Leadership
The Charles Lea Center has a highly dedicated and experienced leadership team that is focused on providing excellent services that meet the individual needs of each person served by the Charles Lea Center. While each member of the leadership team has a core area of responsibility, it is their collective effort, collaboration and commitment to the mission that distinguishes them as highly skilled and effective.
Everyone on the leadership team also knows that the success of the Charles Lea Center is based on the collective effort and commitment of every employee of the Charles Lea Center. With more than 525 hard-working employees, the Charles Lea Center has been able to meet its mission, and for that the leadership team is thankful and humbled by the compassion and professionalism each staff member brings to the Center.
Jerry Bernard
Chief Executive Officer
Jerry Bernard
Chief Executive Officer
- I am a bit unorthodox in the way I do things.
- I think having a sense of humor is important.
- I need time to process things sometimes.
- Like being organized (yes really).
- I am a strong believer in servant leadership.
- I am more of an introvert than an extravert.
- I try not to take myself too seriously.
- I like being around positive people.
- I like creativity and willingness to take appropriate risks.
- Having time with my family.
- Seeing others succeed and be successful.
- Being ethical.
- Traveling.
- Being outdoors, hiking etc.
- Huge Soccer Fan (Liverpool FC).
- Being on time.
- Making sure that everyone has a voice.
- Being able to share my ideas and thoughts and hearing what others think.
- Everyone should be able to achieve their dreams regardless how far out they seem to be.
- Doing my job well and learning how I can continue to become better at what I do.
- Being able to dream about possibilities.
- If we are going to do something, I need to know why we are going to do it, and how we will get there and what impact it will have on our future.
- Sometimes you need to give me a little extra time to think through things (need to time to reflect) before I can give an opinion on something.
- Let me know when something bad happens or there is a serious problem. I do not like surprises!
- I look for solutions. I am not interested in others telling me what will not work. I want to know what can and will work.
- Be honest, even if it means that you may disagree with me. I want to know how you really feel about something. I am not interested in “yes sir” robots.
- Sometimes I need some time alone to think. This does not mean that I am upset or angry. I just need time to get things back into perspective. It does not take long, and it will be ok. It always is.
- Phone:(864) 562-2222
- Email:jbernard@charleslea.org
Shannon Childress
Senior Vice President of North Carolina and Ancillary Services
Shannon Childress
Senior Vice President of North Carolina and Ancillary Services
- I am a typical extravert
- I enjoy giving compliments to others and helping people feel better
- I really enjoy joking and laughing with others
- I try not to take offense to what others might say negatively about me
- My patience with others is most challenged when I’m driving my car.
- I would rather be outdoors than indoors.
- I would rather be uncomfortably hot than uncomfortably cold.
- I am very patriotic
- I am a Clemson University fan
- Spending time with my family
- Being ethical and honest
- Being considerate towards others
- Respecting my country, as I am very patriotic
- Giving my best when something is asked or expected of me
- Having a voice when I am passionate about something
- Doing my job well and learning how I can continue to become better at what I do
- Being able to pursue my dreams and goals
- I am a Risk vs Benefit analyzer
- I enjoy looking at ways to be more efficient without the risk of losing quality or meaning
- I like to learn new and/or different ways of doing things to reach desired outcomes
- Talk with me about anything that may be bothering you or that you do not agree with. I do not like to feel alone in work practices
- I would rather find solutions to a problem as opposed to continually complaining about it
- I struggle with rumors or hearsay. I try to find things out for myself
- I really like working as a Team and feeling like everyone is in agreement
- Phone:(864) 562-2231
- Email:shannon.childress@charleslea.org
Robert Decker
Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer
Robert Decker
Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer
- I am a shy person
- I love a challenge
- I like to keep it short and to the point
- I like to keep it simple
- I believe in transparency
- I do not take anything for granted
- I love cars and history
- I believe you can accomplish almost anything if you put your mind to it
- I am a very ethical person
- Since the beginning of time the only thing that has changed is technology.
- Family
- Being honest
- Supporting staff
- Staying positive
- Always learning
- Being involved in helping carry out our mission
- Getting other people involved in projects
- Keeping an eye on the present but continue to look into the future
- Let me know when you need help
- Let me know if I am over complicating something
- Communicate with me
- Let me be creative
- Phone:(864) 562-2228
- Email:rdecker@charleslea.org
Lois R. Durrah, MA, LPC, NCC
Senior Vice President of Community Supports
Lois R. Durrah, MA, LPC, NCC
Senior Vice President of Community Supports
What others need to know about me:
- I need time to process things and may appear to disengage, but I am thinking
- I like using a cognitive and solution focused approach to problem solving
- Structure and organization are very important to me
- I am a strong believer in servant leadership
- I am an introvert even though I operate as an extrovert when at work
- I like being around positive people
- I prefer smaller more intimate relationships/conversations (it’s the introvert in me)
- I love to provide training and stretch people to find their best self
- Gamecocks and “Dem Boyz” for life!
