TRIANGLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION - Key Persons
As Senior Accountant, Anne Wolf is responsible for accounts payable, gift processing, and grant disbursements. She works with the Finance Team to prepare financial reports, audited financial reports and 990s. She also performs many human resource functions.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Anne worked in public accounting in Durham for more than 10 years. She began her professional career in the US Army as a lab technician after graduating from East Tennessee State University.
Anne is active in her church and in her free time she enjoys reading, listening to music, and enjoying everything Durham.
Job Titles:
- Partnerships Program Officer
Arlene Brown joined the Foundation staff in 2025 after serving as the Director of Membership at the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. During her time at the organization, she led inclusive engagement activities with members and partners; creating pathways for equitable change in clean energy policy.
Arlene has 20+ years of personal and professional experience in the nonprofit sector. She has a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by community-based organizations, and the value of strengthening the nonprofit ecosystem. She brings a personable approach to relationship building and is devoted to building a stronger Triangle for all.
Arlene has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of South Carolina and has earned certificates in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and the NC Center for Nonprofits. She is also a Leadership Triangle Goodmon Fellow.
Arlene lives in Raleigh with her husband and son, and she loves reading, eating, and making lasting connections.
Bernard Hsu was born in Taiwan and moved to North Carolina for college in 1992. Bernard spent over 20 years in the IT industry, working for tech giants like IBM and Lenovo, while his wife worked in the pharmaceutical industry. Having both been fortunate to work in industries that were booming, Bernard had the opportunity to take an early retirement in 2020 with the intent to build a hoppy farm / animal sanctuary center. In addition, since he had great affection for the Triangle region but felt somewhat disconnected while busy with his career, Bernard connected with Triangle Community Foundation as a way to focus his philanthropy locally and get to know the community better. Bernard and his wife engage frequently with Triangle Community Foundation to learn about their local community, and they look forward to introducing their two daughters to their philanthropy as they get older.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chief Community & Public Affairs Officer, Coastal Credit Union
Creighton P. Blackwell is an accomplished, award-winning and dynamic executive and community advocate, with over 25 years of experience on a local as well as national level. He currently serves as the Chief Community & Public Affairs Officer (CCIO) at Coastal Credit Union after successfully holding the position of Vice President of Retail Banking as well as Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Community Engagement. He has also held upper level management and leadership positions at RBC Bank such as U.S. Director of Sales Communications and Marketing, Community Development Specialist, Creator and Managing Director of Business Banking Strategy and the Sales Solutions Center (inside sales and coaching consulting firm) for North America and City Market Executive.
Creighton also has extensive community service experience serving on non-profit executive boards. He currently serves as the Executive Board Chairperson for the North Carolina Council on Economic Education, The Greater Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce's Partnership for a Sustainable Community Foundation (also serves as the immediate past Chair of the Chamber's Board of Directors) and the Founding Chairperson for the Morrisville Innovation Foundation. He also currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors of Carolina For the Kids Foundation, the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, NC Jumpstart, Wake Technical College Creighton P. Foundation, Wake Medical Foundation, the Kenan Fellows Advisory Education Board, the NC Business Committee for Education at of the Governor's office and the Triangle Martin Luther King Leadership Committee. Creighton has also been appointed by the Governor of North Carolina to serve on the North Carolina Museum Advisory Commission. His recent past Executive Board service at Habitat for Humanity and the YMCA has led to award winning and impactful programs that still thrive today.
Creighton also is a graduate of the Leadership North Carolina program where he chaired the Education session as well as a designated Certified Innovation Executive by his completion of this Executive program at Stanford Business School. Creighton is a former member of the State and Legislative Committee of the Durham Chamber of Commerce and is recognized as a contributor and partner with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction concerning financial education. He also was the founder of the Business and Education Partnership in Chapel Hill and the University Banking initiative which mobilized bankers to present financial literacy topics throughout the Triangle. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill as well as the North Carolina School of Banking.
