Executive Director
Jamie Atkinson grew up in Spartanburg, SC. She attended Brevard College and received her bachelor's degree in Mathematics with an emphasis in secondary education. She was a student athlete in college and says that being a student athlete was one of the most valuable experiences she has ever had. She obtained a masters degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of Central Florida, and believes that working in nonprofits is where she is meant to be. She began working at the Club in November of 2018, after a five year career in higher education. Since working at the Club, Jamie says that it has changed her life. "These kids push me everyday to be the best version of myself. From our tiniest kindergarteners to our longest attending high schoolers, these kids are the reason I wake up and love coming to work every day."
In her free time she loves to cook and spend time with her family and her loyal pups, Lola & Frankie. Her favorite quote is, "Whether you think you can or you cannot, you are exactly right." This philosophy follows her everywhere in life and she believes that a positive mindset is contagious.
Email: jatkinson@bgctransylvania.org
Senior Director of Operations & Teen Services
Devon Holmes grew up in Conyers, Ga, 20 minutes east of Atlanta. He landed in Brevard on a football scholarship to Brevard College. Majoring in Political Science & Education (with a minor in Business & Organizational Leadership), he received his Bachelor's Degree in 2014. He began working at the Club during the second semester of his senior year as a Program Specialist after football ended. Devon quickly found his niche in the gym, leading Triple Play and encouraging our kids to get active. He has also worked at Brevard High School and currently works for Family Preservation Services, as a Vocational Counselor on an Assertive Community Treatment Team. He enjoys spending time with family & friends, shopping, and traveling. He has a passion for coaching flag football and empowering our youth to reach their fullest potential.
Email: dholmes@bgctransylvania.org
Grant Writer & Outcomes manager
Caitlyn Murray is a native of Brevard, NC. She graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Appalachian State University in 2018 and completed her Master's Degree in Social Work through East Tennessee State University in 2020. Caitlyn enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, and eating good food! She began at the Club as a Program Specialist shortly after returning to Brevard with her undergraduate degree in May 2018. In 2019 she became the Club's Education Director and then transitioned to the Grant Writer & Outcomes Manager position in 2023. She feels honored to be making an impact in the lives of young people and is thrilled for the opportunity to support the Club's growth and give back to a community for which she cares deeply.
Email: cmurray@bgctransylvania.org
Human Resources Manager
Patty Wagner and husband Pat jumped at the chance to move to Brevard in 2022. While from Wisconsin, they had lived in Shelby and spent weekends enjoying the area’s mountains, shops, and food. Her entire career has been spent serving in non-profits with a background that includes extensive work in museum programming, exhibits, and operations as well as the executive director of a public library. She is thrilled to be serving our community by working at the Boys & Girls Club as HR Manager, and sees her role to work in partnership with all to help the team thrive.
When not walking her dogs all over town or browsing at Highlands Books, she spends time with friends and travels to spend time with her kids in Chattanooga, Wisconsin, and (soon) Japan.
Email: pwagner@bgctransylvania.org
FACILITY DIRECTOR
A resident of Brevard since 2013, Glenn Boyer and his lovely wife Jan moved from Michigan where Glenn worked in the printing industry for over 25 years. Prior to joining the Club family, Glenn served in facilities at Brevard College. In addition to keeping our facility, grounds and equipment in tip-top shape, Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, riding his motorcycle and golfing some more. If he isn't at the Club enjoying his work with so many wonderful people, you can definitely find him on a golf course.
Email: gboyer@bgctransylvania.org
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
AnaBelle Eidson grew up in South Florida and moved to Brevard after she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English with a concentration in Professional Writing from Pensacola Christian College. She came to Brevard to work at a camp for youth and adults, but after a year there, she transitioned to the classroom as a fifth and sixth grade teacher. While teaching, she was able to see up close the value of coming alongside her students, not only to teach them academically, but also to help shape their view of learning, the world, and themselves through intentional conversations and actions. She hopes to continue to serve young people at the Club by providing academic and relational support to its members.
Email: aeidson@bgctransylvania.org
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
LeeAnn McKinney has lived in Brevard for most of her life moving from California at the age of 10. She is currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Elementary education and loves working with our kids! She enjoys exploring the beautiful mountains and cool weather of Western North Carolina and Transylvania County with her two amazing children and husband.
Email: lmckinney@bgctransylvania.org
TEEN Curriculum DIRECTOR
Jon Hendricks is a native of Brevard, NC. He graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Planning from Western Carolina University in 2019. Jon began working at the Club in 2016 during the summers when he would come home from college, and quickly found his passion. He returned in 2020 as a Program Specialist after obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree. In his free time, Jon enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching sports, and managing his investment portfolio. Jon has a passion for supporting the youth in his community, and encouraging the next generation.
His favorite quote is “The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.”
Email: jhendricks@bgctransylvania.org
Resiliency Coordinator
Aleisha Roberson grew up in the small town of Hewett, West Virginia. After finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Marshall University she started working for Treatment Court Programs throughout West Virginia and Ohio. This experience is what opened her up to her calling of helping others from the clinical mental health side. She moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina after completing her Master’s of Science in Criminology and continued working with families in clinical mental health. Aleisha now works as a Qualified Mental Health Professional for the Assertive Community Treatment Team and is excited to join the Club. Aleisha’s philosophy is “Everyone is in Recovery from something. It is our job to lead with empathy and acceptance.”
Aleisha enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going hiking and being outdoors with her children, going to music shows, cooking, and cuddling with her fur-baby, Loki.
