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Elk Hill Staff

Michael Farley - Executive Director of Elk Hill

Michael Farley, MS

Executive Director
mfarley@elkhill.org
(804) 457-4866, x311

Michael Farley has been with Elk Hill for 30 of its 40 years. After returning from a stint with the Peace Corp in Africa, he joined the Elk Hill team as a counselor. Mr. Farley went on to serve as the Director of Programs. In 1999 he became Elk Hill’s Executive Director. Mr. Farley has received two gubernatorial appointments and been twice elected president of both the statewide accrediting body for special education schools and the largest coalition of private foster-care providers in Virginia.

Under Mr. Farley’s leadership, Elk Hill has changed from an organization that relies heavily on funding from residential services to a Medicaid provider supported by state and private funding and committed to keeping at-risk youth in public schools and out of foster-care.

Mr. Farley continues to support the Kenyan village from his Peace Corp days through his work with the Makindu Children’s Program.

Ron Spears - Director of Programs at Elk Hill

Ron Spears

Director of Programs
rspears@elkhill.org
(804) 457-4866, x302

Ron has been with Elk Hill since 1984. He has served as a Team Leader, Admissions and Aftercare Coordinator, Director of Admissions and Aftercare, Director of Community Services and now serves as Director of Programs. He knows every Elk Hill program and has helped Elk Hill develop programs as the needs of our young men and women change. Ron holds a Masters Degree in Administration.

Ron is a Board Member of the Powhatan County YMCA, Powhatan Free Clinic, Powhatan Public Schools Foundation, Cumberland Public Schools Foundation, and sits on the Powhatan Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT), the Cumberland Public Schools Blue and Gold Steering Committee, and the Cumberland Basketball Alumni Committee (founder, and chairman). Ron enjoys basketball and plays at the state and national level in 50 and over competition.

David Wyman - Business Manager at Elk Hill

David Wyman

Business Manager
dwyman@elkhill.org
(804) 457-4866, x307

Mr. Wyman joined the Elk Hill team in 2008. He is a senior international financial executive with more than 20 years of experience in high-tech, manufacturing and software environments. From 1997 through 2006, he served as vice president and chief financial officer for multiple divisions of Invensys, a London-based manufacturing holding company with sales of $5 billion. Previously, he worked as a financial manager for Texas Instruments and played professional basketball in Europe.

Mr. Wyman holds a bachelor's degree in math from the University of Maine and a master's degree in business administration from Northeastern University.

Elli Sparks - Development Director at Elk Hill

Elli Sparks

Development Director
esparks@elkhill.org
(804) 457-4866, x310

Ms. Sparks brings 15 years of fundraising experience and a passion for the underdog to her work at Elk Hill. She joined the Elk Hill team in 2009. Prior to Elk Hill, she served as development director for William Byrd Community House and executive director for Reach Out and Read Virginia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Wade Puryear, M.Ed. - Associate Director of Programs & Head of School, Elk Hill Varina

Wade Puryear, M.Ed.

Associate Director of Programs
& Head of School, Elk Hill Varina
wpuryear@elkhill.org
(804) 305-2187

Mr. Puryear earned a BA in English from East Carolina University, a Masters of Education in Special Education and a Post-Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. Prior to joining Elk Hill he taught in public school and private alternative day/residential schools for 4 years and served as Headmaster at Brook Road Academy for 5 years. At Elk Hill Mr. Puryear has served as Head of School at Elk Hill Varina and Director of Education for Elk Hill Schools. Currently he serves as Associate Director of Programs. Mr. Puryear established Elk Hill’s Experiential Education Weeks and brought Education for Employment to Elk Hill’s schools.

Alex Sullivan - Community Relations Coordinator

Alex Sullivan

Community Relations Coordinator
asullivan@elkhill.org
(804) 457-4866, x342

Alex is actively involved in the marketing of Elk Hill's programs, customer service and human resources. He has been with Elk Hill since 1980 and knows our programs inside and out. Well respected in the local community and in the human service sector, Alex is a tremendous asset to Elk Hill.

Malinda Tiffany, MSW, QMHP - Admissions Coordinator

Malinda Tiffany, MSW, QMHP

Admissions Coordinator
mtiffany@elkhill.org
(804) 457-4866, x339

Ms. Tiffany graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from the State University of New York College at Brockport and then went on to earn a Masters of Social Work degree from Syracuse University. She has been a professional social worker for 15 years and has spent a majority of her career working at-risk adolescents and their families, such as those she serves at Elk Hill.

Laura Easter, PhD, LPC - Community Services Director

Laura Easter, PhD, LPC

Community Services Director
leaster@elkhill.org
(804) 457-4866, x317

Dr. Laura Easter discovered Elk Hill in 2007 when Elk Hill Spring Garden, our group home for girls, opened near her home in Fluvanna County. Pleased by what she learned about Elk Hill, Dr. Easter applied for the position of program director at Spring Garden. She served as its first director for two years. After establishing Spring Garden for Elk Hill, she moved into the new position of Community Services Director. Under her leadership, Elk Hill is providing Therapeutic Day Treatment, In-home and Intensive In-home support, Therapeutic Mentoring, and Mental Health Support.

Dr. Easter received her master's degree in school counseling from Loyola College and her doctorate in counselor education from the University of Virginia. She has served as a counselor working with adults, children, and families in public and private school settings, residential facilities, and community mental health centers. In addition, she has served as adjunct faculty at UVA teaching and supervising Master's students in the counseling program.

Latisha Perkins, M.Ed. - Head of School, The Harambee School at Elk Hill Farm

Latisha Perkins, M.Ed.

Head of School
The Harambee School
at Elk Hill Farm
lperkins@elkhill.org
(804) 457-4866

Ms. Perkins holds a M.Ed. in Education from Central Michigan University and a B.A. in Journalism from Norfolk State University. She began teaching at Elk Hill in 2002. In 2005 she stepped into the position of Head of School for Elk Hill Harambee. During her tenure she has implemented a campus-wide uniform policy. She oversaw the change at Elk Hill Farm from an all-boys school to a co-ed school. In 2009-10 Ms. Perkins coordinated Harambee's first Homecoming Week and established the Harambelicious Café where students host a monthly café luncheon. Currently she is leading the consolidation of the day and residential school now called The Harambee School at Elk Hill Farm.

Darlene Ferguson, EdS - Head of School, Elk Hill Charlottesville

Darlene Ferguson, EdS

Head of School
Elk Hill Charlottesville
dferguson@elkhill.org
(434) 220-7198
(804) 814-5947 (cell)
(434) 220-7113 (fax)

Ms. Ferguson earned a BS and a MS from James Madison University and a post-master’s degree from the George Washington University in educational leadership. Prior to joining Elk Hill, she brings 25 years of experience working in the public and private sector of education as a teacher, case manager, supervisor, and educational director of programs serving the needs of students with various emotional and learning disabilities, as well as, autism and other health impaired disabilities.

Jennifer Kincaid - Human Resources Manager

Jennifer Kincaid

Human Resources Manager
jkincaid@elkhill.org
(804) 457-4866, x368

Ms. Kincaid has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources; she joined Elk Hill in 2011. Prior to joining Elk Hill Ms. Kincaid work for a treatment facility for at risk youth and also has experience in the industries of higher education, hospital and manufacturing. Her education is in Substance Abuse Counseling, Early Childhood Education and Sociology.