Celebrating Women

We are proud to celebrate Breana Southerland as one of our Rising Star recipients. Breana’s deep love for God and passion for serving her community is evident in every aspect of her life. At just 31 years old, she is already making an incredible impact as the HR / Office Coordinator for the Salvation Army of Alamance County, a role that extends far beyond her official title.

Breana’s work with the Salvation Army has touched countless lives, particularly through her involvement with the food pantry and emergency assistance intakes. Each day, she assists individuals and families in need, ensuring they receive the support necessary to move forward. Breana’s efforts aren’t just about providing immediate help; her commitment is to create lasting change and foster hope within the community.

Her co-workers describe her as a natural mentor—someone who is always willing to lend a listening ear and offer guidance. Her compassion shines through as she works with clients who are struggling with hardships, whether it be financial difficulties, hunger, or other challenges. Breana’s genuine love for helping others has cemented her as a key figure at the Salvation Army, where she has made a lasting impression on those around her.

riginally from Virginia, Breana now calls North Carolina home. She is a proud graduate of Winston-Salem State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in gerontology. Her passion for helping others led her to further her education, earning a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in healthcare. With her SHRM-CP certification, Breana’s background and expertise have made her an invaluable asset, both in the nonprofit sector and in her community work.

Before joining the Salvation Army, Breana spent over a decade working in senior care, where she honed her skills in compassion and leadership. Today, she continues to leverage her experience in care and service to uplift those in need.

Outside of work, Breana enjoys poetry, yoga, and swimming, but most of her free time is spent with her beautiful daughter, Ammia. Breana’s commitment to service extends to her family life as well, as she often brings Ammia to volunteer at the Salvation Army, teaching her the importance of giving back. Together, they participate in community events, continuing Breana’s legacy of service and love.

One of Breana’s favorite quotes, “Be the change that you want to see in the world” by Mahatma Gandhi, is one she truly embodies. Every day, Breana Southerland is being the change in her community, working tirelessly to make the world a better place for those in need. She is a shining example of what it means to live a life of purpose, and we are honored to recognize her as one of our Rising Stars.

This impressive Leading the Way nominee for the Founder’s Award grew up in Henderson, N. C., where most of her extended family still lives. After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill, she planned on becoming an elementary school teacher. But life had a different plan for her: after moving to Burlington in 1983, there were few teaching positions available.

Pam accepted a job as a lead teacher at First Presbyterian Church’s Child Development Center where she developed appropriate lesson plans for two-year-olds. She then moved to Wee Care Development Centers in Burlington and Gibsonville where she was lead teacher for four-year-olds and then director of the 5-star facility for eight years. Pam states that she fell in love with the pre-school aged child through these experiences.

In 1999 Pam began working with Early Childhood Intervention, first with the PACT program through Alamance Caswell Mental Health where she worked as a Smart Start Behavior Specialist. In this position, she supported families and childcare professionals by developing behavior management strategies. Starting in 2016 and continuing to the present, Pam became a supervisor with this program that is based in the Greensboro Children’s Development Services Agency (CDSA) satellite office in Gibsonville. She is the leader of the team responsible for services for children birth to age three with developmental delays or disabilities in Alamance and Caswell Counties. A long-time employee of the Early Intervention Program states “Pam Thompson is our fearless leader. She is encouraging and supportive of each of us, both professionally and personally. She leads by example. She listens, guides, and coaches us through many various situations.” Pam states that “It excites me to be a part of the challenging work we do each day because we see families in our community linked to the resources available to help their children.”

Along the way Pam has developed exceptional relationships with families and as an adjunct professor in the Early Childhood program at Alamance Community College has made a positive impact on hundreds of students. During her nine-year tenure at ACC, the children and families in our community have benefitted greatly after receiving services from Pam.

Understanding the importance of collaboration within the Early Childhood field, she worked with the school system and other providers of birth to five services to renew Alamance County’s Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC). Through a partnership with the co-lead from ABSS, Pam has re-established the relevance of the team to find children and families who would benefit from early intervention services. She has also worked extensively with the local medical community, including the Health Department and a majority of pediatric providers to help identify children and families that these programs would help.

