Board of Directors
Sandra Chester - Board Chairman
Sandra Chester joined the board of directors in 2007. Sandra brings a wealth of experience in hospital management. She served as Chief Executive Officer for both the Greater El Monte Community Hospital and the Whittier Hospital Medical Center in California. In 1995, she was selected as the CEO of the Year by OrNda HealthCorp.
Sandra holds a Master of Science degree in Health Care Management from California State University. She also has a BA and an AA with a RN Certification.
Carter Papke - Vice Chairman
Prior to joining the National Advisory Board, Carter Papke served as a member of the SAFY Alabama Board for many years.
Carter currently is the Director of the Pre-Trial Diversion Program with the District Attorney’s Office of Montgomery, Alabama. Every day he works with non-violent offenders, many of whom had troubled childhoods.
Carter has a unique understanding of the challenges that face foster children. Being raised in a single-parent home, he often relied on the kindness of others and appreciates the opportunity to return the favor.
Dan Pappas - Secretary/Treasurer
Dan Pappas of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is an attorney. Dan became involved with SAFY in 1992 when he joined the Indiana State Advisory Board. He served as the Indiana Advisory Board President, prior to being selected as a member of the SAFY National Advisory Board.
Dan has a long history of public service. He was a public defender and prosecuting attorney. Dan has served on the Indiana Chapter Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and as a Board Member of the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate Association).
Dinah Anderson
Dinah Anderson joined SAFY’s Kentucky Advisory Board in 2004 and subsequently, the America Board in 2007 upon retirement from the University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work. Her University of South Carolina dissertation focused on occupational stress in public and private child welfare settings.
During the last seven years of employment at U.K., she was Director of that College’s Public Child Welfare Certification Program, which prepared BSW social workers for careers in public child welfare. She taught Social Work Practice and Child Welfare courses and participated in various research projects and publications. Prior to her work in higher education, she worked in public and private mental health settings and public welfare.
Cody Bateman
Cody Bateman of Coppell, Texas, has worked as an executive consultant for over 20 years. His client experience spans many industries including financial services, technology, business services, telecommunications, retail, and federal government. He has advised numerous Fortune 50 executive teams in the areas of Innovation, Business Strategy, and Operations Improvement (BPR).
Cody completed his Global Executive MBA at Duke University, and holds a BS in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. Cody and his wife recently adopted two children from Russia. Cody has been a SAFY board member since 2004.
Quan Cory
Quan Cory began as a SAFY foster parent in 1993. She has served on several SAFY advocacy boards since 2000, and is currently a member of the SAFY America Board of Directors. Quan represents the clinical aspects of foster care as well as policies pertaining to foster parents, youth and staff. Her role is to voice the concerns of SAFY’s clinicians and families, and to follow through with actions that ultimately represent the best interests of foster children.
In addition to her work at SAFY, Quan volunteers as an administrative assistant/office manager at the Greater Christ Temple Church, and assists at two youth camps in southern Ohio.
Quan and her husband have two children and live in Cridersville, Ohio.
Ben Brooks
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Ben Brooks is now retired from his position as Director of Sales for the Chemicals Division of the Dow Chemical Company. He joined Dow Chemical in 1970 as a sales trainee and spent 30 years in various sales, marketing, finance and business management positions, living in St. Louis, Missouri, and Midland, Michigan.
Ben is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a bachelor degree in marketing and economics. His commitment to SAFY’s mission and vision has been a driving force, providing strategic leadership and positioning the organization as a leader within the child welfare industry. Ben currently resides with his wife in California.
Don Layton
Donald Layton, a certified public accountant, is the newest member of the national board of directors. Don has a long history of service. He was a foster parent and a founding member of the Nevada State Board, plus being involved with other local nonprofit organizations over the years. He is managing and founding partner of Layton, Layton and Tobler LLP, Certified Public Accountants.
Don has a broad knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing not-for-profits. He has a wealth of experience in planning and supervising opinion audits, advising clients about business organization, mergers, and liquidations. Don and his wife, Coleen, reside in Las Vegas and have been married for over 47 years and are the parents of eight children.