Born & raised in Fort Wayne, I just completed my undergraduate degree in Human Services at Purdue Fort Wayne along with two focus areas in Business Administration & the Justice System. I have a 4-year-old Calico cat named Tater-Tot. Socializing with individuals from all backgrounds has always come naturally to me & I am excited to make a career out of it.
TEAM LEADS
ASHLEY FIRESTINE
I enjoy making people laugh and spending time with my 3 children; Melanie, AJ and Ryne. Falling in love with BBBS at a young age and all they offer I’m excited to help the Littles grow and reach their full potential while building a life they are proud of.
JASSMINE MORENO
A Fort Wayne-native, I received my Human Services degree from Purdue Fort Wayne in December 2017. I’ve always had a passion for helping children thrive no matter their circumstances, and BBBS was just the place for me. I enjoy binging Criminal Minds, spending time with my family and my Little, and shopping.
MATCH SUPPORT SPECIALISTS
MIRANDA JACKSON
A graduate of Bishop Luers High School, I went to IPFW for Human Services and worked as a Pizza Hut server for 10 years. I have loved every minute of working at Big Brothers Big Sisters. My favorite color is purple, I love to read everything and I have three fat cats.
MIMI AHIAKWO
I graduated from PFW last December with a degree in Psychology and French. A fun fact is I really like the French language and culture. I would love to visit Normandy, France someday.
VERONICA ENGLE
After graduating from Ball State in 2019, I worked with Fort Wayne families as a case manager and I came to BBBS to continue this line of work. I love spending time with my black cat, Olive, and watching bad movies.
MARIAH PARIS
I have previously worked in residential treatment facilities, the Boys and Girls Club, and as a Juvenile Probation Officer. I have a passion to not only serve the younger population but help guide them to brighter futures. I graduated from the University of Southern Indiana where I obtained my bachelor’s in social work. I enjoy reading, writing poetry, and painting. I spend most of my time serving in my local church or in the library.
SITE-BASED MATCH SUPPORT SPECIALISTS
OMAN KING
My name is Omandeep, Oman for short. I completed my Associate's in Human Services at Ivy Tech in 2020. I am currently working on my Bachelor's in Human Services at Purdue Fort Wayne. I have always had the desire to work with youth in the community, and BBBS gave me that opportunity! I enjoy spending time with my husband and our cat, Momo. I also enjoy being artistic, spending time in nature, and reading.
WENDY HAMPTON
I am married, a mom of 3 boys, and I have 4 grandbabies plus a puppy! I received my degree from Trine and have been blessed working as a house manager of a recovery home at Oaklawn and Bashor Children's Home. I am also a BIG, and my passion is working with children. I hope I am making a difference in this world by helping others. I love to thrift shop!
GRANT CRAWFORD
I'm a Fort Wayne native with a professional background in marketing. I earned a BS in Marketing from Miami University and a MS in Marketing Analytics from American University. After starting to volunteer at the national crisis text line, I decided to transition my career into a field that would positively impact people.
BIG FUTURES MATCH SUPPORT SPECIALISTS
RACHAEL HAGGENJOS
All of my career I have worked with children and I love it! I’m a mom of two beautiful girls and I'm married to a lovely husband. After graduating from IPFW with a Bachelors in Human Services I worked with ParkCenter, Big Brothers Big Sisters and teaching children with Autism at Mapleseed Farms. I enjoy bringing light to our kids', families' day.
OLIVIA KUMP
I am a first-generation college graduate that obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Indiana University Bloomington. My passion for helping others and making a difference has led me to various roles working with children. I enjoy reading, hiking and camping. One aspect of my life that I take immense pride in is my journey as a childhood cancer survivor. This personal experience has fueled my dedication to helping others, particularly children, navigate through difficult times.
BRE LEVY
I’m a Fort Wayne native who loves checking out local coffee shops, reading, and hanging out with my dog, Dexter. I have a huge passion for traveling; I’ve been to 7 different countries and recently my partner and I started a long-term goal of visiting all 30 MLB stadiums.
ALEXANDRA DENNING
I am a recent political science graduate from Purdue Fort Wayne. I have two rescue dogs, a 2-year-old Boxer named Tom and an 8-month-old Catahoula Leopard Dog named Alfie. They’re the apples of my eye!
ACTIVITIES COORDINATORS
LAUREN JONES
I am originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan and have lived in Fort Wayne for 3.5 years. I have an older brother, a younger half-sister, and five older stepsisters. I went from being one of two to one of 8 in my 20's! I love to spend time with my family, especially at our cottage on Gun Lake. I enjoy painting, sewing, singing, and just about any craft. Another fact about me is I worked in veterinary medicine for 5 years. I LOVE animals!
STEPHANIE MARTIN
Born and raised in Fort Wayne, I graduated from Snider High School in 2002. After completing my undergraduate degree at Ball State University, I returned home to Fort Wayne and began my career with FWCS, where I spent 17 years teaching fourth grade and writing curriculum. Outside of work, I am actively involved in my community and church. I cherish spending time at the beach, traveling and going on new adventures, and couponing to find great deals. My friends have nicknamed me "Coupon Queen".