Ms. Sonja VautERS
VICE PRESIDENT Of the board (interim)
Sonja has a Master of Science in Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelors in Business Management. Her skills stretch from working at Anheuser-Busch for over 10 years in Industry and Government Affairs; at Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) as a Right Away Specialist; at Gateway Hospital as a Business Development Specialist; and St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE-Missouri Job Center) as Division Director and One-Stop Operator.
Ms. Vauters currently works as the Southern Region Community Treatment Liaison for Chestnut Health Systems. President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Southwestern Illinois (NAMI-SWI), which serves six counties. She is an Officer on Madison County Region 1, Special Education Board, and on the Executive Board for Call For Help, Inc. She is an active school board member for over 17 years. Ms. Vauters has received numerous awards which include being one of the 2019 Metro-East Professional Association (MAPO) Honorees.
Ms. Sheila Hayden,
treasurer of the board (Interim)
Sheila has an Associate in Arts Degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Workforce Education Development and Training, and a Master of Management Degree.
Prior to starting her career with the Internal Revenue Service, Sheila worked in retail sales as an Administrative Coordinator and Cash Accounting Coordinator.
She has been with the Internal Revenue Service for 20 years; 5 years in the Wage & Investment Customer Service Division and 15 years with W&I Stakeholder Partnerships, Education, and Communication. Prior to SPEC, Sheila was a Tax Law Specialist, a Contact Representative and Subject Matter Expert for Interest, Dividends and Income, addressed issues under Non-streamline Balance Due Agreements in Accounts Management, a Senior Tax Consultant in SPEC and currently Sheila is a Tax Analyst with SPEC Quality Program Office in the IRS Headquarters.
MS. ZOELLE A. ZERO,
BOARD DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER (Interim)
Zoelle Annora Zero is a founding member of The RITE Plan Initiative 501(c)3. Her innovative way of thinking and diligent work ethic has been influential in shaping and reshaping the Organization, its mission, and its plan of action for 10 years now.
Ms. Zero attended Westchester Community College, The Art Institute of NYC, and Full Sail University; majoring in Performing Arts, Film, and Communications & Media Arts. Ms. Zero has an extensive background in the Entertainment and Film industries of over 20 years. She has helped to produce, write, perform in, and film numerous big budget and independent productions. Her professional background includes over 20 years of Health & Human Services experience as well. Zoelle is a former NYS Certified First Responder and had previously been an essential worker through the early days of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In her time with TRPI Ms. Zero has also served as the Chairwoman of the Organization’s Board of Directors, and as its Executive Director, and Director of Operations. She currently serves as the interim Director of Strategic Affairs for the Organization, and as the Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the Board of Directors. When Ms. Zero isn’t traversing the Arts and performing on stage and screen, or generally producing content, she is fully engaged with, and devoted to the cause she helped to pioneer at The RITE Plan Initiative all those years ago.