Meet Our Board of Directors
Jill Pegram - Interim President, Secretary
Training Coordinator - Support, Inc
I have volunteered for the American Red Cross Military Family after hours crisis line and have worked in the mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities field for over 20 years. I have worked with infants, toddlers, children, adolescents and adults. During this time I have seen how abuse and neglect have impacted these people and this has turned me into a strong advocate for those who are being abused and neglected or who are risk for this. I participated in the “Darkness to Light” training last April and this made my feelings about stopping and preventing child abuse even stronger. I stress to the employees at Support Inc. that even if they have just a feeling that something isn’t right to go ahead and report this to DSS because it is so difficult if not impossible for a child to tell someone he or she is being abused. This is why it is up to us to stand up and protect them. I want to make sure this message reaches everyone in the community. These are my reasons for wanting to participate on the PCAG Board.
Diane Hines - Vice President
Partnership For Children of Lincoln and Gaston Counties (Retired)
I currently am a member of the Gaston Faith Network and the Headstart Advisory Council. I am also on the Advisory Council for the Early Education Department at Gaston College. I am on the Board for PCAG because I am dedicated to the ideal that all children should live, grow and thrive without the threat of violence or emotional abuse. Children are the future of this society and we must assure that they grow up to be physically and mentally productive members of our society. Children have the right to play, be happy and enjoy life and not live in fear.
Rodney Smallwood - Board Treasurer
May Barger - Development Committee Chair
Active Volunteer
“Currently on board of Schiele Museum, chair of Covenant Community Preschool at First ARP, Community Bible Study, Art student (oil painting), Member of CaroMont Care Advocates, BB&T local board member. Previously owned MCS Marketing and Communications Services and served on a variety of other local boards.
Child Abuse issues need to continue to remain in the forefront of items our community needs to address. PCAG is needed to help connect organizations that can assist victims and help curtail this terrible issue.”
Child Abuse issues need to continue to remain in the forefront of items our community needs to address. PCAG is needed to help connect organizations that can assist victims and help curtail this terrible issue.”
William " Gus" A. Anthony
Attorney with Bogle & Anthony, PA
"I have always been concerned with the health and welfare of the children of Gaston County. I am a former member of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Commission, a former member and President of the Alliance for Children and Youth, and a former member of the Highland Family Resource Center. I have been a Teen Court volunteer for over 10 years and still active in that program. I hope to continue to be involved with organizations like PCAG, that dedicate themselves to providing a safe, healthy and prosperous environment for the children of our county. "
Celeste Quinn
Board Member
Director, Mediation Center of the Southern Piedmont
"I have worked with at-risk children at the Mediation Center of the Southern Piedmont since 1999. I am part of Prevent Child Abuse Gaston because I am passionate about protecting our children. I feel that as PCAG grows, we will be a resource to not only educate the community about how to prevent abuse and neglect from happening, but also to help connect families to resources that address these issues."
2010-present - Stewards of Children – Darkness to Light, facilitator
2008-present - Gaston County Family YMCA, board member
2005-2008 - Gaston Association of Volunteer Administration, President
2001-2005 - Gaston Association of Volunteer Administration, member
2000-2005 - Altrusa International of Gastonia, member”
2010-present - Stewards of Children – Darkness to Light, facilitator
2008-present - Gaston County Family YMCA, board member
2005-2008 - Gaston Association of Volunteer Administration, President
2001-2005 - Gaston Association of Volunteer Administration, member
2000-2005 - Altrusa International of Gastonia, member”
Kimberly Leppert
Board Member
Therapist
I have been serving children and families of Gaston County since 1996. I have been involved with children and their families for the past 22 years (and counting!). What my experience has taught me is that child abuse and neglect does not discriminate and, no, I have not seen everything. Child abuse affects more children than any of the childhood diseases…if there were a vaccination for child abuse, it would be mandated.
I have been a member of the PCAG for many years and this past year served as a board member. I was the head of the Development Committee and plan to continue to serve on this board as long as allowed. I am a trained facilitator in Stewards of Children and believe that public awareness is the key to keeping children safe.
I began my career in the Tidewater area of Virginia where I was employed in a locked facility with 70 beds that was run at triple its capacity. I was then a live-in “house mom” to 10 teenage boys in a group home and later, a counselor to runaway youth at a shelter in Virginia Beach.
When arriving in Gaston County, I spent 10 years serving the community at the Department of Social Services (DSS). First in foster care working with teens who were placed in care due to being delinquent and undisciplined and then with youth who were leaving foster care at age 18. At that time, I was fortunate to be able to collaborate with State officials to write policy to advocate for older youth and their rights as foster youth. I spent the last 4 as a specialized investigator who investigated cases of child abuse.
During that time, I truly felt as though I was making a difference in the lives of children. I also felt called to do more. I left DSS and went to graduate school and obtained a Master’s of Social Work degree. During the time I was in school and working toward my licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I was employed through Family Service, Inc. as a general counselor and a Forensic Interviewer of cases of child abuse. Additionally, I worked with the AVID rape crisis and facilitated group counseling to men who abuse women. I was also able to provide therapeutic support to the non-offending caregivers of child victims of abuse.
Upon leaving Family Service, Inc., I eventually came to work with Family Works which eventually merged with Phoenix Counseling Center. I have met hundreds of children in a variety of settings and had the opportunity to meet hundreds of their parents and family members. One thread ties a great many of them, the cycle of abuse.
Child abuse is an epidemic. Child abuse is a pandemic. Child abuse is a family problem. Child abuse is a community problem. No matter how you look at it, it is our problem. We have to become the solution, for children’s sake.
I have been a member of the PCAG for many years and this past year served as a board member. I was the head of the Development Committee and plan to continue to serve on this board as long as allowed. I am a trained facilitator in Stewards of Children and believe that public awareness is the key to keeping children safe.
I began my career in the Tidewater area of Virginia where I was employed in a locked facility with 70 beds that was run at triple its capacity. I was then a live-in “house mom” to 10 teenage boys in a group home and later, a counselor to runaway youth at a shelter in Virginia Beach.
When arriving in Gaston County, I spent 10 years serving the community at the Department of Social Services (DSS). First in foster care working with teens who were placed in care due to being delinquent and undisciplined and then with youth who were leaving foster care at age 18. At that time, I was fortunate to be able to collaborate with State officials to write policy to advocate for older youth and their rights as foster youth. I spent the last 4 as a specialized investigator who investigated cases of child abuse.
During that time, I truly felt as though I was making a difference in the lives of children. I also felt called to do more. I left DSS and went to graduate school and obtained a Master’s of Social Work degree. During the time I was in school and working toward my licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I was employed through Family Service, Inc. as a general counselor and a Forensic Interviewer of cases of child abuse. Additionally, I worked with the AVID rape crisis and facilitated group counseling to men who abuse women. I was also able to provide therapeutic support to the non-offending caregivers of child victims of abuse.
Upon leaving Family Service, Inc., I eventually came to work with Family Works which eventually merged with Phoenix Counseling Center. I have met hundreds of children in a variety of settings and had the opportunity to meet hundreds of their parents and family members. One thread ties a great many of them, the cycle of abuse.
Child abuse is an epidemic. Child abuse is a pandemic. Child abuse is a family problem. Child abuse is a community problem. No matter how you look at it, it is our problem. We have to become the solution, for children’s sake.
Leigh Robinson Finley
Board Member
Community Volunteer
Volunteer and Upper School board member of Charlotte Country Day school, Deacon and volunteer at Myers Park Presbyterian, member of Woman’s Impact Fund Charlotte, member of World Vision
Became interested in PCAG from the current director. Wanted to become involved in an organization helping to prevent child abuse and have an impact in the community.
Became interested in PCAG from the current director. Wanted to become involved in an organization helping to prevent child abuse and have an impact in the community.
Maya Feemster-Jones
Board Member, Victim Advocate, Gastonia Division of the Catawba County Rape Crisis Center
A native North Carolinian, Maya fell in love with nonprofits when she was a mere child. Inspired by the summer camp she attended and worked for with the Women’s Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary Convention of NC, Maya developed a deep passion for charitable work. This resolve remained throughout her college, leading to a BS in Psychology from Gardner-Webb University and is currently in progress for a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. She is a certified Victim Service Practitioner through the NC Victims Assistance Network, holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University, and is a certified facilitator for Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children.
Over 14years later, Maya serves as the Victim Advocate for the Rape Crisis Center of Gaston County, a division of the Rape Crisis Center of Catawba County, Inc. In this professional role she provides support to victims of sexual assault. She considers it a privilege spending her days working to keep North Carolina an amazing place to live, by offering services that seek to provide education through awareness, and improve the quality of lives for victims and families.
Over 14years later, Maya serves as the Victim Advocate for the Rape Crisis Center of Gaston County, a division of the Rape Crisis Center of Catawba County, Inc. In this professional role she provides support to victims of sexual assault. She considers it a privilege spending her days working to keep North Carolina an amazing place to live, by offering services that seek to provide education through awareness, and improve the quality of lives for victims and families.
Gerald Mack
Board Member, Guardian Ad Litem Office Gaston County
Gerald is currently the Administrator of the Guardian Ad Litem program in Gaston County. He has over 25 years of child welfare, mental health and behavioral health care experience in the North Carolina system. Has served as a State Director for a NC child placing agency, Operational Director for Community Care Network with the Division of Medicaid Services and several other senior management roles within child serving nonprofit organizations. Experience with foster care and adoption services and policy benefit the Board of directors for Prevent Child Abuse Gaston.
Shelley Carter
Board Member, Community Volunteer
Shelly Carter moved to Gastonia at the age of 8 and grew up in this community. After graduating from Ashbrook High School in 1984 she attended UNC-Chapel Hill where she received a BA in Business Management in 1988. Upon getting married, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she was a Marketing Manager for a New Home Communities Real Estate Firm. Returning to Gastonia in 1998, Shelly became a stay-at-home Mom and began working with local community organizations. As a member of the Junior League of Atlanta and then the Junior League of Gaston County she served in multiple positions including President. During her time with the Junior League, Shelly worked with the Battered Women’s Shelter and became involved with the organization With Friends where she served on the board for several years. Shelly has also served on the Board and as President of the Gastonia Debutante Club. She has been actively involved with the Gastonia Women’s Community Bible Study for the past 13 years and served in leadership for 11 of those years, most recently as Coordinator where she was responsible for the running of the program locally and working with the National headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. She is currently working with the Backpack Weekend Food Program through her church as well as with the organization itself. As a woman, mother and wife, the plight of our children has always been an important subject matter. A desire that no child should suffer at the hands of adults, especially trusted ones, is at the core of Shelly’s desire to work to make change in this community and beyond. Prevent Child Abuse Gaston works towards that goal and it would be a privilege to work together.
Krystie Green
Board Member, Children and Family Services Supervisor, Gaston County Department of Health and Human Services
Prior to joining Gaston County DHHS as an investigator for Child Protective Services in 2013, I completed my MSW at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My background was not in social work, but a passion for youth fueled all of my endeavors. After obtaining a degree in Biology from Berea College, I served as an AmeriCorps volunteer teaching family literacy in West Palm Beach, FL. Teaching and studying locally and internationally in Ghana, Thailand and South Korea caused me to realize all children need the same basic things – to be loved and feel safe. As the High School Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, I worked with teens from minority, low-income families living in crime ridden neighborhoods. Many of the teens experienced neglect and abuse and never reported it. They didn’t feel safe or loved. I felt the need to do more which led me to pursue a career in social work. Prevention efforts are vital in shifting a culture of neglect and abuse. Responding to emergency situations of abuse reenergizes my desire to do more. Serving on the board of Prevent Child Abuse Gaston, I hope to be part of a cultural shift by raising awareness of the child abuse that occurs in our own neighborhoods and communities and by working together to make it stop.
