Introducing the Spring 2026 Transforming Leaders Goodmon Fellows

Transforming Leaders is a 3.5 month cohort-based personal leadership development program. Graduates leave the program with a clear understanding of their leadership values, purpose, and commitments, along with an enhanced capacity to lead high-performing, innovative teams.

Each graduate joins the lifelong Goodmon Fellowship — a selective community with a legacy of driving change across the Triangle. Below, you will find the bios and Linkedin profiles of each of our Spring 2026 Transforming Leaders Graduates.

The Spring 2026 Transforming Leaders Cohort

**Caitlin Timms** has lived in the Raleigh–Durham area for about 15 years and is proud to call the community home. An NC State alum and dedicated Carolina Hurricanes fan, she has enjoyed watching RTP grow and evolve over the years. With nearly nine years of experience at RTF, Caitlin brings a deep appreciation for the dynamic nature of property management and the unexpected challenges it presents. She is inspired to be part of a team that not only supports RTP’s present needs but also actively envisions its future.

**Cashmere Bentley** is a passionate nonprofit leader committed to advancing equity, access, and opportunity. Currently, she serves as the Interim Executive Director of StepUp Durham, where she oversees StepUp Durham’s strategic direction, staff development, and programs focused on employment readiness and community engagement. With years of experience in program management and direct service, she leads with a people-centered approach. She’s deeply committed to creating inclusive environments where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally.

**Danielle Corcione** is an operations and program leader with a decade of experience advancing food security, public health, and community-centered initiatives in North Carolina. She has led multi-million-dollar programs, strengthened cross-sector partnerships, and built high-performing teams rooted in clarity, accountability, and equity. Danielle’s work spans senior nutrition, values-based food systems, and collaborative impact models, with a focus on improving access, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

She is passionate about developing inclusive teams, elevating underrepresented voices, and scaling solutions that strengthen community well-being. Danielle is now focused on executive-level roles that bridge strategy, operations, and systems-level leadership to drive statewide and regional impact.

**Ericka Wright **is an accounting professional who has worked in the accounting field for 30 years. She is originally from CT but has called NC her home for the last 14 years. She has an undergraduate degree from East Carolina University and volunteers as a coach with a local high school wrestling team.

Jason Horton is the Strategic Initiatives Director for Wake County, where he leads the development and implementation of the County’s Strategic Plan. Since joining Wake County in 2007, he has held various leadership roles and brings experience from local government consulting and nonprofit work. A native of Mount Airy, Jason earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University. He and his wife, Susan, live in Raleigh with their daughter, Katie, and their energetic Labrador retriever, Mamie Lois. In his free time, Jason enjoys gardening and yard work and is an avid fan of Appalachian State sports and the Carolina Hurricanes.

**Kate Kremer** is the Head of Engineering at Stern Security who brings an unconventional path to tech leadership. After earning her BS in English Education from Western Carolina University, MS in Counselor Education from East Carolina University, and EdD in Educational Leadership from the University of New England, Kate spent over a decade in education before making a bold career transition. Her pivot to tech was inspired by a profound moment with 4th graders in rural North Carolina during an Hour of Code exercise. When a student asked, “Why didn’t you go into tech?” Kate realized that a lack of exposure shouldn’t be a lifelong barrier and decided to take the leap herself. Now, Kate is passionate about building diverse, inclusive teams and creating pathways for others who don’t fit the traditional tech mold. She volunteers as a coach for an elementary Science Olympiad team and mentors high school students in STEM competitions, working to spark interest in careers that many young people, especially those in underserved communities, might never know existed.

**Kate Maroney** is a strategic communications leader with more than 15 years of experience guiding media relations, crisis response and organizational messaging across higher education and local government. As Wake County’s External Communications Director, she leads a team of communicators dedicated to delivering clear, timely information that helps residents access critical services. Previously, Kate served in senior communications roles at UNC-Chapel Hill and the City of Charlotte, where she led high-stakes media strategy, coordinated emergency communications and trained leaders in effective media response. She began her career as a reporter before pivoting to communications in Arkansas state government, grounding her experience in strong storytelling and public service. Kate holds an M.A. in Strategic Communications from Washington State University and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Arkansas. She lives in Apex with her husband, Sean, and their two children, Everett and Lenora.

**Katrina Powell** is a proud Army veteran with eight years of service, including a tour in Afghanistan. She currently serves as a Community Engagement Coordinator for Veterans Bridge Home, a nonprofit organization in the Triangle. In this role, Katrina channels her experience into connecting service members, veterans, and their families with vital resources and support to help them be successful.

