Our Volunteers | trans4mation

Colette Barnes, is the married mother of two boys ages 18 and 11, a graduate of UNC-CH, and is a full time employee and entrepreneur. A resident of North Carolina since 1992, Colette is a Virginia native and comes from a family of four kids. She loves creating and has become proficient in arts and crafts as well as fashion. Having spent most of her career in the pharmaceutical industry, Colette has become diverse in various areas of the corporate market. Her love for people and marketing combined are a valuable asset that will get a tremendous work out!

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Cathy Gordon has dedicated over twenty years of working in the Higher Education arena, where she has honed her skills in motivating and supporting students along their collegiate journey. She has earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Therapeutic Recreation from Benedict College and her Master’s in Education from Strayer University. Serving her community has always been a passion that she still fulfills by serving on the board and mentoring high school students who are preparing to start their four year collegiate journey at a myriad of college and universities throughout the United States. She is a mother of two young adult daughters, a new grandmother of a phenomenal little boy, a mentor, sister, and friend. Cathy enjoys living in the quaint city of Mebane, where loves to host her family and friends. "It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?" Marianne Williamson.

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Beachy Sanders has worked in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in the Administrative Office for 8 years doing their publications as well as dealing with the public and has also retired from the Orange County Department of Social Services where she worked with the Director as the Office Supervisor and supervised as many as 10 co-workers in the clerical field. Beachy is a career driven goal-oriented woman who has dedicated her life to serving those who need her assistance and currently serves as a volunteer at the Department of Veteran Affairs on the weekends in Durham.

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Carlina Simmons, MSW, is an experienced Social Worker who has worked in the education and social work field for the past ten years. A graduate of NC State and UNC-Pembroke, Carlina has a passion for the pursuit of knowledge and empowering her community.

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Catrina Simmons has a Bachelor's degree in English and has been a classroom teacher for 40 years. She constantly tells her family that she is retiring soon, but she continues to make it “one more year”. She is the wife of 45 years to Alex, mother to two amazing young ladies (Carlina and Taryn) and the sister to the most wonderful siblings on the planet. Catrina is a member of Covenant Love Church honors her awesome dad who is 95 years young and loves spending time with family, especially during the holidays, and enjoys traveling and shopping!

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Taryn Simmons, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and dreams of one day becoming an entrepreneur. She currently works as a hospital dispatcher, where she thrives in the fast-paced, ever-changing environment. Outside of work, Taryn is a proud dog mom who cherishes family time. She has a passion for music — she plays the acoustic guitar and loves to sing. Taryn also enjoys serving others, attending church, and traveling to new places whenever she can.