Improving lives through financial counseling, coaching, and education.

Phyllis joined Financial Pathways of the Piedmont in 1998 as a financial counselor and the following year became the housing director. She brings over 22 years of nonprofit management experience to her role as head of this organization. Prior to becoming the President and CEO, she oversaw the agency’s Financial Management and Debt Counseling and Housing programs as well as the Center for Homeownership, a one-stop housing counseling center, which has assisted hundreds of families in obtaining homeownership through a nationally recognized pre-homeownership education course.

Earlier in her career, she received recognition for assisting in creating a housing counseling program for five Native American Tribes as part of President Clinton’s initiative to increase Native American homeownership.

Phyllis is a passionate advocate of the importance of asset building for low-to-moderate income households and as a leader in the community, she has partnered and collaborated with government agencies, funding partners, and other non-profits. She has served as trainer, speaker, and educator for many housing counseling and financial education conferences, workshops, and training events.

Education

B.A., Not-for-Profit Management, Salem College and Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the Southeast Center for Organizational Leadership, High Point University

Service/Certifications/Membership

• Affordable Housing Group of North Carolina, board member
• New Horizons/Fair Housing Summit Planning Committee of the Winston Salem Human Relations Department
• S.G. Atkins Community Development Corporation, board member
• Steering Committee Member, Affordable Housing Network/Prosperity Now
• North Carolina Housing Coalition, member
• Leadership Winston-Salem, class of 2009

Brittany joined Financial Pathways in October 2023. She brings a wealth of knowledge in fundraising and development, volunteer management and non-profit leadership. She has a Master’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Public Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Management. Brittany serves on the Advisory Committee for Greater Winston-Salem’s 40 under 40 group. She is passionate about providing opportunities for financial well-being, building generational wealth through homeownership, and understanding root causes to the issues that face our community.

Education

M.A. in Public Administration, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Ryan joined the staff at Financial Pathways in February of 2019 as Finance Director. He brings with him over 15 years of accounting experience. After residing in New York most of his life, Ryan relocated to North Carolina in 2008. At Financial Pathways, Ryan is an integral and critical part of the agency’s fiscal activities including AP/AR, budgeting, audit review, recordkeeping, and reconciliations. In his free time, Ryan enjoys hiking, golf, and fly fishing. Ryan and his wife Kathyrn reside in High Point.

Education

B.S., Accounting, Clarkson University

Service and Memberships

• Member, High Point Elks Lodge
• Asset Building Coalition of Forsyth County, board member, treasurer

Russel joined Financial Pathways in October 2023. He is a native of Waldorf, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C., as a committed servant of the community, he is one of the 2021 Triad Top 40 Under 40 nominees. Russell joins our team from ActionCOACH a business coaching firm byway of Goodwill, where he was a Workforce Development and Community Engagement Manager, as well as the recipient of the 2020-2021 Rookie of the Year award. Russell holds a Master of Arts degree from Liberty University in Family Counseling with preliminary studies in Human Services Counseling and a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Communication. Russell comes to Financial Pathways of the Piedmont having served the Triad community for nearly 16 years; with experience working within the Guilford County School system and the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Education

M.A. in Family Counseling, Liberty University

Graduate Certificate in Organizational Communication

Patti joined Financial Pathways as Director of the Representative Payee Program in 2018. She oversees the staff working with clients who receive Social Security benefits and need the assistance of a Payee to manage their funds.  Before she joined Financial Pathways as the Director of this Program she worked as a Representative Payee. Patti had wonderful experience previously working with vulnerable populations from her time being the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable Supervisor at a center created to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their full potential.  Through this journey she discovered her true passion is to work in an area that can bring positive change to those suffering with mental health and developmental disabilities.

Education

Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.  Concentration in Special Education

Shareka was a former employee of CCCS of Forsyth Co. in 1999 and rejoined Financial Pathways of the Piedmont in November 2022 as the Financial Management and Education Director. She is responsible for the administration, supervision, and development of programs that respond to the ever-changing needs of the community. Shareka attended East Carolina University and brings to the agency more than 20 years of experience in housing counseling and consumer finance education. She has a passion for the counseling industry and enjoys educating practitioners and consumers on financial concepts. She trained nationally for 15 years and during this time established her consulting firm to provide customized services for non-profit agencies that manage counseling programs in areas such as quality assurance and compliance, process improvement, staff development, and data management. After many years as a practitioner, consultant, and trainer, Shareka looks forward to combining her skills with a great team who is dedicated to the cause of enhancing the financial well-being of individuals and families through education and counseling.

Sharon Thomas joined Financial Pathways in 2002 as an Individual Development Account Success Coach and has over 17 years of experience in providing one-on-one comprehensive housing counseling and homebuyer education workshops. Since that time, she has served in several roles at the organization and currently serves as the Housing Director. Sharon is passionate about assisting clients avoid foreclosure, in finding affordable housing to rent, and guiding potential homebuyers through the home buying process to obtain homeownership. Homeownership stabilizes neighborhoods and strengthens communities.

Education

B.S., Business Administration, Winston-Salem State University

Service/Certifications/Membership

• Certified Credit and Housing Counselor, by National Foundation for Credit Counseling
• HUD Certified Counselor