DFJ Executive Board

CARY HEISE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER
Cary is married to her biggest encourager Rob and Mom to Ashlin and Carver who attend Apex High School. Cary grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC and has lived most of her adult life in Raleigh. She’s a Clemson Tiger at heart where she attended early in college, but graduated from Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. Cary’s faith and international mission experience working with women’s artisan co-ops in Central America and Africa inspired the birth of Designed For Joy. She's a serial entrepreneur and has founded small several businesses around creating community for women in the Raleigh area. Cary’s a big believer in encouraging women to pursue their passion.

KRISTEN SYDOW | CO-FOUNDER AND DESIGNER

ANGELA PADGETT | BOARD CHAIR
Angela has called the Triangle-area home for almost 30 years. She and her husband, Tim, live in Apex and have three children: Brandon, a first-year law student; Joshua, a student at Wake Tech; and Mia, a seventh-grader. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Angela worked in corporate and marketing communications at SAS for 11 years. As a stay-at-home mom, she became involved with several non-profits, including International Justice Mission (IJM) where she is currently the team leader for the IJM Raleigh Volunteer Team. Angela is passionate about advocating for those that society often overlooks - both internationally and right here in her community.
KAREN WOOMER

KATHLEEN KENNEY | TREASURER
Kathleen began working with non-profit finances in 2012 as the bookkeeper for the West Raleigh Baseball Association and continued in 2015 as financial administrator for the Vs Cancer Foundation. Currently, Kathleen works with numerous non-profit organizations as a staff accountant at Maddison & Caison LLP. In between raising her sons, Evan and William, and studying for the CPA exam, Kathleen enjoys hiking with her pup Cleo, going to live music shows, and baking.

SHERIKA HISMITH

HEATHER DOUGLAS WILKINS

REBECCA S. AYERS, PhD
