Meet the Team

Say Hello to our Staff

We know it’s hard to write a bio, so we wrote them for one another so you can get to know us as we know each other. We all have different avenues as to how we came to this work, but we all agree that everyone has a part to play in the global fight against human trafficking

 

  • Meet Courtney Skiera-Vaughn, FTG’s Executive Director!

    Since 2015, Courtney has brought passion, joy, her immense intellect, and a servant’s heart to Free The Girls and our work with survivors. Serving as our Executive Director, Courtney works to develop and implement program strategies that will effectively assist in the reintegration of women who are sex trafficking survivors and lead our staff to ensure it all happens.

    The work we do is not just a job for Courtney, it is a calling. She gave years of her life to studying Trauma-Informed Care outside of a western context and earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Walden University in 2020. She came to be part of Free The Girls while living in Uganda and running Kwagala Project, which was one of our program partners. Courtney has been a tremendous gift to FTG, leading through the daunting and challenging process of growing from a start-up into a mature and thriving organization.

    Courtney is courageous, adventurous, and willing to risk parasites to indulge her craving for street food while exploring the globe. (She has the medical records to back it up!) At home she can usually be found outside in her back yard having an adventure with her kids, gardening, or in the few precious moments allotted to her, enjoying a good book while sipping her latte. She and her husband love life in Tennessee and getting to explore the world together. You won’t find Courtney watching, participating in, or talking about sports, but you might convince her to play a card game with you, which you will most likely win.

    Have questions for Courtney?courtney@freethegirls.org

    + written by Dr. Greg Arthur

 

  • Meet Miranda Blue, FTG’s Communications Administrator!

    Miranda joined our team here at FTG in 2023 and has been a wonderful addition! Overseeing our data, systems, and inquiries, Miranda works hard to make sure we are tracking, communicating with, and serving our FTG supporters. She brings a background in computer coding, administration, and diverse experiences to this vital job.

    When she isn’t searching through Sales Force, Miranda is most likely chasing her toddler, tending to her wide array of plants, hanging out with her husband at a show, or enjoying a fun night playing games with friends.

    Have questions for Miranda?miranda@freethegirls.org

    + written by Dr. Greg Arthur

 
 

  • Meet Joe Juarez, FTG’s Director of Community Relations!

    If you’ve ever mailed a donated bra to Free The Girls, this man has opened that package! You’d think that would get boring but Joe maintains that gathering the dozens of boxes and envelopes every day is the best part of his day as each one represents someone who cares.

    Joe has been in the nonprofit world his entire adult life and this has created an unmatched spirit of willingness; you’ll never see Joe asking someone to do something that he wouldn’t (or hasn’t!) done himself! While Joe is a hero of ours, one of his heroes is Bono, and the similarities are obvious in Joe’s passion for music all while changing the world.

    When he’s not sorting your donations or sending thank you emails, you can find him cooking (he makes killer pierogi!), traveling (shout out to Louisville!), seeing any type of concert with his amazing wife, or sipping a craft beer.

    Have questions for Joe
    joe@freethegirls.org


    + written by co-worker Brittany Pierce Newton

 

  • Meet Brittany Newton, FTG’s
    Director of Communications!

    Brittany spends her work hours crafting content, graphics, and messages that communicate who we are, how you can be involved, and why it matters! Once this perfectionist is satisfied, it goes out into the wide world which means that basically everything you see has her fingerprints on it!

    Brittany has traveled extensively, including living abroad in different countries for several months at a time in volunteer capacities since 2003. Working with trafficking survivors in 2012 put her on the path to utilizing her 12+ years of experience in marketing and communications with FTG.

    When she’s not answering your DMs and emails, she can either be found in the dog park with her pup, Margo, or in the kitchen making delicious brioche or simply enjoying the beauty of Knoxville, TN, holding a book of poetry in one hand and an iced chai in the other.

    Have questions for Brittany?
    brittany@freethegirls.org

    + written by co-worker Courtney Skiera-Vaughn

 
 

Our Board of Directors

  • Kimba Langas

    INTERIM BOARD PRESIDENT / CO FOUNDER

    As Co-Founder of Free The Girls, it’s been my honor to see our work expand beyond bras into holistic support for survivors on their journey into true freedom. Over the last 13+ years, I’ve had both a front row seat to our work and cheered on from the sidelines. I’m excited and energized by serving as Board President in this new season of answering the question "What's Next?" for survivors. I want to see a world where we never stop addressing (and dare I hope—finally eliminate) susceptibilities to exploitation—like poverty, lack of education, lack of social support, and lack of opportunity. I want to see a world where we look beyond opportunity and ensure everyone has access to those same opportunities.

  • Barbara Laken

    TREASURER

    “I have volunteered on numerous boards related to my job, but Free The Girls was a first whereby I instantly knew the impact would last generations. Families are impacted when women gain the freedom to be their own boss and conduct commerce transactions with other women in a safe environment. Providing hope, training, and the means to a bright future is at the foundation – and this I can fully embrace.”

  • Dr. Amanda Montgomery

    “When I learned that Free the Girls is dedicated to empowering survivors to gain financial autonomy from their abusers, I wanted to get involved. I appreciate how the organization partners with anti-trafficking work that is already happening in multiple regions in the world. I’m honored to be involved.”

  • Dr. Jerry Kaufman

    “I have been involved in international nonprofit work in a variety of ways for nearly 20 years, so I've long had a passion for this kind of work. I've seen the importance of a board of directors in setting the direction for the organization and creating space for the staff to thrive as they work with those impacted by unjust and exploitative systems. After being invited to join the board and having a chance to meet the people involved, their passion for this work and their vision for providing exploited women a path out of poverty was contagious.”