids Escaping Drugs, serving the communities of West Seneca and Orchard Park. Meghan completed her Master’s Degree in Sociocultural Anthropology at Northern Arizona University in 2017 and went on to work as an AmeriCorps Volunteer through Project S.O.A.R. with the organization Cradle Beach. This program worked towards increasing student school attendance to improve academics, behavior, and overall wellness.

Meghan’s career progressed when she accepted the role as Supervisor of the Project S.O.A.R. program at BPS #72 Lorraine Elementary and BPS #43 Lovejoy Discovery School. After 2 years as a supervisor of this program Meghan took on the role of Executive Director of F BITES (Food Based Interventions with Technology Energy and Science) an organization that works in Buffalo and Niagara Falls to teach youth and adults essential life skills through culinary training.

Meghan is excited about the important work the Coalition does and the future potential of the Coalition Director role. When Meghan is not busy with Coalition work you can find her enjoying the great outdoors and the company of family and friends.