Education:

• BA - NC State University
• MS - Nova Southeastern University

Professional Background:

• Executive Director of Southmountain Children and Family Services
• Began employment as Associate Director in 1990
• Named Executive Director in 2003
• Has established 10 Children’s Advocacy Centers in NC
• Designed and established the first and only “Foster Community” in NC
• Received the “Award for Excellence in Management” from the North Carolina Association of Children and Family Services in 1995.
• Began career in Children's Services in 1983 at Boys and Girls Homes of NC
• Also worked in Personnel and Marketing for United Carolina Bank of NC

Community/Civic Involvement:

• Morganton, NC City Council - Currently serving 2nd 4-year term
• Western Piedmont Council of Governments Policy Board - Current Executive Committee Member
• Children's Advocacy Centers of NC - Current Board Member & Past Chair
• Morganton Savings Bank Board - Current Chair
• Burke County Community Child Protection & Child Fatality Review Team - Just retired after 35 years
• UNOS (United Network of Organ Sharing) - Past member of the Living Donor Committee (2010 - 2013)
• Masonic Lodge of Morganton, NC

What qualifications and experiences prepare you for this role?

My entire adult life has been in preparation for this role as President of Optimist International. I began working for non-profit children's agencies straight out of college. I have a total of over 40 years in this field. That experience, with a short stint in marketing and personnel for a major NC bank thrown in early on, has given me great insight into how to properly run a large organization. These experiences (especially the last 36 years of leading a small agency with a budget of $350,000 into one of the largest child serving organizations in NC with a budget of over $7 million) have given me a unique perspective on what it takes to keep an organization vibrant and relevant in an ever-changing society. I have tremendous experience with personnel, budgeting, problem solving, creating programs, and motivating people. I also have nearly 50 years of experience as an Optimist at all levels. While these are the experiences that have prepared me, it is the love of Optimism that truly qualifies me for this next journey. The love for an organization that is more important in our world now than ever. My experiences have taught me much about survival and I have learned that innovation and calculated risks are necessary to make real change - the kind of change that helps an organization survive - the kind of change that Optimist International must face. I've led those kinds of changes and I've seen my organization become better and stronger as a result. Most importantly, I've seen the improvement in our programs and services that came out of those changes. And, that has made the real difference for the children and families we serve.

What are your top priorities?

My top priority is to lead our organization out of the downward spiral that we have been facing for the last several years. Optimist International must not die. We must find new ways to generate interest in our mission and find ways to attract new individuals who share our passion for creating a better world. I believe that will take true innovation and hardline thinking on how we face change. We can no longer look over our shoulder at how great we used to be and talk about how we used to do things. We can't even look at where society and individuals are today. We must look to where society is going, how people will serve their communities in the future and how we can be on the forefront of that service. That is my priority. That is my pledge to members of Optimist international. To find a path to meaningful growth that brings Optimism to thousands more individuals and provides new and exciting journeys to personal growth as well as community service and life saving programs for children and youth.

How will you support and strengthen local Clubs, Districts and the Optimist International Organization?

While I am setting new membership strategies as my top priority, I will not forget about the 107 year history of our organization. Local clubs and districts are still the backbone of our organization and we must find ways to help them survive and grow. I believe strongly that as we bring the message of Optimism to a new body of people we will find many who want to join with others in their own communities. We will be able to direct them to local clubs or even towards building new clubs of like-minded Optimistic individuals. We will also be looking at how to help local clubs and districts conduct more community activities and events that will draw more individuals to their clubs. Supporting our existing clubs and helping them grow will certainly strengthen districts and this, along with recruiting thousands of new Optimist members, will certainly strengthen Optimist International.

Why should members vote for you?

I hope members will understand that I want the best for Optimist International and that I understand the kind of hard changes that organizations must make to stay viable in a changing society. Since there is not an election, I don't need to ask for votes to win, but I need to ask for votes of confidence. I hope our members will join with me in this major effort to save the organization we all love!

Final Statement to Members:

I started working with my local Optimist club when I was 17 years old. I officially joined as soon as I turned 18. Since then, I've always belonged to an Optimist club wherever I lived. I believed in what Optimism stood for back then and I still believe in it today. But, as I've gotten older I've come to realize that Optimism is so much more than my local club or my local community service. It's my way of facing life. My way of seeing the world around me. My way of treating others. Indeed, it is my way of living. It has to be in order for me to be the person God made me to be. I read the Optimist creed more carefully these days and try to better understand just how important those words are to me as an individual and as a member of my community and my world. I think we as Optimist have a responsibility to live the creed and to share it. That's why I want to open our doors to more individuals than just our traditional club members. I want to draw positive-minded people from around the world into this amazing organization and join hands with them to find new ways to serve. I hope you do to. I think it is our time to shine and we can only do that if we are willing to be creative and new, and "to press on to the greater achievements of our future." To truly be Optimists!

One Fun Fact About You:

I ran my first half-marathon this past year at 65 years old. (Detroit/Windsor) I finished in 2 hours 8 minutes (9:47 pace)

Personal or Professional Website/Social Link: