Our Team
Shelly Sparks,
Capacity Building
Director
shelly@sipi-inc.com
Shelly is the Director of Capacity Building at SIPI. She brings years of experience and an assortment of skillsets. After many years in the corporate world at Halliburton Engineering and Exxon, while simultaneously teaching college math courses, she returned to Flint with the mission of working as a community advocate. She is an entrepreneur who has helped many small business start-ups and nonprofit organizations to secure millions of dollars in grant funding. Of all the work she is most proud of, it is all the goals and accomplishments she was able to help others achieve.
Shelly received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Southern University and her MBA from the University of Phoenix. Alongside of her role at SIPI, Shelly is the CEO of Evergreen Community Development Initiative and the Executive Director of the Flint Development Center.
Steve Wolbert, CEO
steve@sipi-inc.com
Steve was born, raised, lives, and works in Flint and recognizes the realities faced by the community over the last few decades. He really believes that empowering the people and organizations we work with is the role we can play in moving our community forward.
When people ask him what SIPI is, his response is simple, “SIPI is a platform for change.” Steve is a 1997 graduate of Donovan Mayotte Elementary School and won over 20 Flint Olympian Game medals.
Ana Vargas, Program Manager
ana@sipi-inc.com
Ana Vargas acts as a Program Manager at SIPI, overseeing programs in our education and training and employee retention services business lines. She has great passion for making positive changes in the lives of children and families in Flint and is a life-long Flint resident. Ana dedicated 15 years as an educator to the Flint Community Schools in multiple disciplines prior to her move to SIPI.
She currently holds an Associate’s degree in Applied Sciences from Mott Community College and is working to obtain her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Michigan-Flint. She is the founder and lead instructor of the non-profit Mexican dance group, Culturas del Sol based in Flint. She is also a dedicated wife and mother of three.