PO Box 362, Grimesland, NC 27837
About Us
Our President
Carol Preston is the aunt of an adult living with Down Syndrome. She holds an associates degree in sign language interpreting and has experience as a support service provider to the deaf/blind. Her experiences with this population and long history of organization and implementation of special projects and events have solidified her desire to provide an avenue for them to fully realize their absolute potential and self value.
Our Vice President
Jennifer Dyson is a long time Greenville resident and the mother of a son who is high functioning autistic. This makes her very aware of the need in the community to provide a place of employment for special needs individuals. Jennifer’s husband and she are small business owners where she works as the financial manager. She brings a passionate awareness of business which is full of practical experience along with an ambition to help make the service provided by the charity as excellent as it can be for those it employs.
Our Mission
Lives of Purpose was created to employ as many adults with intellectual and development disabilities as possible. The Charity will open Awaken Coffee to fulfill this purpose. We have partnered with a roaster that also employs special needs people and are looking for other avenues to partner with similar employers.
We believe in promoting skills, confidence, and dignity which can have significant effects in the life of special needs persons. We know that this mission cannot be fulfilled without the support of the community . Want to know how you can help? Check out our Donate and Contact Us pages for more information.
Additional Board Members
Jeff Manning
Stephen Venters
Michele Mazey
Jeff Manning has a nephew who is autistic. Jeff has over 28 years of full time pastoral experience and can therefore provide insights into the development of a health self esteem in persons with special needs. Unity Church, where he pastors, has a special needs ministry that serves several individuals on a weekly basis.
Michele Mazey
Stephen Venters
Michele Mazey
Michele Mazey is from Denton, NC and has lived in Greenville for over 15 years. She is the lead Adapted Physical Education teacher for Pitt County Schools. She works with over 38 schools in the county where she teaches PE for exceptional students. Michele is passionate about getting to know all of her students and helping them be active.
Michele Mazey is from Denton, NC and has lived in Greenville for over 15 years. She is the lead Adapted Physical Education teacher for Pitt County Schools. She works with over 38 schools in the county where she teaches PE for exceptional students. Michele is passionate about getting to know all of her students and helping them be active. Michele serves locally on the board of the ECBL (Exceptional Community Baseball League). She volunteers with Tim Tebow's Night to Shine, a special needs prom. She also serves other nonprofits in the special needs community. Michele’s energy comes from the special needs community. She adores seeing these individuals triumph through their abilities and strength as they change the world.
Stephen Venters
Stephen Venters
Stephen Venters
Stephen Venters is the Assistant Director of the College Store at Pitt Community
College and has worked retail at the management level for over eight years. A life-long resident of Pitt County, Stephen attended East Carolina University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He is currently serving on the Executive Bo
Stephen Venters is the Assistant Director of the College Store at Pitt Community
College and has worked retail at the management level for over eight years. A life-long resident of Pitt County, Stephen attended East Carolina University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He is currently serving on the Executive Board of the
College Store Association of North Carolina and received the Distinguished Service Award in 2019 for his efforts within that organization. Stephen is married to Katie Venters and they are the proud parents of a son with Down Syndrome. Stephen feels his work with Awaken Coffee is a perfect fit with his skill set and he is excited to be a part in bringing employment
opportunities to the special needs community. Welcome to the Awaken Coffee team,
Stephen!
Trey Quinn
Katie Houmard
Stephen Venters
Trey Quinn is a commercial banker with Truist Bank in Greenville, NC and has been with the company for the last ten years. He is a long time resident of Pitt County and is a graduate of D H Conley High School. He continued his education at East Carolina University where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in business admini
Trey Quinn is a commercial banker with Truist Bank in Greenville, NC and has been with the company for the last ten years. He is a long time resident of Pitt County and is a graduate of D H Conley High School. He continued his education at East Carolina University where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration. Trey currently serves as the Vice President of a local Kiwanis International Chapter whose mission is dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. He is married to Stephanie Quinn and they have two young girls. Trey heard about the Awaken Coffee’s mission and felt called to join our purpose. He looks forward to seeing the impact of Awaken Coffee over the coming years.
Katie Houmard
Katie Houmard
Katie Houmard
Katie Houmard is an Exceptional Children’s Teacher with Pitt County Schools. She also currently serves as the Project SEARCH Instructor at Vidant Medical Center. Project SEARCH is a transition program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities that provides real-life work experience and employability training to help y
Katie Houmard is an Exceptional Children’s Teacher with Pitt County Schools. She also currently serves as the Project SEARCH Instructor at Vidant Medical Center. Project SEARCH is a transition program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities that provides real-life work experience and employability training to help young people with disabilities make successful transitions to adult life. Katie has a strong passion for empowering and advocating for individuals with disabilities and preparing them for life after high school. She has seen the great need for more job opportunities for individuals with disabilities, as well as education, awareness, and acceptance throughout the community, and she is thrilled to be a part of the progress and change that will be made through Awaken Coffee.