OUR BOARD
Barri Maxwell
President
Barri Maxwell is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, serving children and families in the triad. She attended the University of Pittsburgh (BS in Psychobiology; 1984) and received her advanced degree in Occupational Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University, in Philadelphia PA, in 1991. Barri has also been a clinician with Community Access Therapy Services for the past 16 years, working in homes, schools, the community, and their outpatient clinic. She serves as the Senior Occupational therapist, student fieldwork coordinator, and supervisor for for program's certified occupational therapy assistants and volunteers. Barri is a transplant to Greensboro from Philadelphia, PA., moving to the area in 2004 with her two daughters, now 22 and 19.
"It has been a pleasure serving on the Board of Directors of the ARC of Greensboro for 5 years, serving as Secretary from 2019-2021."
Kevin Carr
President-Elect
Kevin Carr is the Principal of the Haynes-Inman Education Center and has been in the field of education, including as a math teacher, for nearly 40 years. "When I entered education, I had two goals in mind: I wanted to make a difference in my community and I wanted to have a positive impact on children and young people, especially those who were struggling, needed a leg up, or had lost their way. The first in my immediate family to graduate from college, I believed then - and still do now - that education has the power to transform lives.
As an educator, an advocate for people with disabilities, and as a parent of a special needs child, it's as if my entire life has prepared me for these roles. Working together, I believe we can create a positive and progressive community that treats all people with dignity and respect."
Robert Hickling
Vice President
Robert Hickling has been an Administrator at Cone Health for 13 years. Robert is active in the community, having served on the Board of The Arc of Greensboro since 2014, the Board of Family Support Network of Central Carolina from 2012 - 2020, and a coach of TopSoccer, a soccer program for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities, since 2012. Robert is a lifelong resident of Greensboro. He graduated from NC State in December 2003 and earned a Master of Health Care Administration from UNC in May 2008. Robert is married to the lovely and talented Korey Hickling and is the father of two daughters and one son.
Lorin Hartley
Treasurer
Lorin is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and works as a Senior Assurance Associate at DMJPS PLLC in Greensboro, NC. She serves a diverse range of clients, including privately held business, non-profit organizations, and governmental entities. Lorin holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Originally from south Florida, she made Greensboro her home in 2019. Outside of work, Lorin shares her passion for dance as a teacher at Greensboro Dance Theatre. Lorin is married to Chance Hartley and has two fur-babies, Moose and Charlie.
Maureen Murray
Secretary
Maureen Demarest Murray is a graduate of Duke University and of Vanderbilt Law School. She is an experienced healthcare attorney with Fox Rothschild LLP, a national law firm, as well as currently being a member of the Advisory Board for the UNC-G School of Nursing.
Maureen is the parent of four adult children, including a 34-year-old daughter who has several disabilities. Her daughter has participated in the Challenger Sports program for a number of years, as well as therapeutic riding and other opportunities in the area. When her children were of school-age, Maureen was very involved with school parent teacher organizations, particularly at the former McIver Education Center and traditional middle and high schools. She also has served on the Advisory Council for Exceptional Children for Guilford County and helped advocate for establishment of an AP program at Western Guilford High School.
Jim Whiting
Past President
Jim Whiting's professional career has spanned 35 years as a healthcare executive; the first 14 years with Legacy Health System in Portland, Oregon and the remaining 21 years were at Cone Health. He was raised in upstate New York, and graduated with honors from the State University of New York at Cortland, and has a Master's Degree in Health Services Administration from Arizona State University. Additional professional development has been completed at the University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and membership in the American Management Association.
Jim's experience of serving The Arc has heightened my commitment to serve as an advocate the Intellectual and Developmentally Disabled community. "This population is frequently overlooked when debating and enacting public policy and needs more active representation."
He is the husband of Lee, and we are the parents of four adult children. His son, Kyle, is intellectually disabled and the main reason I serve Arc and the disabled community. Kyle participates in The Arc's Challenger Baseball program from which he receives great social and developmental benefits.
Larry Bailey
Director
Larry began his first term on The Arc of Greensboro Board of Directors in August 2021. He is a 2009 graduate of Southern Guilford High School. Larry has cerebral palsy and ADD. He has used services of the Arc of Greensboro since 2014. Larry works and lives independently. He has worked as a volunteer docent for the Greensboro History Museum since 2016. Larry is a tenacious advocate for disability independence and reform and brings that passion to the board of directors.
