Our Team
Andy Winstead
President
US Army Veteran with 30-plus years in the Rent -To -Own industry. Currently, a Direct Support Staff with Secure Direct NC working with twin sons with multiple disabilities. Founder of A Place for You/Parent's Night Out coordinator. Coordinated Night To Shine Prom for 2 years. Married to Tangy Winstead of 24 years, 4 children, and 2 grandchildren.
Tangy Winstead
Vice President
Tangy Winstead, wife, mother of 4, and grandmother of 2 boys. She has worked with her special needs twins for 24 years and is a Direct Support Staff with Secure Direct NC. She has worked with the Night To Shine Prom for the past 2 years. Also, 12 years of special needs homeschool experience. She is passionate about getting individuals involved in learning and becoming independent. My motto is, to meet the individual where they are and encourage them along the way. She founded Parents Night Out/A Place for You as Coordinator for 1.5 years and now has stepped into this amazing opportunity with Hidden Gemz of North Carolina. I can't wait to meet new families and work with this amazing community. I am also thrilled to work with our Sponsors and Donors. She also loves to spend time with their service dogs that are Goldendoodles, Belle & Jax.
Jennifer Thorne
Treasurer
My name is Jennifer Thorne, and I have been married for 32 years. While we were never able to have children of our own, God blessed us with three fur babies who are truly our world. I believe God created me with a heart to help others, especially children, and I have always loved and felt called to serve them.
I attended college with Tangy, and after many years we reconnected. When Hidden Gemz of North Carolina began, I immediately felt this was where I was meant to be. Serving on the board has allowed me to support families who hold a very special place in my heart.
Our special needs families are incredible important to me, and I am honored to be part of an organization that supports, uplifts, and advocated for these amazing children, adults, and their families.
Kim Balan, MS, BCBA, LBA
Secretary
Kimberly Balan has worked in the field of special education since 2002. A certified special education teacher and a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst, Kimberly has dedicated her career to supporting individuals with unique abilities and their families. Her professional mission centers on helping families identify valuable resources and create meaningful opportunities that foster growth, independence, and inclusion for their loved ones. Beyond her professional work, Kimberly extends her passion for service into her community by teaching in a special needs ministry, where she continues to inspire and support individuals of all abilities. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, finding joy and purpose in every moment shared together.
Victoria Lyndon
Board Member
Victoria Lyndon is a dedicated advocate for mental health, education, and community well being. With 8 years of experience in working with individuals that have a diverse range of special needs, Victoria has been deeply impacted by this heavenly work and it has increased her compassion and empathy, while producing a strong commitment for advocacy with her professional and volunteer work within the community and special needs population. She holds a Masters degree in Counselor Education from ECU and currently serves as an Elementary School Counselor. Victoria is rooted in her faith and aspires to expand her knowledge in areas of need in the mental health field, thus broaden her role of advocacy that connects her aspirations to the organizations mission.
Anthony Thorpe
Board Member
Anthony was raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in geography and later earned dual degrees from the Technical University of Nova Scotia (Tuns): Bachelor of Environmental Design and a Master of Architecture. After completing his studies at Tuns, he moved to the United States and settled in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1995. With more than 30 years experience in licensure in 8 states, Anthony specializes in commercial retail architecture. He is the co-owner of A R Thorpe Architect PLLC, which he operates along side his wife. Anthony is an active member of Restoration Purpose Church in Bailey, NC, where he serves in the Special Needs Ministry. He currently resides in Bailey, NC, with his wife of 19 years, Alicia.
Melissa Penley
Board Member
Rev. Melissa Penley, MACMHC, MA, LCMHCA is passionate about helping people in whatever stage of life that may be. Whether it is working with young children and parents to help find solutions they are facing, or it is later in life when older adults may feel as if they have lost the joy in life they once enjoyed, her desire to help is what led her from the classroom to the therapy room.
While working in the private school system, she discovered a callingfor listening and being present with the children in her classroom, which ultimately led her to pursue her dream of counseling.
Melissa holds two Master of Arts Degrees, one from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the second from Liberty University majoring in Human Services Counseling with a cognate in Crisis Response and Trauma. She is planning to begin a doctoral program later this year.
Melissa has been professionally counseling for several years and has served in multiple ministry capacities for over twenty-seven years. She loves the special needs community, not only as a profession, but as a calling. Being a part of Hidden Gemz is a truly a joy to her life.
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Amanda Bissette Batchelor
Board Member
Andrea Manning
Board Member
