Our Mission
Heroes Landing Children’s Justice Center empowers child abuse survivors by providing multidisciplinary evaluations and coordination of advocacy and care at our child-friendly facility.
Our Vision
At Heroes Landing, our multidisciplinary team of experts coordinates the investigation and recovery for child sexual abuse survivors. By providing access to advocacy, justice, and care, we empower children to become heroes of their own stories and to break the cycle of abuse.
Our Model
Law Enforcement
Medical Professional
Child Advocate
Child Protective Services
Mental Health & Psychological Professional
Prosecutor's Office
In Partnership with the Malouf Foundation
Heroes Landing Children's Justice Center is a subsidiary of Malouf Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that exists to confront child sexual exploitation. The Malouf Foundation fulfills its mission by providing education, promoting healing, and furthering advocacy for survivors.
Heroes Landing Advisory Board
Evonne Saunders, Executive Director
Heroes Landing Children’s Justice Center
As executive director of Heroes Landing, Evonne Saunders works to build this initiative from the ground up while developing solid partnerships for the center. Evonne is thrilled to be part of the team and to bring the first children’s justice center to Muskingum County.
Evonne joined Heroes Landing after a 15-year career in retail. She graduated from Babson College and worked in New York City for Liz Claiborne and Ralph Lauren before moving to Zanesville, Ohio—her husband’s hometown. She continued to work in retail, running the international business for Justice, a tween girls’ clothing line. She has always found working with brands with a strong purpose and identity rewarding and believes Heroes Landing to be the perfect pivot from retail for that reason.
Jason Baird, Director of Aviation and Chief Pilot
Jason is a devoted husband to his high school sweetheart, Abby. Together, they’re rooted in Zanesville with their three wonderful children and two dogs. He is Director of Aviation and Chief Pilot for one of the nation’s leading homebuilders based in Columbus, Ohio. He is also the owner of an aviation consulting and flight instruction business. In his free time, he loves being together with his family and searching for America’s best barbeque. His family is deeply involved in their church, where he serves as a member of the elder board. Believe that we are bless to be a blessing, he is grateful for the opportunity to assist Heroes Landing and their mission to advocate for children.
Chad Bice, Regional President & Principal
Rea & Associates, Inc.
Chad, a principal and regional president of the firm’s Southeast Ohio region, is highly dedicated to serving his clients. He joined Rea & Associates in 2007, after having gained experience at two large accounting firms, including PwC. Chad’s passion for client service is evident in his dedication to building and nurturing relationships while providing value-added services.
Furthering his professional development, Chad is involved with The American Institute of CPAs and The Ohio Society of CPAs. He also serves as an accounting advisory council at Zane State College, as well as a board member for Spark560.
When he’s not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters, and golfing.
Katie Graham, Youth Service Coordinator
The Carr Center
Katie is the youth service coordinator at the Carr Center in Zanesville, Ohio. She has a bachelor's degree in Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences from Ohio University and master’s degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. Supporting those in need in our community is a priority in her life, as evident by her service as a board member for Eastside Community Ministry, the local chapter of 100 Women Who Care, and her integral role in Lace Up for Kids. Katie and her wonderful husband, Cole, have two little girls, Emma and Mara. In her spare time, she is a personal trainer, an avid runner, and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Michelle Laverty, IP Director
Malouf
Michelle joined Malouf and the Malouf Foundation three years ago as a continuation of her 20+ year career in intellectual property and commercialization. With previous employers, Michelle was very involved in Diversity & Inclusion and Women in STEM committees, often doing student outreach for both. Currently, Michelle sits on the board of the Cache Valley Education Foundation, a group focused on providing educational benefits and awards to students and teachers. Before moving to Utah to join the Malouf family, Michelle lived her entire life in Ohio, and as such, is dedicated to both the Malouf Foundation cause and helping Ohio children and families through her involvement with Heroes Landing.
Tracy Miller, Service Coordinator (ret.)
The Carr Center
Tracy was a Service Coordinator at The Carr Center for 27 years, specializing in working with children with special needs and language delays. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and ran a support group for parents of children with autism in the Zanesville community for 15 years. Tracy is an active member of Grace United Methodist Church and has been a program facilitator for their grief share program over the last 10 years. Over the course of her life, she has dedicated herself to serving children, especially those that are disadvantaged or the most vulnerable. In her free time, Tracy enjoys spending time with her family or traveling to a new destination with her friends.
Derrick Moorehead, Attorney
Moorehead Law Office, LLC
Derrick is the extremely fortunate husband to his wife Jaci and father to Everly and Evan. He has resided in Zanesville, Ohio for the vast majority of his life. Derrick is a graduate of Ohio University and Ohio Northern University College of Law. Derrick has practiced law primarily in Muskingum County Ohio for 15 years, focused on real estate law. When not working, Derrick enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Ashton Sidwell, Substitute Teacher and Fitness Instructor
Southtown Gym
Ashton and her husband AJ are parents to three beautiful children: Grace, Gwynn, and Gavin. While the kids keep her busy, in her spare time she teaches fitness classes at Southtown Gym and substitute teaches within the West Muskingum schools. She graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s in Art and Science and cheered her fist three years for the Buckeyes! Both she and her husband were born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio, which is where they currently live. She is very excited to be part of Heroes Landing and can’t wait to see where it goes and how many lives it can change.
Alton Thompson, Banker
Park National Bank
Alton is a commercial banker for Park National Bank and has been with Park for eight years. Alton entered banking after graduating with a business finance degree from Malone University in Canton, Ohio. Alton currently serves as President Elect for the Muskingum County Community Foundation, Board Vice President for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and he has also worked on numerous United Way campaigns. He lives outside of Newark in Licking Valley School District, where his wife Nikki is a guidance counselor. Together, they have 10-year-old twin daughters, Maci and Mya, who keep them busy year round with volleyball, basketball, and softball.
Dr. Sean Barnes
South Zanesville Family Medical Center
Sean is a primary care physician who graduated from Northeast Ohio College of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at the Ohio State University Medical Center. A Zanesville native, he returned in 2015 to be closer to family and raise his children in the community he loves. He is a partner and currently practices medicine at South Zanesville Family Medical Center. In his free time, he enjoys reading (mostly, science fiction), playing guitar, working out and spending time with family and friends.