It has been a busy end of the year at all three programs for Q&A Associates.   It is exciting to announce that Caleb Johnson has been named Program Director of the Journey WV Transition Program for Young Men. Amelia Preusch is now the Director of Administrative Services. 

Caleb Johnson is from Morgantown, WV, but has lived locally in Thomas, WV for 11 years. Caleb comes to us with 10 years of experience working with challenged/disadvantaged youth. Caleb has real-life experience as a former challenged teen, who, with help, turned his life around. Caleb has a passion for using his experiences and skills to encourage other young men to become better, work towards their goals, and succeed in becoming creators in their lives. Caleb’s goal for all the Journey clients is to teach them they are powerful and can rise above their troubles with strong mentors to help lead and guide them along the way. Caleb is inspired daily by his wife and six children. In his free time, Caleb enjoys spending time with his kids, being outdoors, hiking, fishing, biking, and giving back to his community while watching his children enjoy sports. 

Amelia Preusch, former Executive Assistant to the CEO has been promoted to Director of Administrative Services. In this role, Amelia will be managing all administrative processes as well as working in the areas of marketing outreach, admissions, and student services. Amelia graduated from West Virginia University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management. Amelia served as an AmeriCorps volunteer at Saddles and Smiles, a non-profit founded by CEO Angie Shockley. At the end of her second year, she accepted a full-time position with Q&A Associates. In Amelia’s free time, she enjoys riding horses, hiking, being outdoors, and spending time with her dogs. 

“I am thrilled to have Caleb join our team,” said Shockley. “He brings a wealth of experience and skills to the Journey program.” She continued, “Amelia Preusch has proven to be a valuable member of our team, and I am excited to see her grow even more; watch for her at upcoming conferences.” 

And last and certainly not least, Sandy Schmiedeknecht, a founding member of the Q&A Associates programs, has recently completed her Ed.D. in Education Community Care and Counseling, Marriage and Family, from the School of Behavioral Sciences at Liberty University.  As many colleagues know Sandy retired and moved to Virginia in 2018. However, she continued her doctoral program and dissertation research, working specifically with the Cabin Mountain Living Center program of Q&A Associates. Her final dissertation is entitled Program Evaluation of Life Skills Curriculum for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This dissertation was accepted and approved in her doctoral program and has been published. Sandy holds a master’s degree in Human Services, Marriage, and Family. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies: Christian Counseling, Nursing, and Business. She is a Certified Life Coach and holds Coaching Certifications in Addiction Recovery, Professional Coaching, and Christian Coaching and Counseling. She is currently enrolled in an extended course to become a Certified Mental Health Coach. 

Sandy has had a stellar career which has included many years serving as a registered nurse. During that time, she helped create the training curriculum for the Certified Nursing Assistant program in Virginia. She also spearheaded the effort to have that certification be transferable from state to state. While operating a business incubator in Davis, WV, she was key in the establishment of Alldredge Academy, a wilderness program that began operation in 2000. She was also an employee of Alldredge Academy for many years, serving in the areas of administration, program development, medical coordination, marketing, and admissions. She established the Alldredge Alumni Association and assisted with many client and family reunions through the years. Post Alldredge Academy, she established an Alumni Association at Eckerd Youth Alternatives. In 2010, she worked with Angie Shockley to develop and establish Q&A Associates Family of Programs for Young Adults. She served as the Lead Life Coach throughout her tenure at Q&A, developing the Life Skills Curriculum to serve a wide variety of needs and performance levels. She also assisted with marketing, admissions, human resources, and business management at Q&A. Even though she is currently retired, she is continuing to serve Q&A, consulting on clients and the ever-evolving life skills curriculum. Sandy enjoys living near her family on a small farm in Huddleston, VA, near Smith Mountain Lake, where they care for cattle, horses, goats, chickens, ducks, and pot-bellied pigs. “Sandy Schmiedeknecht – the Queen as most know her – has been a pivotal person not only in the development and operation of Q&A Associates, but also in the rest of my professional life; she has been a life-long friend, and I’m incredibly proud of her and all of her accomplishments,” said Angie Shockley, Founder and CEO of Q&A. Schmiedeknecht stated, “I am humbled and honored to be a part of all the things Angie and I have created together.”

With any questions or congratulations, please feel free to contact   cjohnson@qa-associates.com, ameliap@qa-associates.com or sandyschmiedeknecht@gmail.com directly.

About Q&A Family of Programs

Q&A Family of Programs works with young adults ages 18 and up, providing opportunities for each of them to develop independent, functional, and happy lives with a high level of quality. Our clients have struggled to reach independence for a variety of reasons such as the inability to develop and/or implement the life skills needed to be successful, or struggling to obtain consistent employment. Our goal is to help these individuals find meaning and an authentic purpose for their lives and a practical path to achieve their goals.