Most recently, Creighton was selected as a winner of the North Carolina's Sustainable Energy Association's Community Impact Award, The Triangle Business Journal's inaugural Corporate Philanthropy Awards for his outstanding community and philanthropic work, one of Cary Magazines' Movers and Shakers, ESPN\99.9 The Fan's Sport Shop Radio Show as a Salute to Heroes Honoree, alongside various other awards and recognition based on his contributions as an executive leader in his community, state, nationally and globally. He also contributes leadership with other committees such as Financial Health Network, North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction, and the Regional Transportation Alliance. He is a huge supporter of the Triple Bottom line of Community Sustainability and is recognized as an accomplished professional public speaker, emcee, and podcast speaker presenting various professional, educational and motivating topics at various national, regional, and local events. Creighton also enjoys coaching sports and spending time with his wife and three young kids.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
- Economic Inclusion Executive
- Executive Vice President at the Center for Community Self - Help
Crystal German, an accomplished economic inclusion executive, has dedicated her career to surfacing innovative approaches to shift the thinking and behavior that undervalues communities of color. With a career spanning several notable organizations, she has been blessed to serve in roles that champion economic empowerment and ownership for all and drive resources towards building healthy and sustainable communities.
Crystal currently serves as an Executive Vice President at the Center for Community Self-Help, one of the nation's largest CDFIs that serves over 190,000 members with its credit union operations. Crystal's primary responsibilities include the mortgage credit functions, marketing and communications, and resource development.
Job Titles:
- Partner With Womble Bond Dickinson LLP
- Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP
Elizabeth Arias is a partner with Womble Bond Dickinson LLP where she provides a wide array of estate planning, fiduciary litigation, tax planning and private wealth services to clients who are seeking to strategically manage their wealth in a way that allows them to achieve their estate planning goals and objectives and to do so as tax efficiently as possible. Liz is a member of the American College of Trusts and Estates Council (ACTEC). She is a past chair of the Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law section of the North Carolina Bar Association. She is an active member of the Legislative Committee for the Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law section with over 15 years of experience assisting in drafting North Carolina's trusts and estate legislation. Liz is listed in Best Lawyers in America, including Lawyer of the Year in 2015 in "Litigation: Trusts and Estates", was named one of the 100 Top lawyers in the State of North Carolina in Super Lawyers and was named by Business North Carolina as one of its Legal Elite.
Job Titles:
- Assistant City Manager, City of Raleigh
Job Titles:
- Donor Engagement Associate
Job Titles:
- Senior Digital Communications Specialist
As Triangle Community Foundation's Senior Digital Communications Specialist, Grace supports and maintains the digital strategy, ensuring marketing goals are met across all departments within the Foundation. Grace was born and raised in Kernersville, North Carolina. Though her roots are now planted in the Triangle, she will always owe her appreciation of community and helping others to her hometown.
She is a 2022 graduate of North Carolina State University, where she received her B.A. in Communication, specializing in public relations, with a minor in political science. Her passion for the nonprofit sector was sparked at her prior internship with Alliance Medical Ministry, a nonprofit clinic providing care to Wake County's uninsured neighbors. She supported marketing goals through communicating a variety of messages through effective healthcare-focused research. Additionally, she established various digital strategies for a Raleigh-based financial planning company through an internship opportunity.
Grace lives in Raleigh and enjoys exploring local restaurants and coffee shops, listening to live music, and cheering on the NC State Wolfpack.
Job Titles:
- Senior Donor Engagement Officer
Greyson serves the Foundation as a Senior Donor Engagement Officer and provides strategic direction and front-line stewardship to a portfolio of donor-advised fundholders.
Greyson comes to the Foundation after ten years in nonprofit education, public education, and higher education research and administration. Greyson began in education as a college advisor before shifting to become a music educator and nonprofit administrator. Most recently, Greyson worked in various roles at the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University where he managed and led center communications, development and external relations, and also engaged in education research.
Originally from outside Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Greyson came to the Triangle region in 2018 for graduate school. Greyson earned his B.A. in psychology from Gettysburg College and earned his M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration and his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development with a focus on Adult and Lifelong Education from NC State University. His research has explored the intersection of music and the arts in organizational leadership, creativity, and innovation. A consumer of niche winter sports, Greyson is an active member of the Triangle Curling Club and also greatly enjoys roller skiing, watching biathlon, the Hurricanes, and though not a winter sport, supporting the NC Courage. Greyson lives in Raleigh with his wife and their three cats, Penny, Hobbes, and Willow.
