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Meet The Team.
Dedication. Passion. Commitment
Meet the passionate team behind our mission to break the cycle of poverty in Dallas. Driven by a shared commitment to education, empowerment, and opportunity, our team work together to equip individuals with the tools they need to achieve lasting success and build a better future.
Board Members
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Chief Executive Officer
Obie Bussey is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 30 years of experience in program development, strategic planning, and community impact. As CEO of The Oasis Center, he brings a deep commitment to holistic recovery, helping individuals overcome addiction and incarceration to build meaningful lives. Known for his inspiring leadership and practical insight, Obie continues to empower organizations and communities through transformational service and faith-based guidance.
Founder & Chief Strategist
Michael Lee is the founder of Oasis Center, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to second chances for youth offenders and formerly incarcerated adults. A retired FBI Special Agent and the first Black field supervisor in the Dallas Division, Michael launched Oasis in 2001 as a spiritual calling after his retirement. His vision is to create a scalable model for reentry and workforce development, providing life-changing support to underserved communities in Dallas.
Vice Board Chair
Randy Box is Vice Board Chair at Oasis Center, bringing over 40 years of business leadership and a strong passion for service to the organization's mission in providing life changing programs and services to underserved communities and incarcerated persons. A Dallas native and Baylor University graduate, he is the founder and president of Box Interests, Inc., a commercial real estate firm. Randy helps guide Oasis’s mission and long-term impact through his strategic insight and community commitment.
Board Chair
Stephanie is Chief of Division II at the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, where she oversees felony prosecutors across eight District Courts. With over 20 years of experience, she has led key divisions and co-presided over the AIM diversion program in partnership with the Oasis Center. A former appointed judge, Stephanie now serves on the Oasis Center Board and remains committed to community-focused justice.
Treasurer
Executive Board Member
Thad Moore is a seasoned business development executive with decades of leadership experience in the aerospace and defense industry. Since 2004, he has led Lockheed Martin's Business Development operations in Dallas and Orlando, supporting key missile and defense systems. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Harvard MBA, Thad has also held senior roles at Boeing, Rockwell, and Honeywell, and remains active in advisory and community roles.
Secretary
Executive Board Member
Melody Bussey serves as Board Secretary and brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership development, coaching, workforce readiness, and program design. Passionate about serving others, she is dedicated to equipping individuals with the skills and confidence to succeed while supporting the organization's mission to create life-changing opportunities for youth, underserved communities, and those seeking a second chance.
Kris Brown
Board Member
Kris Brown brings a passion for relational healing and community transformation to his work with Oasis. With a background in strategy and leadership, and ongoing studies in Marriage and Family Therapy, he has led initiatives across finance, media, and mental health. Kris helps advance Oasis’s mission by building trust, promoting culturally responsive care, and fostering partnerships that support lasting community well-being.
Erin Grimes
Board Member
Erin Grimes brings more than 24 years of experience in the Dallas County criminal justice system. She is passionate about guiding individuals and families through the legal process with compassion and professionalism while connecting them to meaningful resources and support.
Erin is dedicated to advocating for victims of crime and helping individuals successfully reenter society. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas Woman's University and a Paralegal Certificate from Southern Methodist University. Her commitment to service extends beyond her profession through active volunteerism and community involvement.
Juanita Lee
Board Member
Juanita Lee is a former CEO and Fundraising Director of The Oasis Center and now serves on its Board of Directors, continuing her lifelong commitment to faith-based service and community impact. Her diverse career path—from banking to travel advising—reflects her adaptability and heart for helping others. A devoted wife, mother, and “Nana,” Juanita finds joy in family, ministry, and inspiring others to live with purpose.
Christopher Pipkin
Board Member
Christopher Pipkin is a servant-leader, pastor, and national ministry advocate focused on restoration, reentry, and community impact. He serves as Senior Pastor of Oasis on The Mount Christian Healing Center, leading
efforts to support formerly incarcerated individuals and underserved communities.
With training through the College of Biblical Studies and the Baptist General Convention of Texas, he has dedicated his work to mentoring returning citizens, developing reentry programs, and building impactful partnerships.
Martell Gamble
Board Member
Martell Gamble is an entrepreneur, musician, and former Toyota leader who co-founded Willbanah LLC, the AI company behind Mealify App. With over 15 years in engineering and analytics, he developed AI solutions for meal planning that help busy professionals achieve their health and fitness goals in under two minutes, merging innovation with wellness to support authentic living through smarter nutrition.
Kathy Jones
Board Member
Kathy Jones serves as Community Relations Manager for the Wildwood Group, a local real estate developer. She retired from the City of DeSoto in 2024 after 26 years managing citizen communication, marketing, and the government access channel. She served as staff liaison to the Arts Commission since 1999 and coordinated city-wide festivals including DeSoto's first Juneteenth Celebration, DeSoto Arts Live festivals, and monthly concert series.
Kathy and her husband Rick have three daughters, a son in heaven, and twelve grandchildren. She serves on the boards of the DeSoto Area Chamber of Commerce, DeSoto Food Pantry, and Oasis Center.
Advisory Board
Richard Conerly is the owner of HRD Results, LLC and HRD Safety. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving 20 years of honorable service. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Wayland Baptist University and a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of LaVerne. Since joining the Oasis Center in 2000, he has been teaching young men and women the skills necessary to successfully reenter the workforce. With more than 20 years of experience teaching at the college level, Richard now proudly serves on the board of the Oasis Center
Executive Assistant
Chelsea Little serves as the Executive Administrative Assistant with a strong commitment to service and mission-driven work. She is currently a seminary student at Dallas Theological Seminary, where she is deepening her theological foundation and passion for ministry.
She is the founder of HisWill HerLife, a faith-inspired blog that encourages women to trust God’s plan and live boldly in their purpose.
She also has a professional background as both a Salesforce professional and healthcare provider.
Accountant
Cindy started her business, Perfect Books, over 10 years ago to help small businesses and non-profits with their accounting needs. She is happy to be a part of the Oasis family, which really focuses on giving back to the community and helping individuals grow stronger in all aspects of life.
Kevin Posey
Board Member
Ruth Burton
Advisory Board Member
George Spencer
Board Member
Will Craine
Board Member
Simon Zubras
Board Member
Our Partnerships
