For the past 22 years, Christina has been an advocate and professional in the non-profit arena, having worked to ensure that the disability service agencies provided programs, services, advocacy, and supports to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families by encouraging, assisting, and empowering them to live, work, learn, worship and play in their communities with those they chose. Having served in an Executive Director capacity and overseeing the implementation of more than 30 services and programs she participated on numerous local and state committees and boards, and has presented on disability issues at state and national levels for many years. Her previous experience working in the field provided the necessary experience and passion to step out to start her own agency in 2019, followed by a non-profit entity, Astrive Advocacy, Inc. in 2020.

More importantly than the professional role in the field of disabilities however, Christina has first-hand knowledge and experience of the issues families and individuals with disabilities face daily, as her youngest child was born with Down syndrome and she has had to navigate the system through multiple health issues and developmental delays since her birth. While her daughter is not the only family member with a disability, Christina understands as a sibling also, the important role of advocacy when assisting families and individuals who are seeking supports and services in the community.

A native of Parkersburg, WV she and her husband, Tim, reside on their farm in Belleville, WV with their two daughters – 23 year old, Olivia, and 21 year old, Anna – and a plethora of animals! Christina has a bachelor’s degree in business from WV State College and a minor in communications, and prior to her position in the disability field, worked primarily in healthcare and non-profit marketing and development.