Jackie Gordon
Welcome to our new Development Director, Jackie Gordon. Jackie brings a seasoned background in relationship building, donor engagement, and mission-centered fundraising. With experience spanning marketing, sales, nonprofit foundation work, and social services, she is passionate about connecting people with purpose and creating meaningful opportunities for generosity.
In her role at St. Louis Center, Jackie leads development strategy, major gift cultivation, and donor stewardship initiatives that strengthen and expand the Center’s impact. She is dedicated to building trust, fostering lasting partnerships, and ensuring that every act of generosity makes a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.
For Jackie, this mission is deeply personal. She and her husband of 29 years have four children, and her youngest daughter has Down syndrome. Her family’s journey has shaped her belief in inclusion, compassionate care, and community – values that align closely with the heart of St. Louis Center.
We are delighted to welcome her to the team and look forward to the meaningful contributions she will bring while embracing and championing our mission.
Julia Zaher
Julia Zaher is the new public relations and marketing manager. She comes with a background in radio, television, and print journalism, having worked as a TV reporter on Capitol Hill, a radio and podcast reporter, and a radio host.
Julia has extensive experience in fundraising events and communication, nonprofit management, and volunteer programs. She has enjoyed interacting with St. Louis Center residents when they visit her home parish, St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Saline.
Tracey Peters
For Tracey Peters, the path to St. Louis Center was shaped by years of experience, quiet discernment, and a growing desire for work that felt meaningful—not just busy.
Tracey spent much of her career in restaurant kitchens, eventually working as a kitchen manager. While she valued the skills she gained, the fast pace and constant stress began to lose their appeal. “The older I get, the less I want that,” she admits. What she wanted instead was something steadier, more human, and more connected.
Years earlier, Tracey had worked in a group home for adults with developmental disabilities, alongside several members of her family. It was work she loved deeply, and the memory of that closeness stayed with her. Later, while working in food service at a healthcare facility in Adrian, she rediscovered that same joy. “I loved the residents,” she says. “It just suited me.”
So when an opening appeared at St. Louis Center, Tracey applied—then waited. When she didn’t hear back right away, she was disappointed. “I was scared,” she recalls. But when the call finally came, it felt like everything clicked.
Though the Center isn’t closer to her home, the fit was immediate. “I just felt very comfortable here,” she says. “The fit is just there.” More than anything, it’s the residents who make the work meaningful. Cooking, which Tracey calls her “love language,” becomes a daily way to care for others.
Raised Catholic, Tracey describes herself as non-practicing for many years, but something unexpected happened after she arrived. “Somehow, I’m feeling closer to God being here,” she says. Working alongside the priests and witnessing the Center’s mission has renewed a sense of faith she didn’t realize she was missing.
Before coming to St. Louis Center, Tracey had never heard of St. Louis Guanella Village. Now, she’s in awe of it. Having seen less supportive models of care, she finds the village—its homes, its sense of belonging, its community—extraordinary.
Outside of work, Tracey loves being near the water. She and her husband spend time boating, swimming, and relaxing at their campsite, surrounded by lakes, family, and old friends. As she looks toward the future and eventual retirement, she feels content. “We’re good,” she says. “We’ve worked hard, and now it’s about enjoying it.”
That sense of peace carries into her work as well. “I actually look forward to coming to work,” Tracey says with a smile. “It’s been a long time since I could say that.”
At St. Louis Center, Tracey Peters hasn’t just found a job—she’s found a place where her skills, her heart, and her faith all belong.
Read the entire issue of St. Louis Spirit here!