Belinda Bogle
Board Member, Parenting Trainer, NC Cooperative Extension
I have been educating families across the state since 1995. I began my career in Brunswick County as a Health Educator in Maternal Health. In 1997, I relocated to Dare County where I continued to build my interest in the Maternal and Child Health field. After the birth of my first son, my passion grew and I became highly interested in the new field of parenting education where I could help educate, guide and support families with their most important role. In 2001, my family moved back to my hometown of Gastonia where I was blessed to be a full-time mommy for 2 years. Since 2003, I have served Gaston County as the Parent Education Coordinator for the NC Cooperative Extension where I educate parents with the sometimes difficult job of parenting. I have been involved with PCAG since 2003 and served as a past president. As a board member, I am able to continue to watch PCAG move forward as a strong leader in preventing child abuse and neglect in our community.
Debrah Conn Clark
Board Member, Program Manager of Licensing, Carolina Therapeutic Services
Rutherford County born and Graduate from Mars Hill College (University) with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 1983. I am the mother of two birth children, Samantha and Jerry Clark, foster mother of one, co-parent of one Audry Rottler and community mother of many. My career journey includes the Juvenile correction center in Swannanoa, NC with Camp Woodson a therapeutic camping program, P.A.T.H.inc a Domestic Violence Shelter in Rutherford county case management, Henderson County DSS (intake/CPS investigator), Gaston County DSS (foster care/CPS investigator supervisor), Gaston County Schools (School Social Worker) which I retired after 30 years December 2014. I returned to work February 2015 to Training and Licensing Foster Parents for Carolina Therapeutic Services and transitioned into the Program Manager for Licensing in August 2015. A long with working my regular jobs, I worked with various agencies under contract positions such as; Bethany Christian Services (Adoption Specialist), YMCA (Y-Pals program, Strengthening the Families program), and Mental Health with at Risk children as a case manager. My volunteer work history includes, the NOW Hendersonville Chapter, Gaston County Aids Council , Highland Family Resource Center, American Girl Scouts (Brownie Leader).
Gary Shockley
Board Member
Gary Shockley, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, currently serves as the Director of Church Vitality of the Western Norht Carolina Conference. During his ministerial career Shockley developed, launched, led and transitioned several community based ministries including: The Cocoon Youth Center - a ministry designed for recreation, tutoring and mentoring at risk children and youth. Shockley helped create and launch the Potter County Hospice in Coudersport, PA. which continues to grow and develop. The last decade of his ministry has personally started two new congregations (Western PA and Central FL) for the United Methodist Church and directed Path 1 (the UM’s National Church Planting Movement) leading to the creation of over 700 new faith communities in four years.
Shockley has authored five books, is a resident artist at Arts on Main, and a leadership coach and consultant. He is also the founder and director of Epicenter Stewardship which consults with local churches to guide them in capital stewardship campaigns. Shockley and his wife will be celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary this June. They have two sons, a grandson and look forward to welcoming a new granddaughter this June.
Shockley believes the work of PCAG is vital to the health and well-being of our community as staff, volunteers and board members work innovatively to address the needs of our the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community-family.
Shockley has authored five books, is a resident artist at Arts on Main, and a leadership coach and consultant. He is also the founder and director of Epicenter Stewardship which consults with local churches to guide them in capital stewardship campaigns. Shockley and his wife will be celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary this June. They have two sons, a grandson and look forward to welcoming a new granddaughter this June.
Shockley believes the work of PCAG is vital to the health and well-being of our community as staff, volunteers and board members work innovatively to address the needs of our the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community-family.
