KennedyStrong Leadership Team

Kathi Wilson

Family Support Program Lead, TEAM Parent Program
Kathleen (Kathi) Wilson, MA, MEd. is a retired K-12 educator who despite her ADHD has helped thousands of children, parents and educators overcome disabilities by embracing gifts and potential.
 
A former teacher, counselor administrator at both the building and district level she has worked with passionate teams in schools in multiple states. 
 
Since retiring from formal education she is a private advocate for children whose needs, for whatever reason, are not being met in the educational environment. Kathi is a believer that after the individual our greatest resource is a robust public education system. To paraphrase an often used quote – all children can learn when we learn and support all children.

Doug Deffenbaugh

Director of Programs

“Coach D” has been involved in youth sports for over 30 years. With a degree in Physical Education and a Master’s in Sports Management, Doug moved to Charlotte 25 years ago to manage the 200,000 square-foot Charlotte Sports Center, overseeing youth and adult programming as general manager. After the birth of his daughters, he returned to education, working as a physical education teacher, Athletic Director, and coach. Doug is also the owner of Fit Kid Sports, which has run Wide World of Sports summer camps for 18 years. His partnership with the KennedyStrong Foundation to operate the Inclusive Sports Camp for the past four summers has been a successful model for promoting inclusivity in sports. Recently retired from teaching, Doug spent five months traveling through 16 countries in Africa and Europe to observe physical education and sports worldwide. Now, as the Programs Director at KennedyStrong, he is dedicated to expanding inclusive programming for all.

Tamara Ingold

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Tamara Ingold is a passionate advocate, educator, and community builder dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for individuals and families navigating intellectual and developmental disabilities. She brings over 30 years of experience in design and marketing, along with lived experience as a mother of a child with Down syndrome, to the KennedyStrong mission.

Through her son Lee and his friends, Tamara understands firsthand the importance of belonging, confidence, independence, and authentic friendships. This perspective fuels her commitment to building inclusive, connection-centered opportunities that foster consistent, relationship-based growth within KennedyStrong and the broader community.

Through KennedyStrong, Tamara works alongside families, volunteers, educators, and community partners to equip individuals with the tools and support they need to thrive — and to remind families they are never walking this journey alone.

Maria Torres

Maria Torres

Finance and Operations

Maria joined KSF in the summer of 2026 after connecting with Betsy, while dropping her son off at the same camp as Kennedy. With 27 years of personal experience navigating the autism spectrum and 17 years with learning disabilities, Maria brings a deep understanding and passion for supporting individuals and families.

Maria has spent the past 10 years working in administrative roles and event coordination, where she has developed a strong ability to organize, build relationships, and support successful programs and events. She is excited to bring her experience and personal connection to the IDD community of KSF, by helping create an inclusive and welcoming environment for participants, families, and partners.

Maria loves taking care of her family, enjoys cooking, baking, and traveling around the state to visit her grown children.

Lee Darling

Programming Advisor

Lee Darling, ERCYT, is a dedicated educator with 17 years of experience in Charlotte and its surrounding areas.  “Miss Lee” has cultivated a passion for fostering a lifelong love for learning. This passion has allowed her to create nurturing whole child environments for both her two daughters, now teenagers, and students. She is driven by her understanding of movement and her commitment to designing programs that cater to individuals of all abilities.  

Lee has taught various programs in diverse settings, including Elementary Education, Preschool, Music, Fitness, and Yoga. She firmly believes in the transformative power of mindful activities, empowering people to reach their full potential. Lee’s extensive training and experience have empowered her to continue sharing her knowledge with others, emphasizing the unique ways in which individuals learn and the importance of embracing and celebrating each other’s differences in promoting inclusivity for everyone.

Stephanie Wray

Programming Advisor
Stephanie has been engaged with the KennedyStrong Foundation since the fall of 2017.  Originally, Stephanie lead the LoveBundle program.  Her passion is to support opportunities to help others and after talking with Betsy, she can see where her skillset fits nicely at KennedyStrong Foundation.  She is now sharing her knowledge and expertise in all things financial as our Business Implementation Lead.  In this role, she supports all the KSF programs from a strategy and budget perspective.  Her background with financial analysis and program management allows her to support the programs in meeting their goals.  She is a key asset to our future growth.
 
Stephanie graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Finance. She works at Wells Fargo and lives with her two wonderful kiddos in Huntersville. 
Julie Hollis

Julie Hollis

Programming Advisor

Julie brings a heart for serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), along with a background in education, school counseling, and program development. She holds degrees in Early/Middle Education and School Counseling and has experience working with students and families from pre-K through 12th grade.

Julie believes that each of us was created with a unique purpose. Her passion is helping individuals recognize their strengths, reach their full potential, and become the amazing people they were created to be.

At KennedyStrong, Julie is excited to combine her professional experience, program development skills, and heart for the IDD community to help individuals and families thrive.

Julie is a graduate of Radford University and Va Tech.  She has been married for 31 years. She and he husband have two grown daughters and live in the Lake Norman area.

Lisa Cooper

Programming Advisor

Lisa Cooper is a dedicated special education educator with nearly three decades of experience supporting children with disabilities and their families. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Special Education and General Education from Grand Canyon University and completed the graduate-level Birth–Kindergarten Add-On Licensure Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

As both an educator and the mother of a son with Down syndrome, Lisa brings professional expertise and personal perspective to her passion for inclusion and advocacy. Her commitment extends beyond the classroom through her involvement with Down For Doughnuts, an inclusive business providing meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. As a Programming Advisor for the Kennedy Strong Foundation, Lisa is excited to help create programs that empower individuals with disabilities and their families.

Kristin Jones

Kristin Jones

Programming Advisor

Kristin has been an Occupational Therapist for 26 years with experience in early intervention, pediatric outpatient therapy, specializing in sensory integration, and K-12 schools. Two years ago, she left her position at the Community School of Davidson to homeschool her daughter with Down syndrome. Kristin has a passion for educating and supporting parents of children with disabilities in order to help them feel empowered and to be their child’s best advocate. She has also created programs and resources for teens and adults with disabilities to achieve their own goals in life and feel comfortable advocating for themselves. Her passion for education, advocacy, and commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for others makes her a valuable asset to the continued growth and impact of KennedyStrong Foundation.

Vision Statement

The KennedyStrong Foundation sees an inclusive world where individuals with Down syndrome and intellectual/developmental disabilities are contributing members within their communities and living out their dreams of independence.