Camela Balcomb has been at Shades of Hope since 1998. In her tenure at the facility, Cam has served as Operations Manager, Marketing Director, and Admissions Coordinator before being asked to serve as Executive Director in 2004.

She graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1978 with a B.B.A. in Management and a minor in Economics. After graduating from UTA, Camela followed her passion of working with young people and serving and helping others. She coached volleyball and managed several fitness facilities in the Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas area. Camela served as the Women's Athletic Director and teacher at the Masonic Home and School for Children in Fort Worth prior to coming to Shades of Hope.