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    • Home
    • About
      • What Is Autism?
      • About GHA Autism Supports
      • Mission & Vision
      • GHA Foundation
      • Leadership Team
      • Services We Offer
      • Access Our Services
      • Tours
      • Ways To Give
    • Operations
      • Stanly County
      • Wilmington
      • Carolina Farms
      • Morrow Valley Farmstead
      • Second Street Sundries
      • Creative Arts
    • News & Events
      • In The News
      • Upcoming Events
      • Newsletters
      • Duck Derby
      • Useful Links
    • Quality Management
      • Accreditation
      • Organizational Processes
      • Satisfaction Surveys
      • Cultural Diversity
      • Testimonials
    • Careers
      • Join Our Team
      • Employee Quick Links
    • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • What Is Autism?
    • About GHA Autism Supports
    • Mission & Vision
    • GHA Foundation
    • Leadership Team
    • Services We Offer
    • Access Our Services
    • Tours
    • Ways To Give
  • Operations
    • Stanly County
    • Wilmington
    • Carolina Farms
    • Morrow Valley Farmstead
    • Second Street Sundries
    • Creative Arts
  • News & Events
    • In The News
    • Upcoming Events
    • Newsletters
    • Duck Derby
    • Useful Links
  • Quality Management
    • Accreditation
    • Organizational Processes
    • Satisfaction Surveys
    • Cultural Diversity
    • Testimonials
  • Careers
    • Join Our Team
    • Employee Quick Links
  • Contact

Meet Our Management Team

Dawn Allen - President/Chief Executive Officer of GHA Autism Supports

Dawn Allen

President/Chief Executive Officer

dawnallen@ghainc.org


Dawn Allen has been the President/Chief Executive Officer of GHA Autism Supports, formerly known as Group Homes for the Autistic/GHA, since 1984. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Pfeiffer University and a Master of Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dawn joined the organization as a direct care staff person in 1981 when it was then known as “The Group Home for the Autistic”, the first residence that was home to five children. Since that time, GHA Autism Supports has expanded offering a number of services for individuals with autism. Under her leadership, the entity has grown from an organization serving five children to an organization that currently supports over 100 individuals in programs providing residential, vocational, educational, community and in-home services.


Within her professional realm, Dawn has served as a Past-President of Cardinal Innovations/Piedmont Network Council, and past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Stanly County Community Foundation and the NC Providers Association.  Currently, she serves as a member of the Admissions Committee of the Murdoch Developmental Center and serves on the Board of Directors of Rubicon. In both 1998 and 2008, Dawn was named “Professional of the Year” by the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC). In addition, she was presented the Achievement Award by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Division TEACCH Program in 2008. In 2012, Dawn was awarded the NC Providers Council “Steve Jordan Lighthouse Award” for her extraordinary contributions to the IDD, MH and SA systems through innovative practices, inspiring leadership and passionate advocacy efforts. In 2017, she was awarded the Pfeiffer University Distinguished Alumni Award.


Over the years, Dawn has remained active in her community by serving as Past-President and Campaign Chair of the United Way of Stanly County and has served several terms on the Executive Committee of the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the Advisory Council for Atrium Health in Stanly County, and is also an active member of the Albemarle Rotary Club.

Janet Banks - Executive VP/Chief Learning Officer of GHA Autism Supports

Janet Banks

Ashley Carpenter

Ashley Carpenter

Executive VP/Chief Learning Officer 

janetbanks@ghainc.org

Ashley Carpenter - Executive VP/Chief Operations Officer/CFO of GHA Autism Supports

Ashley Carpenter

Ashley Carpenter

Ashley Carpenter

Executive VP/Chief Operations Officer/CFO 

ashleycarpenter@ghainc.org

Tonia Diggs - Executive VP/Chief HR Officer of GHA Autism Supports

Tonia Diggs

Beth Olivieri

Beth Olivieri

Executive VP/Chief HR Officer 

toniadiggs@ghainc.org

Beth Olivieri

Beth Olivieri

Beth Olivieri

Beth Olivieri

Executive VP/Chief Development Officer 

betholivieri@ghainc.org

Dee Pankey-Thompson - Executive VP/Chief Quality Officer of GHA Autism Supports

Dee Pankey-Thompson

Dee Pankey-Thompson

Dee Pankey-Thompson

Executive VP/Chief Quality Officer 

deepankey@ghainc.org

Melissa Rivera - Executive VP/Chief Regional Services Officer of GHA Autism Supports

Melissa Rivera

Dee Pankey-Thompson

Dee Pankey-Thompson

Executive VP/Chief Regional Services Officer  

melissarivera@ghainc.org



Lori Shue - Executive VP/Chief Health Services Officer of GHA Autism Supports

Lori Shue

Dee Pankey-Thompson

Lori Shue

Executive VP/Chief Health Services Officer 

lorishue@ghainc.org



Board Of Directors

GHA Autism Supports Executive Committee

Chairman
Brian Freeman

Atrium Health Services

SVP, President (West Area)


Vice-Chairman
Dr. Russ Sharples

Retired Educator & Community Volunteer

Stanly Community College & Pfeiffer University


Secretary

Al Sadowsky

Retired HVAC Industry & Restaurant Entrepreneur


Treasurer

Beverly Moore

Attorney At Law


Robert Craft, MD

Professor and Dean at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine


Granseur Dick

P.E, A.A.E., Deputy Airport Director - Wilmington International Airport


Phil Julian

Retired USAF Nurse Corps & Faculty of East Carolina University


Lisa Ewers

Retired Special Education Teacher

Connect With Us

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GHA Autism Supports

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2487 Albemarle, North Carolina 28002, United States

(704) 982-9600 Fax: (704) 982-8155

Physical Address: 213 North 2nd Street, Albemarle, NC 28001

www.ghaautismsupports.org


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