About Us

		Paula French		Co-Exectuive Director, Programs		317-259-7013		ext. 14
Paula French serves as Co-Executive Director, Programs at Step-Up. Since 1994 Ms. French has focused on HIV prevention programming and has authored and implemented a widely recognized HIV prevention curriculum for high risk, incarcerated youth. Ms. French is a member of the Clarian Health Community Advisory Committee, a past President of The League of Women Voters of Indianapolis, and member of the Indiana State Department of Health’s Community Planning Group, where she served as past Co-Chair. She has been certified by the Great Lakes Institute for Community Health Educators and was named Outstanding HIV/AIDS Educator for 1997-98 by the American Red Cross.
		Brad Gumbert		Co-Exectuive Director, Administration		317-259-7013		ext. 15
Brad Gumbert serves as the Co-Executive Director, Administration at Step-Up. Mr. Gumbert began his career in 1987 as a Prevention Specialist working with at-risk youth on the Southside of Chicago. Since moving to Indianapolis, he has served as Education Consultant for out-of-school programs at the Indiana Department of Education, has been the Program Director for the Community Action Group program and has served as the Executive Director of a United Way agency. Mr. Gumbert is an Instructor Trainer for the American Red Cross and serves as the Chair of the Program Review Committee at the Indiana State Department of Health. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University.
		Ryan Nix		Prevention Coordinator		317-259-7013		ext. 12
Ryan Nix serves as the Prevention Coordinator and has an extensive background in HIV prevention and outreach. Ryan directly implemented several prevention based programs and outreach grants at a southern Indiana agency including an Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) Prevention Case Management program, as well as a directly funded project from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mr. Nix was selected as a scholar to the prestigious CDC Institute for Prevention Leadership in Atlanta and has been trained in numerous outreach and prevention curricula.
		Valarie Taulman		Prevention Specalist, Health Educator		317-259-7013		ext. 10
Valarie Taulman serves as the Prevention Specialist and is a graduate of Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology (double major, Magna Cum Laude), with a majority of her course work focusing on gender and women in today’s culture as well as a minor in Gender Studies and Human Sexuality. Ms. Taulman served as a Research Associate at the Kinsey Institute for Sex, Gender and Reproduction. In addition, Ms. Taulman has been trained in the CDC recognized HIV Prevention curricula VOICES/VOCES and STREET SMART and attended The Great Lakes Institute for Community Health Educators. She serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Healthy Indiana Youth Alliance (HIYA), an organization dedicated to promoting the healthy sexuality choices of young adults throughout Indiana.
		Vicenta Muniz-Bledsoe		Program Coordinator		317-259-7013		ext. 11
Ms. Bledsoe serves as the Program Coordinator for the Women Taking Charge Program at Step-Up. Ms. Bledsoe graduated from Columbia University with Associates in Business. Vicenta has been in the HIV/AIDS field for four years with previous experience as an advocate for the homeless in New York City. In the HIV/AIDS field, Ms. Bledsoe has worked as a Care Partner, an Outreach Prevention & Testing Specialist, and a High Risk Behavioral Specialist. She is certified with the State of Indiana to administer Ora Sure and Ora Quick HIV testing. She also has certifications in Partner Counseling and Partner Elicitation in both Spanish and English. Ms. Bledsoe has been trained in the CDC DEBI Sister to Sister, which an intervention program is for African American women and has extensive experience working with the Latino community in HIV Prevention and Care. Vicenta is Bilingual and can speak Spanish & English and has several certifications in Training and Education.
		Alissa Byers		Health Educator		317-259-7013		ext. 17
Alissa Byers serves as Health Educator for the Youth At Risk Program. Alissa holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Public Health; with minors in Human Sexuality and Public Health Education from Indiana University. Beginning her career in corporate America, Alissa took a step back to reevaluate and chose to return to Not for Profit work. After directly serving this HIV positive population through Care Coordination services, Alissa is thrilled to be working in Prevention Education. Alissa holds numerous certification pertaining to prevention education and case management.
		Dolores Horgan		Project Coordinator
Dolores Horgan serves as the Project Coordinator for the Indiana Seniors HIV/AIDS Prevention Education (IN-SHAPE) program. Ms. Horgan has been a leader in the HIV/AIDS arena in Indiana for many years. Affectionately known as the “Mother of the HIV/AIDS Quilt”, Dolores joined the Indiana Chapter of the NAMES Project in 1993, housed then at Indiana Cares. In 1996, she became the Coordinator, responsible for ordering and returning the Quilt via San Francisco as well as scheduling the display throughout the state. She continues her work with the Quilt out of her home.
		Ramon Reyes		Americorps Member/Outreach Specialist		317-259-7013		ext. 13
Ramon Reyes serves as an Outreach Specialist for Step-Up Inc. Graduating in May2008 with a concentration in arts and humanities (including some background in human sexuality, and disease evolution), Ramon plans to attend graduate school in one of several areas. Ramon is an Americorps Member with the National AIDS Fund placed at Step-Up where he does outreach to the MSM community through Step-Up’s I-MAP program. He has been trained by the Red Cross as an HIV/AIDS Instructor/Trainer and is also certified by Indiana State Department of Health to do HIV testing/counseling.”
		Mark Hess		Outreach Specialist		317-259-7013		ext. 12
Mark Hess serves as an Outreach Specialist with Step Up, Inc and does outreach in the MSM community through the I-MAP program. He is certified by the Red Cross as an HIV/AIDS instructor and trainer and by the Indiana State Department of Health as an HIV tester/counselor. Also, he is certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for OraQuick testing and counseling. Mark will be graduating in 2008 from IUPUI with a Master’s of Social Work degree concentrating in Mental Health and Addictions. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Ball State University.
		Lisa Fernandez		Bookkeeper
Lisa Fernandez serves as the bookkeeper/accountant for Step-Up. Lisa is a graduate of the University of Indianapolis and has been working as an accountant for the past eleven years. Lisa has worked for several local non-profit agencies, including the Marion County Family Advocacy Center, School on Wheels and Chrysalis Academy of Indiana.