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Staff
Leadership
Jennifer Pfaltzgraff
Executive Director
Jennifer Pfaltzgraff is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a BS in Communications. She is the mother of two children, Madeleine and Ethan. Jennifer began advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) when her son Ethan was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 7 months old. Her career as a graphic designer and small business owner made this possible. She joined the Wake County LICC, an early intervention collaborative, to make sure she understood the intricacies of the IDD world. She held the position of co-chair of the LICC for 7 years. While looking for supports for Ethan she learned about The Arc of Wake County and started off as a volunteer graphic designer and won the The Arc’s President’s Award that first year for her service to The Arc. She was elected to the board of directors in July 2007, serving as a director, then President, and Past President. Her career took a turn when she accepted the position as Executive Director for The Arc of Wake County leading up to The Arc of the Triangle (as of 12/2022 dba Triangle Disability & Autism Services) merger in July 2014. She was integral in the planning and execution of the merger- helping to bring Medicaid services to Wake and Durham counties as well as developing systems to ensure growth was balanced with stability.
At the time of the merger, Jennifer transitioned into the Marketing and Communications Director role promoting the new brand of The Arc of the Triangle- educating stakeholders on the myriad of services and programs and The Arc’s mission and philosophy. She also took the lead on creating and organizing fundraising efforts like the Casino Royale and the ever-popular Bowl-a-thon and growing TDAS’ social media presence. Jennifer also served as Chair for the Wake County Special Education Advisory Council representing Triangle Disability & Autism Services for 9 years.
Jennifer readily accepted the challenge of Executive Director in November 2016 when approached by the Board of Directors and continues to be honored to lead such an amazing non-profit organization. Outside of work, you can find her at a Carolina Hurricanes game during hockey season. She loves to cook and spend time with her family, including her dog Charlie.
Michael Kirschner
Compliance Director
Originally from upstate New York, Michael received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Michael’s passion for working in the IDD field came from his first experience working as a Teacher Assistant in a classroom of students who have IDD at East Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill. Michael joined The Arc of Orange County as the Community Programs Coordinator in 2003 and has worn many hats since then including QP and IT support. When the local Arc chapters merged in 2014, Mike was made Assistant Director of Individual Services and rose to Individual Services Director in 2018. In 2022 Michael became Compliance Director for The Arc of the Triangle dba Triangle Disability & Autism Services. He is excited to be in this role, that will allow him to work with all departments and support the agency’s quality assurance. Outside of Triangle Disability & Autism Services, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, hiking and cycling.
Marie Dionne
HR Director
Marie Dionne graduated from UMASS Amherst with a BS in Wildlife Conservation, but decided that wasn’t the route for her. She began working with the disability population as a therapeutic horseback riding volunteer in 2007, where she quickly fell in love with supporting her riders. In 2008 she became an employer for an Arc of Orange County participant at a coffee shop, and was introduced to the joys of DSP work by the job coach who worked there. In 2012 Marie became a full-time DSP with The Arc of Orange County, and then moved into an Exceptional Children’s Teacher Assistant role, while continuing as a part-time DSP. Then in 2016 she was hired full-time as an Individual Services Supervisor (QP) with The Arc of the Triangle. She loved it. After a couple of years she was promoted to Assistant Director of Individual Services, and then to Individual Services Director after a few more years. 12 years spent in Service Delivery with The Arc/Triangle Disability & Autism Services. And then, in the fall of 2023, Marie embarked on a new journey; moving over into Human Resources, where she found that her years of experience in the disability field, and also her in-depth knowledge of the agency, were valuable assets to her new role of supporting the entire workforce. Since then Marie has met with new challenges and new rewards; she’s discovered her love of supporting employees in whatever ways they need. In an effort to seek out more HR knowledge, Marie took a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional exam prep course and, in early July 2024, passed with her SHRM-CP credentials. Marie looks forward to furthering her knowledge of this new-to-her field, and to finding new ways to support both participants and employees at Triangle Disability & Autism Services. When she’s not at work, Marie can be found watching Netflix with her two cats, Winter and Finn, and caring for a small herd of horses on the farm where she rents.
Susan Swearingen
Director of Vocational Services
Susan Swearingen is a native North Carolinian. She attended East Carolina University where she received her BS in Special Education and in 2015 became a Nationally Certified Employment Support Professional. She has held teaching positions in Wilson, Pitt, and Wake County Special Education classrooms and has been teaching and advocating for persons with I/DD for over 30 years. Her career with The Arc of Wake County began as a job coach in the Project SEE summer program in the summer of 2010. She is passionate about providing quality services and ensuring that individuals who want to work have the opportunity to work.
