Our team

Meet the team

Meet the people who make change happen — a passionate team dedicated to helping women find safety, hope, and a brighter future.

Board members

Lori Ferguson

Founder, Board Chair

Licensed Realtor/Broker, North Carolina & South Carolina. Partner, Route 19 Inn. Crisis pregnancy center volunteer leader. Former single mom.

Irene Carroll

Treasurer, Board Member

Principal, Funding the Gap, providing financing for nonprofit facilities, including affordable housing and charter schools. Former Director, Business Development for Land Advisors Capital. BS, Accounting, University of Texas El Paso.

Barbara Cerullo

Board Member

Executive VP of Organizational Development & Board Member at INSP Network. Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, with honors. Certified in Whole Person Life and Victim Advocacy Coaching. Former National TV Host, Everyday Woman. Board Member, Emerge Global.

Edward Jordan

Board Member, General Counsel

Attorney, Real Estate and Family Law. JD - Syracuse University College of Law. Passionate foster-care advocate.

Matt Ferguson

Co-Founder, Board Member

Former Disney Creative Executive. President & Founder of the branding and marketing firm EverAfter Group. Chief Innovation Officer & Ambassador of the architecture and master planning firm Storyland Studios. Former Board Member, Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.

Staff

Dr. Wanda Velez

Executive Director

Former VP for Student Development & Dean of Students at Alliance University, New York City. Former Director of Residence Life, Nyack College, New York. Doctoral dissertation: Dreams Deferred: Women Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities of Dreams.

Kami Cuoco

Director of Administration

Experienced business owner/operator. Church & nonprofit volunteer. Former single mom.

Melody Hibbard

Manager of Relationships & Administration

Former missionary to Indonesia. Former Office Manager at Matthews Free Medical Clinic and Elevation Outreach.