Katrina holds a Master’s in Information Science, a Master’s in Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. She also leads a Women Veterans Coffee & Conversation, a gathering designed to build camaraderie, connection, and sisterhood among women veterans in the Triangle. Katrina is deeply committed to creating tangible, positive outcomes for veterans leveraging her expertise, compassion, and lived experience to help them access the tools and connections they need to thrive in their communities.

**Dr. Kesha T. Reed** is a passionate educator, educational consultant and published author. Her experience includes both K-12 and higher education. Dr. Reed earned her undergraduate degree from Alabama A&M University, her master’s degree from North Carolina Central University and her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University. Dr. Reed is a lifelong learner and a strategic partner in creating inclusive spaces to support student success. Dr. Reed has served in numerous capacities and varied institution types to include community college, HBCUs and land-grant, R1 institutions. Dr. Reed is currently the Associate Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean in the Division of Academic and Student Affairs at NC State University. In her current role, she provides leadership in the division’s strategic initiatives to ensure that all students have an engaging experience in their curricular and co-curricular involvement. Dr. Reed provides leadership to University Advising and Exploratory Studies, Advising Technology, Academic Success Center and the Career Development Center. Dr. Reed is also committed to empowering other higher educational professionals and is the immediate Past President of the Association of Deans and Directors of University Colleges and Undergraduate Studies. Dr. Reed is committed to the holistic development of all students to enhance their well-being and success in college and beyond.

**Lesley Peace** is a native of New Rochelle, New York. She holds an accounting degree from South Carolina State University and is currently pursuing her MDiv/MACE degree at Union Presbyterian Seminary. She is the Founding Executive Director of the New Hope Collaborative, where she leads a dynamic, community-centered campus in Southeast Raleigh focused on fostering connection, strengthening partnerships, and expanding access to resources through collaborative engagement. Lesley is also an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Prior to her leadership at New Hope Collaborative, Lesley served for five years on the staff for Outreach and Missions at Christ Church in Charlotte, where she developed and led initiatives that connected congregational life with meaningful community impact. Across her work, she brings tremendous enthusiasm and the invaluable gifts of volunteer coordination, community organizing, event planning, and curriculum development, particularly within social justice and faith-based education spaces. Lesley has demonstrated deep expertise in collaborating with faith-based organizations and nonprofits through intentional listening, skillful facilitation, and clear, thoughtful communication. She excels at cultivating environments of trust and mutual respect, where diverse partners can engage in honest dialogue, align around shared goals, and move toward collective action. Her leadership is both relational and strategic, grounded in cultural humility and informed by a strong ability to navigate complex systems and community dynamics. Through her work, Lesley has successfully bridged gaps between organizations with varying missions and capacities, helping to align efforts in ways that are both impactful and sustainable. She is known for guiding collaborative processes that move beyond conversation into tangible outcomes, equipping partners with the clarity, structure, and shared vision needed to co-create programs, maximize resources, and deepen long-term community impact.

**Michal Brzezicki** is the State Grassroots Manager for NC Sierra Club, helping volunteers across the state advocate for conservation while they explore, enjoy, and protect the environment. A graduate of NCSU and UNC Chapel Hill, Michal previously worked as a political consultant and campaign manager for state-level candidates and organizations across North Carolina. He loves to cook, play disc golf, camp, and read (too much) historical non-fiction.

**Miriam Melvin** is a native Chicagoan who now calls Raleigh, North Carolina home. She is an eight-time nominated and two-time Emmy Award-Winning news producer. She uses her position to bring awareness to civic and social causes as well as serving on the inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion board at Capitol Broadcasting Co., Inc. to ensure fair and balanced coverage across all socioeconomic levels and racial backgrounds. Miriam’s passion is to raise the visibility and inclusivity of stories of Black, Brown, and marginalized people in our community. Mrs. Melvin also teaches small business owners, executives as well as community leaders how to share their message in a succinct manner with the public. Miriam is married to Marcus Lee Melvin. They have three sons; Marcus Jermel, Joshua, and Timothy. They are all servant-members at Grace Christian Church in Raleigh.

**Monica W. Wallace** is Clerk to the Board with Durham County Government and a recent graduate of the Executive Master of Public Administrative Program from North Carolina Central University. With 11 years of experience in local government, she is focused on effective leadership, community engagement and fostering healthy relationships with partners and the community. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking and reading books.

