Staff
Greg Kirkpatrick, Executive Director
Greg has served as a leader in the local nonprofit sector for 29 years, starting his career as executive director for the Wake Blood Plan at Rex Hospital. After four years, he moved on to the Food Bank of NC, where, in his 13-year tenure, he transformed a nascent organization into a sizable and regional hunger relief agency. In 1998, Greg joined Habitat for Humanity of Wake County as executive director. In his sixth year at the helm, Habitat Wake was named the National Urban Affiliate of the Year. At Habitat, Greg initiated construction on 150 homes; tripled the organization’s net assets; and quadrupled its annual revenue.
Greg was hired more than six years ago as SECU Family House’s capital campaign manager. After his first year, the Board hired him as executive director and together they completed an $8.1M capital and endowment campaign, surpassing the goal by $600,000.
He and his wife Lauren live in Five Points in Raleigh and have two children, Sam (25) and Molly (22).
Contact Greg at greg@secufamilyhouse.org or 919.932.8007.
Kathy Yasui-Der, Executive Assistant
Kathy was born and raised in southern California. She received her undergraduate degree in Sociology from U.C.L.A. and her masters degree in education from California State University at Los Angeles. Before coming to SECU Family House in 2005, she was an elementary school teacher in California and in North Carolina. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, volunteering, reading and traveling.
Contact Kathy at kathy@secufamilyhouse.org or 919.932.8004.
Yvonne Knutson, Director of Marketing and Community Relations
Yvonne grew up in Kentucky and received her degree from the University of Kentucky in Elementary Education. Prior to coming to Family House she taught school in Northern Virginia, Physical Education at St. Thomas More in Chapel Hill worked and volunteered in non-profit roles for most of her 28 years in Chapel Hill. Her work with Orange County Rape Crisis Center, The Chapel Hill Carrboro Public Schools and the Women’s Center were all in a volunteer capacity. Her most recent job was planning and coordinating training programs for college students from all over the country.
Yvonne became involved with SECU Family House in 2007 and co-chaired the first major fundraising event “Raising the Roof” that September. She is passionate about Family House and is honored to be involved with such a great organization. Yvonne has three married children and six grandchildren. She spends her free time playing tennis, golf and with friends.
Contact Yvonne at yvonne@secufamilyhouse.org or 919.932.8001.
Janice Ross, House Manager
Janice Ross comes to Chapel Hill by way of Syracuse, New York, where she lived for most of her adult life. She attended college at University of Michigan, SUNY Albany, and George Washington University where she obtained her Master of Arts in Health Care Administration. Prior to coming to SECU Family House, Janice served as an Associate Administrator at University Hospital in Syracuse, overseeing most hospital departments at one time or another, as well as directing the hospital’s renovation and new construction projects. In New York, Jan also served on the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York board for 8 years, including a stint as President. Janice and her husband Haynes moved to Durham in 2007 and love the southern lifestyle. They have four grown children and an adorable grand-daughter. Janice spends her leisure time playing tennis, reading and doing water aerobics.
Contact Janice at janice@secufamilyhouse.org or 919.932.8008.
Sherman Riggsbee, Resident Manager
Sherman grew up in Chatham County, attended Kittrell College and currently resides in Carrboro. He brings with him extensive experience in the hospitality industry. He was trained at the Marriott Hotels in Virginia and held positions at the Governors Club and the Omni Europa Hotel. He also has experience in the public/ non-profit sector with Orange County Public Works and most recently held the position of part-time night manager at the IFC Community House in Chapel Hill.
Sherman is experienced in facilities management and is looking forward to bringing his “can-do” spirit to Family House. Sherman will be residing in the resident apartment on the second floor and will be on duty in the evenings Sunday through Thursday. You can contact Sherman at sherman@secufamilyhouse.org or 919.932.8099.
Allison Worthy, Volunteer Coordinator
Allison has been involved in the Chapel Hill community since 1995. Prior to joining SECU Family House in May, 2011, she was a full-time community volunteer, dedicating the lion’s share of her time to supporting the local public schools. She was the founding president of the Scroggs PTA and has served on the board of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation for the past nine years including two years as president. She has contributed to the public schools through a wide variety of roles ranging from serving in elected positions on School Improvement Teams to providing one on one tutoring to underachieving and ESL students. She also co-chaired the annual rummage sale for the Chapel of the Cross and is currently her neighborhood’s PORCH coordinator.
Allison’s previous work experience includes MBA admissions at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and Columbia University; advertising sales at Fortune Magazine and client service at the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago and Hong Kong. She grew up in Great Neck, New York and graduated from Middlebury College. She met her husband Ford, a native North Carolinian, in New York and they have two children.
Contact Allison at allison@secufamilyhouse.org or 919.932.8009.
Kirsten Beattie, Associate for Development
Kirsten is a native of Upstate New York—way upstate, near Syracuse. After attending the University of Virginia, Kirsten spent two years in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she taught and lived at a co-educational boarding school. Upon returning to the U.S., Kirsten earned a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Prior to joining the Family House in 2012, she worked at Blackbaud, a provider of software services for nonprofits, and then at the Institute for the Arts and Humanities at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Kirsten is honored to help support the SECU Family House mission and happy to be part of the team here. In her spare time, Kirsten enjoys running, reading for her book club, and volunteering.
Contact Kirsten at kirsten@secufamilyhouse.org or 919.932.8005.
Ann Weissler, Development Assistant
Ann is a native of Weston, Mass., and earned her BSN from the University of Vermont. She and her husband, Mark, have lived in Chapel Hill since 1986 and have two children, Kate (25) and Sam (19). Ann has been an active volunteer with Chapel Hill Schools and the SECU Family House. In her spare time, she enjoys tennis, volunteering, walking, and yoga. Ann works part-time at the Family House and can be reached at ann@secufamilyhouse.org or 919.932.8002.