Job Titles:
- Lead Facilitator and Founder, Hilary Pollan Facilitation
Hilary Pollan (she/hers) is an equity-oriented independent facilitator with a range of experience facilitating participatory group process and managing cross-sector collaborative projects with nonprofits and community organizations, local governments, membership organizations, community organizers, artists, and philanthropic partners. She is the lead facilitator and founder of Hilary Pollan Facilitation.
Prior to becoming an independent facilitator, Hilary worked as the Community Partners Analyst for the Chatham County Manager's Office where she served as the primary liaison between the Manager's Office and the nonprofit community and other community stakeholders. Hilary spent her early career working with youth and adult basic education and ESOL learners in Holyoke, MA and the Brazilian Amazon.
Hilary has a deep commitment to fully and equitably resourcing social justice and community-based organizations in the Triangle region. She is currently a member-leader with the Triangle NC Chapter of Resource Generation, a national membership organization of young people with access to wealth and class privilege committed to an equitable distribution of land, wealth, and power. She is also an active donor organizer for QT*BIPOC-led work in the South.
Hilary holds a dual master's degree in City & Regional Planning and Public Health-Health Behavior from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor's in Sociology from Mount Holyoke College. Originally from Raleigh, she currently lives in Chapel Hill with her husband Adams Bailey, her Maine Coon, and eight happy chickens.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Communications
Job Titles:
- Development Associate
- Donor Development Associate
Jill Wright serves as the Donor Development Associate providing support to the Development and Donor Engagement Team.
Jill joined the Foundation in 2023. Prior to this she was the Database and Operations Manager at Habitat for Humanity of Durham for eight years. She also worked to open and manage the Ronald McDonald Family Room at the N.C. Children's Hospital in Chapel Hill. Earlier in her career, Jill spent more than 14 years working in computer manufacturing performing a variety of materials roles at Unisys and Silicon Graphics.
Jill was raised in South Georgia, but spent much of her career in the California Bay Area. She returned to the east coast in 2010 when her family moved to the Triangle. She lives in Durham with her husband Patrick. Her grown children live in Virginia and The Netherlands. In her free time, Jill can be found enjoying the outdoor activities that make the Triangle a great place to live.
Job Titles:
- Scholarship and Program Officer
Katherin is originally from Mount Airy, North Carolina, where her passion for community work and building connections with others began. Her commitment to community engagement grew during her undergraduate years at Appalachian State University and continued when she moved to the Triangle in 2017. She earned a master's degree in Social Work from UNC Chapel Hill, focusing on Community, Management, and Policy Practice, which allowed her to deepen her understanding of systems and macro-level work. Most recently, she served as Assistant Director of Community Engagement at the UNC-CH Undergraduate Admissions Office, where she worked closely with students, families, and schools throughout the Triangle. She also has experience in K-12 education and health equity, working alongside the community in advocating for resources.
Katherin is passionate about meeting new people and creating connections that lead to positive change. She currently lives in Durham, where she enjoys trying new restaurants, learning how to crochet, and spending quality time with friends.
Job Titles:
- President & CEO With the Carolina Small Business Development Fund
- President & CEO, Carolina Small Business Development Fund
Kevin Dick began as President & CEO with the Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) in February 2020 after decades of professional experience working in economic, community, and workforce development at the local government level. He leads a team of approximately 37 full-time employees and has accountability for a $20M loan portfolio with $35M in assets under management. Since joining CSBDF, Kevin has helped to bring about a resurgence of the organization as a community and economic development entity with a statewide focus. During his tenure, CSBDF has deployed over $40M in capital and provided loans, grants and technical assistance to over 2000 North Carolina-based small businesses from primarily underserved communities. CSBDF has also conducted economic policy research that has informed government officials, philanthropic organizations, financial services institutions and other key stakeholders. He has worked with the Board and staff to devise a streamlined Strategic Plan, perform an organizational re-alignment and has led the organization to become the #1 SBA Community Advantage Lender in NC for 2022 and the #1 community development financial institution (CDFI) in 2023 for SBA (7a) lending in NC (#22 overall). CSBDF has also become a go-to agency for the administration of public sector loan and grant programs, which has brought relief to thousands of small businesses throughout NC that were adversely impacted by the global pandemic.
