about wings
meet the team
Amber Emmert
CEO
amber@wingsofshelter.com
Amber holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology with an emphasis in clinical counseling from Colorado Christian University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her family and hosting women’s bible study groups, fostering relationships and spiritual growth.
Katrina "Kat" Colon
Child Services Coordinator
kat@wingsofshelter.com
Katrina Colon is the Child Services Coordinator at Wings Of Shelter, where she plays a key role in advancing the organization’s mission to support and uplift vulnerable children. Guided by adeep sense of purpose and faith, Katrina first joined Wings Of Shelter in May 2021 as a Tutor/Teacher, a role she held for two years before transitioning away.
After a brief time, she returned to the organization in her current role as Child Services Coordinator, bringing renewed energy and revived passion.
In her position as Coordinator, Katrina oversees a variety of programs, including medical and mental health services, social activities, and other opportunities designed to ensure the safety, well-being, and development of the children in the program. Her background in management and Christian leadership equips her to effectively resource and oversee comprehensive care programs while upholding the values of compassion and integrity.
Katrina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), which provides her with strong communication skills and a keen attention to detail. Her commitment to professional growth and her innovative approach significantly contribute to the success of Wings Of Shelter’s initiatives.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Katrina enjoys crafting, reading, and gardening. She also cherishes spending quality time with her husband, which brings her personal joy and balance. These creative pursuits and personal moments inspire her approach to problem-solving and community engagement. Her faith-driven dedication and compassionate nature make her a valued and impactful member of the Wings Of Shelter team.
Tracy Marinkiovich
Employee Relations Coordinator
tracy@wingsofshelter.com
My name is Tracy Marinkovich, and I am the Employee Relations Coordinator. I have always had a heart for the hurting and have worked in the non-profit industry for most of my career. I began volunteering with this organization and had the opportunity to join the team full-time in 2019. I started my work with Wings of Shelter training in the community to bring awareness, and I am now working in Human Resources. I am most passionate about preventing human trafficking, and I believe so much good can come out of the bad. I am motivated to serve God daily and work to bring restoration to the precious girls who come into our program. I enjoy spending my weekends with my beautiful family and granddaughter.
Emily Walsh
Safe House Coordinator
emily@wingsofshelter.com
My name is Emily Walsh. I am the Wings of Shelter Safe House Coordinator. I grew up in North Florida. I received my Bachelor of Social Work from Florida State University, and my Masters of Business Administration from Saint Leo University.
Since I can remember, I have had a passion to help others. My experience ranges from customer service roles, forensic social work, teaching, behavioral therapy, and teaching life skills development to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
After my tribulations with childhood epilepsy, I wanted to do whatever it took to be a light in a world that was (and still is) so dark. I moved to Southwest Florida in 2015, and worked in a variety of roles and fields (all of which involved being immersed in a diverse community of people).
I discovered Wings of Shelter, through my church, in 2023. I was discussing my heart for helping individuals who have been rescued out of human trafficking. The very next day, my now-colleague walked in with a Wings of Shelter business card. I remained in touch with the admin team for about six months before I accepted my current role. I love my job because it is centered around helping others, with God at the heart of it.
who we are
Wings of Shelter Int’l, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) faith-based organization dedicated to the intervention and prevention of child sex trafficking across our city, country, and globe. We offer restoration, rehabilitation, and safe harbor housing to minor female survivors of trafficking while fighting against the factors that encourage trafficking to thrive. We hope through education and community awareness to prevent victimization from occurring before it is too late.
We believe that together, we can make a difference in the fight against slavery, injustice, and violence.
what we do
We offer refuge through
Our Safe houses
We are licensed through the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) as a long-term group home, meaning there are no limits to how long a child might stay. Part-time and full-time caregivers staff our safe houses, both single women and married couples, to provide a familial, rather than an institutionalized, setting.
We understand the complications of long-term abuse, neglect, manipulation, and brainwashing endured through trafficking. All staff is trained with an understanding of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its effects. We work to empower and encourage our clients academically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially to help them heal from the complex trauma they have endured and move toward independence.
Residents of our program receive trauma-focused mental health counseling, medical care, private schooling, tutoring, the opportunity to pursue extracurricular hobbies, part-time jobs and re-socialization through our volunteer big sister program.
Photo by Jupiterimages
We raise awareness through
our education program
We offer an education program to raise awareness and train individuals to join the fight against human trafficking. Our goal is to increase victim identification and to equip community members and trained professionals to provide adequate help and services. To do so, we educate the general public, as well as law enforcement, judicial systems & legislators, medical & mental health professionals, school teachers & administrators to recognize warning signs and seek help. Additionally, we work to prevent the spread of human trafficking by educating children and students who may be at risk for victimization.
We believe that every victimized and vulnerable person deserves to be surrounded by an alert community dedicated to fighting injustice. We hope to inspire passionate, informed activists and advocates who will speak up for those who can’t and who will shed light on the darkness of human trafficking. We hope that through collaboration with other agencies, we will see the end of modern day slavery in our time. We consult and train others in opening Safe Houses modeled after our program in order to develop a network of resources and victim services across our region, state and country. If you or your organization would like to partner with Wings of Shelter Int’l, Inc. to receive resources, training or assistance in opening DCF Licensed Safe Houses, please contact us today!
services we provide
- Long-term Rehabilitation
- Medical, dental, vision, mental health and OBGYN services
- Therapy for sexual trauma, anger management, and substance abuse
- Homeschooling with Florida Virtual School and GED Program
- Teacher tutor to assist with education
- Social Activities that include supervised youth group with other teens
- Spiritual development
- Independent living skills that teach them to budget, gardening, how to do laundry, cook, and bus transportation
- Survivor Mentors
- Big Sister Program
- A female fitness instructor
our founders
Lowell & Sally Senitz
Founders of Wings of Shelter
Lowell and Sally have dedicated their lives to intervening and rescuing children caught in oppression. This mission has taken them behind the Iron Curtain to Romania, Haiti, Sudan, and the Kibera Slums of Nairobi, Kenya, before settling in sunny Southwest Florida. Upon recognizing that domestic child sex trafficking was a reality in their backyard, they set to work opening Wings of Shelter as the first Safe House for victims in Florida. Between Lowell’s background in Education, Sally’s experience in Counseling, Psychology, and their passion for eradicating this injustice, they are recognized as leading experts in the field across the state and nation. In their free time, they love going to the movies and traveling to see their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren!
