Introducing the 2024–2025 Transforming Teams Goodmon Fellows
Leadership Triangle is pleased to introduce the 16 graduates of our 2024–2025 Transforming Teams Program. Each graduate joins the lifelong Goodmon Fellowship, now encompassing 1200+ leaders across the Triangle.
Transforming Teams is an immersive, cohort-based experience designed for nonprofit teams seeking to build trust, strengthen connections, and enhance the effectiveness of their practices and procedures. Guided by expert leadership development facilitators, each team receives tailored support while also learning key principles of equitable and transformational organizational design. Transforming Teams helps busy nonprofit organizations break free from reactive problem-solving and enter a facilitated space to strategically work on their business.
This year’s cohort featured the 2023–2025 Ten to Watch organizations, and was sponsored by United Way of the Greater Triangle.
Annah Lee has worked in the non-profit visual arts field in her home town of Raleigh, NC for the past 10 years. She received her Master’s Degree in Art History and completed her PhD coursework at UNC-Chapel Hill. Driven by a cultural history approach and a strong knowledge of various materials and artistic processes, Lee applies this experience to her curatorial and management method. Having forged strong interpersonal relationships with artists, institutions, and community members to ensure programming is relevant to our communities, Lee programs art and artists who respond to current cultural issues. Connective conversations across Artspace’s three gallery spaces and the artists working in the building ensure themes are approached from multiple perspectives. Using art as a lens to explore and understand problems, behaviors, and events we collectively face, while placing a strong emphasis on process and technical mastery, Lee continues to expand access for all to engage with art as a vehicle to appreciate and understand human experience.
Anne Strickland has been part of the nonprofit workforce for more than twenty years, serving as a leader both professionally and in service to our local community for the last decade. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of YCC, a Wilmington, NC-based association and events management company leading a dynamic team in their support of a collection of national and global nonprofit agencies. She holds a BA in Communications (Appalachian State), MS in Technical Communication (NCSU), and MBA (UNCW). Anne is passionate about blending these skills in service to others, innovating operations and efficiency in the nonprofit sector. She is invested in her community, and is grateful for the opportunity to volunteer in a number of organizations in Wake County. Anne has won several awards for her service, including Junior League of Raleigh Member of the Year and Association Executives of North Carolina’s Jovita S. Mask Award for extraordinary achievements and the promise of future accomplishments within the association management profession. She is an inaugural member of theYouth Ambassadors for Service’s Governance Board and is also currently serving as an At-Large Director for the Junior League of Raleigh. Anne and her husband, Drew, live in downtown Garner with their pack — cats Slinks and Ember, who are still actively learning to love their canine sisters, Beansie and Violet.
Carly P. Jones is a Raleigh-based arts executive with over a decade of experience in arts administration, community engagement, and cultural leadership. As President & CEO of Artspace, she leads North Carolina’s largest public studio community for visual artists, a hub for innovation and creativity that has been a cornerstone of the Triangle’s cultural landscape for over 35 years. Artspace fosters artistic talent through accessible arts education, affordable studios, artist residencies, and exhibitions, serving as a national model for arts community growth. Previously, Jones was Senior Program Director for Artists & Organizations at the North Carolina Arts Council, overseeing statewide grants, spearheading the equitable distribution of $15M in pandemic relief, and curating the Music at the Mansion series at the Governor’s Mansion. She played a key role in preserving Nina Simone’s childhood home and co-led major cultural initiatives, including the Come Hear North Carolina campaign, which evolved into the NC Music Office. Her leadership spans roles as Director of Communications & Development at Arts Together and Festival Director of the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh & Wake County. Recognized with the festival’s Trailblazer in the Arts Award, she has also been featured in the News & Observer and Triangle Business Journal. She currently serves on the Executive Committee for Arts North Carolina and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance Board. A graduate of Miami University (OH) in Music and Arts Administration, Jones is dedicated to expanding access to the arts and believes that arts and culture are essential to economic growth and community vitality.
