Board Profile
Jared Schechter, MS, CCM, CJM
Jail Administrator Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Wichita, Kansas
Hello, my name is Jared Schechter, MS, CCM, CJM, with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office. I have been working in the field of jailing services for almost 24 years in the largest jail in the State of Kansas. Currently, I am the Jail Administrator and in charge of the general welfare of the entire inmate population of 1,400 inmates. I also oversee a staff of 300 and a budget of over $32 million.
I decided to enter the field of corrections and make it my career because...
I was 21 and was unsure of what I wanted to do for a career when a family friend suggested the job as a detention deputy. Quickly I found I loved the career as I enjoyed problem solving and dealing with people. Every day was different, and every day brought new challenges. Being I had found my career and knew I wanted to advance, I ended up going to college and eventually getting my Masters.
My favorite way to relax is...
during the workday is to run at lunch, most days I run a 5k over my lunch hour. It is a great way to clear my head and reduce stress halfway through the day.
One item from my personal "bucket list" is to...
travel to all seven continents. I will have five out of seven, including Antarctica, marked off the list by this time next year.
My motto is...
we don’t need everything to enjoy life. We already have life to enjoy everything.
I am most proud of...
my wife and children.
The most unusual job I’ve ever had was...
many years ago and a very short-lived job, but I photographed guests at Sea Life Park in Hawaii with the giant dolphin mascot.
I felt it was important to be a member of AJA and serve on the board because...
I wanted to do my part to continue the efforts made by AJA to keep jail issues in the forefront and highlight the professionalism of those who work in our jails. Additionally, in my career I was fortunate to attend AJA conferences and Large Jail Network meetings where I developed relationships with people who became my friends and mentors in this career. I saw them serving in these roles and that inspired me to one day do my part.
Three people living or deceased I'd invite to dinner are...
my father, my Grandpa Morris and Teddy Roosevelt.
The hardest thing I've ever done is...
starting college at age 22 while working a full-time job and raising three kids with my wife. Then for some crazy reason eventually completing a master’s degree.
My favorite meal is...
tacos, tacos, and tacos.
You would be surprised to learn that...
I am an avid runner. I may not look like it, but I enjoy running and run 50-75 miles a month.
One piece of advice that I would give anyone considering correction as a career is...
respect and treat everyone you encounter with a basic level of human respect. You will be surprised how far that will take you and what people will do when they addressed in a respectful way.
AJA Board of Directors
President Louis A. Quiñones Jr., MS, CJM Chief of Corrections Orange County Corrections Department Orlando, Florida Louis.QuinonesJr@ocfl.net
President-Elect Shawn C. Laughlin, MCJ, CJM Commander Broomfield Police Detention & Training Center Support Services Division Broomfield, Colorado slaughlin@broomfield.org
1st Vice President Robert Leslie Hood, CJM Lieutenant Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Columbiana, Alabama lhood@shelbyso.com
2nd Vice President Anthony Yeber, MPA, MSCJ, CJM Captain/Facility SupervisorTurner Guilford Knight Correctional Center Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department Miami, Florida anthony.yeber@miamidade.gov
3rd Vice President Shaun Klucznik, CJM, CCE Major/Jail Administrator Judicial Services Bureau Commander Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Brooksville, Florida sklucznik@hernandosheriff.org
Secretary Sam Davis, MA, CJM Major/Jail Administrator (Retired) Ingham County Sheriff’s Office Adjunct Staff, School of Criminal Justice Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan samdavis8224@gmail.com
Treasurer Eddie K. Lance Jail Administrator (Retired) Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office Internal Sales Specialist Southern Software Southern Pines, North Carolina elance@southernsoftware.com
Immediate Past President Darren Sieger, MS, CJM Director Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Detention Fort Lauderdale, Florida darren_sieger@sheriff.org
1–Year Term
Stefanie Bush, CJM Assistant Jail Administrator Scott County Sheriff’s Office- Jail Division Davenport, Iowa Stefanie.Bush@ scottcountyiowa.com
Kevin Jones, CJM, NCCE, CCE, CJE Major/Detention & Court Services Bureau Commander Charles B. Webster Detention Center Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Augusta, Georgia KJones@augustaga.gov
Mané Martirosyan, MSSW, CSW Executive Administrator Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Louisville, KY mane.martirosyan@ louisvilleky.gov
Lisa Peck, CJM Lieutenant, Detention Division Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Grand Junction, Colorado lisa.peck@mesacounty.us
2–Year Term
Laura Bedard, PhD, CJMChief of Corrections Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Sanford, Florida lbedard@seminolesheriff.org
Sonya Gillespie Chief, Employee Relations Denver Sheriff Administration Denver, Colorado sonya.gillespie@denvergov.org
Elsie Judon, MS Major, Assistant Director of South Operations Broward Sheriff's Office Ft. Lauderdale, Florida elsie_judon@sheriff.org
Henry Reyes, MAM, MPA, CJM, CCE, NCEE Chief Deputy/Assistant Jail Administrator Tarrant County Sheriff's Office Fort Worth, Texas hreyes@tarrantcounty.com
3-Year Term
Denise Diamond Captain Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Portland, Oregon denise.diamond@mcso.us
Jonathan Ede, MSCJ, CJM Captain Travis County Sheriff’s Office Austin, TX jonathan.ede@traviscountytx.gov
Mark Foxall, PhD, CJM Community Service Associate University of Nebraska Omaha School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Omaha, Nebraska markfoxall@unomaha.edu
Diana Knapp, MS, CCEDirector Jackson County Department of Corrections Kansas City, Missouri dknapp@jacksongov.org
Parliamentarian Fred W. Meyer, MA, CJM, CCHP Deputy Chief (Retired) Managing Director, NCCHC Resources National Commission on Correctional Health Care Las Vegas, NV fredmeyer@ncchcresources.org
Sergeant-at-Arms Jared Schechter, MS, CJM, CCM Colonel, Jail Administrator Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Wichita, KS jared.schechter@sedgwick.gov
Chaplain Linda Ahrens, MBA, BGEA Founding Volunteer Chaplain for Staff Cook County Sheriff's Office Chicago, Illinois lindaahrens_1@yahoo.com linda.ahrens@ccsheriff.org
Executive Director Chris D. Daniels, MPA, CAE American Jail Association Hagerstown, Maryland chrisd@aja.org