Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My decision to join HAVEN was deeply personal and rooted in both my professional and lived experiences.
I spent more than twenty years in law enforcement, retiring as a police lieutenant in investigations, where my work centered on supporting victims of crime. I chose that career path because I am a secondary survivor of domestic violence, raised in a home where my mother was abused by her long-term boyfriend. I moved out at 16 years old, and learned early in life that while I could not control what happened to me, I could control how I used my experience to help others. Had I known places like HAVEN existed, my own mother could have used its services.
When I saw the CEO position at HAVEN, I recognized how strongly my values and skill set aligned with the organization’s mission. This role allows me to bring my history as both a survivor and an advocate into a space where I can influence systems, uplift staff, and strengthen the services survivors rely on.
To me, leading HAVEN means empowering others to understand the vital role they play in this work and inspiring them to lead with integrity, courage, and heart, because lasting change happens when each of us steps forward and says, “If not me, then who?”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but it has been a meaningful one shaped by growth, discipline, and resilience. I joined the Marine Corps at 19, where I was the only female in my unit and was honored to be named Marine of the Year. That experience set a strong foundation for me, one where performance, accountability, and teamwork mattered, and where I felt recognized and supported.
I carried that same mindset into my law enforcement career, where I worked my way up to lieutenant in investigations. Along the way, I took on a variety of roles including training officer, hostage negotiator and team lead, evidence technician, sergeant, and academy instructor. I spent over 15 years teaching at the police academy, which gave me incredible opportunities to develop others while continuing to grow myself. Each step required preparation, discipline, and a willingness to step into challenges.
Like many careers, there were moments where perspectives differed, and assumptions were made about leadership styles, communication, or approach. I encountered situations where empathy serving victims of crime was viewed as weakness or where balancing personal and professional roles was questioned. Such as starting a family. Rather than allowing those moments to define my path, I used them as opportunities to strengthen my perspective and clarify the kind of leader I wanted to be.
Those experiences became some of my greatest teachers. They helped me build a leadership style grounded in integrity, respect, and accountability. I learned that strength can show up in many ways, through decisiveness, through compassion, and through staying grounded in your values even when it’s not the easiest path.
Adversity has a way of sharpening your awareness. It teaches you who you are, what you stand for, and how you want others to experience life and leadership. I made a conscious decision throughout my career to remain open in perspective, to lead with kindness, and to never let someone else’s limitations define my own opportunities.
While the road was not always smooth, my focus never wavered. I stayed committed to the mission, to the people I served, and to growing into a leader who creates environments where others feel respected, supported, and able to succeed. That perspective continues to guide me today as CEO of HAVEN.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For over 50 years, HAVEN has served survivors of intimate partner violence (IVP) as Oakland County, Michigan’s only comprehensive program for victims of domestic abuse. A nationally recognized nonprofit leader, HAVEN provides shelter, counseling, advocacy and educational programming to nearly 30,000 people each year.
Today’s survivors are navigating far more complex systems, heightened technological risks, and greater expectations for accessibility, inclusivity, and responsiveness. HAVEN is evolving by meeting survivors where they are … emotionally, culturally, digitally, and systemically, while remaining grounded in our core mission of safety, empowerment, and healing.
Empowerment is the foundation of our work. For survivors, this means providing resources, support, and education, not making decisions for them, but walking with them as they reclaim control of their lives.
That same philosophy guides how we support our staff. We promote autonomy, creativity, professional growth, and trauma‑informed supervision. Many come to HAVEN because they want to make an impact, and we work hard to create a culture where purpose is valued, people feel trusted, and their contributions matter.
We invest in training, encourage constructive conflict, and promote from within whenever possible. HAVEN is often someone’s first job in the workforce and a stepping stone, and it is important to us that they leave not only with skills, but with deeper compassion, stronger advocacy abilities, and a better understanding of themselves. An empowered staff creates stronger, more sustainable services for survivors.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I would say tenacity and good, old-fashioned “gumption.” As the first in my family to obtain a college degree, as a Marine, and then as a police lieutenant and hostage negotiator, I learned discipline, resilience, and the importance of listening with intention. Years of crisis response helped me remain calm under pressure and approach conflict with a focus on constructive solutions.
I’ve learned that voluntary collaboration, rather than authority alone, is what drives real and lasting change. These experiences also reinforced that leadership is never about knowing everything; it is about building strong teams where each person’s strengths are valued. I encourage open communication, kindness, and the belief that most people come to the table wanting to do good. When teams operate from that mindset, they can move mountains together.
Collaboration is essential to HAVEN’s mission. We work closely with hospitals, prosecutors, law enforcement, courts, child protection teams, and community partners to ensure survivors receive comprehensive care from the moment they come forward.
Our prevention educators, nurses, and advocacy teams provide training across these systems to strengthen understanding of trauma, improve response protocols, and reduce systemic harm.
Each partner plays a specific and critical role, from evidence collection and medical treatment to legal accountability and safety planning. When these sectors work together, survivors experience a coordinated response rather than a fragmented one.
Collaboration brings diversity of thought, shared responsibility, and better outcomes, helping survivors move from victimization to empowerment and ultimately to healing and survivorship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://haven-oakland.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haven_oakland/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/havenonline
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/haven-oakland-county-michigan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/havenoakland
