Board of Directors &
Leadership
Learn about the people helping us to make lasting
change in our community.
Sonia Deal, Chief Executive Officer
Sonia, a Master’s-prepared Registered Nurse and innovative executive, has led advanced healthcare programs that improve community health in St. Louis. Under her leadership, Three Steps Home is expanding Enhanced Case Management and launching a Medical Respite Care program to provide holistic support and
safe recuperative care for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Board of Directors
Pete Woods, Board President
Attorney at Law Partner, Haar & Woods, LLP
Pete’s civil litigation and arbitration practice includes trials and appeals in federal and state court, with an emphasis on business litigation, family law and real estate. Pete is active in professional organizations and deeply engaged in community service to make the City of St. Louis, the region, and the state of Missouri, a better place for all to live and work.
Debra Wiens, Retired Educator, School District of Clayton
Debra Wiens has served as an educator for over 30 years. Debra is a former contributing member of the Missouri Bar Association’s Citizenship Education Program and teaches Citizenship and English classes to Middle Eastern refugees. She has been an asset to Bridge of Hope since 2014.
Ciprian Rusu, Treasurer
Assistant Controller at Linxup
Ciprian Rusu, CPA, is a senior financial leader with extensive expertise in financial management, accounting operations, internal controls, and internal and external audit across both private-sector and publicly accountable environments, delivering disciplined financial stewardship, strong governance, and mission-aligned organizational sustainability.
Theresa Holmes, Neighborhood Liaison
Faith & Community Leader
Theresa is a respected community and church leader with many years of lived experience and a decade of recovery home management. She runs a janitorial service that provides meaningful employment for people experiencing homelessness, making her a compassionate role model and source of inspiration for Three Steps Home clients.
Kelli Braggs
Founder and CEO Sanctuary – Lifestyle and Interior Design for Women & Girls
Kelli is the former Executive Director of Bridge of Hope and a graduate of the Brown School at Washington University with a Master of Social Work. Her understanding and experience are at the intersections of business, economic mobility and spirituality of the underserved which makes her uniquely qualified to be the lead visionary of this organization and project.
Steele Stewart
Retired Vice-President Actuarial Services – Health Policy, Centene Corporation
Steele has extensive knowledge of healthcare policy and affordable insurance. He was on the forefront of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Healthcare Marketplace rollout and led Centene’s actuarial team that set Marketplace premium rates, risk adjustment reserves and provider contracting targets nationally.
Mary Elliott
Associate General Counsel - Compliance,
ACL Group
Mary is responsible for leading the Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption and Fraud Programs. She is licensed by the Illinois State Bar and is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP).
Dr. Maripat Gatter, Volunteer Chief Medical Officer Emergency Medicine Specialist, Mercy​
Dr. Gatter is residency trained in both Family Practice and Emergency Medicine and remains a Board Certified, practicing Emergency Medicine physician with extensive experience serving underserved populations in both urban and rural critical access settings. Her experience includes service to diverse populations from inner city FQHC to rural family medicine to urban ER's. She has taught both Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine residents. Her frontline hospital perspective informs safe discharge protocols and strengthens coordination between emergency departments and community-based recovery supports.
Garry Anderson, Secretary
Retired CEO Lutheran Senior Services
Garry has vast experience in leading organizational initiatives and achieving operational excellence in the skilled nursing sector. His executive leadership skills and clinical knowledge bring a wealth of expertise to post-acute care. He is a licensed nurse.