Our Staff
Karyn Perkins — Executive Director
Karyn Perkins has considerable management experience in homelessness, community action, chemical dependency, and mental health services in Chicagoland. Before becoming the Executive Director of Southwest Chicago PADS, she was Executive Director of the Bloom-Rich Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Illinois, a position she held for eight years. At CEDA she supervised eight federal and state funded programs, including a housing program for homeless veterans. Prior to this, she served as a clinical supervisor of a women’s recovery center in East Hazel Crest, Illinois . Karyn has a bachelor’s degree in addictions education.
Sheila Bator — Program Director and Volunteer Coordinator
A retired attorney with a J.D. degree from Loyola University, Sheila Bator has been volunteering at PADS since 2002. Since 2003 she has been serving as our Volunteer Coordinator. In January 2011 she also took on the duties of Program Director.
Rosie Lee Ricks — Case Manager
Rosie served the Maria Shelter in Chicago in two capacities — as assistant director and shelter manager. She has also worked at Greer’s Residential as a case manager. Before coming to PADS, Rosie worked as house manager at Theresa House, a shelter for families at The Port in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood. She has over 25 years experience in the field.
James Rohde — Case Manager
Jim has an MA in Learning Disabilities from Northeastern Illinois University. He also earned a Masters of Social Work degree from Loyola University, Chicago. He has previously worked at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and completed social work field placements with Vitas Hospice and Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois. As an Americorps volunteer in St. Louis, Mo., Jim worked with adults who were coping with developmental disabilities as they progressed toward their goals. He has ten years’ experience in the field.
Sontranette Doss-Newton — Case Manager
Sontranette was the lead case manager at Theresa House for four years and the manager of that family shelter for two years. She has been a case manager at Southwest Chicago PADS since 2005.