Our Team
Karesa Knight-Wilkerson | Executive Director and Tobacco Control Coordinator
Karesa Knight-Wilkerson graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Care Communication from The University of Kentucky. She acquired her Certified Prevention Professional certification in 2007 from Indiana and has attended and presented at numerous tobacco control and other prevention conferences over her career. She is currently the Executive Director and the Tobacco Control Coordinator for Intersect, Inc. in Madison County Indiana and has served in this role since April 2002. Before that she worked in tobacco and drug prevention with youth in Kentucky as well as worked for the American Cancer Society. She has been working in tobacco control since 1995. She currently resides in Lapel, IN with her husband Rodney and her 2 children Allye and RyKar.
Wendy Cook | Project Coordinator of The State Implementation Grant
Wendy Cook is the Project Coordinator of The State Implementation Grant. She works on initiatives to help reduce Underage Drinking in Madison County. Wendy oversees The Strengthening Families Program of Madison County, provides businesses with The Team Awareness workshops. Wendy also assists with "The Parents Who Host, Lose The Most media campaign".
Shelly Ross | Project Coordinator of DMHA Prevention Block Grant
Shelly graduated from Ball State University in 1990 with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. She works on initiatives to help reduce drug and alcohol use in Madison County. She specifically works in Northern Madison County. She promotes the Northern Madison County Prevention Coalition along with coordinating the SADD groups at Elwood, Alexandria and Frankton schools. Shelly oversees the Strengthening Families Program in Madison County and provides businesses with Stress Management trainings. She also promotes our media campaign Parents Who Host Lose the Most.
Kerry Dodd | Project Coordinator of DMHA Prevention Block Grant
Kerry Dodd took on the Project Coordinator role with Intersect, Inc. in August of 2018. Before joining Intersect, Inc. she achieved a master’s degree in sociology and spent more than 20 years in marketing research, data analytics and product design research. Kerry’s passion for prevention comes from her belief that prevention programs are essential tools to help youth make good choices that will turn into healthy adulthood habits. Kerry has lived in Pendleton for more than 20 years and enjoys spending time in her yard and at home with her family.
Kim Bell | VOICE Youth Coordinator
Kimberly Bell is a lifelong resident of Madison County and a Ball State University graduate. She has worked with the youth in Madison County in various capacities. She is the Youth Coordinator at Intersect and works with VOICE youth in Madison County. She has worked in prevention since August 2021 with Intersect. She enjoys sports, time with family, nature and spending time outdoors.
Sarah Souders | Tobacco Cessation Coordinator, Madison County
Sarah graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor's degree in Dietetics, and Oakland City University with a Master's degree in Elementary Education. She first became involved with Intersect in 2018, when she served on the Drug Free Southern Madison County coalition representing the "parent" sector. She enjoyed attending the monthly meetings to learn about the current drug trends. She became more involved as she began designing their newsletter and helping to plan multiple "community conversations". She joined the Intersect staff in 2021 as their Cessation Coordinator. Sarah enjoys meeting with providers, organizations and employers in the community to let them know about the benefits and quit services that Quit Now Indiana's tobacco quitline offers tobacco users in our state. She is involved in many other local coalitions and has a passion for working with others to make our community a healthier place to live. Sarah loves spending time with her husband and their 5 children, vacationing to new places, loving on her 10 pets, hanging out with friends, attending church and bible studies, baking, everything outdoorsy, and photography.