Email: aroberson@bgctransylvania.org
ASSISTANT OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Jessica Ramirez grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and moved to North Carolina in 2003. She joined the Club in 2016 as a Program Specialist and worked primarily with our Kindergarten groups. Very early on during her time with the Club, she noticed we lacked an intentional art program for our members, and desired to develop one. She started working hard at making changes towards creating an art program that aligned with our mission, became Art Director, and then in 2024 moved into the role of Assistant Operations Director.
Jessica has expressed that, “It's amazing that I get to come to work and do what I love doing, while serving the children who need us most! Serving our members here is truly my passion. I have for sure found my calling!”
Email: jramirez@bgctransylvania.org
arts DIRECTOR
Brooklyn Owen grew up in Brevard, NC, and pursued her passion for art at Western Carolina University. She started with the Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club in 2016 and has taken on many different roles within the organization. Brooklyn has a deep commitment to creating a fun and supportive environment for the youth in our community by focusing on helping kids explore their creativity, build confidence, and enjoy the freedom of being a kid. Outside of work, Brooklyn enjoys cooking, painting, spending time with loved ones, and exploring the outdoors with her dog Sutton.
Email: bowen@bgctransylvania.org
Education DIRECTOR
Sara Barnes moved to Brevard four years ago to attend Brevard College where she studied history and education. During her time at the college, she fell in love with the town and has lived here since! Sara started as a Youth Development Professional at the Club, moving into the interim Health and Wellness Director position during the summer of 2024. Knowing her love for education and her passion for seeing growth in all of our members, Sara moved into the Education Director position in 2025. Sara loves storytelling, writing, being creative, and most of all getting to serve and love our community.
Email: sbarnes@bgctransylvania.org
health & Wellness Director
Tyler Miranda grew up in Valley City, Ohio, about 45 minutes outside of Cleveland, OH. He came to Brevard, NC to attend Brevard College and race for the cycling team there. During his undergraduate studies he dual majored in Mathematics and Exercise Science. He is currently in his final semester of graduate school in Health and Human Performance. Along with his graduate course work, Tyler has been able to work as the Assistant Cycling coach for the team at Brevard College for the past two years. After volunteering to lead a bike clinic at the club over spring break with a few students from the BC cycling team, Tyler decided to work as a part-time staff over the summer and complete his internship by leading a summer bike program for kids in grades 3-5. After the summer Tyler was brought on as our Health and Wellness Director. Tyler says, "the opportunity to help these kids find the healthiest version of themselves is invaluable in my continued development professionally and personally."
Email: tmiranda@bgctransylvania.org
Front Desk Assistant
Claire Sikes-Clark grew up in Montgomery, Alabama while spending her summers at Rockbrook Camp for Girls. When searching for the right college, Brevard College instantly felt right. While at BC, she fell in love with the area and graduated in 2018 with a degree in integrated studies with an emphasis in early childhood education. Shortly after graduating, she joined The Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County team as a Program Specialist. Since then, she has worked at the Club on and off, mainly in the summers while teaching Pre-k during the school year. In the fall of 2024, she returned to us as one of our Front Desk Assistants where she supports our Youth Development Professionals in working hands-on with the kids.
When Claire isn’t at the Club, she’s exploring the outdoors with her husband and hanging out with her friends.
Front Desk Assistant
Ari Young is originally from Southern California. After moving to the area in 1999, Ari entered the field of early childhood education where she’s happily worked ever since. Ari holds Credentials 1 and 2 in Early Childhood Education, her CDA, and some continued education courses in early childhood education. The Boys & Girls Club has always been a large part of her life as all of her children have come through the Club over the past 20 years. As a family they have been involved in some of the Club’s sports programs such as flag football, basketball, soccer, and baseball. When given an opportunity to change careers, Ari immediately looked towards the Boys & Girls Club and became our latest Front Desk Assistant.
She feels that environment that the Club provides is like a home away from home: “I love the families, kids, and staff I get to be involved with everyday. Serving the community and the families in it is an important aspect of the Boys and Girls Club. I hope to be a part of this amazing team and family for years to come.”
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT Director
Karen Phillips and her family moved from Albany, Georgia to Brevard in 2017, and by 2019 she was a part of the Boys & Girls Club team. Karen received her Bachelor’s of Science in Special Education and Early Childhood and then her Master’s in Instructional Technology from Georgia Southern University. Her career history includes: classroom teacher, media specialist, computer/technology specialist, and grant writer. Her focal point in the workplace has always been helping children discover their unique path of happiness and success. And now that focal point includes making connections with the donors that make all of this possible! In her downtime, Karen enjoys spending an afternoon with her husband hiking or biking and then ending the day in front of a fire with the family dog or cat on her lap.
Email: kphillips@bgctransylvania.org
ASSISTANT Resource Development Director
Caitlin Coffey has been living in Brevard since 2007 and previously worked at The Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club 2011-2014 before stepping away to focus on family. Caitlin is thrilled to be back at the Club and assisting with Resource Development. Caitlin has spent most of the past 15 years working in residential programs, schools, and summer programs. As a mom, she is passionate about the Boys & Girls Club mission and recognizes the essential need of the Club to our community. When she’s not at the Club, you can find Caitlin at Highland Books or enjoying local bakeries with her daughter!
Email: ccoffey@bgctransylvania.org
SPECIAL EVENTS
Gina Malefyt loves coordinating and implementing events - navigating all of the big and small details. Gina is thrilled to be working with the Club helping plan and implement our annual Bent River Farm Benefit Dinner and whatever else we dream up! She and her husband, Joel have lived in Brevard for several years having relocated from Colorado. They have two daughters, Ruby and Rowan, and enjoy taking trips and making memories together as a family.
Email: gmalefyt@bgctransylvania.org