Dr. Corbin Smith, a seasoned leader with a Doctorate in Business Administration from Trident University International, is a beacon of hope in nonprofit management, workforce development, and project management. His unwavering commitment to fostering growth and opportunity for individuals and organizations has consistently delivered measurable results in program efficiency, stakeholder satisfaction, and organizational growth. As the Executive Director of the 100 Black Men of Triangle East, Dr. Smith has driven a substantial increase in capturing program analytics, fundraising strategies, and systems integration. His career started in the entertainment industry, marketing at Radio One, Inc. and being featured on the HBO series “The Wire” in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Smith’s passion for mentorship and community development is a source of optimism for the future.
Danny Peña is an artist and educator with a strong commitment to ensuring access to a high quality arts education. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Danny currently serves as Education Manager at Artspace in Raleigh, NC, where he collaborates with various teams to develop and coordinate youth and adult workshops, classes, and events. Danny believes that fostering a love and appreciation for visual arts comes from opportunities to engage, teach, and make meaning with relevant and contemporary art practices. As a multidisciplinary artist, Danny applies his artistic skills in both his role as Education Manager and participating member of the arts community, most notably through his photography.
Since 2022, David Moore has led Artspace’s community engagement efforts, cultural and art education programs while increasing the organization’s reach and impact. Moore received his Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Urban & Regional Planning from Miami University. He began his career with NewTown Macon, managing the Downtown Macon Community Association and community engagement projects such as the Macon Ideas Festival. He successfully advocated for local artists in Macon-Bibb County with the adoption of a previously nonexistent public art policy and the Macon Exchange pop-up shop. In 2019, David joined the Downtown Raleigh Alliance as their first Placemaking + Activations Manager spearheading community events, Discover Downtown Tours, First Friday, and public art projects including the Illuminate Art Walk, Raleigh’s first light and art festival. He volunteers his time as a co-organizer with Raleigh Pride and serves on the City of Raleigh Arts Commission. He is a 2023 graduate of the Leadership Raleigh program.
Emily Adams is a dedicated educator and community advocate with over 20 years of experience in education, including 8 years as a classroom teacher and 12 years in school libraries. She currently serves as a Curriculum Specialist for Empower All Inc., where she plays a key role in designing curriculum that elevates student experiences, amplifies their voices, and makes education more engaging and relevant. Through the use of STEAM, Emily is committed to fostering strong relationships and inclusive spaces where every student feels heard, seen, and assured they belong. She also works to disrupt existing silos and build strong communities that create access and opportunity for all.
Julia Htoo (She/Her) was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and lived there for 12 years before resettling to the United State and was placed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2009. Julia started working with the Karen community in 2021 at Refugee Community Partnership and she started working with Transplanting Traditions Community Farm in March 2022 as the Finance and Administration Manager. She is an accounting enthusiast who finds joy in the precision of numbers and the tranquility of nature. In her free time, Julia enjoys fishing with her husband, hiking, and unwinding with a good comedy show.
Lena Romaldini received a BA in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from the University of New Hampshire, driven by a passion for increasing the viability of local food systems as a means of advancing the fight for environmental justice. Following graduation Lena worked on small farms and held both Front and Back of House positions in the food service industry, learning about another important segment of the food system. Since 2023 she has been with Transplanting Traditions Community Farm, first as Community Farms Manager and now as Farm Programs Director. Here she supports immigrant and refugee farmers grow and operate their farm businesses. Lena is also currently studying Urban Planning as a graduate student at East Carolina University, focusing on better integrating local food systems into cities as a means of increasing resiliency within urban areas.
In 2023, Lonnie D. Manns earned his Ph.D in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences from North Carolina State University. Lonnie is an active member of Empower All, Inc a new organization dedicated to supporting STEAM education and access with a focus on youth mental health. Additionally, his interests include amplifying the perspectives of autistic youth. Lonnie founded MECO Autism, a nonprofit dedicated to serving families with autistic youth. Lonnie holds a MAT in Special Education (NCSU) and an MBA (Saint Joseph’s University).
Nathalie Ray is an arts advocate and administrator working to grow support for the arts in the Triangle. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Lloyd International Honors College with a double major in Drama and Arts Administration. Ray served as the Development Director at Burning Coal Theatre Company for five years, increasing partnerships to expand audiences and almost doubling contributed revenue. From there she joined the team at Artspace, where she aims to increase support of artists and programs to create positive community impact through art.