Prior to joining CSBDF, Kevin held high-level community, economic and workforce development roles with the City of Charlotte, City of Durham, the Broward (FL) Workforce Development Board and the City of Dania Beach, FL. Initiatives under Kevin's leadership have been nationally recognized by the International Economic Development Council, the NC Sustainable Business Council, National League of Cities, US Conference of Mayors, Walmart Foundation, the US Department of Labor, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Kevin holds board and committee positions with the International Economic Development Council, the United Minority Contractors of NC, the North Carolina Economic Development Association, the North Carolina Task Force on Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies (NCTOWERS) and the Garner (NC) Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Georgetown University. He has also been designated as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) by the International Economic Development Council.
Job Titles:
- People Operations Manager
Larisa Putnam joined the TCF staff in 2021 after serving as Business Manager for Arts Together and Raleigh Little Theatre where she nurtured and grew volunteer participation in accessibility, service and hospitality in addition to planning events and bookkeeping.
Larisa grew up in Durham attending public school and spending summers at the Durham Arts Council. She received a BS in elementary education from East Carolina University and taught in NC until she pursued a career in the nonprofit sector.
She spends much of her free time outside and practicing yoga becoming an RYT 200 instructor in 2022. She is the mom to one son who shares her love of the arts and will always be her favorite adventure companion.
LaToya serves as the Chief Operations Officer at the Foundation, providing direct support for the President & CEO, overseeing the Foundation's overall operations - with an emphasis on the integration of all departments to successfully and efficiently execute the Foundation's strategies.
LaToya's career spans over 20 years working with a variety of organizations in operations, nonprofit management, finance, and community development. Prior to the Foundation, she worked for JusticeMatters, Jobs for Life, the Make It Right Foundation, Cherokee Investment Partners, Fannie Mae Foundation and Bank of America. LaToya received a BBA degree in accounting from Howard University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School.
LaToya is an Oakland, CA native and moved to the Triangle in 2004. She lives in Wake Forest with her husband and enjoys loving on her nieces and nephews, cooking and perfecting her tennis game.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Communities in Schools of Wake County
Job Titles:
- Business Operations Manager
As Business Operations Manager, Laurel leads efforts to use the Foundation's internal systems to achieve its strategic goals. Additionally, Laurel works with fundholders to achieve the impact they want to see in the community. She aims to provide quality connections between the fundholder and nonprofits and cultivate relationships across the diverse demographics in our community.
Laurel joined the Foundation in 2017, and brings more than 10 years of experience in nonprofit management. Throughout her career, she has worked with organizations that make the world a more just and environmentally resilient place, including SEEDS, the Abundance Foundation, Carrboro Greenspace, and Urban Adamah. Since moving to the Triangle, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Weaver Community Housing Association as well as Community Empowerment Fund, and is currently on the Advisory Council for The Marjorie.
A Florida native, Laurel came to the Triangle in 2009 after graduating from New College of Florida and has immersed herself in the richness of the community here ever since. In her free time, she can be found establishing a food forest in her backyard, finding as many books as she can get her hands on, and reading them to her daughter.
Job Titles:
- Google 's Head of Southeast External Affairs
Lilyn Hester is Google's Head of Southeast External Affairs and Government Relations, leading the company's public policy, government, and community relations efforts in the region. Lilyn is a proud Army brat who calls North Carolina home. She is the Chair of the NC Business Committee for Education, Chair of the NC Chamber's Communications Committee, and a member of the Durham Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors. Lilyn is a former journalist and communications professional. She is an avid gardener and is a graduate of UNC-Charlotte.
As Director of Finance, Lindsay Harrell is responsible for the operation and safeguarding of the Foundation's accounting records. Prior to joining the Foundation, Lindsay was a Senior Accountant at Cherokee Investment Partners for the private equity funds. She also worked as an Audit Senior Associate and Project Team Specialist at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Lindsay is a graduate of Meredith College and received a Masters of Accounting from North Carolina State University. She lives in Raleigh and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, live music, and watching sports.
