Team Members
more on Joi
Joi Wasill is the President and Director of Resource Development for DCO. For the past 20 years, she has led the organization to serve over 220,000 students and youth in Tennessee, Alabama and other states with sexual risk avoidance/abstinence education programs leading them to optimal health and life success. Her career in education began in 1988 after completing the Teacher Education certification courses at Middle Tennessee State University following her Bachelor of Public Administration degree from the University of Mississippi. As a public and private school secondary education teacher with 33 years of experience, Joi understands the nature of the youth population, curriculum and instruction implementation as well as evaluation. She is certified as a Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Specialist (SRAS) by the nation’s top training organization in the field of SRAE and holds a current state of Tennessee teacher license. She is a member of Protect Child Health Coalition (PCHC), has been a workshop leader and speaker at CareNet, the National Council for Adoption, and Teach Them Diligently conferences. Joi was honored to be named as Who’s Who in American Educators” distinction in 1991, “Young Educator of the Year” Award by the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce in 1992, “Top 30 Most Influential People in Sumner County” in 2011 and the “Congressional Coalition on Adoption’s ‘Angel in Adoption’ Award” in 2012. She also received the “Impact Award” on behalf of DCO from the White House Chamber of Commerce in 2017. Joi and her husband Bill have been married 38 years and have a son, Jacob. They have been active members of the community and church where Bill has owned a business for 38 years.
Joi is married to Bill Wasill and they have one son who attends The University of Alabama. She enjoys spending time with her family at the beach, lake or watching Alabama football games.
“I love how DCO opens the eyes and hearts of our teenagers to see that they truly have the power to make great choices, have the life they always dreamed of and be the person they were created to be.”
more on Terri
Terri serves DCO as the Operations Director and is responsible for all administrative and organizational oversight. She was called to non-profit work in 2001, just after the tragedy of 09/11. Since then Terri has been employed by some of Nashville’s largest non-profits; The Salvation Army, American Red Cross & United Way of Metropolitan Nashville.
Terri is married to Andy Kennedy and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. Terri feels blessed to have the opportunity to bring her non-profit experience and knowledge back to Sumner County and DCO!
“In a world where we have abundant information, I feel that more than ever teenagers are starving for truth. They can find out anything they want to know about sex….except for the true consequences of their choices. When I was growing up, if you didn’t have a positive role model in your life you could at least watch TV and find someone like Andy Griffith to look up to. Now the internet is a huge influencer in young people’s lives. They can learn all about ANYTHING they want to know with no adult present to guide them. Someone has to tell kids the truth about their life choices. DCO does that.”
more on Blair
Blair is an Education Specialist in Southwest Tennessee. She also serves as the Program Coordinator for DCO. She went to school at Troy University and graduated in May of 2021 with a Bachelor of Social Work. She graduated with a Master of Social Work from Troy University in December of 2022. Blair is certified as a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS) and a REAL Essentials Specialist and lives in Florence, Alabama. She enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach, and volunteering in children’s and youth ministry.
“I love that DCO is an organization focused on the lives of young people. We equip students to make decisions based on facts rather than emotions and prepare them to make choices that will benefit them in years to come.”
more on Christie
Christie is a High School and Middle School Education Specialist in southeast Tennessee and studied Social Work at South West Texas State University. She is a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS) and REAL Essentials Certified. Christie is passionate about impacting the lives of students and helping them accomplish their life goals. She is married to her best friend and they have two wonderful boys. Christie loves working as a volunteer with local nonprofits and traveling with her family.
“I am passionate about the work of DCO. In a world where deception is increasingly the norm, we speak truth and hope into the lives of young people. Some of these students have never experienced this before. We are truly changing lives in every school we serve.”
more on Suzanne
Suzanne currently serves as our Executive Director. Graduating from the University of Central Florida, Cum Laude, with a BSBA degree in Accounting and before starting a family, Suzanne spent 10 years in the accounting departments of Belk Lindsey Stores and Darden Restaurants and volunteering in youth and children’s ministries of two local churches as a small group leader, facilitator, and director of events. Now, with over 20 years of parenting experience from infancy to young adulthood and 30 years of mentoring youth and families in healthy relationships and her organizational leadership experience, Suzanne is thrilled and humbled to be included in the phenomenal leadership team of DCO.
“My favorite thing about DCO is the passion each of us has for educating students on the real costs physically, emotionally and financially of engaging in sexual activity before really understanding all of the potential consequences. We do this with no opinion, no judgement, no condemnation. Just the facts. Students want to know the truth. They want to make good decisions for themselves. We get to give them the accurate, age-appropriate information they need to make the best decisions for themselves, their families, their friends, and their communities.”
more on Annette
Annette Carnes serves as Finance Manager for DCO.