Monica Giffuni
Director
Monica Giffuni, originally from Colombia, South America, moved to the United States 20 years ago. She is a professional in Occupational Therapy, a graduate of the Manuela Beltran University of Bogota, Colombia and is currently working as a Developmental Therapist and Family Coach in Guilford, Randolph and Forsyth Counties.
She is a mother of three children, two girls and a boy and is also a sibling to a special brother with Down Syndrome. Her eldest daughter has especial needs and has been her greatest motivation developing her O.T. skills. She feels inspired by working with and understanding understanding children with different emotional, psychological, behavioral, cognitive, physical and social skills as they face daily challenges in all aspects of their lives.
Her passion has always been to help improve the quality of life of children and people with different abilities, as well as coach and advise their families. As such, she has been an active volunteer in a number of Non-Profit organizations, including the Autism Society of North Carolina, helping the Hispanic community as a Spanish Medical Interpreter. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and being involved with projects such as crafts, painting, decorating with her daughters, cooking, singing, watching her son's soccer games, and helping in community activities as a family.
"I have been honored serving on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Greensboro for the past 6 years. This has motivated me to help special friends and their families who are going through the process of acceptance and learning through Developmental Therapy, not only helping through the eyes of a therapist, but also through the eyes of a mother, and also as support staff working with the children we try to help daily in other environments."
Rita Jennings
Director
Rita Jennings taught in the Guilford County Schools system for 27 years. spanning grades 1st through 9th. In 2010 she transitioned to UNCG School of Education where she spent the next 10 years as an academic coach for two Department of Education grants. Rita retired January 1, 2020.
"My love for the community of people with developmental and intellectual differences began when I met my husband's brother - a person with Down Syndrome. Joining this family led me to a career as a special educator. It is a privilege and an honor to continue my involvement with this community by serving as a board member for The Arc."
Bill Jones
Director
Wilmot Jones, III (Bill) is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and CPCU (Certified Property Casualty Underwriter). He joined DMJ & Company, PLLC in 2000. Bill specializes in DMJ's Employment Benefit Plan Services including the administration and government reporting for a variety of plans, as well as performing ERISA audits of the plan's financial statements. In addition, Bill also focuses on nonprofit organizations and 990 preparations. He also has experience with individual and corporate tax. Bill has a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Guilford College and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Florida Southern College. He is serving his second term as Treasurer for The Arc of Greensboro Board of Directors, first having served 2015-2017. In addition to The Arc, Bill has served in multiple roles with Page High School Boosters.
David Mandel
Director
David has spent much of his career in the ever-changing world of computer technology, concentrating on areas of education, innovation and creativity, and business automation tools and processes. Most recently the Chief Information Officer and Dean of Technology at the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, David has taught high school and college students, as well as being involved in launching business start ups and new opportunities within existing corporations. With a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, he was very involved early in his career in the area of Environmental Psychology with classes and projects on designing for elderly and special needs populations. One prominent project was the automation and analysis of ADA rules for corrective architectural actions at university campuses and commercial centers.
David has worked at Xerox, EDS, Computer Patent Annuities and a number of small companies specializing in innovation and discovery. He also ran his own consulting company for over a decade in Buffalo, NY where his two children were raised. David lives with wife, Bea, who is an avid quilter and retired educator who still instructs children at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
Shelley Mason
Director
Shelley is a native of Guilford County and works as a public health nurse with Guilford County DHHS, where she has worked for the past twenty two years. She graduated from NCA&T State University with a Bachelors degree in Nursing and started her nursing career as NICU nurse at Pitt County Hospital. Shelley also worked in the NICU at Forsyth Hospital before taking a job as a public health nurse with Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services. Throughout her career as a public health nurse, Shelley has worked as Childcare Health Nurse, a Pregnancy Care Manager, and a Postpartum/Newborn Home visiting nurse.
Shelley has two adult aged children. Her son, Khye has a rare genetic disease called Hunter’s Syndrome which has caused him to lose all abilities. Khye has played Challenger Baseball with the ARC since he was five years old. When he started he could walk, run and bat on his own. Khye continues to play now, 20 years later, with total assistance. Despite his disability Shelley continues to keep Khye active and makes sure he lives a fulfilled life.
Other than being a full-time nurse, mom, and caregiver, Shelley is also an Author, owns her own publishing agency, is a Disability Advocate and Inspirational Speaker. Shelley’s bestselling children’s book, “There’s A Little Boy In My Class But I Don’t Know His Name”, was written in order to help neurotypical children become more comfortable with interacting with children with disabilities and to encourage inclusive play. Shelley’s goal is to make sure all individuals live a happy and fulfilling life despite what they can or cannot do.
Wanda Edwards Walker
Director