Lori O'Keefe has served as president and CEO of Triangle Community Foundation since 2012. In addition to leading the operations and strategic vision of the Foundation, she works to ensure that the Foundation's donors are engaged and connected to the causes they care about and oversees programs to support the Triangle's entire nonprofit community for the benefit of our region. Under her leadership, the Foundation has grown from $144M in assets with grants of $13M to over $300M with grants averaging over 10% of assets annually.
A lifelong singer who is passionate about the arts, Lori has devoted her career to the nonprofit sector. Before joining Triangle Community Foundation in 2005 as a member of the Donor Engagement team, Lori worked as a fundraiser and arts administrator at performing arts institutions in California and New York City. At the Foundation, she often presents on the subject of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. This year, she served on the review committee for National Standards, the accreditation program for community foundations. She recently served as Board Chair of the North Carolina Network of Grantmakers and is active on other boards and committees in the Triangle. She is a Goodmon Fellow through Leadership Triangle and a regular contributor for Triangle Business Journal's A Better World column.
Lori is a native of Ohio and received her B.A. and MBA degree with a specialization in arts administration from the State University of New York system. She lives in Wake Forest with her husband and their two daughters and enjoys spending time in all four counties the Foundation represents.
Job Titles:
- Donor Engagement Associate
Lydia serves the Foundation as a Donor Engagement Associate, responsible for grants research, processing, and inquiries related to Donor Services. Lydia brings over 25 years of accounting, consulting, and customer service experience. Prior to her work at the Foundation, Lydia served as a contract accountant for Robert Half. Since moving to North Carolina in 1999 she has spent her career working for a local CPA and immigration law firm. Lydia received her B.S. degree in Accounting from Liberty University and her MBA in Jazz Composition from North Carolina Central University. In her free time she visits family in Cleveland, Ohio and performs regularly with her band Jazz Xpressions all over the triangle and beyond.
Job Titles:
- Trusts & Estates Attorney, Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP
Meredyth Pederson Cooper joined the Foundation staff in 2022 after five and a half years leading the education programming at Raleigh Little Theatre where she developed engaging and inclusive theatre education experiences for youth, adults, schools and families in the community. Meredyth has 10+ years experience in nonprofit theatre as a facilitator, program administrator, stage manager, and director.
Meredyth has an MFA in Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities from the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in Theatre from American University in Washington, DC.
Meredyth lives in Raleigh with her husband and child, and she loves reading, baking, and walking.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Officer
- Senior Program Officer at the Foundation
Michelle Sorrells has worked in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector for more than ten years. Within the field she has focused primarily on education access, youth, and grassroots initiatives- all within an equity lens. Throughout her career she has worked to improve internal systems of data collection and data usage to drive positive outcomes and increase understanding. She has seen this to fruition through managing programs, leading strategic planning, and developing organization-wide data tracking.
As Senior Program Officer at the Foundation, Michelle serves as the primary liaison with external foundation partners, which the Foundation collaborate with to manage a portfolio of general operating and capacity-building grants to nonprofit organizations in the Triangle.
From student advisor to program officer, relationship building with an eye towards urging others to see what is possible continues to be Michelle's focus. She holds a Bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University in Sociology and a Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Mitchell Moravec brings front-line stewardship as Donor Engagement Officer. Mitchell primarily serves the passion and impact of our donor-advised fundholders to meet their philanthropic objectives. Additionally, Mitchell provides grant processing and analysis to sustain the Foundation's strategic objectives.
Mitchell has served in the nonprofit space through active local volunteering and completed a year of service through the Americorps VISTA program placement in Durham. He has also provided event logistics support and volunteer management through various Triangle organizations.
Residing in Raleigh, Mitchell enjoys checking out local events and pop-ups, adventuring the food scene in new restaurants, and finding hidden treasures and knickknacks in thrift stores and small businesses. As a proud triple alum of North Carolina State University, rest assured he's cheering on the Wolfpack!