Paw Paw Wei was born in Burma and lived in the Thailand/Burma border for nine years in the Thai Hin Refugee Camp before moving to the U.S in 2006. She grew up in the Chapel Hill and Carrboro area since she arrived. She is the Youth and Children Programs Director at Transplanting Traditions Community Farm (TTCF) and co-founded the Refugee Youth Program in 2014 doing food justice work. Paw Paw loves the triangle since it is a mix of city, forest, and farming life which allows her to enjoy all of them without having to travel far. Her passion in life is to help the refugee family and her community in need. She loves to cook for her family and enjoys cooking to help her destress. In her free time she likes to take mini family trips to museums with her children within and out of the states. She also is humbled and blessed to be able to tag along with her grandmother to expose her to the beauty that surrounds us and life outside of her military dictatorship country.
Originally from Massachusetts, Rachel Sobel Bearman moved to the Chapel Hill, NC area in 1995. Having just completed a master’s degree in International Service and finding herself in North Carolina, she decided to pursue other passions as a professional and volunteer in non-profit leadership, specializing in strategic planning, community organizing, advocacy, and development. After working in the nonprofit world as a professional and volunteer for over 20 years, Rachel had the incredible opportunity to lead Meals on Wheels Orange County, NC, as Executive Director. Since moving to NC, Rachel has been an active volunteer in various organizations focused on food insecurity, women’s rights, voting rights and election monitoring as well as Jewish and interfaith peace and justice organizations centered on Israel and Palestine. When not busy at work or volunteering, Rachel can often be found either out on a run, planning her next travel adventure, or wandering through independent bookstores contemplating what to add to the growing stack on her bedside table. She is the co-parent of three young adults and currently resides in rural Orange County with her spouse, three dogs, and numerous chickens.
Ree Ree Wei (she/her) was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and resettled to the USA in 2006 with her family. Ree Ree studied Community and Justice Studies and Forced Migration and Resettlement Studies at Guilford College and was a Bonner Scholar. She is passionate about immigration justice, cultural food access, uplifting community voice, and community service. Her passion was born out of her lived experiences and desire to keep the Karen traditions alive along with other ethnic minority groups in Burma (aka Myanmar). She has been involved with Transplanting Traditions Community Farm (TTCF) and has been doing food system work since middle school. She co-founded the Refugee Youth Program at TTCF in 2014 and became the Youth Program Coordinator after graduating from high school. Upon receiving her BA at Guilford College in 2021, Ree Ree landed a job at Transplanting Traditions doing market research and assessing farmers business as the Business Development Coordinator and began a new role as the executive director in the fall. In her free time, Ree Ree makes pottery, paints, spends time with her nieces and nephews, and watches crime shows.
Suzzette Jarman has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 5 years. She joined Meals on Wheels, Orange County, NC in December 2019. She serves as Operations Manager ensuring each meal is delivered and each client receives a meal and so much more. Suzzette graduated with her Master’s in Business Administration in 2016 and her Juris Doctor in 2013. She is also the owner of a small consulting firm, AB Consulting, Inc., which helps individuals create successful business plans and career portfolios.
Tanesha Cameron-Cole is an award-winning, multi-faceted, executive leader dedicated to human-centered leadership and partnering to meet strategic goals aligned with the best interests of organizations, youth and communities. After recently transitioning out of an Executive Director role, Tanesha currently supports organizations to “fill in the gaps” through programming and strategy work which includes group facilitation, leadership coaching, grant writing, fund development strategy and consulting services. As a best-selling author and dynamic public speaker, Tanesha’s engagements include keynote presentations, panel discussions, and workshop facilitation. Tanesha brings a wealth of leadership insights with over 20 years of experience leading a range of small to nationwide nonprofits with multimillion-dollar programs, managing teams of 90+ employees. Tanesha is highly skilled at supporting teams while carrying out organizational operations. Tanesha forges powerful relationships with corporate, university, nonprofit, and government entities and prides herself on leading with empathy to promote unified approaches in addressing organizational and community needs. Tanesha earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Syracuse University. The United Way of the Greater Triangle designated Tanesha as a “10 to Watch” nonprofit leader in 2023. She is also a two-time Leadership Triangle Goodmon Fellow (TL Spr 2023, TT Spr 2025).
Please help us welcome and celebrate these graduates!