**Natalie Christley **graduated from UNC Wilmington with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Leadership Studies. She has worked as a paralegal for 15 years supporting attorneys and clients in their every need. She started her career in Real Estate Law and switched to Collaborative Law in 2023. She has truly found her calling in the Collaborative Law world. She loves getting to help her clients and be there for them in difficult and confusing times. She recently entered a new role of Practice Manager and looks forward to using all the skills she has learned over the years to help employees find their calling while still taking care of clients and their needs. Natalie also serves on her child’s school PTO board, where she enjoys showing teachers how much they are appreciated and using her event planning skills to create fun memories for the students.

**Dr. Patrice J. Walker** is an accomplished information technology executive and higher education leader with more than two decades of experience delivering transformative initiatives in academic settings. She currently serves as Associate Chief Information Officer and Director of IT Governance, Engagement, and Support Services at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where she oversees strategic efforts in data governance, database administration, IT training, project management, event support, academic technology, and administrative support services. Dr. Walker’s educational background reflects a strong commitment to excellence and lifelong learning. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Computer Information Systems from Shaw University, a Master of Business Administration from Fayetteville State University, and a Master of Information Science from NCCU. She further advanced her expertise by earning a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from High Point University, where her research examined the trajectory of African American women into senior leadership roles in higher education. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Dr. Walker is a mother to a college student athlete and wife to an IT leader. An advocate for higher education and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she exemplifies servant leadership and a deep commitment to advancing excellence, equity, and digital empowerment within higher education.

Sean Hardy serves as the Assistant Director of Open Table Ministry. Sean grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, and now lives in Mebane with his wife, daughter, and their two dogs. Sean is passionate about cultivating meaningful community and learning neighbors’ stories. Sean is a graduate of Duke Divinity School, where he discovered his passion for ministry, community, and social service. In his spare time, Sean enjoys time in nature, Carolina Hurricanes hockey games, and golfing.

**Shana Carignan**, MPA, CFRE, became the Executive Director of the Durham Crisis Response Center (DCRC) in October 2024. With more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and marketing, Shana brings a proven track record in resource development, financial management, and strategic growth. She has previously served as the longtime Development Director and then Interim Executive Director of Families Moving Forward, where she deepened her passion for community awareness and advocacy. Shana’s leadership style is rooted in data-driven decision-making, operational efficiency, and a commitment to building strong, collaborative teams. She also leverages technology and innovative workflows to enhance organizational impact. Reflecting on her role, Shana shares: “I am truly honored to be a part of the DCRC team. Our agency has a rich history of partnering with the Durham community to offer vital education and support to individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Knowing that our programs not only save lives but also provide individuals with the opportunity to transform their futures is incredibly rewarding. Under her leadership, DCRC looks forward to expanding its impact and continuing its mission of working with the community to end domestic, sexual, and family violence and human trafficking through advocacy, education, support, and prevention.

**Therese Daye** is the Youth Engagement Director at Made in Durham, where she leads programs that help young adults build meaningful career pathways. With a background as a teacher and school counselor, she brings over a decade of experience in youth development, relationship building, and creating supportive environments for students and staff. In addition to her work in the nonprofit sector, Therese is a children’s book author whose stories are inspired by real experiences with her students and her son. Her books focus on supporting social and emotional learning and providing practical resources for families and educators. Therese is passionate about mentorship and helping young people discover their strengths. She is committed to growing as a leader and using her voice to expand opportunities for youth in Durham.

**Tomara Gee **is the Director of STEM Learning at the Museum of Life and Science, where she has dedicated her career to informal learning and science education. She began her career as a front-line facilitator and has spent the past fifteen years designing and implementing engaging education programs ranging from science camps to homeschool nature classes. Tomara seeks to build relationships across teams and within the Museum to improve intra-organizational collaboration. As Director of STEM Learning, Tomara supervises 10 employees and fosters an environment where her colleagues feel empowered to innovate and thrive.

**Tuere Bowles **possesses three decades of extensive experience in leading, designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs in higher education. In Duke’s Office of Community Affairs, she spearheads the unit that supports the applied research, scholarship, and creative activities of DCA and translates results into social, economic, and technological developments with our neighbors in Durham and the region. The Research and Advancement unit also serves as the philanthropic nexus for donors leading to mission-guided investments and impacts. Signature efforts entail the Community Research Collaborative, Doing Good Employee Giving Campaign, Durham Data Science Initiative, and the Partnership Platform. Dr. Bowles formerly served as an Associate Professor and Director for the Study of Learning, Evaluation, and Dissemination (SLED) Collaborative in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development at North Carolina State University.