On a personal note, Pam is very involved with her church, Glen Hope Baptist, volunteering in the Children’s Ministry and Community Outreach, especially in their partnership with Cummings High School and the AWANA program. Her minister, Rev. Lewis Baker, says Pam “is one of the most consistent and dependable people I have ever known.” She loves spending time with her husband, family, and their four grandchildren (“the best thing ever!”). They enjoy going to Holden Beach and boating at Kerr Lake in their free time. One of her favorite quotes is from A.A. Milne: “Piglet noticed that though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” I think that we should feel a large amount of gratitude for the work Pam Thompson does!

In a world where healthcare professionals often face challenges, Dr. Karin R. Minter stands out as a beacon of compassion and leadership. A devoted community pediatrician, Dr. Minter has made significant strides in advancing the health and well-being of families in Alamance County.
Every day, Dr. Minter embraces the privilege of caring for children at various stages of life—from newborns to young adults. “I love being a Pediatrician! It’s an honor to build supportive relationships with my patients and their families,” she shares. Her commitment to ongoing education allows her to navigate the complexities of pediatric care, from routine check-ups to recognizing rare medical conditions. This vigilance is a hallmark of her practice, where the health and safety of her young patients come first.

Dr. Minter’s influence extends far beyond the clinic walls. She has served in leadership roles, including as Chair of the Pediatrics Department at Alamance Regional Medical Center and as a board member of the Alamance County Board of Health. Her visionary leadership has been pivotal in improving community health outcomes, evidenced by her initiative to organize an annual health fair. This event unites local healthcare providers to offer free check-ups to uninsured members of the community, embodying her belief in equitable access to care.

Dr. Minter also champions mental health services for adolescents, recognizing the importance of addressing issues like anxiety and depression, especially in a post-pandemic world. By providing a holistic approach to healthcare, she ensures that her young patients receive the support they need to thrive.

Dr. Minter inspires others not only through her professional achievements but also through her personal philosophy. She encourages young people to “Stay strong. Trust your instincts. Smile often.” Her favorite quote by Maya Angelou encapsulates her approach: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

As we celebrate Dr. Minter’s nomination for the Founders’ Award, we honor a woman who is truly leading the way in pediatric care and community health. Her passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment make her an exceptional role model for future generations of healthcare professionals. Dr. Minter’s journey exemplifies the power of compassion in medicine, and her work continues to inspire many in our community.

Kelly Roberts believes that “finding ways to practice small acts of courage in our everyday lives allows us to show up in the world differently and with more impact”. She encourages this spirit in the young professional women she is able to engage in mentorship through her current role as the current Senior Director of Investor Engagement for the Alamance Chamber, where she has served 8 years. A 2015 Communication Studies graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Kelly joined the Alamance Chamber in 2015 and had the pleasure of working at the Chamber’s inaugural ROAR Women’s Symposium in 2016. Getting to see it grow and evolve each year she states has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career. Under Kelly’s leadership, the 2023 ROAR Women’s Symposium event hosted 400 attendees from the surrounding area, becoming the largest women’s professional development event in the region. In addition to working with the ROAR planning committing to develop the program for the Women’s Symposium,  Kelly also provides leadership and direction for designing and implementing programs focused on recruitment, retention, and engagement of chamber investors and also oversees the public relations function of the organization: leading the development and execution of the Chamber’s communication strategies.

Consistently seeking opportunities to grow as a chamber professional, Kelly holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management(IOM) at the University of Georgia. She is actively engaged with the Carolina’s Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) and is a graduate of the Alamance Chamber’s Leadership Alamance Class of 2017 and Impact Alamance’s Leadership Institute Class of 2023.

Kelly is the epitome of servant leadership and commitment and is an ardent volunteer and supporter of a variety of efforts that benefit the Alamance County community. In a professional capacity, Kelly leads the Ambassadors, a core group of volunteers supporting the mission of the Alamance Chamber. This work includes continued engagement with volunteers, connecting them to other businesses to strengthen relationships, and practicing in-service volunteer opportunities with them across the community, creating learning opportunities for the group not only to keep them connected to the Chamber but also to other community organizations. Outside of the Chamber,  Kelly has volunteered with the United Way serving on the marketing & brand awareness taskforce, Alamance Achieves on their Communications committee, and for Downtown Burlington serving on the Corporations Marketing and Promotions committee.  Additionally, Kelly is an annual supporter and donor for Little Pink Houses of Hope, a non-profit organization providing assistance and resources for families impacted by Breast Cancer.

