Our Board of Directors

Andrena is in her first term as a member of Hirsch’s Board and serves on the Fundraising/Events Committee and Governance Committee. Currently she is the Associate Vice President for Operations and Logistics at Bennett College where she has worked for over 25 years. A native of South Carolina, she received her Bachelors in Economics from Benedict College and Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan. In her quiet time, she enjoys creating fabric art which was displayed at Hirsch’s 2019 Art Lives Here. In 2014, Andrena was one of 100 quilters from the US and South Africa to participate in the International Quilt Exhibition, “Conscience of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela."

Catherine Crowder is in her first term as a member of Hirsch’s Board having facilitated horticultural therapy sessions for the organization since 2016. Catherine studied with the Horticultural Therapy Institute and completed a 500-hour internship with Hospice of Greensboro. In 2015 she earned the professional credential of Horticultural Therapist (Registered) with the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Prior to a career shift, Catherine worked in various marketing and corporate positions throughout the Southeast. She holds an undergraduate degree from Duke University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University. When not digging in the dirt, Catherine enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with friends and family.

Jerry is in his second term of serving on Hirsch’s Board, filling the role as Treasurer and as a member of the Fundraising/Events Committee. He works as a bookkeeper with his brother’s CPA business and is Co-Owner of The Triad Yoga Institute, running the financial end of that business and enjoying teaching yoga to multitudes of students over the years. He is an active member of his Church, College Park, and also helps with another non-profit, Doxie By Proxy, a rescue organization for his beloved dog breed, Dachshunds! Jerry has affectionately known founder Louise Grape as a neighbor and friend for years and is honored to serve on the Board.

Valerie is in her second term as a member of Hirsch’s Board and serves on the Fundraising/Events Committee. Her relationship with Hirsch began as a participant in 2010. Away from Hirsch Valerie serves as Medical Director of Cytology for Quest Diagnostics Labs based in Greensboro, NC. She received her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed her residency in pathology at the University of Missouri at Kansas City and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. In her free time, she travels internationally and has volunteered her medical services to cervical cancer screening programs in India.

Sharon began her first term on Hirsch’s Board in July of 2020 and immediately joined the Finance Committee. As a Certified Public Accountant, she brings a strong financial background to the organization. Sharon is currently the Senior Director of Accounting at the North Carolina Healthcare Association in Cary, NC, a position held since May 2019. Prior to that she was the Director of Finance and Controller at the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc. and Tax Manager at GlaxoSmithKline for a combined work history of over 25 years. A native of Pittsburgh, but has lived in the Triangle area for almost 30 years with her husband, Mark, and two daughters.

Maria is in her first term as a member of Hirsch's Board. She is a native of Columbia South America and moved to the United States in 1988. She arrived speaking no english, which didn’t impact her successful career. Maria studied Accounting at Politecnico Colombiano JIC in Medellin, Colombia. She grew up a competitive swimmer and played water polo all the way to a national team level. Her lifelong passion has always been in fitness and helping others. Maria began her career in the US at ClubFitness in 2001 as a lifeguard, swim instructor and water exercise instructor. She is now the CEO. Maria has exemplified hard work, dedication, and a commitment to education and personal growth. Her leadership and positive encouragement are an inspiration to our members, staff, and the community. She actively engages in the community as a volunteer and in more formal roles for multiple organizations. She received a Leadership Medal in 2018 from Leadership Greensboro. She was a 2015 class participant and 2016 Leadership Greensboro Program Co-Chair, the former board chair of FaithAction International and the Weaver Foundation. She is a board member of NCCJ and board chair of Casa Azul. Maria has been one of the organizers of the GSO National and International Dance Day at Lebauer Park and lead Faces of Diversity: Greensboro Project. These events have brought hundreds of people together to dance, laugh, make new friends while embracing and celebrating the diversity of our community.

William "Hopp" Hopper MD, FACP, FCCP is in his first term on the Hirsch Board, and is an Internist & Pulmonologist with Piedmont Senior Care/Cone Health. He has been appointed Clinical Associate Professor @ WFU & UNC Med Schools. He precepts for UNC, Duke & Vanderbilt Nurse Practitioner Schools. He has received teaching awards from Bowman Gray, UNC Med & Nursing Schools, & the American College of Physicians. Non-medical passions include travel (pre COVID), painting pottery & “Izzy” his SPCA rescue of uncertain parentage! At Hirsch, he is active on the Events Committee and a contributor of many great ideas.

Betsey is in her second term on Hirsch’s Board and is currently serving as Chair. Having spent her career in the theatre arts as a professional and educator, she recently retired from the 20-year “role” as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC). Honored with the title of Emeritus and a scholarship named in her honor, she remains part of SETC’s Consultant team. Her own artistry includes writing and photography. She has been honored to contribute to Hirsch’s annual Art Auction.

Bill is serving his third term on the Board, and currently is Vice Chair and head of the Events Committee. He has been involved with Hirsch for more than a decade, with a specialty of providing technical assistance for events and operations. A native of Greensboro, he has spent most of his life in production and technical events management, including live musical performance, the NC Shakespeare Festival, the Guilford College Bryan Series; he founded and operated Triad Acoustical Stage in Greensboro. Married for 30 years to JoAnn Smith, they maintain a small farm in Summerfield, NC, complete with horses, dogs, cats and guitars.

Lynn is a retired OB/Gyn physician, having spent almost 20 years in private practice in Greensboro. She is currently Adjunct Faculty at Elon and High Point Universities, teaching part time in their Physician Assistant Studies Programs. This is Lynn’s first term as a Hirsch Board member. She serves as Board Secretary and is on the Fundraising/Events Committee. Her interests include reading, gardening, traveling, playing the flute and participating in church activities.

Caterri is in her first term with Hirsch Wellness and serves on the Fundraising/Events and Governance committees. Caterri is the Chief Executive Officer of the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance, Inc., in Durham, NC. Caterri previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc. and the Chief Deputy Director/Chief Financial Officer for the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC. Caterri began her career with Price Waterhouse and was subsequently recruited by GlaxoSmithKline, holding several senior management positions. She is a board-certified health and wellness coach through the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching. Caterri volunteers on the Board of Directors of several nonprofits: Voices Together, in Chapel Hill, NC, US Modernist Houses in Durham, NC, and the Orange County Arts Alliance in Hillsborough, NC. An avid gardener and advocate for the protection of pollinators, Caterri lives in Orange County on several acres outside of Hillsborough, NC