Our team
Here at Onslow Literacy Council Inc., our board, staff, and committee members work tirelessly to ensure that the needs of our students and tutors are met. We are entirely volunteer-run, and none of our members are paid; instead, all funding is poured into our programs, classrooms, and outreach opportunities. We consist of a Fundraising Committee, Governance Committee, Financial Committee, and Programs and Outreach Committee.
Curtis Hildt: President, Governance Committee Chair
Curtis is definitely a powerhouse in our organization! As a retired Master Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, Curtis brings great structure to the political side of our Council, and he currently heads our Governance Committee. After his service in the military, he went on to obtain his Master's Degree as a Reading Education Specialist K-12. While working towards his degree, Curtis volunteered as a tutor at Coastal Carolina Community College from 1991-1995; once his degree was completed, he went on to become an instructor there in reading, English, social studies, and other GED subjects from 1995-2015. Now retired, Curtis enjoys tutoring, boating, fishing, and camping. He has also volunteered with the Boy Scouts for thirty years, enjoys working with Haw Branch United Methodist Church, and also volunteers with Onslow County Fire Commission as well as on the Board of Directors of OMH.
Curtis is definitely a powerhouse in our organization! As a retired Master Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, Curtis brings great structure to the political side of our Council, and he currently heads our Governance Committee. After his service in the military, he went on to obtain his Master's Degree as a Reading Education Specialist K-12. While working towards his degree, Curtis volunteered as a tutor at Coastal Carolina Community College from 1991-1995; once his degree was completed, he went on to become an instructor there in reading, English, social studies, and other GED subjects from 1995-2015. Now retired, Curtis enjoys tutoring, boating, fishing, and camping. He has also volunteered with the Boy Scouts for thirty years, enjoys working with Haw Branch United Methodist Church, and also volunteers with Onslow County Fire Commission as well as on the Board of Directors of OMH.
Penney Burlingame Deal: Vice President
Interests: Clinical/Medical background, Painting (acrylics mostly) cooking, reading, ; Registered nurse (Emergency Nursing ) worker
Organizations involved with: Currently CEO of Onslow Memorial Hospital. 20 years health care executive, Volunteer Rotary, NCIOM (North Carolina Institute of Medicine AHA (Southern Atlantic Healthcare Association), North Carolina Healthcare Association, American Red Cross
Active Committees: Governance
Interests: Clinical/Medical background, Painting (acrylics mostly) cooking, reading, ; Registered nurse (Emergency Nursing ) worker
Organizations involved with: Currently CEO of Onslow Memorial Hospital. 20 years health care executive, Volunteer Rotary, NCIOM (North Carolina Institute of Medicine AHA (Southern Atlantic Healthcare Association), North Carolina Healthcare Association, American Red Cross
Active Committees: Governance
Sally Goodman: Secretary
Sally is the Director of Library Services at Coastal Carolina Community College, where she greatly enjoys her interactions with students and faculty alike. She joined Onslow Literacy in 2018 and has been invaluable to our outreach program and partnership with Coastal. Sally is also involved with Habitat for Humanity and the North Carolina Community College Association. Whenever she is not participating in library events and assisting students, Sally likes to soak up some sun on the local beaches, read historical fiction that features strong female characters, knit, and hang out with her hound dog Millie.
Active Committees: Outreach
Sally is the Director of Library Services at Coastal Carolina Community College, where she greatly enjoys her interactions with students and faculty alike. She joined Onslow Literacy in 2018 and has been invaluable to our outreach program and partnership with Coastal. Sally is also involved with Habitat for Humanity and the North Carolina Community College Association. Whenever she is not participating in library events and assisting students, Sally likes to soak up some sun on the local beaches, read historical fiction that features strong female characters, knit, and hang out with her hound dog Millie.
Active Committees: Outreach
Donna Poulsen: Treasurer, ESL Tutor
Donna brings sparkle to our organization and is passionate about tutoring, enjoying every moment with her Thai ESL students. She has been our Treasurer since 2016 and is an invaluable help with our program and fundraisers. She currently works at Poulsen Financial Group with her father as a Secretary and Co-Owner. As of 2018, she is also the Franchisee and the Center Director for Huntington Learning Center, a tutoring company that offers exam prep, academic skills, and subject tutoring to children in Onslow. In her free time, Donna enjoys acting and performing with her daughter, Tiffany, in local community theater. They also volunteer with their church, enjoy expressing their creative side with arts and crafts, and love a good book.
Donna brings sparkle to our organization and is passionate about tutoring, enjoying every moment with her Thai ESL students. She has been our Treasurer since 2016 and is an invaluable help with our program and fundraisers. She currently works at Poulsen Financial Group with her father as a Secretary and Co-Owner. As of 2018, she is also the Franchisee and the Center Director for Huntington Learning Center, a tutoring company that offers exam prep, academic skills, and subject tutoring to children in Onslow. In her free time, Donna enjoys acting and performing with her daughter, Tiffany, in local community theater. They also volunteer with their church, enjoy expressing their creative side with arts and crafts, and love a good book.
