Carrie is the Founder and Director of Families Forward Charlotte. Carrie has lived in Mecklenburg County since she was 1 years old and is now raising her family in Charlotte with her husband Tom. She graduated from West Charlotte High and earned her Masters of Arts in teaching from Winthrop University. She loves coaching high school volleyball and watching her kids enjoy sports as they grow.

Carrie was devastated to learn about the Harvard study on Equality of Opportunity that found Mecklenburg County ranked 50 of 50 in upward mobility. Meanwhile, her family had been supporting poverty stricken families each Christmas through the help of local teachers. These families struggled to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. When dropping off Christmas gifts and household items in December 2016, the idea to start a non profit was born. Carrie wanted to provide year round support to ease the burden of poverty on local children and families, and in researching her goal she learned just how difficult it is to find local resources for families and her mission grew. Carrie quickly gained support within the community and with a dedicated board of directors, Families Forward Charlotte was born.

Carrie is thankful for the opportunity to serve the community she grew up in and adores.

Taylor moved from Georgia to Charlotte in 2021 and quickly found her passion for working in the nonprofit sector. She holds a bachelor's degree in Speech Language Pathology and a Master's in Educational Leadership. A proud wife and mom to a sweet boy, she balances family life with her mission to support and uplift others. Taylor loves building connections and making sure everyone feels seen, heard, and valued in everything she does.

Lauren was born and raised in Gastonia, NC. She spent 10 years living and working in Wilmington, NC before moving back here to Charlotte. She's spent her career working in nonprofits, designing volunteer-driven programs focused on education and community building. She holds an M.Ed in Adult Education from NC State University and is passionate about building connections and ensuring every family has the resources they need to thrive. In her spare time she likes to read, go for walks with her 3 dogs, and visit with her family in Gastonia.

Daniel grew up in Louisiana and has lived in Fort Mill since 2018. He graduated from Morris College with a Bachelors in Political Science and a minor in Pre-Law. Daniel is currently pursuing his Masters in Public Administration/Public Policy. Daniel has thirteen years experience in Non-profit work. Daniel has a passion and dedicated his life to empowering families to become their best versions of themselves. Daniel is committed to uplifting families for educational, social, and youth development.

Emma has lived in the Charlotte area for most of her life and is passionate about giving back to the community she calls home. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Nutrition. Emma served as a Memory Care Program Director, where she worked closely with residents, families, and a dedicated team of volunteers. With a strong foundation in health and wellness and volunteerism, Emma brings a people-centered approach to her work and is excited to support meaningful initiatives that create lasting impact in her community.

Jake Reynolds is an upstate New York native with a strong background in human services and public systems work. He earned his undergraduate degree from Chestnut Hill College and later completed his master's degree at Florida Atlantic University. Through his work with DSS, Jake developed a deep understanding of community needs and the systems that support families.

Outside of work, Jake enjoys spending quality time with his family and loves being a dad to his energetic two year old.

Amonnie Russ is from Atlanta GA, and brings over 15 years of community volunteer experience and five years working in nonprofit organizations, along with more than five years living in El Salvador where she gained experience in Human Resources and mentoring international students. These experiences shaped her global perspective and deep love for building meaningful connections.

She is passionate about supporting families, connecting people to the right resources, and helping individuals move confidently toward their goals. As a mom, she believes in nurturing identity, creativity, and self-expression, values that guide her leadership and mentorship style. She also created and leads her own women's wellness workshops, focused on hormone education and accountability coaching to help women reach their health goals.

Outside of work, she enjoys performing at open mics, upcycling clothing, traveling, and spending time with her daughter and friends.