Board and Staff of our Arc
Back row- Cecil Turner, Phylis Corder (retired), Michelle Deem, Mike Parker, Stacy Smith, Tammy Crooks, Regina Roberts, Gabrielle Gimenez
Front Row- Laura Price, Susan Turner, Lee Ann Parker
Not pictured - Amy Conrad
Our Arc is governed by a board of interested and involved individuals who work hard to improve the lives of those with IDD in our community and beyond.
Board Officers:
President: Lee Ann Parker
Lee Ann joined the Our Place board in August 2018. She is a retired educator with a passion for the Special Needs community. Lee Ann directs a camp for children with Special Needs called Special Friends Day Camp. The camp is held every July at Saint Mark United Methodist Church. While directing the camp, Lee Ann is exposed to individuals with varying degrees of abilities and disabilities. She brings valuable experience and an understanding of the special needs community to our Arc board.
Vice President: Regina Roberts
Regina joined the Arc of Oconee County Board in 2017. Regina lives in Mountain Rest with her husband Charles and adult daughter Andrea. Prior to locating in Oconee County, Regina was employed by West Windsor Plainsboro Regional School District (NJ) working directly with special needs children and their mainstream peers. She later accepted a position in the Registrar's Office at Thomas Edison State University as a technical assistant in the records management and registration areas. Regina earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Thomas Edison State University and considers herself to be a life-long learner.
Secretary: Stacy Smith
Stacy Smith is a native Seneconian who has served on the ARC of Oconee board since 2019. She is a child of Christ Jesus, a wife to Wayne, a mother, a grandmother and a nurse. The Lord has used many things in her life to teach but the journey He has given with her now adult special needs daughter has been among His greatest instruments. She is extremely grateful for this journey and has found that as she advocates for her daughter, she advocates for this precious population as a whole. She greatly enjoys studying and teaching the Bible, her family, running, reading and gardening.
Treasurer: Mike Parker
Mike Parker joined the Our Place board in February of 2019. Mike is a lifelong resident of Oconee County and a graduate of Clemson University. Mike holds degrees in Agricultural and Civil Engineering. Mike is employed by Clemson University. He currently serves as a Capital Project Manager. When not at work, Mike enjoys advocating for the special needs community. Mike brings a firsthand experience of what it is like to walk the special needs journey and is a valuable addition to our Arc board.
Board Members:
Amy Conrad
Gabriele Gimenez grew up in Germany and Venezuela. She is a certified Montessori Director for Primary, Junior and Senior students and worked for 23 years in a Montessori school. Gabriele is trained in the Orton/Gillingham Basic and Advanced program and has used these lessons as she works with students at Our Place. Gabriele believes in the uniqueness of each learner.
Michelle Deem and her family have lived in the Walhalla area for the past 25 years. She presently is employed by Clemson University as a family nurse practitioner for Clemson Rural Health. Michelle received her undergraduate degree from DePauw University, her master’s in nursing from Emory and a doctorate in nursing practice from Clemson. Her professional passions include health care and advocacy for medically underserved populations and chronic disease management with a focus on health promotion and wellness. Michelle is also passionate about being an advocate for individuals with special needs. She and her husband Brian have 2 children. Ian, their youngest, is a young adult with intellectual disabilities. As Ian has grown, he has expanded their perspective on the needs of individuals with special needs throughout their different stages of life.
Cecil Turner is a native of Greenville, SC. He is a graduate of Furman University with a degree in Business and Economics. Cecil retired from Duke Energy as a Nuclear Business Planning Manager after 37 years of service. Currently, Cecil is associated with Joyner Engineers, Inc. He is a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church. Cecil is an advocate for special needs citizens and works to improve their lives.
Susan Turner is a native of Seneca, SC. She graduated from Erskine College and received her Masters in education from Clemson University. She taught in Seneca area schools for over 35 years. Susan is a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church. She and her husband Cecil, who is also an Arc board member, have two daughters and four grandchildren. Susan has a special needs brother and is an advocate for all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Susan and her family were instrumental in the opening of the Tribble Center over 50 years ago. (see History page) Today, Susan’s passion for the Special needs community is still strong. She continues to advocate for the well being of the Special needs population and their families in Oconee County.
Staff:
Executive Director: Laura Price
Laura has been an active member of the Arc of Oconee for many years. She graduated from Clemson University and recently retired from Clemson after being employed there for over 30 years. Laura worked in the Purchasing Division and in the Computing Information Division. She lives in Seneca with her husband, David and their children Michael and Jennifer. Laura enjoys activities with her friends at the Arc "Our Place". She also enjoys gardening and teaching the SonLight Sunday School class for adults with special needs at Seneca Baptist Church.
Program Assistant: Tammy Crooks
Tammy is a native of Seneca and a graduate of Seneca High School and Tri-County Technical College, where she earned her Associates Degree in Business. Tammy retired from Clemson University as an IT Buyer after 28 years of service in the Department of Procurement Services and Business Services. Tammy retired to find a field that she was passionate about, which led her straight to the special needs community. Tammy is instrumental in helping plan and coordinate activities and crafts for our participants and in helping to keep our Facebook profile updated and current. Tammy believes her work with the special needs community is extremely fulfilling and very rewarding. It has enabled her to see the world through a different set of eyes. She now knows that every family is walking a different journey. Everyone needs to open their minds and hearts to people with all abilities. It is her goal to advocate for and to make a positive impact for those with special needs. In her spare time, Tammy enjoys working in her yard, exercising, and making memories with her family.