Howard Funk: Co-founder and Board Member
Organizations involved with: Rotary club South, Knights of Columbus, retired Marine
Active Committees: Governance, Fundraising, Finance Committees
Organizations involved with: Rotary club South, Knights of Columbus, retired Marine
Active Committees: Governance, Fundraising, Finance Committees
Nivedita (Mini) Mittal: Fundraising Chair, ESL Tutor
With her many talents and passion for literacy, Mini adds so much to Onslow Literacy Council Inc. She believes education is a very powerful tool that can change lives and that literacy in particular is the only way towards a more peaceful and better world. She works especially hard with our ESL students, bringing joy, imagination, and life skills into each lesson. When she isn't busy working with her students, Mini enjoys observing natural beauty around her and displaying that in her lovely and talented paintings. She also teaches healing yoga classes every week and practices mindful, positive thinking and living.
Active Committees: Fundraising, Governance
With her many talents and passion for literacy, Mini adds so much to Onslow Literacy Council Inc. She believes education is a very powerful tool that can change lives and that literacy in particular is the only way towards a more peaceful and better world. She works especially hard with our ESL students, bringing joy, imagination, and life skills into each lesson. When she isn't busy working with her students, Mini enjoys observing natural beauty around her and displaying that in her lovely and talented paintings. She also teaches healing yoga classes every week and practices mindful, positive thinking and living.
Active Committees: Fundraising, Governance
Anita Stokes:
Interests: child hunger prevention, financial literacy, food banks, advocacy for homeless population.
Organizations involved with: Guardian Ad Litem Guardian Ad Litem child advocate for Onslow County:
Active Committees: Outreach
Interests: child hunger prevention, financial literacy, food banks, advocacy for homeless population.
Organizations involved with: Guardian Ad Litem Guardian Ad Litem child advocate for Onslow County:
Active Committees: Outreach
Allison Barnes:
Interests: tutoring & working with ESL population who are eager & motivated to learn
Organizations involved with: PVUMC English Program Director
Active Committees: Outreach
Interests: tutoring & working with ESL population who are eager & motivated to learn
Organizations involved with: PVUMC English Program Director
Active Committees: Outreach
Verlando (Lee) Frazier: PhD Philosophy in Education (Education Committee, Chair)
Interests: Literacy/reading, verbal/written communications, tutoring adults’ education, reading/writing and critical thinking skills
Organizations: Retired United States Marine, Volunteer Onslow County soup kitchen, Part time instructor Coastal Carolina Community College, Volunteer Minority Mentor Coastal Carolina Community College and Onslow County Learning center, Onslow Literacy Council sponsorship member
Active Committees: Education, Program
Interests: Literacy/reading, verbal/written communications, tutoring adults’ education, reading/writing and critical thinking skills
Organizations: Retired United States Marine, Volunteer Onslow County soup kitchen, Part time instructor Coastal Carolina Community College, Volunteer Minority Mentor Coastal Carolina Community College and Onslow County Learning center, Onslow Literacy Council sponsorship member
Active Committees: Education, Program
Susan Kegley:
Interest: Organizing, budgeting and logistics
Organizations: Church finance committee, Constitution committee
Active Committees: Finance
Interest: Organizing, budgeting and logistics
Organizations: Church finance committee, Constitution committee
Active Committees: Finance
Advisory Board
Robert Roupe: Legal Advisor
Robert (Bob) Roupe received his Bachelor's Degree in History from Bob Jones University in 1997 and graduated with his law degree from the University of North Carolina in 2000. He has lived in Jacksonville since 1981 and and considers it home. Robert has worked with the District Attorney's office since 2001. Whenever he is not busy, he enjoys spending time with his wife of eighteen years, Amy, and their two sons.
Robert (Bob) Roupe received his Bachelor's Degree in History from Bob Jones University in 1997 and graduated with his law degree from the University of North Carolina in 2000. He has lived in Jacksonville since 1981 and and considers it home. Robert has worked with the District Attorney's office since 2001. Whenever he is not busy, he enjoys spending time with his wife of eighteen years, Amy, and their two sons.
Carolyn Alford: Founding Member
Carolyn Alford is a columnist with The Daily News newspaper. Her column about community people and events is published on Sunday in the Neighbors section. She served as director of the literacy program Newspapers in Education for about twenty years working with students and teachers in the schools. During her tenure, the program won national literacy awards and Carolyn won a writing award from the National Newspapers Association. Carolyn is also one of the founding members of Onslow Literacy Council Inc.