Job Titles:
- Director of Donor Engagement
As Director of Donor Engagement, Natalia works with fundholders, Giving Circles, and corporate giving to achieve the impact they want to see in the Triangle. She aims to provide connections between the fundholder and nonprofits and cultivate relationships across the diverse demographics in our community.
Natalia has over ten years of experience working with justice-missioned organizations. A native New Yorker, Natalia lived in Washington DC and studied politics with a concentration in peace studies. After college, she ran an academic support program for DC middle school youth and volunteered in rural Colombia. Since making the Triangle her home in 2015, Natalia transitioned into non-profit fundraising, working at Duke University and an international health-care organization.
In her free time Natalia loves exploring the amazing local food scene, hanging out in the beautiful North Carolina nature with her dog, and participating in a book club that focuses on authors of color.
Job Titles:
- Member of Chancellor 's Health Advisory Board at Duke University
- President & CEO of El Centro Hispano, Inc
Pilar Rocha-Goldberg is the President & CEO of El Centro Hispano, Inc. Her work includes providing direction and leadership, implementing strategic goals and objectives, and ensuring that the fiscal and legal responsibilities of El Centro Hispano are met. In addition, Pilar represents El Centro Hispano in the community and advocates for the Latina community.
Pilar's current focus is on strengthening the organization for sustainability.
Pilar also serves as a Member of Chancellor's Health Advisory Board at Duke University; Member of the Durham Tech Community College Board of Trustees; Vice-Chair of the Aging Well Durham Board; Member of the Carolina Small Business Development Fund Board; and Member of the North Carolina Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. She is also owner, teacher, and choreographer of Takiri Folclor Latino Dance Group.
Pilar has a bachelor's degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from the School of Sciences at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. Previously, she worked at Duke University Medical Center where she translated and ran a Spanish-language program for hypertensive Latinos (HIP Latino), which later she implemented as a wider nutrition program at El Centro Hispano [Salud Integral]. Pilar is married to Dr. Ronald Goldberg and they have five children and nine grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Organizer and Strategist
Rebecca Balter is an organizer and strategist in the philanthropic sector. She grew up in Raleigh and became part of Triangle Community Foundation's family in 2015 when she and her mother started a fund focused on environmental justice and combating climate change. In honor of joining the Board of Directors in 2019, Rebecca created the Cast Iron Skillet Fund with a mission to nourish social justice community organizing in the South.
Rebecca's work is rooted in the belief that a vibrant society requires solidarity across differences so that no-one is left behind; a belief she absorbed through stories from generations of family history. She is grateful to the mentors and peers she has found as a member of the Solidaire donor network, the Nexus Impact Society and Generation Pledge. As a Senior Advisor at the Impact Finance Center she supports the development of projects that educate and activate investors who want to align their capital investments with their progressive values.
She would not be where she is without the political education and support she foundover a decade of participation in Resource Generation, a group which organizes young people, age 18-35, with wealth and class privilege in the United States to become transformative leaders working towards the equitable distribution of wealth, land, and power. During that time she was a founding member of the Funding Queerly giving circle, one of the largest, community-based LGBTQ+ funders in the United States. Rebecca also helped start and co-lead FrontPorch, an organization which brought together young, progressive political funders to move money to 501-c4 non-profits, building political power in marginalized communities in North Carolina.
Rebecca can't help but bring an analytical and systems lens to all of her work, the legacy of her academic training. She earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Columbia University and went on to receive a Ph.D. in neurobiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In addition to serving on the Board of the Foundation, Rebecca also serves on the Board of the Triangle Land Conservancy where she chairs the Finance Committee.
When she is not trying to disrupt the field of philanthropy, Rebecca can be found exploring the art galleries, restaurants and cocktail bars outside her front door in downtown Raleigh.
