Leadership Team
Sharon Harrup -
President/CEO
| sharrup@steps-inc.org | (434) 315.5909, ext. 212 |
Sharon holds a Master’s Degree in College and Community Counseling and a Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Longwood University. She has held the position of President and CEO at STEPS since 1990.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
vaACCSES
Virginia Community Action Partnership
National Community Action Partnership
Blackstone Chamber of Commerce
Farmville Chamber of Commerce
Lunenburg Chamber of Commerce
BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
Centra-Southside Community Hospital – Chairman, Board of Directors
Centra Health System Board of Directors – Executive Committee
Farmville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
South Central Workforce Development Board of Directors
Virginia Community Action Partnership Board of Directors - Treasurer
“In the time we have it is surely our duty to do all the good we can to all the people we can in all the ways we can.” William Barclay
Jessica Lehman -
Vice President of Early Childhood Education
| jlehman@steps-inc.org | 434.315.5909, ext. 18 |
Jessica has worked in a variety of leadership roles in the fields of customer service, training, quality assurance, finance, telecommunications, and early childhood education. Jessica has over 12 years of experience in early childhood education with a focus on serving children ages birth to 5 and their families. She served as the Director and Owner of a childcare center for 8 years and currently serves as the Vice President of Early Childhood Education for STEPS Head Start.
“People will never care how much you know unless they know how much you care.” Theodore Roosevelt
Christin Jackson -
Vice President of Workforce Development
| cdjackson@steps-inc.org | 434.315.5909, ext. 306 |
Christin worked in the business world for over 17 years as part of the Executive Team of Cardinal Homes, Inc., then jumped into the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) for Adults, Dislocated Workers, and the Youth for Southside Virginia Community College for another 7 years before landing here at STEPS as the Vice President of Workforce Development. Through STEPS, she hopes to help people from all parts of our community get training and work-readiness skills needed to obtain and maintain gainful and self-sustaining employment.
Longwood College – Bachelor’s of Science in Biology
Kaplan University – Master’s in Higher Education with a Specialty in Administration and Leadership
“If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” - Steve Jobs
Cynthia Saunders -
Vice President of Compliance & Evaluation
| csaunders@steps-inc.org | 434.315.5909, ext. 209 |
Cynthia is one of STEPS’ longest tenured employees She joined STEPS in July of 1985. She earned her BS in Office Administration from Norfolk State University. She loves astronomy and anything Star Trek related.
“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.” -Maya Angelou
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you keep moving forward.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Shawn Rozier - Vice President of Housing
| srozier@steps-inc.org | 434.315.5909, ext. 261 |
Shawn has over 31 years of human services experience as a Social Worker, Supervisor, Assistant Director, and Director in the Virginia Social Services system, and now at STEPS. He came to STEPS in September 2020 to lead housing programs which includes prevention, emergency sheltering, and rapid-rehousing programs. He received his Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Liberty University.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”- Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter." - Francis Chan
Katy Tomer - Vice President of Administration
| ktomer@steps-inc.org | 434.315.5909, ext. 214 |
Katy has over 20 years of finance experience working in local Government. She holds an associate degree in business management with a specialization in Accounting.
“You've always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it yourself.” – Glinda, The Good Witch
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
– Shirley Chisholm