OUR STAFF
Executive Team
Executive Director – Charlotte Cannon-Sain
Charlotte Cannon-Sain, having spent more than 30 years in the nonprofit sector and has been the Executive Director of COA Youth & Family Centers since 2021. Previously, Charlotte served as Director of Finance and later as the Vice President of Administration and Finance for the Center for Veterans Issues (CVI), a 501(c)3 community-based veterans services organization whose mission is to serve the men and women of our armed forces and their families when they find themselves in need upon returning to civilian life. Charlotte holds an Executive MBA and Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of WI-Milwaukee and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management, Strategy, and Leadership at Michigan State University. She has served on many boards, including Employ Milwaukee, YWCA, MATC, and African World Festival. She also served over eight years as the Treasurer for 7th District Alderman Khalif Rainey.
Jasmine Zhao – Finance Director
Jasmine Zhao is COA’s Finance Director. Jasmine has been with COA since 2015. She has over 15 years of experience in Finance and has worked in the banking industry for the last 10 years. She holds a B.S. in Accounting from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics and an MBA in Finance and Corporate Accounting from University of Rochester. She recently relocated from Buffalo, NY to Mequon, WI, with her family including her husband and two sons.
Nicole Thompson – Director of Programs
Nicole first joined COA in 2006 and has served in several different program areas including with the Family Resource Center, in different Community Learning Centers, leading COA’s Having Involved Parents(HIP) programming and teaching in the Early Education Center. Prior to coming to COA, Nicole was a center coordinator for Ebenezer Children’s Centers; and Center Director at Alice & Wonderland Learning Center. Nicole has extensive knowledge of and familiarity with COA programming. She has demonstrated success at each step in her career. And frankly, Nicole knows and cares deeply about COA, COA’s staff, COA’s programs and the children, families and community we serve.
Julie Hoffmann – Human Resources Director
Program Directors
Mildred Olson – CLC Director
Andrea Austin – Burke Early Education Center Director
Andrea Austin is the Director of Burke Early education Center. She has a long history at COA beginning as a teenager working through the Step Up Program in 2006. Andrea’s passion for children has bought her back to fulfill many roles, each role a step closer to becoming Director. She obtained her degree in Early Childhood Education in 2015, and is currently completing another degree in the field. Andrea’s love for early childhood education, experience in various roles at the center, and inner hope for the growth of communities we serve are all reasons that she continues to thrive at COA.
Jessica Namaste – HIPPY Director
Jessica Namaste is the HIPPY Director. She is responsible for the supervision of HIPPY Parent Partners, participant recruitment, organizing HIPPY events, and maintaining relationships with community members and key stakeholders. Jessica participated in the COA HIPPY Program during its first year in 1998. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Leadership and Development from Alverno College, and has worked with Milwaukee families for 14 years.