- My relationship with God and my family
- Helping people find their “best them”
- Being ethical
- Integrity
- Being honest
- Being responsive
- Encouraging others to grow and stretch to learn new skills and try new things
- Not minimizing anyone and making sure everyone feels valued
- Doing my job well and learning how I can continue to become better at what I do
- Being heard
- Having a “To Done” list
- Others being able to express themselves without judgment
- Teach me and educate me in a way that I can absorb the information. I will tell you how this works for me.
- Try to understand that I ask a lot of questions because I need more information before giving an opinion or feedback.
- Let me take notes. I process through a visual informational process.
- Let me know when something bad happens or there is a serious problem. I want to be able to help you.
- I process from a cognitive framework (situation-thought-feeling-behavior-situation). This results in solution focused problem solving. This helps me to get to the core of what is really going on and how to proceed.
- Know that I will stretch myself and you to problem solve. We will not “dump” problems on each other.
- I tend to be quiet in larger gatherings/groups. Don’t try to force me to socialize (remember I am an introvert at heart).
- Phone:(864) 562-2218
- Email:ldurrah@charleslea.org
Sheila Garrison
Vice President of Quality, Risk Management, Awareness & Prevention
Sheila Garrison
Vice President of Quality, Risk Management, Awareness & Prevention
- I smile and laugh a lot (most of the time the joke is on me!)
- I prefer to brainstorm with my Team (the experts). I like to take a servant/support role and lead from behind.
- I prefer to communicate face to face (in small groups rather than crowds).
- I like to have fun at work (even though my job is a very serious one).
- I like to get to know people personally as well as professionally.
- All my “kids” are four-legged. I apologize in advance for talking about them (frequently) like they are my birth children. LOL
- Volunteering and helping others.
- Being honest
- Compliance (and it happens to be my job).
- Feeling like what I do makes a difference in people’s lives.
- Being a Risk “Manager” not so much a Risk “Taker.” Please understand (and do not mistake me for negative)…it is my job to ask questions and think about “what ifs.”
- Doing what I say I will do
- Being acknowledged by my peers (one on one or in small group settings---not in crowds).
- Knowing what is expected of me
- Seeing others as “people” first
- I love to proof-read documents and assist others with projects. I think best in the mornings (I just need the first hour of the morning to respond to emails, check voicemails and make my “to do” list).
- Please do not be offended when what I tell you is NOT what you want to hear. That is my job, to be brutally honest.
- Please tell me “why” something is being done a certain way. It helps me understand what I can do to support you and help arrive at a solution.
- Please do not “sugar coat” issues you need my support with. I need to know “the worst-case scenario” when there is a problem. Then we can all celebrate when the outcome is better than expected.
- I work best when I am given a deadline. I will do my best to get done BEFORE the due date—but it always helps me stay on task when I know what is needed up front.
- Phone:(864) 562-2308
- Email:sgarrison@charleslea.org
Caroline Lybrand, MAT, BCBA
Vice President of Clinical Services (BCBA)
Caroline Lybrand, MAT, BCBA
Vice President of Clinical Services (BCBA)
- While I appear to be more of an extrovert, I am an introvert
- I enjoy time alone
- I am very passionate of doing the right thing even when it is difficult
- I tend to be a procrastinator
- I like things to be organized
- I try to see all sides of the situation
- I (think) I am very open minded
- I see the big picture more than the details
- Spending time with my family and friends
- Mentoring others and helping them reach their goals
- Providing people with a way to communicate their wants and needs
- Being on time and timeliness in others
- Giving support to others so they feel comfortable expressing themselves
- Being trustworthy
- Continuing to grow in all areas of my life
- Being honest
- Advocating for those who are unable to do so
- Phone:(864) 562-2360
- Email:caroline.lybrand@charleslea.org
Kim Norris
Senior Executive Assistant
Kim Norris
Senior Executive Assistant
- I am very family oriented. I especially enjoy being a “Mimi” to my grandkids!
- I love to laugh and have fun.
- Coffee and shopping are two of my favorite addictions.
- I am very detail oriented.
- I love to organize and decorate. It makes me proud to add my “personal touch” to make living and office spaces more inviting.
- I love to serve others. I have a habit of being very motherly and tend to “take over” sometimes.
- My personality is mostly extroverted (but I do have introverted tendencies in certain situations).
- My relationship with God and trying to live my faith.
- My family.
- Being open and honest.
- I love learning new things.
- My Friends- I enjoy when people stop by to say “Hello”. I will always make time for friends no matter how busy I am.
- To keep my home and work environment clean and inviting to everyone. This is a priority for me.
- I take my job very seriously and always strive to give 100% to any task that has been assigned to me.
- Do not take it personally if I am quiet. It usually means I am trying to concentrate on a specific task.
- Be honest with me, even when it means what you are going to tell me is not what I want to hear. It helps me to know how I need to approach something.
- I love to hear uplifting stories about the people we serve; it helps me keep a positive attitude and confirms why I love my job.
- My nature is to help others. One of my favorite things to hear is “I need your help with something” because I love to be part of a team that makes things happen.
