Leadership
Board of Directors
Mary Bethel is the Chair of the NC Coalition on Aging’s Board of Directors. Mary is retired as Associate State Director for Advocacy with AARP North Carolina in 2015. Prior to coming to AARP in October of 2005, she worked for almost 30 years with the N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services in a variety of administrative, supervisory and program capacities. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her advocacy work in aging including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the 2019 Elizabeth Welch Award from the N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services, and the 2012 National AARP Lyn Bodiford Award. She has graduate and undergraduate degrees from NC State University. Mary served as the first executive director of the Coalition on Aging.
Adam Sholar is Vice Chair of the NC Coalition on Aging. Adam is the president and CEO of the NC Health Care Facilities Association (NCHCFA), a trade association for more than 90% of the skilled nursing facilities in North Carolina. He entered this role over 5 years ago, and in it focuses on advancing solutions to the challenges facing those who provide aged and disabled individuals with post-acute or long-term 24-hour medical care, as well as preparing North Carolina to care for its aging population. In addition to his role at NCHCFA, he is on the Board of Directors of the NC Institute of Medicine, a position to which he was appointed by the NC General Assembly. He has also previously served in senior leadership positions in the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
Lee Little has over 25 years of experience in public service. He has held key roles in social work, mental health case management, and program management for Aging & Adult Services (DSS). He is currently serving as Assistant Director for Wake County Adult Services. Previously, he held pivotal leadership positions for Durham County Social Services in the Aging and Adult Services Division and as a supervisor for both Adult Protective Services and Child Protective Services. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Urban Ministries Homeless Shelter and Dementia Inclusive INC. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University, followed by a Master’s in Public Administration from NC Central University. Additionally, he holds certificates in project management and financial planning.
Kay Paksoy Castillo is the Executive Director of Friends of Residents in Long-Term Care, a statewide nonprofit working to advance the quality of life for the 100,000 individuals who receive long-term care in the state. Prior to her current role, Kay worked for over a decade as the Director of Advocacy, Policy, and Legislation and a registered lobbyist for the National Association of Social Workers, North Carolina Chapter. Kay holds a degree in social work from Campbell University.
Lee Dobson is the Division Director of government affairs for BAYADA Home Health Care, (non-profit service provider) and is also Deputy Executive Director of BAYADA Hearts for Home Care, Inc (a social welfare advocacy organization focused on promoting access to quality care at home). Lee is an experienced healthcare executive with over 28 years in home health care and hospice government affairs, public policy, and grassroots advocacy. Prior to joining BAYADA, Lee started her healthcare career with the Medicare Fiscal Intermediary at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina and later worked at the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina and Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence. Lee has her master’s degree in public administration with a focus on health administration from Troy State University. She is fluent in Spanish.
Deryl Davis Fulmer is currently serving as the community liaison for the North Carolina Retired Governmental Employees Association (NCRGEA). Deryl spent her career in higher education. She served as chief academic officer and in vice presidencies and deanships in several institutions, including universities in Wisconsin and technical and community colleges in both Wisconsin and North Carolina. After 30 years in higher education, Dr. Fulmer retired in 2019. She currently teaches a doctoral course on inclusive leadership at Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin each spring. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in cultural foundations of education and a Ph.D. in urban education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Katie Kutcher has over 16 years of experience in aging services. She is an Assistant Aging Director for the Centralina Area Agency on Aging in Charlotte and works primarily with home and community-based services and supports. Key areas of interest include Aging and Disability Awareness, Cultural Competency and Age-Friendly Communities. She is also a part-time instructor for the UNC Charlotte Gerontology Program.
Les Geller has a long history of advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Prior to retirement he had a career as an architectural designer. Beginning in 2008, he served on the founding committee and on the initial Board of Directors for the LGBT Center of Raleigh. In 2009 he founded a program of the Center for older LGBTQ+ adults called SAGE Raleigh, which recently evolved to become rebranded as Carolina Aging Alliance. He created and led the SAGE Central NC Housing Initiative for seven years. Les is a former Board Chair of Wake County’s Resources for Seniors.
Mary Williams-Stover is currently the Equity-Centered Policy Manager, for The Center for Black Health & Equity. She has served the citizens of NC in several positions including Senior Director, NC Department of Health and Human Services Covid-19 Vendor Management Team, and Executive Director of the NC Council for Women and Youth Involvement. The NC Council for Women and Youth Involvement is one of several state advocacy agencies within the N.C. Department of Administration. Her goal is to encourage policy changes, increase individual and organizational commitment to improving women’s health and voter participation statewide, and support a vision to make NC the best place for all people to Thrive. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park and member of Grace Bible Fellowship church in Cary, NC.
Sandra K. Phelps, Executive Director
Sandra joined the Coalition on February 3, 2025. She brings a strong background in non-profit management to the position. She served as Executive Director with United Way of Coastal Carolina for over 25 years and prior to that was Executive Director of Beaufort County United Way for two years. She also worked for eight years in public relations and marketing at two local hospitals in eastern North Carolina. In her role with United Way, she worked to develop collaborative relationships and a productive network with local officials, community nonprofits, business, civic and political leaders. The Coalition was drawn to Sandra’s experience and effectiveness in working with diverse organizations and groups around issues which is certainly one of the key things that the Executive Director of the Coalition is called on to do frequently.
Sandra has an undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from UNC-Greensboro and a M.S. in Business Administration from Boston College. She has served on the Board of Directors for the United Way of North Carolina, the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Craven Community College.