Our Leadership Team

Our qualified team and board members contribute an array of expertise that allows Therapeutic Family Life to make sensible decisions that are ethical, strengthen our programs and services, and are economically sound.

Leon Smith, BS, MS, LPC, LSOTP, LMFT, LCPAA

Executive Director

Leon Joseph Smith is the founder and CEO of Therapeutic Family Life, a child-placing and adoption agency with 30 years of experience.

Leon Smith, BS, MS, LPC, LSOTP, LMFT, LCPAA

Executive Director

Leon Joseph Smith is the founder and CEO of Therapeutic Family Life, a child-placing and adoption agency with 30 years of experience. With licenses and certificates including LPS, LMFT, LCDC, BCIA, CCDS, and SOTP Leon brings a wealth of expertise to his role. He has a strong background in counseling, having served children and adolescents with severe emotional and mental disabilities. Leon’s focus has always been on providing a “win-win” situation for everyone involved, ensuring the emotional stability of foster children, the expertise of caregivers, and compliance with state regulations. His compassionate approach has been the cornerstone of Therapeutic Family Life’s success.

Phone:(800) 394-4939

Virginia Smith

Executive Administrator

Virginia Smith is the co-founder and Executive Administrator of Therapeutic Family Life - an adoption agency that has been serving the foster youth of Texas for 30 years.

Virginia Smith

Executive Administrator

Virginia Smith is the co-founder and Executive Administrator of Therapeutic Family Life - an adoption agency that has been serving the foster youth of Texas for 30 years. Virginia has completed three years of study in psychology at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and is a certified Practitioner Trainer in Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) from Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas. With over five years of experience as a therapist in the mental health field working with children and families, she has gained expertise in stress management, nutrition, and biofeedback. Virginia previously held the position of Director of Day Treatment for four years and Public Information Administrator for one year at MHMR. Alongside her husband, Leon Smith, they work as a team to fulfill their God-given prophecy of giving love to damaged children through their field of harvest, which involves finding prospective foster parents who are willing to open their homes to orphaned children.

Phone:(800) 394-4939

Melissa Rodriguez, BS, LCPAA

Director of Quality Assurance

Melissa Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas State University and has over 20 years of experience in childcare services and administration.

Melissa Rodriguez, BS, LCPAA

Director of Quality Assurance

Melissa Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas State University and has over 20 years of experience in childcare services and administration. She is a Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring agency compliance with policies, procedures, and contract requirements, in conjunction with the Executive Director and Executive Administrator. Melissa's two children, Matthew and Madeline, grew up at the TFL office, with Matthew being only six months old at the time she was hired. She is an animal lover and previously owned three cats, with her last one passing away at the age of 20. Currently, she has a two-year-old Red Fox Lab named Charlie. In her free time, Melissa enjoys supporting her son's high school marching band, where he plays the saxophone, and watching her daughter participate in middle school volleyball and choir. Melissa loves working at TFL because of the family-oriented atmosphere, where both the foster families and staff prioritize caring for the children in their care. She considers each family a part of her own and takes pride in assisting them in any way possible.

Phone:(800) 394-4939

Thad Smith

Director of Clinical Support & Foster Parent Impact Services

Thad Smith is an experienced professional in the foster care field, having worked in it for 30 years.

Thad Smith

Director of Clinical Support & Foster Parent Impact Services

Thad Smith is an experienced professional in the foster care field, having worked in it for 30 years. After the establishment of Therapeutic Family Life, Thad and Leon Smith created a tailored program for adolescent males who required treatment for sexualized behaviors. Thad supervised two 12-bed group homes for adolescents with high-risk behaviors and offered consultation to foster parents across the state, who replicated the program he and Leon developed. He collaborates with the Clinical Director to offer support to foster families. Thad’s duties include managing the placement of high-risk children in TFL’s therapeutic foster homes and collaborating with Intake Workers and foster parents in each TFL branch. He convenes a monthly foster parent group that all Therapeutic Family Life Foster Parents are welcome to join virtually. During his leisure time, Thad enjoys playing disc golf and pickleball. He has been happily married to his wife, Carlie, for 34 years, working together for 30 of those years, and they have three grown children and two dogs who they love spending time with.

Phone:(800) 394-4939

Shannon Kammer, BA, LMSW

Director of Training Development

Shannon Kammer is a Licensed Master Social Worker, holding a degree from the University of Texas and a B.A. in Psychology from Southwest Texas State University.

Shannon Kammer, BA, LMSW

Director of Training Development

Shannon Kammer is a Licensed Master Social Worker, holding a degree from the University of Texas and a B.A. in Psychology from Southwest Texas State University. She boasts a 30-year-long experience in foster care and has worked for Therapeutic Family Life on three separate occasions throughout her career. In her role at Therapeutic Family Life, Shannon has served as a Case Manager, Program Coordinator, CPMS, Foster Home Developer, and Adoption worker. Currently, she serves as the Director of Training, working with all Therapeutic Family Life branch offices to assist in areas of training development to equip staff and foster parents who service the diverse groups of children that come into foster care. Despite the demanding nature of her job, Shannon finds the staff to be like family and enjoys working with them on a day-to-day basis. In her free time, Shannon enjoys gardening and building furniture and art from recycled materials.

Phone:(800) 394-4939

Carlie Smith, BS, LCPAA

Director of Marketing & Social Media

Carlie received a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from Lamar University. She has been with Therapeutic Family Life since 1994.

Carlie Smith, BS, LCPAA

Director of Marketing & Social Media

Carlie received a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from Lamar University. She has been with Therapeutic Family Life since 1994. Prior to taking on the responsibilities of Marketing and Social Media, Carlie held the positions of Office Manager, Clinical Records, Program Coordinator, Director of Training Development and Child Placement Management Specialist with Therapeutic Family Life.

Phone:(800) 394-4939

Susan Rickerman, MS, BS, LCPAA

Quality Assurance Supervisor

Susan Rickerman holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Lamar University and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Tarleton State University.

Susan Rickerman, MS, BS, LCPAA

Quality Assurance Supervisor

Susan Rickerman holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Lamar University and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Tarleton State University. She is a Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator, supporting and ensuring compliance across our branch offices. Susan’s role as Quality Assurance Supervisor is vital to the day-to-day operations of Therapeutic Family Life. With over 9 years of experience in childcare services, Susan is a valued team member. She has three sons and one granddaughter and enjoys attending their sporting events, listening to music, and traveling. Susan is proud to be a part of the team at Therapeutic Family Life and the TFL family.

Phone:(800) 394-4939

William Hernandez

Controller

William Hernandez, is a native of Puerto Rico. He holds an MBA in Accounting and has over 20 years of experience in the field.

William Hernandez

Controller

William Hernandez, is a native of Puerto Rico. He holds an MBA in Accounting and has over 20 years of experience in the field. William is a proud husband of more than two decades and a devoted father of two. He has a special place in his heart for dogs and is an avid lover of music. Additionally, William is an ordained pastor and has a passion for the NBA.

Phone:(800) 394-4939

Board of Directors

Paul Ott – President, Member since July 1993

Leandra Sanchez – Secretary, Member since September 2011

Bennie Engelke – Treasurer, Member since August 2018