Job Titles:
- Owner
- Owner, Renee Paschal Consulting
Renee's interest in local government began during her senior year of high school nearly 40 years ago when she covered city council and county commissioners' meetings for her hometown newspaper. A college internship with the City of Burlington fueled her desire to attend the Master of Public Administration Program at UNC-Chapel Hill and work in local government. She spent the bulk of her career in Chatham County where she worked with a superb team of professionals to build the county's operating and capital budgeting processes, which are recognized as models in the state. The capital budget led to numerous construction projects, such as three new schools, agriculture and conference center, courthouse, and detention center. In 2014, Chatham County achieved a AAA bond rating from S&Ps Global Ratings, becoming the smallest county at that time in North Carolina to do so. In 2018 Renee retired as Chatham County's first female manager. She continues to teach capital budgeting classes for the School of Government, has assisted Harnett County with building its operating and capital budget processes, has served as interim Cumberland County Manager, and has formed her own consulting business that specializes in management and budget for local governments and nonprofits.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Leadership Council Chair
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Director of Administration
As Chief Financial Officer & Director of Administration, Robert Naylor is responsible for the investing, budgeting, auditing, and reporting functions of the Foundation. Robert brings with him over 20 years of experience in national and international financial, accounting, and administrative operations in the United States, Canada and Western Europe. He previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer at Cherokee Investment Partners for over 10 years, and served as CFO at Illumelex and Dataflow, as well as Controller at Cherokee Sanford Group. He has worked as a Senior Auditor at Deloitte and Touche as well as McGladrey & Pullen.
Robert is a graduate of North Carolina State University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has served on several boards and committees for various nonprofits in the community, enjoys music and outdoor activities. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Chapel Hill.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Engagement
As the Director of Community Engagement, Sarah provides strategic leadership for the Foundation to make a positive impact in the community. She fosters strong relationships with nonprofit, government, and corporate leaders to understand needs in the community and broker relationships to help address those needs.
Sarah returns to the Foundation after serving as a Shannon St. John Fellow in 2012. Before (re)joining the Foundation, Sarah worked with the Resourceful Communities Program of The Conservation Fund to support grassroots organizations in eastern North Carolina leverage the natural resources in their communities to expand access to healthy foods and places to be physically active. Most recently, Sarah served as Managing Director of Greater Greater Washington, in Washington, DC where she helped the organization transition from being volunteer-run to staff led. During her time there she also helped build a new advocacy program, which pushed for housing and land use policy reforms to address the growth and change in the region.
Sarah holds a master's degree in social work from UNC-Chapel Hill, with a focus on policy and community systems, as well as a certificate in nonprofit management. She received her Bachelor of Arts from The College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, majoring in Spanish and Psychology.
She lives with her husband, Tim, and kids Theo and Linden, in Trinity Park in Durham.
Job Titles:
- Fellow
- Shannon St. John Fellow
Joshua joined the Foundation staff in 2023 after serving as a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fellow for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and while currently serving in the United States Army Reserves (USAR) as an automated logistical specialist. As a fellow with the NCDOT, Joshua worked in transportation planning and public involvement. While these units are different, both roles allowed Joshua to participate in community engagement, stakeholder outreach, creation of professional content, and project development. As an automated logistical specialist in the USAR Joshua's tasks include vehicle maintenance, logistical management, and distribution of Class I military supplies.
Joshua is a Spring 2022 graduate of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) with his BA in mass communication. During his academic career, he was a four-year student athlete on NCCU's cross country and track and field team, an Executive Board member of the Student Activities Board, a domestic violence and sexual assault Peer Educator for the NCCU Women's Center, and the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee while graduating with honors. He also maintained internships with the James E. Shepard Library's information technology services and the Aramark campus marketing team.
In Joshua's free time he likes to exercise, watch documentaries and go to the movies. He was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Community Affairs
As vice president for community affairs, Stelfanie Williams guides Duke's engagement efforts to advance the well-being of communities through education, health, housing, employment, and other community partnerships. She leads coordination with residents, leaders, local government, anchor institutions, nonprofits, campus members, and other stakeholders.
Williams is a Duke alumna with a baccalaureate degree in public policy and Spanish, and she received a master's degree in project management from Western Carolina University. She also holds a doctorate in education from North Carolina State University, where she was recognized with the I.E. Ready Distinguished Leadership Award in 2014 and honored as a Distinguished Alumna in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Donor Development Officer
- Foundation As a Development Officer
Stuart serves the Foundation as a Development Officer. He supports the Philanthropic Engagement team by stewarding existing donors and cultivating prospective donors to help grow the footprint of the Foundation in the Triangle community.
