Meet our Staff
YOVASO staff are traffic safety advocates who dedicate their time and efforts to the mission of YOVASO.
Working to Make a Difference
The YOVASO staff has a sincere and unfailing dedication to youth traffic safety, each bringing unique strengths to the organization. Staff members work as a collaborative team to develop and deliver quality programs, trainings, resources, and retreats for member schools and youth groups. Each member strongly believes in the power-of-peer to peer programs to lead change and enjoys helping youth develop and realize their leadership potential.
Program Administrator
Mary King joined YOVASO in August 2007 and works in the Salem Office as the Program Administrator. Mary administers the YOVASO Highway Safety Grants and directs the program’s strategic direction and performance outcomes.
Prior to joining YOVASO, Mary worked for 11 years in highway safety as a Public Relation’s Specialist with the DMV Transportation Safety Administration in the Roanoke District. During her tenure, Mary helped the state develop a Comprehensive Community-Based Program concept (CCBP) for highway safety. Her work led to new initiatives for the Roanoke/SW VA District; including the REACH America youth drug prevention conferences, the Preschool Introduction To Traffic Safety Program (PITTS), and the Blue Ridge Transportation Safety Board. Mary also helped found the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC) and the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), serving as its president in 1997.
Mary has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University. She currently serves on the Roanoke Prevention Alliance, the Blue Ridge Transportation Safety Board, Virginia Coalition for Distraction Free Driving and other local and state safety organizations. Mary has three children and lives in Roanoke.
Contact Mary at 804.461.0396
Education and Interactive Programs Coordinator
Kendall Lythgoe joined YOVASO in October 2021 as the Education and Interactive Programs Coordinator in the Richmond Office. She is responsible for coordinating the interactive safety programs, including the Distracted and Impaired Driving Simulators, ScanEd: Physics of a Crash, and other hands-on educational programs for teens. Kendall also develops collaborative partnerships with other state and local organizations to help expand youth traffic safety programs and increase outreach to teens. In addition, she is the coordinator for the Youth Advisory Council and assists with the Summer Leadership Retreat.
Kendall is a native of Botetourt County where she attended Lord Botetourt High School and was active with the school's YOVASO club. After graduating high school, Kendall worked part-time for four years as a YOVASO Regional Trainer while attending Virginia Tech. As a Regional Trainer, Kendall assisted with safety campaigns, Summer Leadership Retreat planning, social media management and design, and school events.
Kendall graduated from Virginia Tech in the spring of 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and a minor in Psychology. After her years of dedication to YOVASO, she is excited to continue her work in youth traffic safety as a full-time staff member.
Contact Kendall at 804.461.8755
Program and Curriculum Coordinator
Callie Toler joined YOVASO full-time in June 2025 after more than a decade of part-time and volunteer work with the program. As the Program and Curriculum Coordinator in the Salem Office, she coordinates all YOVASO projects, including Drive for Change and Arrive Alive, while developing and implementing new educational safety programs and lessons for YOVASO clubs and school classrooms. She also oversees the Regional Trainer program and assists with the Summer Leadership Retreat.
A graduate of Franklin County High School, Callie was an active leader in the school’s YOVASO program and served on our statewide Youth Advisory Council. She began her professional journey with YOVASO as a Regional Trainer, a role she held for 12 years. During that time, she played a key role in the Summer Leadership Retreat, assisted with statewide safety campaigns, and served on the Advisory Board.
Callie earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Radford University in 2017 and recently completed her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from James Madison University. With eight years of teaching experience in Franklin County and Roanoke City Public Schools, she is able to bring a wealth of classroom knowledge and youth engagement expertise to the YOVASO team.
Contact Callie at 804.914.2532
Social Media and Marketing Coordinator
Ayana Butler joined YOVASO in September 2025 as the Social Media & Marketing Coordinator in the Richmond Office. In her role, she manages YOVASO’s social media channels, website content, and email marketing to help promote youth traffic safety programs and engage teen audiences across Virginia. Ayana works closely with the team to develop creative digital strategies that share YOVASO’s mission and highlight the positive impact of youth leadership in traffic safety. Ayana will also be planning the annual Summer Leadership Retreat.
Before joining YOVASO, Ayana worked in communications and marketing roles focused on fashion, sustainability, and digital engagement. Prior to that, she spent eight years working in youth development with the YMCA of Greater Richmond and two years teaching English to middle school students in southern France. She is passionate about using storytelling and digital media to inspire positive change among youth.
Ayana recently earned her Master’s degree in Global Communications from The American University of Paris in 2025 and her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016. Outside of work, Ayana enjoys singing with The Richmond Symphony Chorus, going to concerts, playing sports, and traveling.
Contact Ayana at 804.350.5543