KEVIN C. BROWN, ESQ., General Counsel at Jefferson County Public Schools
Kevin serves as the General Counsel of the Jefferson County Public Schools and the Jefferson County Board of Education in Louisville, Kentucky. In July 2020, Kevin received the William T. Nallia Educational Leadership Award presented by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators.
Kevin and his partner Shawn have two rescue boxer dogs, Cooper and Tyson. They split their time between their Louisville home and their family farm in Paint Lick, Garrard County.
How did you learn about CASA? While generally familiar with CASA, I learned more about CASA through my friend, colleague and CASA Board Chair, Dr. Leon Mooneyhan.
What about CASA's mission/work drew you to the organization? As general counsel to JCPS, I am keenly aware of the difficulties and trauma that many of our students face in their daily lives outside of school. CASA is an example of an organization that harnesses the power of citizen volunteers to represent and speak up for our most vulnerable youth.
Why did you decide to join CASA's board? I am drawn to the mission of CASA and feel I have a responsibility to serve in this type of role. Additionally, I am likely to gain a better understanding of the problems affecting our youth in the River Region.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member? I hope to add value to the board using my experience in education law and public service. CASA is essential to the workings of our judicial system and as such, the board has an obligation to make sure CASA is the best it can be to serve this need.
MATT NICHOLS, Sr. Director of Business Development, Online Gaming at Churchill Downs Incorporated
Matt works at Churchill Downs in the Online Gaming group as the Senior Director of Business Development, where his focus is the expansion of the TwinSpires platform to include Sports Wagering as states across the country legalize it. During his personal time, he enjoys traveling (when there isn’t a pandemic) and experiencing new cultures, attending concerts, playing tennis, and hanging out with his wife, Regan, and their poodle Omar.
How did you learn about CASA? An former board member and great friend to my family, Barbara LaMaster, introduced me to CASA by sharing her passion for its mission and the impact of being involved with the organization has had on her life.
What about CASA's mission/work drew you to the organization? While learning about the work CASA does, I was amazed at the volume of abuse, neglect, and dependency court cases in our state that involve children. I was fortunate to grow up in a stable household with a strong support system that provided for every need (and most wants) presented by me and my siblings – something that is easy to take for granted. Volunteering with CASA is a way I could give back to the community by engaging with an organization that provides young people, in very difficult circumstances, with a strong support system, where it may not already exist.
Why did you decide to join CASA's board? As a Louisville native, I love this city and want to invest my time and energy in supporting a cause that makes a positive impact on the local population. CASA's mission of providing a voice and advocacy for children really resonated with me, as I can think of no group more worthy of assistance than children in challenging situations.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member? With a professional background spanning several industries and disciplines, I plan to bring a varied skillset to help continue the growth in children served and active volunteers that CASA of River Region has accomplished over the past several years. Visibility and awareness in the community are areas of particular interest to me, as these elements are critical to retaining a healthy pipeline of funding and volunteers into the future. It is clear from impact studies that the CASA program has a strong track record of delivering outcomes for children, and I look forward to contributing to the continuation and expansion of those achievements.
For information on board or committee memberships, please contact CEO/President, William Myers, william@casarr.org. Learn more about board member requirements by downloading the document below.