Centralina employs a team of experts that work collectively to further the mission of the organization. Interested in joining this dynamic team of professionals? Visit our Insights page for available job opportunities. 

 

Administration and Finance + Government Affairs and Member Engagement (GAME)

Geraldine Gardner

Executive Director, Centralina Regional Council

Geraldine Ide Gardner began her role as Executive Director of Centralina Regional Council in January 2019. She previously served as Director of Urban and Regional Policy at German Marshall of the United States (GMF) in Washington, D.C. At GMF, Geraldine the led program’s transatlantic initiatives to convene policymakers and practitioners from U.S. and European cities to explore key issues in the transatlantic urban agenda. Her expertise lies in the integrated policies and cross-sector partnerships needed to build sustainable and inclusive cities…

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Michelle Nance

Deputy Executive Director, Centralina Regional Council

Michelle E. Nance, AICP is the Deputy Executive Director at Centralina Regional Council, leading regional planning, community economic development, government affairs and member services for nine counties in the Charlotte region. Her portfolio includes land use and transportation, economic and community resilience, healthy communities, grants management and public administration. Her work is focused on helping communities address local needs through planning, capacity building and peer networks while tackling shared, long-term opportunities through collaboration and partnerships.

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Narissa Claiborne

Boards Administrator
704-348-2701
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Emily Hickok

Communications Manager
704-348-2702

Jimmy Loftin

Accountant I
704-348-2738

Robin Smith

Accounting Specialist
704-348-2716

Destiny Richardson

Accountant I
980-500-9225
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Tisha Steen

Accounting Manager
704-348-2727
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Denise Strosser

Finance Director
704-348-2704

John Holmes

GAME Specialist
704-385-4517
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Kelly Weston

GAME Administrator
704-348-2728

Lenessa Hawkins

Grants & Contract Administrator
704-348-2723
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Venecia Rock White

Human Resources & Operations Manager
704-348-2733

Michele Yard

Office Services Specialist
704-385-7557

CENTRALINA AREA AGENCY ON AGING

Linda Miller

Director, Centralina Area Agency on Aging

Linda Miller is the Director of Centralina Area Agency on Aging. She has more than 30 years of experience in the aging field and has been a part of the Centralina team for 25 years. Linda served as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman for the first nine years with Centralina and was instrumental in developing Centralina’s evidence-based health program that has been delivering wellness programs in the community since 2007. She is one of 12 nationally certified Matter of Balance falls prevention workshop trainers, training hundreds of master trainers over the past decade…

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Laurie Abounader

Aging Program Administrator
704-688-6501

Amanda Dawson

Aging Program Coordinator
704-385-4789

Austin Caton-Isham

Aging Program Specialist
704-348-2708

Rochelle McIver

Regional Ombudsman
704-348-2736
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Patricia Cowan

Regional Ombudsman
704-688-6503
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Cindy Kincaid

Aging Program Manager
704-348-2715
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Hillary Kaylor

Regional Ombudsman Program Manager
704-348-2724

Jeanette Mullies

Regional Ombudsman
704-688-6504

Rachel Kiel

Regional Ombudsman
704-348-2739
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Katie Kutcher

Assistant Director, Aging Programs
704-348-2705
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Debi Lee

Assistant Director, Aging Programs
704-348-2714

Kelsey Lieungh

Aging Program Specialist
704-348-2710

Kelly Mach

Aging Program Coordinator
704-688-6509

Caitlin McElrath

Aging Program Administrator
704-348-2726

Molly O’Day

Aging Program Coordinator
704-385-4461
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Evelyn Pressley

Aging Program Financial Coordinator
704-688-6505

Kristen Srouji

Aging Program Manager
704-348-2729

Kamiya Crawford

Aging Program Coordinator
704-688-7036

CENTRALINA COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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Christina Danis

Director, Centralina Community Economic Development

Christina Danis, Ph.D., AICP, is the Director of the Centralina Community Economic Development Department. She is responsible for Centralina’s work related to regional and community economic growth with a focus on urban-rural prosperity, economic resilience and the creation of equitable housing and communities. Her work is dedicated to empowering local governments and regional stakeholders to work collaboratively to create a prosperous and globally connected greater Charlotte region for all.

Kate Fersinger

Community Economic Development Coordinator
704-385-7555

Zsuzsanna Kadar

Community Economic Development Administrator
704-688-7033
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James Luster

Community Economic Development Administrator
704-348-2706

Joe Salicco

Community Economic Development Specialist
704-348-2720
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Anna Lu Wilson

Community Economic Development Coordinator
704-385-4790

CENTRALINA REGIONAL PLANNING

Jason Wager

Director, Centralina Regional Planning

Jason Wager, AICP CEP, serves as Director of the Centralina Regional Planning department. He guides Centralina’s work related to land use and transportation, with an emphasis on regional and local mobility, inclusive and healthy communities, energy and the environment, resiliency and intentional engagement. His work is focused on helping local governments address shared challenges through partnerships, well-designed input processes and the application of people and place-oriented planning assistance.

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Megan Upchurch

Senior Planner
704-688-7035

Dailyn Sailor

Community Engagement Coordinator
704-688-7038

Lavery Hoard

Regional Planner I
704-348-2734

Melissa Jamison

Planning Fellow
704-777-4191

Luke Lowry

Regional Planner II
704-385-7556

Sarah Niess

Senior Planner
704-372-2416

CENTRALINA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

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David Hollars

Director, Centralina Workforce Development Board

David Hollars is the Director of Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB). In his role he provides the expertise and resources to support the work of Centralina WDB, partnering with economic development, education and businesses, creating innovative strategies to serve job seekers and employers and investing in the future of the community…

Laurie Garner

Business Services Leader
704-348-2713

Micheal Crumpler

Workforce Development Board Coordinator
704-348-2718
Solomon McAuley

Solomon McAuley

NextGen Program Leader
704-348-2725
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Sherika Rich

Assistant Director, Centralina Workforce Development Board
704-348-2719

centralina integrated mobility center

The newly-formed Centralina Integrated Mobility Center works with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau to identify opportunities in transportation finance innovation, priority mobility project acceleration and land-use transportation integration for the Centralina region and its partners. It will serve as a hub for CONNECT Beyond regional mobility plan implementation activities.

Andy Grzymski

Regional Mobility Program Manager
704-688-6507

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the ongoing policy and practice of Centralina to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants. No person shall be discriminated against in any condition of employment because of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.