She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Freed Hardeman University. Upon graduation, she went to work for her dad’s business for the next 30 + years wearing a few different hats—chief one eventually being that of bookkeeper. Annette is very happy to bring that experience to the office of DCO.
She and her husband, Jeff, have raised two sons and now also have a “daughter-in-love” and a grandson! They worship with the Hartsville Pike church of Christ and are actively involved in teaching/leading adult classes. She is an avid fan of the Nashville Predators and cheers for the Tennessee Volunteers as well.
“I’ve been an outside supporter of DCO for many years because I’ve seen that high school students are making adult decisions without the knowledge and experience of being adults, and DCO gives them knowledge upon which to base their decisions. DCO has changed lives for the better because of its presence in the lives of our young people.”
more on Jamie
Jamie is an Education Specialist in middle Tennessee. Jamie has worked with DCO since 2013 and serves as a Middle School Educator in Sumner County and is SRAE certified. She also helps facilitate and teach the Parent Power Program.
Jamie and her husband Carson have been married for 23 years. They have 4 children and are an adoptive family. Jamie has a heart for young people to live out of their full potential and know that they have immense value and worth.
“DCO is a unique education program that meets the students where they are and addresses current issues that they are facing. DCO also teaches students how to make the best decisions so that they can have bright and healthy futures.”
more on Kelly
Kelly is a High School and Middle School Education Specialist and serves as Community Outreach Coordinator in southeast Tennessee.
more on Beth
Beth Cox is the Program Director and has served in this capacity since 2010. She is responsible for training personnel, curriculum development and managing the speaking team as well as presenting in the classroom herself. Beth is certified as a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS), a REAL Essentials Specialist and has demonstrated a strong commitment to education. She has her B.S Degree from the University of Kentucky and served on the Sumner County Board of Education for eight years. Beth was honored to be named as “Sumner County Public Servant of the Year” and was recognized as one of the “Top 30 Most Influential People in Sumner County”. Beth and her husband Todd have been married for over 30 years and have two daughters and are active members of Long Hollow Church, where they disciple and mentor young married couples.
“What I like most about DCO is that we are truly making a difference in the lives of these students. I see the reactions on their faces as they learn new information and they tell us how the information has changed their attitude about things like sexual activity and adoption. It is truly thrilling to know that you are helping shape positive decisions for their future.”
more on Claire
Claire is a Middle School & High School Education Specialist in Alabama. She is a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS) and is REAL Essentials Certified. Claire also serves as our Communications Manager. She graduated from Belmont University in 2018. She and her husband, Tyler, live in Birmingham. They are active in serving at The Church at Liberty Park where Tyler is the Youth Pastor. Claire loves getting to work at DCO, a ministry that is focused on the success of the next generation.
“My favorite thing about DCO is that we provide teens with information that helps them process their decisions in a way that will positively impact their futures. We get to teach them how to have healthy boundaries and healthy relationships – skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.”
more on Bonnie
Bonnie is an Education Specialist in middle Tennessee – Sumner, Robertson, Davidson, and Wilson counties. She has her associates in Early Childhood Education and will be graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Business Management in December 2022. For the past 7 years, Bonnie has worked in the WIC industry bringing more products into the WIC system. Recently she, her husband Dillon, and their three children relocated from NY to Hendersonville TN. They are enjoying the southern hospitality and warmer weather! Bonnie feels honored to be in the classroom having conversations with students that allow for opportunities to plant seeds in the lives of middle and high schoolers.
more on Laurie
Laurie is a Middle school and High school Education Specialist in the Birmingham area and studied nursing at Samford University. Laurie has worked in various nursing areas including emergency, pediatrics, schools, labor and delivery and as a SANE nurse. She has a heart for students and her desire is for them to have a healthy future. She is married to her husband, Jeff and they have four children.
Our Board of Directors
Joi Wasill President
Suzanne Geerholt (Board Member) Executive Director
Rick Potter (Board Chair) Community Volunteer
Marlis Boyce (Vice Chair) Community Leader
Susan Allen (Secretary) Community Volunteer
Jim Carper (Treasurer) Vice President
Rhonda Nason (Board Member) Retired RN
Amanda Palmer (Board Member) Event Planner
Steve Springer (Board Member) Retired Engineer
Kevin Minchey (Board Member) Pastor