Meet Team - The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte

Meet the Team

Our Leadership

Roy Courtney

Executive Director

Roy is originally from the United Kingdom and has lived in the USA for the last 9 years spending 2 years in Orlando, Florida moving to Charlotte in 2017. Roy is passionate and enthusiastic about empowering others and has spent 10 years working in the non-profit sector, using his experience to provide services to the people in the community, fulfilling his passion to create social engagement for all. Roy is honored to be the Executive Director at the Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte and play a role in supporting our families. 

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his rescue dog Jumbo, hiking, kayaking, and venturing out and around Charlotte with friends.

Victoria Coles

Program and Community Outreach Director

Vicki graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, and earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from George Mason University. She taught Special Education in Northern Virginia for eight years before moving to Charlotte, NC in 2018. Prior to joining the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte, Vicki spent four years working in care management with Medicaid and the NC Innovations Waiver.

Vicki loves to spend her free time with husband (Danny), two little boys, (Charlie and Elliott), and dog (Lincoln), exploring Charlotte, swimming and boating on the lake, at the beach, and playing in the front yard.

Vicki serves on the advisory council for the caregiver respite organization, A Mother’s Respite.

Maia Edwards

Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Maia is originally from Lexington, Kentucky, and has relocated to Charlotte this year. Maia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication focusing on Public Relations from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) and is on course to complete a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of New York at Albany. Maia accomplished a dynamic collegiate athletic career as a Division 1 volleyball player. With three years of hands-on experience in the nonprofit sector and state government, Maia has cultivated a deep understanding of community engagement, advocacy, and strategic communication.
Outside of Maia’s professional life she enjoys traveling, dancing, reading, drawing, cooking, and photography.

Casey Hammeke

Ambassador

Casey Hammeke is an ambassador for the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte. In this role, she engages with various community organizations to share experiences about living independently with Down syndrome. Casey speaks about the importance of supportive counselors and discusses personal feelings and perspectives on having Down syndrome, aiming to inspire and educate others.

Board of Directors - Officers

Andrew Spafford

President

Andrew T. Spafford ChFC, ChSNC

Andrew has a passion for serving the special needs community and has been involved with the DSAGC since 2010. He has been on the board since 2016 and currently serves as President. He is well-routed in the community and also serves on the board of directors for the Next Step Clubhouse. Andrew and his wife Melissa live in Plaza Midwood with their two boys, Hudson and Jennings.

Melina DeLeon

Vice President

Melina’s passion comes from being part of a group of people with the same purpose. It brings fulfillment to the soul and makes a positive and lasting impact on our community and the world.

Anna Emmerich

Secretary

Anna Mueller (Emmerich) joined the Board of Directors in 2019 after moving from Chicago. After learning more about the community, she decided to join the DSAIA Board of Directors to continue to grow support nationally. Anna is a University of Wisconsin – Madison alumni, with a background in nonprofits. She current resides in south Charlotte with her husband, daughter, and Great Pyrenees. You can often find them roaming the greenway. Anna previously served as Vice President and is currently Secretary for the DSAGC.

Nicholas Coulsen

Treasurer

Organizes the Adult weekend retreats and supports the Buddy Walk.

 

Board of Directors - At Large

Brendan Hammeke

Chris Coggins

(Daughter, Avery)

Chris has been involved with the organization since the birth of his daughter, Avery, in 2006. He has served as a board member and as president of the organization. Chris is currently employed by Wells Fargo, where he has been in technology for the past 30 years.

Dr. Joseph D. Mulla

Dr. Joe is a Senior Vice President at Truist Bank.  He is the Sales Leader for the bank’s workplace financial wellness program, Truist Momentum, where he works with companies to provide their employees with financial literacy education.  After nine honorable years in the Marine Corps, Joe has over 14 years of experience in personal finance and has completed several degrees along the way, including his Doctor of Business Administration degree from UNC Charlotte.  Joe’s worked with the community for many years now in areas such as wildlife rehabilitation, Special Olympics, and Veteran welfare.  Outside of work, Joe is a fitness enthusiast, movie buff, and car fanatic, and his two passions in life are personal finance and helping people.

Jocelyn Weber

Jocelyn Weber, OTD, OTR/L, has a passion for helping others as she grew up immersed in the disability community with her sister having an intellectual disability. She works as an instructor in the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. In her free time, Jocelyn enjoys spending time with her husband and son.

Neil Middlemiss

Neil, born and raised in England, has lived in the USA for nearly 30 years and moved to Charlotte in 2020 with his wife and son (who has Down syndrome). A Corporate Communications Senior Manager with Truist, Neil has also been actively and passionately involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout his life serving on diversity groups for more nearly 20 years. He currently serves as Co-lead for the Disability@Truist business resource group. In his free time, he enjoys family time, watching movies, writing film reviews, talking Star Trek, and listening to his extensive collection of film scores.

Omar Ritter

Omar attended West Point for his undergraduate degree and earned a Bronze Star Medal from combat action in the Middle East.  After medically retiring from the Army, Omar attended Columbia Business School in New York City, where he earned an MBA. Omar is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). He currently works in the office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Wells Fargo. Omar joined the team at DSAGC in order to give back to the community and to help enhance the lives of families impacted by Down syndrome.

Stacy Dunleavy

Stacy became involved with the DSAGC as a volunteer for Camp Horizon from 2004-2014. She has been privileged to work with children with Ds as a medical social worker and special education teacher.

Camp Horizon - Board of Directors

Melissa Sutton

Director

Kate Walters

Director

Kate Walters has been involved with Camp Horizon since 2009, when she signed up on a whim after learning about the program from the folks at Camp Holiday – where she was Music Specialist, Counselor, and Director until 2012.  After that first summer, she was hooked and has served on the committee as Arts and Crafts Lead, Counselor Lead, and Co-Director. In her other life, she serves as a professional counselor to adults but thinks this role is way more fun!

Angela Hamby

Head Volunteer Nurse
Angela has been the volunteer Head Nurse for Camp Horizon since 2007 and completes medical reviews for camps & DSA events. She is honored to have represented DSA-GC/Camp Horizon as a finalist in 2019 for the NASCAR Foundation Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Angela works as an ER nurse at Atrium Health and teaches entry-level nursing. She loves watching these kids grow and thrive amongst their peers at camp. “I wish Camp Horizon lasted all summer!
Support Us