Steve Strom has been executive director of The Arc of Wake County since 2006. He and his wife, Teresa, are the parents of one son, Adam, who has Fragile X Syndrome. Steve has lived in Raleigh since 1992. He has an M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Prior to his leadership at The Arc, Steve worked in the lighting and utility industry as a marketing executive at Progress Energy and IllumElex Corporation.

"Being executive director calls on all of my business and nonprofit training. The work we do is so important to improving the lives of the individuals we serve here in Wake County that we must involve everyone in the community. We want our partners to see that the people we serve deserve to live, work, play, and worship in a community that is welcoming and free of barriers. Creating a more inclusive community enriches the lives of everyone. If we can show that individuals with developmental disabilities have hopes, dreams, and aspirations like everyone else, then we are creating a lasting impact in Wake County."

Steve also volunteers on several United Way of the Greater Triangle committees and is the board secretary for the Villages of Wakefield Homeowner's Association.

Steve Strom
Executive Director
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Michael Brown moved from Marietta, GA to Rocky Mount, NC for school at North Carolina Wesleyan College. While attending NC Wesleyan, he majored in Justice Studies and Psychology. He chose this field because he is passionate about helping others. He plans to complete his Masters Degree in Human Services within the next two years. Michael has been working in the human services field for four years now doing mostly case management.

Michael Brown
Guardianship Specialist
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Abraham Chen attended UNC-Chapel Hill and graduated 2010 with a degree in Mathematical Decision Sciences. He is currently studying at North Carolina State University as a Masters student in accounting.

Abraham Chen
Office Administrator
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Kiersten Drummond received her B.A. in both Psychology and Sociology at University of Massachusetts in 2006 and has worked in the social services field for 2 years. As a job coach and an employment specialist for Washington Vocational Services, she worked on identifying employment resources and opportunities and sharing them with clients with vocational goals. She ran a variety of workshops including “How to Interview” and cold canvassing. She is new to the Durham/Raleigh area and is in the process of going back for her Master’s degree in Social Work so she can continue to advocate for others. She enjoys helping people from all walks of life network and participate within their community in whatever ways that are available to them.

Kiersten Drummond
Employment Specialist
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Michelle Foy was hired as the Program Director for the Retirement and Leisure Supports and Services Program with The Arc of Wake County in December 2005. She has worked for over 12 years as a Movement Therapist/Program Director for individuals with Developmental Disabilities and holds a Masters Degree from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

Michelle Foy
Program Director
Retirement & Leisure Support Services
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Doug Gill has worked as a Retirement Coach with the Arc of Wake County since 2001 after working for 23 years with IBM as an electrical engineer and volunteering for 6 years with the M'n'M Singers. He was born in Texas and lived in many states prior to settling in Raleigh in 1984.

Doug Gill
Retirement Coach
Retirement & Leisure Support Services
816-7386

Helen Leblond has a Bachelor of Science degree from East Tennessee State University with a dual major in Special Education (K-12) and Elementary Education. Helen has taught Special Education in Tennessee, North Carolina, Idaho, and Michigan. Helen previously served as Director of Compensatory Education for Wake Tech Community College. Helen also served as President of The Arc of Wake County and was a Board member.

Helen Leblond
Employer of Record Coordinator
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Rich Martins is a graduate from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. He received his Masters of Arts Degree in Humanities, with a concentration in Literature, from the University of Chicago. He began his social services career in 1974 in various programs serving teenagers, adults, and senior citizens with physical and/or developmental disabilities. He has experience in developing and implementing community-based programs for non-profit and private organizations. For the past fourteen years, have focused on assisting individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment in their respective communities.

Rich Martins
Director, Supported Employment
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Stacy Miller was born and raised in South Carolina. She attended the University of South Carolina and finished with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2007, then got her MSA from USC in 2009. Stacy moved to Raleigh after graduation and began working with The Arc that August. Her professional history includes two internships during the graduate program: one where she provided social work services to students and their families at a middle school and in the other helped develop and implement programs such as job readiness and GED prep for women who were working to regain parental rights to their children, as well as created and implemented a life skills program for children recovering from homelessness.

Stacy Miller
Guardianship Specialist
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Revonda Russos is the parent of three children with special needs, and has advocated on their behalf for over a decade. She brings first hand experience as a parent working with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health issues to her role as an advisor for The Arc of Wake County's self-advocacy group and facilitator for Community Connections since 2007.

Revonda Russos
Adult Services Coordinator
270-0783

Kevin Swenk attended Appalachian State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with a concentration in Human Resource Management. In 2000 Kevin left the mountains of North Carolina for the first time and relocated to Raleigh to be closer to his wife’s family. Kevin brings a wealth of experience in various settings including: human services, managed care, sales, management, and the health care industry. He gets his passion for advocacy from his mother, who has worked in human services her entire professional life.

Kevin Swenk
Employment Specialist
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Ben Tomczak is in his fifth year as director of the M'n'M Singers with The Arc of Wake County. He studied music at Hampshire College and completed his Master's Degree in Pastoral Studies at Loyola University New Orleans. When he is not with the M'n'M Singers, you may find him teaching at two outstanding local schools, enjoying company with friends and family, or tending his herb and flower garden in the splendid North Carolina outdoors.

Ben Tomczak
M’n’M Singers Choir Director
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