Our Board of Directors

I serve on the Board of LIFESPAN Services for two reasons. First, my older brother suffered from brain damage after a hit-and-run accident when he was 3 years old. Even though he is much older than me, we were very close as siblings. My parents tried for years to seek services that would help him develop, but during the 1950s and decades afterward, resources were very limited at best. LIFESPAN embodies what I know my parents would have wanted for my brother. He developed into a very loving and productive person because of strong family support. My second reason is that I have spent most of my adult life working in healthcare with a focus on improving access to care.  LIFESPAN provides access to critical services for individuals with disabilities. Access to care includes healthcare, but also access to education, employment, and enrichment opportunities that LIFESPAN provides to individuals and families in our community.  I am truly proud to say I am a Board member at LIFESPAN.

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In my last role, I had the pleasure of designing programs and services for individuals with disabilities and I was unable to finish several projects that I thought would provide incredible opportunities for the individuals we serve and help support those programs financially. When I was asked to join the Board at LIFESPAN Services, Inc., I knew this was my opportunity to continue the work I had been so passionate about.

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LIFESPAN Services has a noble and compelling mission in which I am pleased to participate. The clear commitment and passion of the staff leaders result in high-quality services being delivered daily in professional and thoughtful ways. The board is as engaged as any I have experienced. It is a pleasure to serve.

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I have supported the mission at LIFESPAN Services for over 13 years, volunteering first for the Board of Visitors at the Troutman campus. There I saw firsthand how LIFESPAN empowered each individual adult in a one-on-one environment each day. Personally, two friends had their adult Children enrolled at LIFESPAN. Their time spent there was so beneficial to not only them but to their parents also.

Approximately three years ago, I was asked to join LLIFESPAN’s Board of Directors. As I have visited both the Troutman and Greensboro facilities and seen Christopher White virtually at other locations, I can see the excitement and interaction between the individuals and their ambassadors providing employment (which my company employs approx. 29 individuals) and education opportunities in a much larger footprint. LIFESPAN provides the opportunity for each individual to live, work and play in their community.

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I am honored to serve on the board of LIFESPAN Services and be a part of the work they do to enrich the lives of people with different abilities. I have a family member in another part of the country who could benefit greatly from an organization like LIFESPAN. I have seen the challenges and fears that parents and siblings face in the present and as they look to their loved one's futures. LIFESPAN gives caregivers the support they need and a community of compassionate, understanding peers.  It warms my heart to walk into a beautiful group home with patient, kind, purpose driven ambassadors who love and serve LIFESPAN clients. As a board member I help support the executive team and make sure that LIFESPAN is financially and structurally sound to continue to serve clients and families for years to come.

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I serve on the board of directors because I want a chance to give something back to the community. I believe in LIFESPAN’s mission and philosophy and want to be a part of the change they are making. Over the years I have worked with many people with various disabilities. One thing I find that most have in common is that, they appreciate and treasure many of the activities that the rest of society often take for granted. I love this quality and I love being a part of those experiences with them.

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My entrée into LIFESPAN Services came from fellow board member Russ Zusi. Like Russ, I have a family member with IDD. My 14-year-old has been diagnosed with Mitochondrial disease and is non-verbal, tube fed, has a cecostomy tube, is epileptic, and struggles with neuropathy to name a few of her issues. This little girl has taught me more about the world and about myself than anyone I’ve ever met. Despite all the struggles Lila deals with, she is the happiest person I know. She also has opened my eyes and heart for not just people with IDD, but also the caregivers who go the extra mile to help make lives better. This passion has only grown as we watch our country act in such a divisive way. I am so honored to be part of a mission like Lifespan that truly impacts the lives of those struggling with IDD and the community in such a positive manner. While Lila’s disabilities are likely too severe to take advantage of the services LIFESPAN provides, I am inspired by the works of each operating platform of the organization. The passion our ambassadors have is illustrated on the “zoom tours” and the impact is illustrated when we get to see some of our clientele at work. We go to bed knowing that we are making the world a better place! Thanks to all the ambassadors for what

they do!

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Community service is an important aspect of my life and my career. For over 25 years I have served as a volunteer for Early Head Start, United Way, Lion Clubs International, and many others. Serving on the Board of Directors of LIFESPAN gives me the opportunity to support an organization in my community while also sharing my expertise in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The mission of LIFESPAN and the work of the ambassadors are so essential, and giving of my time is just one way I can demonstrate my commitment to the good work they do.

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My family moved from Orlando to Charlotte in May 1996. My wife, Lori, our 3-year-old son, and 6-week old newborn Julia. 4 days after the move our baby contracted Meningitis. Over the coming months, and years we reluctantly began to accept that our beautiful girl would not walk, talk, eat or move without assistance. We did not know where to turn for help. Being new to the city and state we were still searching for the normal network we all look for in an area, like church, education, recreation, shopping, and medical. Now we had to find a harder group of friends and services to assist us with how to care for our daughter and allow her to reach her full potential. Someone recommended St. Mark's Circle School in uptown Charlotte. We will always be grateful for the love and care the Ambassadors gave my daughter in those early years. She had no neighbors, friends, or even cousins that knew how to love and interact with her. The Circle School provided that a few hours every day. We have now grown our family, 3 boys, and Julia. Julia is now 26. My sons are 28, 19, 12. My wife and I work hard daily to help my boys succeed in the arts, adventures, education, and career. We try to provide ways every day for our daughter to experience the fullness of love and life. We owe a tremendous amount to LIFESPAN Services for being a part of Julia's first years in an IDD world. I came to serve the board to attempt to give back to the organization that was there for her. An organization that provided relief and normality for my family in an unnormal, stressful, uncharted course. Thank you, Ambassadors!

I’m very proud to be on the Board of Directors at LIFESPAN Services. Being a part of an organization that advocates for people with different abilities has been very meaningful. Making a difference in the community and offering important services to those that need them is truly the LIFESPAN way. It’s an honor to serve as a Board Member and I look forward to serving the
North Carolina community through LIFESPAN.

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Teamwork is the core value of LIFESPAN Services - and I love the concept of the Board of Directors, the stewardship team and the entire staff working together to empower the lives of people who don't always have a strong voice in the world. The theme of empowerment runs through all of LIFESPAN - from the title of the Chief Ambassador of Empowerment to the daily programs. Empowerment recognizes people, and gives them strength and confidence. The idea of building empowerment in education, empowerment in employment and empowerment in enrichment is an exciting concept for anyone - and particularly for those who struggle a bit more in this world. I feel fortunate to play a very small role in building this empowerment.

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I serve on the Board of Directors of LIFESPAN Services because I am dedicated to assisting and empowering children with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live a full and rewarding life. By providing educational opportunities to children with disabilities, we can improve their outcomes and make a difference in the community.

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LIFESPAN Services Mission to empower those with disabilities hits very close to home for me as have a sister with Down Syndrome. Over the course of the last 40+ years I’ve seen a number of
organizations like LIFESPAN make an immeasurable impact on her life. From vocational training to fellowship, my sister has grown so much as a result of programs she has been blessed to be a
part of. I’m so excited to be part of the LIFESPAN team that is making a similar impact in so many individual’s lives each and every day. Helping individuals grow and develop so they can
live up to their potential and experience many of the joys that we tend to take for granted.

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