Hoyleton Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Three Strategic Appointments

Hoyleton Youth and Family Services in Fairview Heights, Ill.,is pleased to announce the addition of three accomplished leaders to its executive team, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to delivering exceptional care, strengthening operations, and advancing its mission of helping children, families, and communities thrive.

Amy Hanson has joined Hoyleton as director of child welfare, Joseph (Joe) Pytlinski has been named director of financial operations, and Kara Lowry has been promoted to director of continuous quality improvement. Together, these leaders bring more than 90 years of combined experience in child welfare, behavioral health, finance, quality improvement, and nonprofit leadership.

“As Hoyleton continues to grow and expand services across Southern Illinois, strong leadership is essential to ensuring we remain responsive to the needs of the individuals and families we serve,” said Chris Cox, president and CEO of Hoyleton Youth and Family Services. “Amy, Joe, and Kara each bring exceptional expertise, a collaborative leadership style, and a deep commitment to our mission. Their collective experience will help position Hoyleton for continued excellence and innovation.”

Amy Hanson Named Director of Child Welfare

Amy Hanson joins Hoyleton with more than 30 years of experience spanning child welfare and behavioral health. A licensed therapist in Missouri, Hanson began her career as a Child Abuse Hotline Investigator before advancing into supervisory and executive leadership roles within foster care systems in both California and Missouri.

Throughout her career, she has remained focused on improving outcomes for children by strengthening permanency efforts, engaging relatives and kin, and supporting families through compassionate, evidence-based practices.

“My ‘why’ has remained the same throughout my career,” Hanson said. “Helping children move from foster care into safe, loving, and permanent homes continues to inspire the work I do every day.”

As Director of Child Welfare, Hanson will lead Hoyleton’s child welfare programs while continuing to strengthen permanency outcomes, family engagement, and quality service delivery throughout the organization.

Joseph Pytlinski Joins as Director of Financial Operations

Joe Pytlinski brings more than three decades of nonprofit financial leadership to Hoyleton. A licensed Certified Public Accountant, he has built a distinguished career focused on collaboration, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and strategic financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Hoyleton, Pytlinski spent more than 20 years with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, most recently serving as Director of Finance for the U.S. Province.

As Director of Financial Operations, Pytlinski will oversee the agency’s financial strategy and operations while partnering with organizational leaders to strengthen financial infrastructure and support Hoyleton’s continued growth.

Kara Lowry Promoted to Director of Continuous Quality Improvement

Hoyleton is also proud to announce the promotion of Kara Lowry to Director of Continuous Quality Improvement.

Since joining Hoyleton as quality improvement manager, Lowry has played a key role in advancing agency-wide quality initiatives, strengthening monitoring standards, enhancing risk management practices, and supporting Council on Accreditation (COA) activities. Her extensive background includes leadership in child welfare quality improvement, risk initiatives, accreditation, and direct program operations.

In her new role, Lowry will continue leading the organization’s efforts to build a culture of continuous improvement while ensuring programs consistently deliver high-quality, accountable services to children and families.

“Kara has already made a positive impact on our organization,” Cox said. “Her leadership has strengthened our quality framework, and we are excited to see her continue building on that success as a member of our Executive Team.”

“These additions to our leadership team reflect Hoyleton’s continued investment in organizational excellence and our commitment to providing innovative, high-quality services that strengthen children, families, and communities throughout Southern Illinois,” said Cox.