Michelle Foy
Director of Community Programs
Michelle Foy has worked as a Registered Movement Therapist in various settings working with children, adolescents and adults that have Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Mental Illness. In 2005 she began working for The Arc of Wake County as the Program Director for the Retirement and Leisure Supports and Services Program. She now oversees all of the community programs in the Triangle area. She earned her Master’s of Arts Degree in Movement Therapy from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from US International University (now known as Alliant International University) in San Diego, California. She is truly passionate about the people she serves and supports and feels fortunate that she has such a fun and exciting job!
Natasha Pratt
Director of Day Services
Natasha Pratt is a Colorado native with a big drive for adventure and all things sunshine! She graduated from Colorado State University in 2017 with Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degrees then made her way out East to experience the coast. She has supported people in the IDD community since 2011 in a variety of capacities including as a direct support professional, Employment Specialist and Building Abilities Camp Director. Natasha is bright, welcoming, and eager to bring everyone together. She is ready for our next chapter as we open the Building Abilities Day Program and to help bring Triangle Disability & Autism Services’s mission to fruition! 😊
Therapeutic & Mental Health Services
Kathy Mayer
LCMHC-A
Kathy Mayer received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. She enjoys working with both adults and children with special needs. She has worked directly with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities [IDD] as a Direct Support Professional and has supported teens as a Job Coach for The Arc of the Triangle’s Project See program. She has been with The Arc as an Employment Specialist since 2014 helping adults with IDD to fulfill their dreams of finding gainful employment in the community. Her passion for working with people with IDD comes from being mother to a young man with autism. Kathy decided to pursue her master’s degree in professional counseling in 2018 and is dedicated to supporting individuals in obtaining the services they need. Kathy is enjoying working in her new role as a Professional Counselor and continues to support individuals with IDD and their families. She specializes in working with teens and adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-esteem, relationship problems in individual, family and group therapy settings.
Megan Johnston
LCMHC-A
Megan has spent the last 5 years working with children on the autism spectrum encouraging developmental growth and pairing independence to acceptance, emotion regulation, and daily living skills. After graduating from North Carolina State University with her BA in Psychology she found her passion in wanting to serve those who are looking for a safe place to process life, such as boundaries, communication, grief, trauma, and the overall grit that life can bring. Her main passion is providing a mental health lens to better support not only the ASD community and others with disabilities, but also children, teens, and families seeking unity under the guidance of attachment theory and Erikson’s stage of psychosocial development. Megan graduated from Liberty University summa cum laude and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling- Associate at Triangle Disability & Autism Services. Under the guidance of a supervisor she is currently seeking out clients to support and enhance their life story. Megan lives in Durham, NC with her cat Smudge and spends her free time dancing, at concerts, and watching the most recent Marvel movie.
Support Services
Felecia Stokes
Support Services Manager
Felecia Stokes was born and raised in North Carolina. She earned a BA in Psychology and African American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and later attended UNC’s post-baccalaureate program for Special Education. Since 2001, Felecia has dedicated her career to working with individuals who have developmental disabilities, serving in a variety of capacities including group homes, in-home care, school settings, and case management. Felecia is driven by a passion for serving her community with compassion, empathy, and creativity. Felecia’s personal interests include traveling, attending live music events, and spending time with family.
Amanda Boyle
Support Services Supervisor
Amanda Boyle was born and raised in Las Vegas. She attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas for both her Undergraduate Degree (Social Work) and her Master’s Degree (Special Education.) She also has a paralegal certification from Boston University. She started in Hospice and moved into the school system as a social worker which caused her to want to become a Special Education Teacher. Amanda has been working with individuals with disabilities since 2016 and has worked with all age groups within schools. She loved coaching during her time in schools as well and coached cheerleading, dance team and majorettes. Amanda has always had a passion for helping individuals find their voice and being a helping hand. During her free time you will find Amanda partaking in Pilates, Yoga and Kickboxing classes. She loves watching hockey and college football (Golden Knights and Ohio State for the win!) Family is a pivotal part of her life and you will find her hanging out with them often. She loves to travel and read in her spare time.
Terry Deans
Support Services Supervisor
Terry Deans is a North Carolina Native who spent much of his early years in Baltimore, Maryland where he was involved in an unfortunate accident that would change his life forever. While working as a construction worker, Terry was electrocuted and paralyzed for several months. It was during his hospitalization that Terry found that the direct caregiver was an intricate part for habilitation. Terry’s vision of customer care and empathy returned him to North Carolina where he started his Mental Health Career in Residential Care in the Wake County area. Terry has over 17 years working in behavioral health and while completing his BS in Social Science from the University of Maryland Global Campus, he has managed a Psychiatric Hospital and served as Area Supervisor for six Intermediate Care Facilities. Terry has a passion for serving others and has been recognized by his peers as a vocal advocate for the DD/IDD community. His leadership and experience adds value to our team.
