FIVE18's leadership is committed to the mission of reconciliation.

Thank you for your willingness to advance the ministry of FIVE18 Family Services through your financial gift.

Jim Herron serves as the Chief Strategy Officer. He is passionate about helping those who care about the hurting so they are able to support and promote mental and emotional healing. Jim’s role allows him to leverage his training and experience, along with his passion for children and families, to empower others to heal and grow. From a rich reservoir of experience in family dynamics, church leadership, and community mental health services, Jim guides the application of Biblical truths into real life.

Jim and his wife, Ruth, have six adult children, three of whom joined their family by adoption. They provided foster care for many years in Ohio and Virginia, and hosted over 50 placements.

Beginning July 1, 2025 Jeff Nitz took on the role of Chief Executive Officer. Jeff has been an integral part of our leadership since 2017 and has been involved in child welfare services for more than 35 years.

Jeff deeply believes that our strength and future as a community comes down to how well we collectively care for our children and support parents. He also views the local church as the hope of the world, and is excited to see the Church take a much more prominent place in meeting the needs of children and families in our community. He and his wife, Cheryl, have been married for over 40 years and have four children, including two through older-child adoption.

For fifteen years, Robert Day served as the CEO for FIVE18 Family Services. Robert referred to himself as the “Chief Executive Orphan” rather than “Chief Executive Officer”. Born to a teenage mother, who was herself a ward of the state, Robert survived over 35 homes, abject poverty, neglect, and abuse before his unlikely graduation from high school. Recently, Robert stepped away from his FIVE18 position to explore his journey and pursue a new venture named Recovering Orphan (https://recoveringorphan.org/). A ‘Recovering Orphan” is an adult who suffered childhood trauma from absent or abusive parents.