Our Board of Directors

Sherry F. Abernathy, PhD, MBA, CPCC, is the CEO for the Center for Empowered Excellence (CEE), LLC, a certified professional coach, and creator of Men Power Talks podcast.  

Dr. Abernathy retired from the corporate and university world after over 25 years. Her past experiences include working as an IT Manager, Assistant Dean for Finance and Budget, and Assistant Dean for Student Success.
She has a doctorate in Organization and Management, an MBA in Leadership Studies, and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Information Systems. Dr. Abernathy is the author of Nursing Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century: Nurses that Start Businesses and has been a speaker at numerous conferences.
Contact Information:
Website:  www.ceeconsulting.org Email: drabernathy@ceeconsulting.org

Bradley is an artist and nonprofit leader from Lynchburg, VA, where he earned a BA from Lynchburg College. He has served as the Managing Director for VTA, a statewide nonprofit, and he recently served as the Program Manager and Associate Executive Director of Programming at SETC, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting, creating, cultivating, and advocating for artists and arts organizations across the nation. Bradley now serves as the Client Success Manager for the Center for Creative Leadership’s global nonprofit sector, a leadership development organization dedicated to lifting leaders who lift the world.

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.

Sharon joined Hirsch’s Board in July of 2020 and serves as Treasurer and as a member of 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.

Jim Hoyle is the owner and CEO of Audio & Light, Inc. in Greensboro. Audio & Light is a full-service audio-visual design, installation and production services company working throughout the southeast. He is a passionate supporter of the arts and has served on the board of Arts North Carolina – a statewide arts advocacy organization – as President and as a member of the executive committee for over a decade. Jim is a drummer, having toured and recorded with bands in the 80’s, and can be seen preforming with jazz musicians in the area. Other hobbies include photography, printmaking and most recently, cross-country motorcycle travel.

Bill is serving his third term on the Board, and currently is serving as 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.

Gordon comes to Hirsch with broad, diverse skills and recognition working for non-profits and for-profits in North Carolina and New York City. His Board Member service is prefaced by his two-year continuing engagement as a member of the Hirsch Development Committee. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a BA in journalism. In New York City, he spent much of his professional career in the for-profit sector, including executive and managerial positions at major companies, in areas including, advertising, marketing, corporate communications, public relations and sales. He worked for a diverse group of clients including Merrill Lynch, Avis, Pulte Homes, American International Group, the Walt Disney Company, and the Washington Post Company. He also ran the national United Way campaign in conjunction with the National Football League. After moving back to North Carolina, he developed a passion for non-profits, serving as Executive Director of the Southeast Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) in Winston-Salem and on numerous Boards state-wide including the Ackland Museum Local Advisor Board and SECU Family House in Chapel Hill, Greensboro's Triad Stage Advisory Board, and in Winston-Salem, the Symphony, Arts Forever Foundation Board, Piedmont Opera, and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art (Docent Board). He lives in Fearington Village, Pittsboro, NC with Nancy, his wife of 41 years.

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

Bettye Young-Stewart is Human Resources Officer/Deputy Clerk in the office of the Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court
Truly a “people person,” she is responsible for the day-to-day HR operations of the Clerk’s Office, as well as supervisors in management implementation and maintenance of policies and procedures. Bettye conducts mediations and leads conflict resolutions, staff evaluations, staff training, conduct initial and exit interviews for hiring. She maintains all policies and procedures for governing and is part of the Clerk of Courts Management Team.
Bettye has a Master of Science in High Education from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science from Shaw University and certification in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia College.
In addition to Hirsch Wellness Network, Bettye lends her leadership to Archousa Beta Epsilon Boule Sigma PI Phi Fraternity Inc., National Honor Society (Pinnacle & Alpha Chi), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority- Former Member Regional Leadership Team, the Guilford County Mediation Services of Guilford County and Providence Baptist Church, Julia Hyatt Missionary (President).