Jason Smith
Founder & Executive Director
Jason Smith brings over 25 years of experience working with at-risk populations, including individuals navigating prison re-entry, homeless youth, homeless veterans, and others facing housing insecurity. Jason has led programs to include street outreach, rapid re-housing, transitional living, eviction prevention and low-income tax relief. Currently serving as the Director of Housing in Chatham County, North Carolina, Jason is a committed advocate for dignity, equity, and opportunity for all.
Jason holds a Master’s degree in Business Management from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire. His career has been guided by a simple philosophy: meet people where they are, see their potential, and walk alongside them toward a better future.
Jason’s journey to founding Soleful Kicks is deeply personal. As a middle schooler, he was bullied for wearing shoes with loud, hard plastic soles—an experience that stayed with him. Branded with the nickname “Plastic Soles,” he learned early on how something as basic as a pair of sneakers could affect a child’s confidence and ability to belong. This experience planted a seed that would one day grow into a mission.
Soleful Kicks is the realization of that mission. Through partnerships with schools, mentors, and community leaders, Jason ensures that the sneakers distributed through Soleful Kicks come with more than just style—they come with encouragement, support, and a sense of pride earned through positive behavior and goal-setting.
Outside of work, Jason is a sports fanatic and avid runner. He truly knows the value of a great pair of sneakers. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and two children.
Lou Kaucic
Treasurer
Lou Kaucic is founder and CEO of CCI, Coaches Collective International, a 501c3 organization, providing progressive organizations with high impact executive, professional, and life coaching services. Founded in 2007, CCI’s mission is “Life Changing Coaching. World Changing Impact”. The 6 coaches of CCI currently offer their services in over 18 for-profit and non-profit companies around the country.
Prior to his retirement at 55 from Applebee’s and corporate America, Kaucic served for eight years as executive vice president and chief people officer (CPO) of Applebee’s International, Inc., the world’s largest casual dining concept, based in Overland Park, Kansas. In this role, Kaucic was responsible for all people and human resource initiatives that touched over 100,000 employees systemwide. He particularly enjoyed and excelled in providing thoughtful leadership to his peers on the Senior Executive team as well as leaders and associates throughout the system. During his tenure as CPO, Applebee’s became the recognized industry leader in employee retention, culture management and innovative people practices. He was named HR Executive of the Year Honoree in 2005 and recipient of the People Report’s Workplace Legacy Award in 2006, as well as helping Applebee’s receive industry recognition and awards over the years for its progressive HR practices and superior people results. Prior to Applebee’s, Kaucic worked in HR executive leadership roles at Daka International, a New England based foodservice company; Pepsico-Pizza Hut Division, Kellogg’s Mrs Smith’s Division, and GTE.
Kaucic is currently on the boards of Canterbury Shaker Village, a national historical site; and Coaches Collective Ont’l. He’s a former board member of Flynn Restaurant Group, the largest restaurant franchisee organization in the country, and Black Box Intelligence based in Dallas. He is past president of the board of directors of the De LaSalle Education Center in Kansas City and former executive director and board member for the Women’s Foodservice Forum.
He completed his Coaching Certification Program at the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara in November 2003 with additional courses and programs at the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and the Enneagram Institute. His current executive coaching client list includes executive men & women from diverse disciplines across multiple industries intent on personal & professional growth.
Kaucic earned his bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio and has extensive post-grad training including the Gestalt Institute, Outward Bound, DDI’s Interaction Management, CTI’s Leadership Course, the Enneagram Institute and the Hoffman Institute . He and his spouse, Billy Merritt, live in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
Katie Childs
Secretary
A systems thinker at heart, Katie is passionate about connecting day-to-day work to long-term impact. To her, Soleful Kicks is more than just providing shoes—it’s about unlocking confidence, connection, and opportunity for the next generation.
Originally from Ohio, Katie earned her degree from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. She spent ten years in North Carolina supporting her husband’s U.S. Army career while building a strong network and lifelong friendships that continue to connect her to Chatham County. Now back in her home state, she looks forward to doing the New York Times games each day, and spending time outdoors with her family and their dog.