Beth Horne
Support Services Supervisor
Beth Horne is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a Master’s in Social Work. This degree gives her exceptional skills to connect with families and children, as well as, their goals. She was focused on child development and life enrichment during her time in undergraduate school. During which she also minored in American Sign Language and Deaf Advocacy. These focuses taught her how to celebrate the things that make each person and child different and unique.
She has worked with differently abled children for over three years running a small developmental therapy business, working specifically with Birth-3 year olds. This experience allowed her patience, understanding, and flexibility in any situation. She works diligently to meet each diverse need with compassion, creative thinking, creative reasoning, and best practice. Working with a variety of individuals and families in the past, she is excited to continue her life passion of helping others.
Melinda Tyson
Support Services Supervisor
Melinda was born and raised in North Carolina. She discovered her passion for working with individuals with developmental disabilities while still in high school, volunteering during the school year in local group homes. Having realized her desire to influence change in policies on a larger scale, Melinda applied for, and received, the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship and went away to college, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services. Even while attending classes, Melinda continued to work in the field as a DSP. Having moved back home after college, Melinda became a wife to a Navy man, leaving the working world to be a stay-at-home mother to four handsome boys. During this time, Melinda volunteered for Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth, aka SAFY of Greenville. Once her own children had all graduated middle school, Melinda decided to return to the working world, but still within the parameters of the IDD field because, even though she knows it seems cliché to say, “I want to help people,” she felt that is truly where her heart lies—in making life better for others. Becoming the Individual Services Supervisor with Triangle Disability and Autism Services is very exciting to Melinda, and she feels that this role will allow her to do just that—’make life better for others.’
Vocational Services
Breanna Herring
Vocational Services Supervisor
Breanna Herring graduated from UNC Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a double concentration in Women & Gender Studies and Child & Family Development. Throughout her high school and college years, she often volunteered at various schools in which she worked with students with IDD in classrooms. In June 2023, she began working for Triangle Disability & Autism Services as a Job Coach and Direct Support Professional, then became a Vocational Services Supervisor in August 2023. In her free time, Breanna enjoys traveling, going to museums, reading books, playing musical instruments, and practicing photography. Most importantly, she loves being able to make a positive impact in her community by helping others.
Athena McWhorter
Project SEE Manager
Athena McWhorter is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant (E-7). Athena received her Bachelor in Social Work from Stockton University in Pomona, NJ. She has worked as an employment specialist and guardianship Specialist in NJ. In 2012 she began work as a Guardianship Specialist with The Arc of North Carolina until 2015 when her husband (retired from active duty Air Force) received orders and the family was moved to Wichita, Kansas where Athena became a Targeted Case Manager. Athena and her husband moved back home in 2019. Athena enjoys working with students with disabilities and helping them make an impact in their community. In her free time she likes to read, play Xbox, and has recently rediscovered her love for photography.
Madeleine Pfaltzgraff
Vocational Services Supervisor
Madeleine Pfaltzgraff graduated from NC State University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. As the sister of someone with cerebral palsy, Madeleine has been involved with the IDD community as long as she can remember. She began her time with Triangle Disability & Autism Services as a high schooler, volunteering at various events like Party & Pics with Santa and Marbles’ Spooktacular. In June of 2023, she worked as a camp counselor at the Building Abilities Summer Camp. After the camp ended, she took on a full-time position as a Vocational Trainer in August of 2023. While in this position, she supported individuals with IDD at their places of work as a job coach. She transitioned into the role of Vocational Services Supervisor in November of 2023. In her free time, Madeleine enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and going on adventures with her dog, Gravy.
Grace Szigethy
Vocational Services Supervisor
Grace Szigethy graduated from NC State University in 2023 with a BA in Psychology and a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies. During her time in Undergraduate school, Grace interned at the NCSU Pride Center and mentored the Women Of Welch living and learning village, giving her years of experience practicing advocacy work for different groups of people. In February 2024, Grace began working at TDAS as a Vocational Services Supervisor. Being raised in Durham, NC, Grace enjoys being able to give back to her community and help build more inclusive spaces for all. In her free time, Grace enjoys spending time with her tabby cats, Mira and Boo, and reading fantasy books.
