Meet Our Studio Staff
Executive Director
Grace was born in Pensacola, Florida, but has called Charlotte, NC home for the majority of her life. She found her heart for mission work and nonprofits while working with her church growing up, but credits her passion to her grandmother, who served many nonprofits throughout her life and passed down a love of service to Grace. After moving to Raleigh in 2018 to attend Meredith College, Grace was able to pursue her passion as she constructed her own degree in Nonprofit Management. Grace started with Designed For Joy in the fall of her senior year as an intern and joined the Designed For Joy staff full-time following her graduation in May. When she is not hard at work, you can catch Grace hanging out with her friends, binge watching reality TV, or reading a cheesy romance novel.
Sales Director
Emily Padron is a North Carolina native who brings heart, integrity, and a global perspective to everything she does including her new role as the Sales Director at Designed for Joy. She has a background in International Relations and Spanish from the University of Kentucky, and is passionate about using business as a force for good. Emily previously founded Valerosa, a vibrant brand focused on handmade artisan goods from Mexico. When she’s not working, Emily finds her greatest joy in spending time with her husband and their two daughters. She loves traveling, reading books together, and embracing every moment life has to offer with gratitude.
Wholesale Sales Director
Vanessa, a native New Yorker and self-proclaimed 'Jersey Girl,' bid farewell to her career in financial services and left behind the frigid winters of the Northeast for the welcoming embrace of the south. Along with her husband Hap and their faithful companion Sydney Grace, they enjoy exploring the abundant walking trails within the Triangle or soaking up the sun at their favorite NC beach. Her unwavering commitment to an active and healthy lifestyle is reflected in her passion for cycling and her dedicated yoga practice. Vanessa always had a yearning for something more profound and a desire to find a deeper purpose. In 2023, she embarked on a new chapter by joining Designed For Joy which resonated with her core values, faith and allows her to channel her passion for service.
Operations Manager
Stacy's love for trying new things drew her to Designed for Joy, which allowed her to combine work experience with a need to support a passionate faith-filled mission. She has alway enjoyed working part time jobs in small businesses while her kids, Ben and Laura, were growing up. When her kids were off to college, she, alongside her husband John, designed, built, and ran a retail gift business in Cary. In 2017, she and John decided to make a move from Cary to downtown Raleigh, where they could walk and live closer to all the things they enjoy doing! After, the gift shop closed in late 2019, they transitioned the best-selling products from the gift shop to their website, and they now run the small online business from home. When they aren't working, they love gardening, traveling with friends, cooking, and of course, walking to all the local restaurants, music venues, and breweries!
Designer & Production Manager
Dana Friedli recently joined the team as a designer at DFJ following a 41 year career as a professional musician. She is a Parsons School of Design trained silversmith, and has been designing and creating silver and dichroic glass jewelry for over 30 years. Dana completed a Teen Life Coaching Certification in 2023, recognized through the ICF. This seemingly disparate set of skills synchronistically comes together in working with vulnerable women and product design at Designed for Joy.
Director of Philanthropy
With over 13 years of fundraising experience across academic healthcare institutions, higher education, and social justice and human rights organizations, William Gehling brings a passion for building meaningful partnerships to his role as Director of Philanthropy at Designed For Joy. A graduate of NC State University, William began his career in New York City before returning to North Carolina to be closer to family. He is energized by connecting with supporters and friends to help realize Designed For Joy's vision of providing women in crisis with stability through immediate employment and support. When he's not working, you can find William spending time with his puppy, running, traveling, or catching up on his favorite TV shows.
Director of Programs
Maggie Burch, a Myrtle Beach native with a heart for adventure and a passion for impact, has always been drawn to the power of social enterprises. During a gap year, she did Semester At Sea where she toured a social enterprise in Ghana—a moment that cemented her desire to create meaningful change. This led her to earning her Bachelor of Science in Social Development: Innovation and Impact from Meredith College.
Maggie first joined Designed For Joy as an intern and now directs our programs, ensuring that every woman who walks through our doors leaves feeling empowered, confident, and part of a supportive community. When she’s not at the Studio, you’ll find Maggie enjoying downtown Raleigh, volunteering with the Junior League and B Local Triangle, or planning her next getaway.