- Continually learning and expanding my responsibilities are very important to me.
- Phone:(864) 562-2222
- Email:kimberly.norris@charleslea.org
Kristie Kendall
Vice President of Professional Development
Kristie Kendall
Vice President of Professional Development
- I am a proud US Army veteran.
- I am a researcher and investigator and I need to know the details.
- I believe everyone deserves a chance to discover their strengths.
- I am a Jill of All Trades. My interests are wide and varied.
- I am intentional and purpose driven.
- I am spontaneous more than a planner.
- I am compassionate and considerate of others.
- I love sports and come from a sports-centered family.
- I am a teacher/coach by nature and love to help others discover their potential.
- My family and friends
- Personal time
- Acknowledging that potential doesn’t come in a standard form
- Representation and diversity
- Continuous learning and improvement
- Flexibility, openness, understanding, compassion
- Fairness of opportunity and treatment
- Mutual respect and appreciation
- Authenticity and genuineness
- Allow space for me to operate and take ownership of my responsibilities.
- When asked for my thoughts and opinions that is what I will give. I need the opportunity to be myself.
- I am not afraid to ask questions and will always keep you informed. Trust me to handle what I can knowing that I can spot when something calls for intervention.
- Variety is the spice of life. I was made to be only me, and I may not do things the way other people do. I do not want to be compared to or judged against others.
- I do not need constant reassurance but don’t forget about me.
- I can’t compartmentalize. If I am a part of something, I need to know what the whole is so that I can best understand how my part contributes to the whole.
Steve Ragland
Vice President of Special Projects
Steve Ragland
Vice President of Special Projects
- I take time to do the research…all of it…
- I need to do the work to feel confident in asking others to do it
- I believe in supporting my team and giving them the tools they need
- I try to appreciate that others have their own motivations and needs
- I don’t like wasting resources on chasing shiny objects
- I believe that performance is the primary element of long-term success
- Fundamental fairness
- The safety and security of my family and their future
- Providing options and choices for the people I support
- Leading a team that delivers a strong value to our customers, thus ensuring their future success
- Having the time and support required to thoroughly research ideas, plans, and options
- Keeping things in perspective
- Having fun with what I do and creating an environment where others enjoy themselves as well
- Help me avoid non-productive distractions
- Be understanding if I don’t act immediately on new ideas or suggestions…I need time to do the research and consider things from several angles before deciding whether or how to proceed
- Keep providing referrals of people with disabilities who would like to work to our case managers and employment counselors.
- Phone:(864) 472-7420
- Email:steve.ragland@charleslea.org
Tori Johnson
HR Director
Tori Johnson
HR Director
- I’m very family orientated.
- I am an introvert until I am comfortable with my environment.
- I have a quiet but very large sensitive side.
- I like to surround myself with hard workers.
- I am very policy driven. I rely on policies to keep systems working.
- I am a strong believer in servant leadership.
- I enjoy laughing and joking.
- I enjoy learning new things.
- I am a loyal friend, mother, sister, and grandmother.
- I am a very picky eater and will seldom try new foods.
- Talk with me about your concerns so that we can achieve a positive resolution.
- Sometimes you need understand that I am quiet because I am processing new information provided to me.
- Call me if you have questions as opposed to texting me.
- I look for solutions and answers to problems as opposed to handing it off to the next person, so be a little patient.
- Be honest and ethical so I can trust you.
- Spending time with my family (especially my grandchildren).
- Watching my children and family succeed.
- Being ethical.
- Huge Marvel fan (Black Panther).
- Being punctual.
- Meeting deadlines.
- Making sure that everyone is given proper tools to succeed.
- Being able to share my ideas and hearing others.
- Doing my job well and learning how to do a better job.
- Phone:(864) 562-2337
- Email:tjohnson@charleslea.org
Charles Lea Center Foundation Leadership
Marisa Cecil
President
Marisa Cecil
President
- I am a very good listener
- I am a perfectionist
- Check lists are my best friends
- I must start each morning off prioritizing daily tasks
- Being organized is key in helping me be successful
- I love to surround myself with positive and energized people
- I enjoy thinking “outside” the box and being creative
- I try and see the positives when mistakes happen
- Being a good listener and making sure everyone’s voice is heard
- Raise your hand if you need help. Helping/supporting others on my team
- Spending time with my family
- Making sure I help others succeed or achieve their goals
- Doing the “Right” thing
- Making sure people feel comfortable talking to me and sharing feedback/advice. I want to be approachable
- Doing the best, I can in my career/job. Job performance is very important.
- Make “dreams” possible
- When sharing or presenting something to, I need time to think/reflect.
- Deadlines/timelines are always helpful when there needs to be a response or action
- I am a visual person. Need to see the full picture
- Descriptions/examples are always helpful
- Honesty/transparency is key in building a relationship with me
- My door is always open
- I like to see hard facts, solutions- definitely a problem solver and eager to help but I like to see hard core facts and production of what’s being asked.
- Everyone has a seat at my table.
- Phone:(864) 562-2278
- Email:mcecil@charleslea.org