Although Kelly’s leadership qualities and core of work with the Chamber have contributed greatly to the economic health of our community, for those who know her, her presence and warm demeanor have also had a substantial impact in demonstrating building a foundation for building community through compassion. One of her greatest impacts has been “how she treated others, no matter who they were, what title they may have or not have, it could be a major prospective investor with whom she would be sharing the benefits of the Chamber or someone dropping off pens and pencils for the school drive.” Kelly believes in meeting people where they are, and her favorite quote is “You are exactly where you need to be.” In her leisure time, Kelly enjoys making memories with her family and friends, going on long hikes, and anything that involves being outdoors. In her current wisdom, she has learned to  “embrace the timeline of my life and celebrate my own unique journey along the way.”

Marsha Foust brings a spirit of connection, passion, and leadership into everything she puts her hand to. Her life experiences both professionally and personally, have given her a unique relational perspective along with a drive for excellence. Her deep connection with others began during college, where she gained skills in storytelling as a Media Studies major at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Shortly after college, Marsha started her career at Labcorp, where she transitioned through several different roles. Areas where she made the most impact during that time include workforce optimization and LEAN process management.

Marsha then took a huge leap into the nonprofit field where she worked at a local church for the next six years as the Next Steps Director. Her role helped integrate families into the church and provided opportunities to get them connected into the culture and life of the church. This role confirmed and deepened Marsha’s passions in life: serving her community, leading teams, and helping others explore and connect to their personal gifts. After the pandemic, Marsha transitioned to a new role where she was able to take those skills and adopt them over to a new role with a local Chick-fil-A franchise where she helped the restaurant leadership develop their own leadership structure and ladder.

Marsha returned to Labcorp to work in divisional communications and after two years has now transitioned into a communications role with the corporate communications team where she promotes the company’s mission by creating communication strategies and oversees communication operations through the diagnostics segment. This past March, Marsha was chosen to co-lead Labcorp’s Burlington Chapter of the Women’s Empowerment Network employee resource group where she helps empower, encourage and connect women throughout the chapter and overall company.

Marsha also serves regularly at several local nonprofits including the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and her local church, Trailhead. Marsha was chosen as a 2023 participant in the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. Marsha has been married to her best friend, Brad, for 13 years, and they have two children, Cora (10) and Wesson (4). As a family, they enjoy hiking, traveling, and a good movie night!

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person,” a quote from Mother Theresa, is not only Lorena Meza Lara’s favorite quote, but it also describes how she has approached much of her life. A 25-year resident of Alamance County, Lorena currently serves as the Education Director and Parent Support Coordinator, a new position created in partnership with Alamance Achieves and the CityGate Dream Center. Advocating for children is a long-time passion of Lorena’s. She shares, “I want nothing more than to protect our children and give them a better education than the one I had.” It is important to her that parents feel comfortable engaging with their children’s schools and are active participants in their children’s education.

Lorena’s natural leadership emerged at a young age. Two years after migrating to the US, Lorena learned English, and at 11 years old, she began serving as her mother’s interpreter, a skill she also loves to share with the community today.  Children’s books served as an educational tool for Lorena to learn the fundamentals of English grammar, and today she enjoys sharing them with young children and their parents through the Bilingual Storytime program she developed while serving as a Mebane Public Library assistant. As a sophomore in high school, Lorena became the Vice President of M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan), a student organization that promotes higher education, culture, and history.

Lorena became a paralegal, serving in the criminal and immigration fields. She shares that being a paralegal reminded her that, “the United States government is one of a kind; [it] does its best to serve and protect its citizens.” Lorena is passionate about using her voice to advocate for others, particularly those who are not being heard or who are unable to advocate for themselves. She previously served as the Community Organizer for the #AlamanceForward project and other programs with LatinxEd and then as the Director of After School Programs at the CityGate Dream Center. As one community leader shared about Lorena, she “has a heart for the community and wants to bring people together and build bridges so everyone can thrive. Her deep roots in the community and passion for building bridges and celebrating people have allowed her to help inspire incredible change and build lasting trust with many groups from educators, parents, police officers, students, and all ages of people as we continue to see our community grow in hope and purpose.”

If she could tell her younger self one thing, Lorena would say, “If you could only see what a great leader you are, and all the changes and challenges you are going to face…. what you’ve been through already has prepared you for your future.”