Active Committees: Finance
Carolyn Alford is a columnist with The Daily News newspaper. Her column about community people and events is published on Sunday in the Neighbors section. She served as director of the literacy program Newspapers in Education for about twenty years working with students and teachers in the schools. During her tenure, the program won national literacy awards and Carolyn won a writing award from the National Newspapers Association. Carolyn is also one of the founding members of Onslow Literacy Council Inc.
Active Committees: Finance
Dr. Robert (Bob) Turlington: Founding Member
Bob has been a life long resident of Jacksonville, NC. He received his Bachelor's in business administration from Chapel Hill in 1960, his medical degree there in 1969, and went on to complete his residency in Greensboro at the Moses Cone Hospital. From 1972 until 2014, Bob worked as a family physician within Jacksonville. Now retired, he spends his time with family and volunteering with the local community clinic and other nonprofits in town. Bob has been a member of Jacksonville Rotary South for many years and was instrumental in the founding of Onslow Literacy Council Inc.
Active Committees: Governance
Bob has been a life long resident of Jacksonville, NC. He received his Bachelor's in business administration from Chapel Hill in 1960, his medical degree there in 1969, and went on to complete his residency in Greensboro at the Moses Cone Hospital. From 1972 until 2014, Bob worked as a family physician within Jacksonville. Now retired, he spends his time with family and volunteering with the local community clinic and other nonprofits in town. Bob has been a member of Jacksonville Rotary South for many years and was instrumental in the founding of Onslow Literacy Council Inc.
Active Committees: Governance
Dennis Aschbrenner:
Dennis served in the United States Navy for twenty years and retired in 1989. Shortly thereafter, he went to nursing school at Coastal Carolina Community College and obtained his ADN. He then began working at Onslow Memorial Hospital as a Registered Nurse and retired in 2013 after working there for twenty-two years in various settings. Dennis is a man of many talents, and whenever he has some spare time he enjoys golfing, reading, acting with the local theater group, and singing in the community choir. Past OLC Board Member & Fundraising Committee Chair
Active Committees: Fundraising
Dennis served in the United States Navy for twenty years and retired in 1989. Shortly thereafter, he went to nursing school at Coastal Carolina Community College and obtained his ADN. He then began working at Onslow Memorial Hospital as a Registered Nurse and retired in 2013 after working there for twenty-two years in various settings. Dennis is a man of many talents, and whenever he has some spare time he enjoys golfing, reading, acting with the local theater group, and singing in the community choir. Past OLC Board Member & Fundraising Committee Chair
Active Committees: Fundraising
Susan Thomas:
Interests: travel, reading, gardening, faith
Organizations involved with Richlands Community Outreach ministry, church activities, Graduate degree special education, Retired Onslow County Teacher, NC Behavioral Healthcare. Active in many community organizations and past Onslow Literacy Council Board of director Member and Chair of fundraising committee
Active Committees: Fundraising
Interests: travel, reading, gardening, faith
Organizations involved with Richlands Community Outreach ministry, church activities, Graduate degree special education, Retired Onslow County Teacher, NC Behavioral Healthcare. Active in many community organizations and past Onslow Literacy Council Board of director Member and Chair of fundraising committee
Active Committees: Fundraising
Lisa Davis:
She is an Early Learning and Literacy Coordinator at Partnership for Children. Lisa believes that unless the parents are literate the kids cannot get full benefit of education.
She is a past OLC Board Member too.
She is an Early Learning and Literacy Coordinator at Partnership for Children. Lisa believes that unless the parents are literate the kids cannot get full benefit of education.
She is a past OLC Board Member too.
Tammy Budd:
Organizations: Campus Crusade for Christ, Family Life field staff, School Teacher elementary and high school, Reading tutor local elementary school and Coastal Carolina Community College student tutor
She is also a trained OLC Tutor.
Organizations: Campus Crusade for Christ, Family Life field staff, School Teacher elementary and high school, Reading tutor local elementary school and Coastal Carolina Community College student tutor
She is also a trained OLC Tutor.
Reverend Joseph Park:
Organizations involved with: Ordained Elder United Methodist Church serving currently at Pine Valley UMC Jacksonville NC, Founder of Pine Valley United Methodist Church ESL program,
Organizations involved with: Ordained Elder United Methodist Church serving currently at Pine Valley UMC Jacksonville NC, Founder of Pine Valley United Methodist Church ESL program,
Kimberly Rey:
Interests: Reading and write,
Organizations involved with: Tutor Onslow Literacy Council, Certified Wedding Event Coordinator, volunteered with children’s school, coached Cheerleading
Interests: Reading and write,
Organizations involved with: Tutor Onslow Literacy Council, Certified Wedding Event Coordinator, volunteered with children’s school, coached Cheerleading