About Us

Our Vision

The Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange was founded by Carla Trier and her 8 year old foster daughter in March of 2013. A foster kid and foster parent herself, Carla saw the need to have supplies right away to welcome a child into their new surroundings. A trash bag or just the clothes on their back are far from a way to let the healing begin. We assist foster children and parents with the difficulties surrounding foster Care. The Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange serves foster, adoptive, and kinship parents and children on the intricate and volatile journey of foster care. So who do we help at the Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange? We help foster parents as they get new kiddos, we help foster parents who have adopted their foster children, we help parents who are reunifying with their child in foster care, we help adults who were foster children and are now parents, we help families who struggle after reunification, and we help grandparents who are guardians or parents to their grandchildren.

Meet the Staff

Carla CraytonExecutive Director

Carla Crayton is the Co-Founder of the Sheridan Foster Parent Parent Exchange and has served as the Executive Director since its inception in 2013. Carla has worked with children in many countries as well as in the United States. In her time in Sheridan over the past 11 years Carla feels Christ has led her on a journey of care; she has worked with differently abled youth, as a CASA, as a visitation supervisor, and a foster mom.

Treylah SmithCo-Founder

Treylah Smith Co-founded the Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange at age 8 along with her Foster mother at the time. Treylah used to spend hours upon hours moving and sorting donations; her favorite activity. Treylah is now reunified with her loving family and resides in Gillette, Wyoming. Treylah participates in basketball volleyball, track and is still involved at the Exchange. Tryelah is now 15 and still has an uncanny knack of identifying the size of a piece of clothing without looking.

Alexis NikirkAdministrative Assistant

Alexis has been part of SFPEX since March 2019. She is a native of Pine Bluffs, WY and has been living in Sheridan since 2006. She has been married since 2007 to her husband Andrew, who is a fisheries biologist. They have 3 beautiful children: Avery, Adley and Archer who keep them busy by playing all kinds of sports and participating in extracurricular activities. Alexis is a certified teacher and has taught elementary school for 14 years. She currently teaches full-time at a one-room schoolhouse in Montana. Alexis loves to chase her children around, be outdoors, and watch sports. She love to hunt and fish and is a 4-H superintendent, volunteer with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and is a board member with the Montana State Literacy Association. As you can see she loves to stay busy and be around kids, and she is proud to be part of the SFPEX team!

Meet Our Board

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Melinda Abbott

Meet our newest board member Melinda! Melinda recently joined our board in June of 2022. Melinda has a heart for serving her community and we are so excited to have her on our team! Melinda is a mom of seven beautiful children. She currently works at D.F.S. after spending several years working with homeless, delinquent, and/or foster youth. Melinda has advocated around the United States, including on Capital Hill, regarding foster care. Last but not least, Melinda is passionate about all children having happy and healthy homes.

Monica Burridge

I joined the SFPE Board in August of 2020. My passion has always been with the youth of my community as a former youth leader and a CASA member.

My husband and I raised three boys and are proud grandparents of two, so far. When we are not spending time with our family or working, my husband and I enjoy camping and traveling. I strongly believe family is the heart strings of a person no matter what the family “looks” like this is why this charity is dear to me.

Lisa Gill

Lisa and her family have called Sheridan Wyoming home since 2006. Her heart for others can be seen in some of the various things she has given her time and energies to through the years. These have included being a foster parent, a CASA, a licensed daycare provider for struggling parents, mentoring to birthparents and adoptive parents, providing home care to elderly in Sheridan and the surrounding areas, and working as a CNA. Lisa is excited to be a part of the SFPE board serving the community.

Dr. Timothy Donahue

Timothy Donahue is a trainer and consultant. He brings a combination of academic and practical business experience. As the former State Director for Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), he has worked with the profit and non-profit sectors providing consulting, training, and leadership in the areas of strategic management, marketing, customer service, sale’s training, human relations, and business development. Donahue has served on many civic and church boards and loves to give back to the community that has helped his family in times of need. He and his wife, Terri, help care for two wonderful 6 year old identical twin grandsons.

Shellie Eman

Shellie is an occupational therapist and the owner of Sensational Kids Pediatric Therapy. Over the years, she has had the opportunity to provide occupational therapy services to many of the children and families that have benefitted from the services that SFPE provides. She truly believes in serving this wonderful community that we live in.