OUR STAFF

Mollie Thorn James

Mollie is the Executive Director of Wayfinders. She joined the Wayfinders team as a volunteer in early 2012 before moving into the position of executive director in June of 2012. Mollie came to Wayfinders after a successful 17-year legal career and brought a wealth of community involvement and non-profit experience to the executive director role. Mollie enjoyed the tremendous benefits of the summer camp experience as a camper and camp counselor herself and is passionate about extending those benefits to low-income students in the Charlotte area.

Katie Troy

Katie is joining the Wayfinders Team as the new Director of Development. She is originally from Pennsylvania, and moved to Charlotte in 2021 to be a Spanish Teacher with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Prior to Wayfinders, she worked as the Advancement Operations Manager at Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, where she developed a passion for non-profit fundraising. She is an advocate for education and providing equal opportunities for all children. She is excited to join the Wayfinders team and help further our mission!

Piper Strzelecki

Piper Strzelecki is the Development Associate for Wayfinders. Prior to joining our team, Piper was the supervisor of an after-school program facilitated by the Latin American Youth Center in Washington, D.C. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Learning Design and Technology through the University of San Diego. Piper joined Wayfinders in 2025 and has a passion for youth and family advocacy, amplifying scholars’ voices, and quality, year-round enrichment programs. Piper is a Charlotte native who graduated from East Mecklenburg High School. In her spare time, she loves reading, playing board games, and searching for the best vanilla latte in the city!

Alison Busch

Alison Busch is the Camp & Enrichment Coordinator for Wayfinders. Alison joins us from the education world, where she was a Transitional Kindergarten teacher at First Presbyterian Church for the past 11 years. She is a Co-Chair of HYPE, a mentoring program at Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary, as well as a Mentor with Wayfinders. Her passion lies in improving outcomes in children’s lives and she looks forward to building meaningful relationships with Wayfinders scholars and their families. Alison, her husband, and their three sons have lived in Charlotte since 2000. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and backpacking, reading, yoga and spending time with friends and family.

Lazetta Lutrillo

Lazetta is the Family & Academic Success Coordinator for Wayfinders. Prior to joining our team, Lazetta worked with Communities In Schools for over 10 years where she referred scholars to Wayfinders. Lazetta joined Wayfinders in 2024 and has a passion for working with students and families to provide resources and eliminate any barriers to students being successful in school and life. Lazetta is a Charlotte native, and lives with her husband and two children. In her spare time, she enjoys salsa dancing, pickleball, and traveling with her family.

Lisa Stewart

Lisa Stewart is the Mentor Coordinator for Wayfinders. Lisa is an experienced coordinator of volunteer-centric teams with a passion for bridging the opportunity gaps for underserved children in Charlotte. Most recently, she has served as co-coordinator of a youth mentor program for a local elementary school. Lisa joined Wayfinders as a mentor earlier this year and strongly believes that the experiences Wayfinders offers through camp, mentorship and enrichment opportunities can change the trajectory of a child’s life for the better. Lisa and her husband have lived in Charlotte since 2003 and have three children.

Tilden Arnold

Tilden Arnold is a Mentor Coordinator for Wayfinders. She joins our team with a wealth of non-profit experience, including seven years at Communities In Schools, where she referred scholars to Wayfinders. Tilden is driven by her passion for building meaningful relationships and advocating for young people. She believes everyone is extraordinary and is dedicated to connecting individuals with experiences that inspire a deeper sense of purpose and self-worth. Tilden lives with her husband, toddler, and golden retriever. In her spare time, she loves reading, writing, and spending time outdoors.

Emely Reyes

Emely is the Program & Marketing Associate for Wayfinders. She is a graduate from UNC Charlotte, where she studied International Studies (concentration: Peace, Conflict, and Identity) and Women’s and Gender Studies. Emely hails from the Big Apple, but has lived in Charlotte for the past couple of years. Her passion is to positively impact the community in any way she can. In her spare time, she enjoys pilates, yoga, reading, and spending time with friends.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President
Vince Hindman
Wells Fargo

Vice-President of Fundraising
Marcus Kimbrough
Atrium Health

Vice-President of Governance & Nominating
Kara Schlageter
Community Volunteer

Vice-President of Mentoring
Stuart Pfeifer
Morgan Stanley

Vice-President of Marketing & Communications 
Marc McCollum
Raptive

Treasurer
Phil Barrett
The Seigfried Group

Secretary
Avin Dwivedy
GLC

Roselyn Ahua
Glaukos Corporation

Jeff Alexander
McMillan PLLC

Rose Blackwood
Bank of America

Lance Breeden
Wellist

Ronetta Bouchard
Novant Health & Graceful Healthcare

Karl Celis
PrimeRX

David Crane
Crane Charitable Foundation

Emily Forfar
Ally Bank

Shaila Gupta
Kickstarter

Mark Jerrell
Jaesan/Chair, Meck Co. BOC

Jeryn Lindsay
Vanguard

Luly Mendez
Atrium Health

Asa Santa Cruz
BDG Architects

Hane Tarris 
Bank of America

Alison Miley
Community Voluntter

Laura Williams 
UNC System Office