Stuart joins the Foundation with eight years of nonprofit fundraising experience in individual giving, grants management, event planning and annual fund management. Most recently, Stuart served as the Development Manager for Susan G. Komen of North and South Carolina. Prior to that, Stuart resided in San Francisco where he proudly worked for a variety of nonprofits, from social enterprises to independent schools.
Born and raised in Chapel Hill, Stuart is thrilled that he gets to help make an impact on the community that he grew up in. Stuart received his B.A. degree in Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences from Texas Tech University and remains a proud Red Raider! In his free time, Stuart is an avid disc golfer and plays competitively all around the Triangle whenever he can. Stuart lives in Chapel Hill with his wife and their dog, Xena, and appreciates all that the Triangle has to offer.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
- Senior Vice President at Trademark Properties of the Retail Division
Vijay K. Shah, CCIM, is a Senior Vice President at Trademark Properties of the retail division. Vijay has more than 30 years of commercial real estate expertise with a focus on retail leasing and investment sales. Vijay's successful experience includes working with local retailers as well as national tenants such as: Walmart, Food Lion, Roses, Dollar Tree, Shoe Show, and Verizon. Vijay has also worked with large retail landlords in both leasing and sales for Rivercrest Realty and The Alliance Companies. His expertise includes: site evaluations, demographic and market studies, land acquisition, investment sales and disposition, as well as small shop and anchor tenant lease negotiations. Vijay also assists his clients beyond the transaction by helping them to navigate services they need such as: project management, securing construction and permanent loan financing, and negotiating joint venture opportunities.
Prior to joining the Trademark Properties team in 2013, Vijay was a Principal with Unified Commercial Real Estate, a highly respected boutique firm in Raleigh, NC that focused on retail leasing, multi-family, and land sales. From 2003 to 2010, Vijay was the Director of Leasing for Rivercrest Realty, a privately held real estate investment company with over 60 shopping centers, office buildings, and multi-family projects throughout the eastern seaboard. Over his five year tenure, he grew their retail portfolio from one million SF to over three million SF. Vijay also worked for Advantis GVA, one of the largest independent commercial brokerage companies in the southeast, heading their retail division for seven years. Vijay's historical retail portfolio consists of over six million square feet. With a strong background in retail services, he has a proven track record with retailers, shopping centers and investors.
Vijay earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He remains active in fundraising efforts for the Dhillon Jordan Shah Innovation Fund for Congenital Heart Disease at UNC Chapel Hill, the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, as well as VictoryJunction in Randleman, NC. Vijay is also a member of Chapel Hill Country Club, where he enjoys spending time with his wife, Debbie, of 29 years and daughter Serena, a senior at Elon.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Fixed Income, Novant Health
Wayne F. Morgan is the former Chief Investment Officer of Novant Health, Inc., headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is currently serving as the Vice President, Fixed Income on a part-time basis. Novant Health, Inc. was formed July 1, 1997, by the merger of Carolina Medicorp of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Presbyterian Health Services of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Wayne grew up in a military family, primarily in North Carolina. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and as well as an MBA degree in 1984. He is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society as well as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the North Carolina Financial Analyst Society.
In 1980, Wayne began his career with NationsBank (now Bank of America) as a computer programmer. In 1984, he accepted the role of Director, Investments at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he remained until 1997. From 1997 to 2002, Wayne served as the Senior Vice President and Head of Fixed Income Management for Wachovia Bank. He later left Wachovia to start his own firm and became the President of Tanglewood Asset Management. After five years as head of Tanglewood, Wayne sold it to Novant in 2007.
Wayne currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Triangle Community Foundation and has served on Board and Committees of the North Carolina School of the Arts Foundation, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Investment Fund, the Winston Salem Community Foundation, Industries for the Blind (IFB) Foundation and ACM Financial Trust.
Wayne has been married for 40 years and has four adult children and one grandchild. He enjoys running (15 marathons), hiking, reading, learning new things, and spending time with his family.