Mission

Heidi N. Lucas is currently the Executive Director of the Missouri Rural Health Association.  She is a nonprofit and association executive with 15+ years of experience in association and non-profit management, public relations, advocacy, and coalition and community building.  Previously, Heidi was the Executive Director of the Missouri Nurses Association, held various roles throughout the Missouri Community Action Network, has worked in the labor sector in Pennsylvania, and in human resources and recruiting in Chicago. Ms. Lucas currently resides in Jefferson City, MO and is very active in her community.  She currently serves on the board of the Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association where she is a past president.  She has her Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri and Bachelor’s Degrees from Pennsylvania State University.  Heidi serves as the Vice President and Strategic Planning Chair

Anastasia Ferguson is the VP of  Treasury Relationship Manager at MidAmerica Bank. My passion is truly helping my customers in all their banking needs as well as my coworkers learning the banking world around us. I also love offering my services and knowledge as a treasury manager in the community, by volunteering for the chamber business board, SBDC at Lincoln University, and serving on the board at Missouri State Tech.  When I am not helping customers, I am spending time my husband and my four beautiful kids, I call them my mini best friends. We are car and sports fanatics and love a good car show or baseball and football game. We have 3 girls and 1 boy, and they keep us on our toes with how adventurous and busy they are!  I also love to spend my spare time either baking, or in the community as much as possible. I manage Helping Hands of Fulton, and we love to give back to the kids and elderly in our community by raising money for their needs.

Shana has an extensive career in finance and banking. She currently serves as the Assistant Branch Manager for First Mid Bank and Trust.  Shana has experience working with mentoring young people.  When she's not managing customer finances, a precocious four year old keeps her busy.  Shana will be chairing the sponsorship committee and working with educators in the community to award scholarships for students pursuing careers in social work.  "I am passionate about helping people both personally and professionally. I am very excited to be a part of this wonderful organization."  

Victoria McBride is an experienced Nonprofit Director with a demonstrated history of working in the public safety industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Employee Learning & Development, Grant Management, and Advocacy. She earned  a Dual Bachelor's degree focused in Criminology and Psychology from Missouri State

University. Victoria has  extensive experience managing federal and state grants from agencies such as the DOJ Office of

Violence Against Women, Department of Public Safety, and Department of Health and Senior Services. This background has equipped her with a deep understanding of fundraising requirements and the strategies

necessary to secure and sustain awards. Her expertise includes creating evaluations, developing strategic initiatives, and designing both e-learning and in-seat curricula. As a trained victim’s advocate and preventionist certified by the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MOCADSV), I

have successfully facilitated numerous MOUs and partnerships to enhance protective factors for DVSAS

in central Missouri.

Victoria says, "As an analytical strategist, I am dedicated to providing program coordinators with the resources and

framework needed for success. I am passionate about DVSAS prevention and response, and I am committed to leveraging my technical knowledge and experience to make a meaningful impact. I am eager to contribute my insight and expertise to support the response and prevention efforts against sexual violence. As a board member of the Rise Up Foundation, I aim to leverage my knowledge

to enhance community safety. Everyone deserves to live free from sexual violence, and I am committed to being a part of this important movement.

 Artrea Gross Smith has been employed by ComPsych Corporation for the past 10 years, currently serving as a Clinical EAP Counselor. Working overnight from home, she takes incoming calls from employees from various organizations who may be experiencing an array of crises, including grief, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and domestic violence. As a sexual assault and domestic violence survivor, Artrea’s passion for justice runs deep.
She is the mother of 3 children, who keep her VERY BUSY with their gymnastics and martial arts activities. She is very active in her church community, and is a Soloist in her choir at Second Baptist Church of Moberly.
In addition to working and Momming full time, Artrea also juggles more than one side business, including booking travel as an agent, being a Health & Wellness Ambassador for Shaklee Corporation, singing at funerals and weddings, and baking pies and cheesecakes for her own business, Diva’s Delights.
Artrea received her MA in Counseling from Missouri Baptist University, and her BSBA in Finance and Banking from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has served in a number of capacities previously, including being on the Board of Directors for NECAC, as a Banking Center Manager for two regional banks for a number of years, and as a Senior Department Manager for JCPenney in Columbia, MO for 7 years after graduating from Mizzou.
In her spare time, Artrea loves spending quality fun time with her children, family, friends, and her love. She loves reading, traveling, Happy Hours, brunches, and MUSIC is one of her main sources of therapy!! You might also catch her walking at the gym or the park to try and stay healthy and reduce stress!! 

Tabitha is a graduate of the University of Missouri Columbia. After obtaining her masters in Social Work along with her Juris Doctorate, she plans to work in sexual assault legislation. Tabitha is a part of the RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) Speakers Bureau and has volunteered nearly 1,000 hours of her time to speaking to survivors across the state. Currently, she serves as the current Court Processes Specialist at a Columbia shelter and runs her own non-profit showcasing her 'body writing' art detailing her experiences as a survivor.  

Ron Mitchell, Member at Large, resides in Jefferson City, MO by way of Flint, MI. He settled in Missouri after leaving the U.S. Army and is proud to be an honorably discharged

veteran. Mr. Mitchell holds an A.A.S. in Law Enforcement from Central Texas College, and a

B.A. and M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia College. Mr. Mitchell is

employed with the State of Missouri. His hobbies are fishing and coin collecting. He is a

proud Prince Hall Affiliated Mason, and has a passion for community involvement with a focus on the betterment and protection of youth. Mr. Mitchell will be working with our Young Men's Mentoring Program.  Mr.

Mitchell says, “This is a humbling moment to have the opportunity to assist RISE UP in any

capacity I can.”