Tiffany Stuflick
Board of Directors
Born and raised in Chesapeake, Virginia, Tiffany Stuflick now resides in Pittsboro, North Carolina, with her husband and two children. A 2003 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, she built a distinguished career as a Surface Warfare Officer, serving on both active duty and reserves. Her service took her around the world in support of maritime security while leading Sailors with strength and compassion. She proudly retired from the United States Navy in November 2024 after more than two decades of service.
As a civilian, she worked in commercial construction client relations in the Raleigh Triangle area. Most recently, Tiffany worked with a Fayetteville-based nonprofit focused on housing stability for single women. In her role as Engagement Coordinator, she educated the public on the importance of housing support while raising donor awareness and engagement.
Recognizing the need for purposeful growth and development in the place she now calls home, Tiffany brought her leadership and passion for service to her local community. For the past four years, she has volunteered on Chatham County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, where she now serves as Chairperson, liaisoning with community and county employees providing strategic recommendations to County Commissioners on addressing affordable housing needs.
Tiffany remains deeply committed to strengthening the community where her family lives. She volunteers regularly at veterans’ events and local community initiatives, embodying her belief that the best way to ensure a thriving future is by showing up and lending a hand. Guided by a focus on human connection and meaningful interaction, she is dedicated to creating a place where her children can grow up and her family can grow old—contributing to the success of society through leadership, service, and compassion.
Bill Conrad
Board of Directors
Bill Conrad is a seasoned executive and financial strategist with over four decades of experience driving growth and operational excellence across the foodservice, corporate finance, and healthcare sectors. Currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer for StratosX, Inc., a pioneering SaaS company launched in 2025, Bill assists the company in identifying and developing its strategic advantages and oversees the Company’s finance and accounting team. This role is part of his broader current focus of providing high-level consultancy and interim leadership to both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Bill’s tenure at Prime Source Foods (PSF) stands as a testament to his ability to scale complex operations. Serving as Chief Operating Officer before ascending to CEO and President, he oversaw a $330 million foodservice distribution powerhouse. Under his leadership, the company achieved an 8.8% compounded annual growth rate in EBITDA, underwent a complete rebranding, and transitioned into a state-of-the-art 105,000-square-foot facility. His strategic oversight of ERP and WMS implementations culminated in a successful sale to a private equity firm in early 2025, yielding significant returns for shareholders.
Prior to his success in the food industry, Bill spent nearly two decades as the Managing Director at Baldwin & Clarke Corporate Finance. There, he specialized in mergers and acquisitions, business valuations, and strategic planning for small to middle-market companies, specifically representing shareholders in providing strategic financial planning of nearly 30 foodservice distributors. His foundational leadership years were spent as the CFO and Executive Vice President of The Courville Companies, where he managed the financial health of a multi-facility long-term care and assisted living organization. Bill previously served as a Board Member of SiteScape, Inc. and was actively involved in completing its sale to Novell, Inc in 2008.
Bill’s professional pedigree is built on a solid academic foundation, holding an M.S. in Finance from Bentley University and a B.S. in Accounting from Drexel University. Although now retired from active practice as a CPA and an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA), these rigorous designations continue to inform his analytical approach. Deeply committed to community service, Bill has served on the Board of Directors for Waypoint, NH, for over thirty years, contributing his expertise as Chair and Treasurer to support the organization’s mission. He also is currently serving on the Board of Directors of Soleful Kicks.
Cassie Smith
Youth Advisor and Creative Contributor
Cassie Smith plays a vital role in the heart and spirit of Soleful Kicks. As a teenager with a deep sense of empathy and creativity, Cassie brings a youth’s perspective to the mission—ensuring that the organization resonates with the very kids it seeks to uplift.
Cassie helped shape the foundation of Soleful Kicks, contributing to its name, designing the logo, and selecting the brand’s vibrant color scheme. Her input has been invaluable in making the program relatable and inspiring to children and teens alike.
More than just a creative mind, Cassie is passionate about giving back. She believes that no child should be made to feel “less than” because of the shoes they wear—and she is committed to helping Soleful Kicks empower students with pride, purpose, and positivity.
Cassie’s thoughtful leadership, compassion, and fresh perspective serve as a reminder that young people aren’t just the future—they are an essential part of the movement today.
