BIOS

The “Dooley” in Austen-Dooley:

Kelly Dooley Creek

Kelly was born in Ft. Collins, Colorado and raised in Ventura, California. She attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. In 1991 she left southern California and took a job in Kansas City, Kansas, where she managed a group home for people with mental retardation. This was Kelly’s first experience in working with people with disabilities.

In 1992 Kelly took a QMRP/Program Manager position with Heartland Residential Care in Liberty, Missouri where she worked until June 1999. Dismayed by the lack of quality services for the developmentally disabled, Kelly went to work for the Independence Housing Authority where she assisted elderly and disabled individuals in securing public housing. It was during this time that she met Austen Plain and they began to discuss the needs of several individuals (whom they both knew) that were in desperate need of quality home care, leading to the creation of Austen-Dooley Company in 2001.

Kelly completed her Master’s Degree in Management through Baker University in September 2008. She is excited by the growth of Austen-Dooley Company as she continues to see a real need for quality care for individuals with disabilities. Kelly is confident that Austen-Dooley Company can continue to meet these needs for years to come.

The “Austen” in Austen-Dooley:

B. Austen Plain

Born to a military family in Atlanta, Georgia, Austen Plain is a business minded entrepreneur, constantly looking for ways to make the lives of Austen-Dooley residents easier and fuller. Austen began volunteering at a young age, working with elderly individuals and spending time with at-risk youth. Austen earned a degree in Photo Journalism and later in Aviation Sciences. During this time, he successfully operated several different businesses throughout the country. After establishing a food service company which provided support to a neurological center and its residents, Austen developed relationships with the residents and their families and saw an opportunity to provide a better standard of living for them than was currently available. Austen’s entrepreneurial drive has helped promote and expand the Austen-Dooley Company throughout the state of Missouri since its establishment in 2001.

Executive Director:

Kendra Shoop

Executive Director Kendra Shoop has been with Austen-Dooley since 2007; her bio is coming soon!

St. Charles/St. Louis Director:

Melissa Carlton

Director of the Austen-Dooley St. Louis office Melissa Carlton’s bio is coming soon!

Employment

We are now seeking direct support and nursing team members for both full and part time positions as we prepare for growth and the opening of new homes. If you like working with others and enjoy serving the needs of the developmentally disabled… this job is for you!

Rewarding work with a great company.