Board Chair
Lawyer

Ann C. Bertino is a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer of Pellis Law Group, LLP. She has over 25 years of experience in employee benefits law. Ann’s philanthropy primarily focuses on child and adolescent mental health, housing, educational opportunities, and mentorship. She has extensive experience serving as a member and officer on non-profit boards. Ann welcomes the opportunity to serve on the Aspire Carolinas Board and to contribute her decades of executive leadership, legal expertise, and nonprofit board governance experience.

Vice Chair
Head Of School Of The Halton School 

Heidi comes to The Halton School most recently from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where she served as a Program Specialist for Autism. She’s also worked as an Exceptional Children Specialist for Iredell Statesville Schools and was an Adjunct Instructor at Lewis University and Northern Illinois University. She holds MEd and B.S. degrees in Special Education and a B.A degree in Anthropology, all from Penn State University.

Secretary
Parent Representative

Lori is a parent representative for the Aspire Carolinas Foundation and the proud parent
of a rising senior at Aspire Trade High School. Through her family’s experience with
Aspire, she understands the importance of educational environments that recognize
individual strengths, support learning differences, and help students prepare for life
beyond high school.

Lori brings more than eleven years of professional experience working in skilled nursing
facilities, where she has cared for residents with a wide range of medical conditions and
varying stages of dementia. Her work has given her a strong foundation in compassion,
advocacy, communication, and individualized support.

She holds an Activities Director Certification (ADC) through the National Certification
Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP), an Activities Professional Certification
(APC) through Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and is a Certified Dementia
Practitioner (CDP) through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners
(NCCDP).

As a parent representative, Lori is committed to supporting Aspire Carolinas’ mission
and helping ensure that families have a voice in the continued growth and success of
the Aspire community.

Treasurer
Educator

Vickey Day received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo in Ohio in Special Education and Communication. She later earned a Master’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Math and Science Education. She went on to complete a second Master’s degree while pursuing doctoral studies at Indiana University. Ms. Day has over 20 years of experience as a middle school teacher working with exceptional children and at-risk students.

Throughout her career, she developed extensive expertise in behavioral management plans and strategies that support positive outcomes for students facing academic, emotional, and behavioral challenges. In 2001, she moved to North Carolina and continued her work in education, serving students in middle school, an alternative school setting, and high school in Catawba County. She retired in 2015, but remains deeply committed to supporting children and schools through volunteer work. She continues to volunteer at schools and libraries by providing visiting therapy dogs, including visits to Halton School. Ms. Day enjoys spending time with her dogs, being in nature, cooking, and participating in a card club. She has also published one children’s book. She is proud to serve on the board and hopes to contribute the perspective of an educator and specialist dedicated to helping students succeed.

Board Ex Officio                                                                                                                                                                                  Executive Director and Founder of the Aspire Carolinas Foundation

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Malone University in Canton, Ohio and completed additional coursework in reading education (Eastern Michigan University) and developmental disabilities (CPCC).

She taught for nine years in Michigan before moving to North Carolina and changing careers. After several years in sales and management, she entered the non-profit field. She is a certified grants writer and seasoned fundraiser working with organizations such as InReach, The Arc of Mecklenburg, The American Red Cross, and Discovery Place. Jennifer most recently worked at The John Crosland School as Director of Institutional Advancement. For eight years she was responsible for fund development, program development, marketing and public relations.

The opportunity to start the Foundation and serve as Executive Director of Aspire Carolinas marks the culmination of a lifetime dream. She always wanted to start an educational non-profit that would address the needs of underserved populations such as students with learning differences, Asperger’s and those needing career and technical options.

Honorary Board Member Emeritus
Retiree of Pepsi Cola Franchise

Ms. Dale Halton graduated from Myers Park High School and attended Agnes Scott College in Georgia. After two years she returned home to marry and start her family. In 1970 she began working for the family business, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Charlotte, managing the company’s advertising. Although many good people worked at the company the business was struggling, and in 1981 she was made President of the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Charlotte.

She began successfully running the company and gradually turned it around to again become profitable. She created a charitable foundation that gave 10% of the company’s profits to charity each year. Notable recipients include UNCC Charlotte and the NC Dance Theatre. “The more you have, the more responsibility you have to give to others,” Halton said. “I think it’s important to help folks who don’t have what I have. I wish I could do more. It’s fun.”

Because Dale successfully faced many obstacles working in business at a time when it was difficult for women to do so, she continued to always root for those that face challenges. She was a strong supporter of children with learning differences and Asperger’s/autism spectrum disorder, and she was thrilled to be able to support schools that help the students reach their potential.