Board of Directors
The Board of Directors provides strategic oversight to guide the organization in its humanitarian mission and services. View our Board Members:
The Board of Directors provides strategic oversight to guide the organization in its humanitarian mission and services. View our Board Members:
Terry Stigdon has a career that has spanned nursing to government work and is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross. She is a true servant leader. In 2018 Terry had been appointed by Governor Eric Holcomb to lead the Department of Child Services (DCS) where she transformed how the agency functioned and worked with families and children in need. Terry knows firsthand the importance of working with a community. During her time at DCS Indiana saw the number of children in foster care decrease by 50% while federal safety measures improved. Before her appointment to DCS Terry had been a nurse for more than 20 years. She was a nurse leader at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health for almost 20 years. While at Riley Hospital Terry was a manager in the Intensive Care Unit. She then served as a manager for the emergency department and lastly as Director for the Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center, Trauma Program, Car Passenger Safety Program and Inpatient Behavioral Health.
Terry received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Indianapolis and her MSN in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors’ University. She has been married to her husband Jay for almost 30 years and they have three adult children and one grandchild.
Nettie is a seasoned Clinical Operations Leader with over 7 years of experience managing the Emergency Department and Pediatric Forensic Nursing teams. With an 18-year nursing career dedicated to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, she has built a reputation for excellence, efficiency, and compassionate care. Her journey in nursing has been fueled by a deep passion for serving her community, and she is continually inspired to find new ways to contribute and make a meaningful difference.
Nettie holds an Associate of Science in Nursing from Vincennes University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana State University, and a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors University. Her professional credentials include certification as a Pediatric Emergency Nurse, a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, and Nurse Executive Board Certification. Nettie serves on the Clinical Advisory Board for the Indiana Donor Network.
If you experienced a house fire or other disaster, please call 888-684-1441.
Chris Hernandez joined the Indiana Region’s Red Cross as the Senior Disaster Program Manager in May 2023. With over 12 years of experience in staff and volunteer leadership, Chris is dedicated to enhancing community resilience and empowering teams to respond to disasters across the region or nationally.
Chris first engaged in Red Cross volunteer work while completing his undergraduate degree at Saint Louis University, where he formally studied and responded to disasters and urban challenges. While serving, Chris developed a deep commitment to leading volunteers and his background includes leadership with Campus Kitchen, Special Olympics, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), and Habitat for Humanity. In 2019 Chris completed a master’s degree, and he spent seven years as a military officer and aviator. During this time and after, Chris oversaw international mobilizations, local and national crisis responses, and training operations.
Bringing over 25 years of volunteer management experience, Sherri serves as the Regional Volunteer Service Officer and is responsible for recruitment, engagement, and support of more than 2,300 Red Cross volunteers. She joined the American Red Cross in 2014 and brought her energy and passion for volunteerism with her. Some say it is contagious!
Her commitment to the volunteer experience has led to her serving on the National Field User group for VCN and the National Net Promoter Score workgroup. She also chaired the National VCN Resource Library Restructure and worked on the National Workforce Planning Assessment Team. She has been the recipient of the Regional Chief Executive Coin for Exceptional Service and the Regional Distinguished Service Award.
Sherri holds a master’s in public administration from IU School of Public & Environmental Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from IU Kelley School of Business. She and her husband are empty nesters residing in Evansville, Indiana while both their children are away attending college.
Jeffrey Imel is the Regional Program Director of Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) and International Services. In his SAF role, Jeffrey is responsible for leading a team of staff and volunteers in supporting active duty service members, veterans, and their families through providing emergency communication services and financial assistance. In his role in International Services, Jeffrey leads a cadre of volunteers who serve clients searching for missing family members who have been separated by international armed conflict.
Before joining the Red Cross in 2018, Jeff served eight years in the United States Marine Corps and after leaving active duty spent three decades working as an electrical engineer and teaching electrical engineering technology.
Laken joined the American Red Cross Indiana Region in February of 2024. She is a fundraising professional with over 18 years of experience with a wealth of expertise in leading and advising multi-million dollar fundraising campaigns statewide.
Prior to joining the Red Cross, Laken was President of The Sisko Group. She is recognized as a trailblazer in the field of fundraising and is committed to leveraging her experience to support and advance the critical humanitarian work of the Red Cross.
Laken is a graduate from Indiana University, where she received a master’s degree in Public Affairs with a concentration in Non-Profit Management and Fund Development and a bachelor’s degree in Business and International Studies.
Isis is a seasoned communicator with more than 15 years of experience in television news in Panama, Canada and the United States. Prior to joining the American Red Cross Indiana Region, she was news director for the Univision station in Fresno, California. Previously, Isis served as Development Communications Manager with the American Red Cross of Illinois. She holds an M.A. in Communications and a B.A. in Radio/Television from Murray State University.
Louise Clendenen is Executive Coordinator for the Indiana Region. In this capacity, she provides executive communications and administrative support for the Boards of Directors and the regional leadership team, serves as the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer and directs regional professional development and education programs through the Red Cross University program. Louise has significant experience and expertise, having previously worked at the Indiana University School of Nursing and the IU Lilly School of Philanthropy. A native Hoosier, Louise is an avid reader, animal lover and has a passion for travel. She is dedicated to the values and mission of the American Red Cross
Sarah Moss joined the Red Cross in 2011 as account manager with Biomedical Services, where she serve a territory spanning 7 counties. During her career with the Red Cross, she has strengthened and grown the blood program at Purdue University where she developed a partnership with the Greek System to include Red Cross blood drives as a part of their community service initiative program. She also started a sickle cell initiative on campus. She currently serves as the student advisor for the American Red Cross Club of Purdue University. Sarah is a five-time Presidents’ Club recipient. She earned an MBA from Purdue University and is currently a doctoral candidate in business administration at Indiana Wesleyan University. Sarah is a huge Purdue sports fan and likes spending time with her niece and nephew, traveling, and playing golf in her free time.
Beth is a dynamic communicator with deep roots in our community. She comes to the American Red Cross after a 17-year career in television journalism, with 16 of those years at 14 News (WFIE) in Evansville, where she served as an on-air reporter, anchor and most recently as assistant news director. She is an experienced leader, storyteller and passionate community leader.
Beth volunteers with Ark Crisis Child Care Center in Evansville where she served as a board member for 8 years. She has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, building homes in several states including her home state of Kentucky. Beth also served for several years as the volunteer master of ceremonies for the American Red Cross Heroes Awards Dinner.
Beth earned her BA in journalism from the University of Kentucky where she also served as an Americorps ambassador. She currently resides in Evansville with her husband, son Oliver and daughter Caroline.
Jennifer S. Sexton, a native Hoosier, holds a BA in Media & Public Communications from Purdue University Fort Wayne and an MA in Communications.
Prior to joining the American Red Cross, Jennifer served as the Director of Collective Impact and Communications for United Way of Charlotte County in southwest Florida. In that role she advanced collective impact strategies across health and human service agencies, demonstrating her capacity to build bridges and drive collaborative change. Her career also includes time serving as a Public Information Officer for the State of Florida and developing and supporting several disaster preparedness healthcare coalitions across the southwest Florida region.
She has executed crisis communications on behalf of nonprofit and government agencies during multiple hurricanes, and has planned, trained, and exercised on scenarios related to Ebola, Zika, and more.
Her professional achievements include developing the state of Florida’s first HIV Prevention evaluation (southwest Florida region) and the first Senior Community Health Assessment (Charlotte County).