Community Services
Tony Hall
Community Resource Specialist
Tony Hall is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb of Washington D.C. . He is a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Web and Applications Development in 2011. Early in his career, he worked as a Web Developer for various government contractors under the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. Relocating to North Carolina in 2017, he continued his work in IT. Deciding to pursue a career in serving the disabled community in 2019, he joined Triangle Disability & Autism Services as a job coach. He soon began job coaching groups of high school students in the Project SEE program. Tony received Triangle Disability & Autism Services’ Support Professional of the Year Award in 2021. Being a person with a disability himself, he states that he has a passion for advocating for adults and children with disabilities. Outside of work, he enjoys trying new recipes, raising his 7-year-old dog, participating in adaptive recreational activities, attending and participating in poetry events and spending time with friends.
Isa Lucarelli
Day Services Supervisor
Isa Lucarelli lived in Charlotte, NC until she moved to the Triangle area to attend The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She graduated from UNC with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. Isa began working with TDAS as an intern at TDAS’ Transitional Day Program in 2022. Isa continued her work within the agency in a variety of roles including job coach, direct support professional, and Lead Counselor at Building Abilities Summer Experience. She is now the Day Services Supervisor at Building Abilities Day Program. In her free time, Isa enjoys cooking, thrifting, and spending time with friends and family.
Administrative
Shannon Williams
Data & Billing Support Specialist
Shannon Williams is a native of North Carolina. She relocated to Wake County to access more opportunities for her two sons and services for her oldest who is a member of the IDD community. Shannon has been involved with advocacy as a foster home houseparent, independent living director and utilization management. Shannon received a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communications and Business Administration from Chowan University in 2003 and a Master’s of Public Health and Administration from UNC Pembroke. Shannon returns to the work force after spending the past nine years homemaking and advocating for her son. She is happy to be working at an organization that is making a difference in an area dear to her heart.
Lauren Holowiti
Recruitment Specialist
Lauren Holowiti is a graduate of North Carolina State University where she received her BA in Psychology. She discovered her passion for working within the disability community in 2019 when she was employed as a caregiver for children with disabilities. In 2021 she started working for The Arc of the Triangle as the arts and crafts instructor at the ATU Transitional Day Program. After the program concluded, she started a new position in 2022 as a Community Navigator. She is excited to move into the Recruitment Specialist position where she can use her talents to bring in new staff to work with our families. During her free time you can catch her reading, enjoying some sunshine, and spending quality time with her loved ones.
Monick Ricks
Scheduling Specialist
Monick Ricks is originally from New Jersey and has been living in North Carolina for over 17 years. She has her Associate Science Degree in Medical Assistant. She has been working with adolescents and adults that have Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for over 15 years. She worked with adult women at a group home facility for four years where she assisted and supported the women with completing their Activities of Daily Living. In 2022 she joined The Arc of the Triangle as a part time Staffing Specialist and a part time Support Specialist which she loves and enjoys serving the people she supports. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends and her daughters and her grandchildren.
Keara Suzik
Project Coordinator
Keara Suzik is originally from New York where she graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BFA in Graphic Design. She has been working within the Wake County School System arts community for over 20 years in many capacities from volunteering with PTA, creating and designing signage to co-teaching stage & costume design. Before joining The Arc, she was a Teaching Assistant for a cross-categorical kindergarten class. Keara enjoys combining her passion for the arts and community outreach to benefit The Arc’s mission. In her spare time you can find her drawing, reading and spending time with her husband and two daughters.
Kenneth Kelty
Administrative Assistant
Kenneth Kelty was born and raised in West Palm Beach South Florida. He is a graduate of the Western Carolina University Participants UP Program at Western Carolina University, a two-year inclusion program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. While at WCU Kenneth studied criminal justice and political science. Upon graduating, Kenneth joined The Arc of The Triangle in 2014. In his spare time, he loves knitting blankets and scarfs. Kenneth is an award-winning blogger and motivational speaker on life with disabilities and has a public Facebook page Kenneth Kelty Public Speaker and Author. He has done advocacy work on a local and national level. Kenneth has participated in advanced leadership training in the disability community at The UNC CIDD and Alliance of Disability Advocates.
Tenzin Namgyal
Administrative Assistant
Tenzin Namgyal graduated from UNCG in 2019. Tenzin loves meeting new people, making them laugh, and workout during his free time.
Charlie
Support Assistant
Charlie is a Raleigh native and can be found wondering the halls of the office visiting and making folks smile. He doesn’t smell great- but makes up for that with a sweet face and a quiet demeanor. Charlie enjoys eating weird things off the ground and sleeping in the sun. If he’s not at the office, you can find him at home with his family enjoying the good life.
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