Executive Team at Orchard Place

Anne Starr, Chief Executive Officer

Anne Starr is a native Iowan, graduating from Fort Dodge High School, the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Psychology and from the University of Iowa with a Masters in Social Work. She has been in the human services delivery field for more than 30 years. Her career began as a live-in direct care staff in a residential group care setting. She spent fifteen years as a mental health clinician at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Orchard Place, and in private practice. During the past 20 years, she has served in administrative roles as a Senior Vice President of Program and Policy for Mosaic with corporate headquarters in Omaha, NE; President and CEO of Buckhorn Children and Family Services, with corporate headquarters in Buckhorn, KY; and Executive Director of Hamilton County's Child Welfare Collaborative in Cincinnati, OH. Starr returned to Orchard Place as the CEO in March of 2013. She has been involved in children's mental health and disability public policy and advocacy efforts across multiple states and at the federal level.

Val Saltsgaver, CPA, Chief Financial Officer

Val is the Chief Financial Officer at Orchard Place and has been with the organization since November 1999. Prior to joining Orchard Place, she worked at KPMG Peat Marwick, a public accounting firm, for 13 years as a senior audit manager specializing in non-profit organizations, higher education and transportation companies. Val is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Iowa State University.

Dr. Stephen Mandler, Chief Medical Officer & Chief Clinical Officer

Dr. Mandler is the Chief Medical Officer & Chief Clinical Officer at Orchard Place. Orchard Place annually serves more than 10,000 children across Iowa from birth to age 22 through a wide variety of mental health services for children and young adults, including residential, outpatient, in-home and care coordination programs. Dr. Stephen Mandler is a board-certified Child and Adolescent psychiatrist. After Medical School, Dr. Mandler completed Residency and Fellowship Training at the Menninger Clinic, part of the Baylor College of Medicine. He has expertise in the treatment of infants, children and their families. He is the former Chief Medical Officer of the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in Billings, Montana. Previously he served as Regional Medical Officer Psychiatrist, US Department of State, Foreign Service and worked in Afghanistan, Mexico, and West Africa, and Washington, DC. He has also served on the faculty of Oregon Health and Sciences University and Portland State University's Graduate Program of Infant/Toddler Mental Health.
 

Wendy Ingham, Vice President of Development

Wendy is the Vice President of Development for Orchard Place and joined the organization in July 2018. Her professional career includes non-profit organization management, event planning, strategic fundraising, grant writing, and planned giving. Previous to her role at Orchard Place, Wendy spent eight years as the Director of Development for Youth Homes of Mid-America, where she utilized relationship building skills and data analytics to drive results. She has been a very active volunteer with organizations including The Junior League of Des Moines and the Western Hills Elementary School Parent Teachers Organization. She currently serves on the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Central Iowa Chapter Board as the Membership Chair. Wendy holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism & Communication Studies from the University of Iowa.

Amber Rand, LMHC, IAADC, Vice President of Orchard Place Campus

Amber Rand received her BA degree in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Northern Iowa.  She received her MA degree in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Iowa. 

Amber has practiced in the fields of substance use and mental health disorders for the past 23 years.  She has delivered clinical services to adults in residential and outpatient substance use treatment.  Her prior leadership experience includes oversight of youth dual diagnosis residential and outpatient programs, juvenile justice programs and youth sexual offender residential program.  She has worked for Orchard Place, in Des Moines, Iowa, as the Campus Vice President since 2013 where she leads an 88-bed youth psychiatric residential treatment program. 

Amber has previously served on the state substance use counselor professional board for nine years.  She has delivered training at the state and national level on a variety of mental health and addiction topics.  She holds independent licensure as a Mental Health Counselor and certification as an International Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. 

Amber was a founding member of Orchard Place Sanctuary Core Team, achieving agency certification in 2018.  She currently serves as the Project Manager for the agency-wide implementation and sustainability of the Sanctuary Model. She delivers Sanctuary trainings and booster sessions for agency personnel.  She also serves as a Sanctuary Peer Reviewer, assessing programs across the country on Sanctuary implementation standards.  She has also served as the Project Manager for the agency-wide implementation of the Trust Based Relationship Intervention model. 

Amber was drawn to the field due to personal family experiences with substance use.  She is highly motivated to develop and deliver high quality, evidenced-based programming to help families and youth feel safe, secure, calm and well. 

  Jodie Warth, MPA, Vice President of Child Guidance Center

Jodie is the Vice President of Orchard Place, Child Guidance Center.  Jodie joined the organization in August of 2021. She received her master's degree in Public Administration from Drake University.  Previous to her role at Orchard Place, Jodie spent 11 years as Chief Executive Officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa.