Board Members

Lionheart is grateful for all of the work and support our board members provide to make this school successful.

Gina Carter

President

Gina Carter earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University.  She additionally holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Accounting from Hawaii Pacific University.  Gina has spent her professional career in the financial services industry with expertise in commercial lending, financial analysis and oversight, product development, project management, and operational efficiency.   She is dedicated to providing a quality academic and social-emotional education for her child and other children on the Autism Spectrum.  She has a strong desire for all children to have educational opportunities and supports that meet their individual needs.   She advocates for academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports that allow students to build a passion for lifelong learning.  In addition to being on the Board of Directors at Lionheart Academy of the Triad, she serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors at Restoration Place Counseling.

Committees: Governance, Strategic Planning

gcarter@lionheartacademy.com

Dr. Heather Pardue

Vice President

Dr. Heather Pardue is a clinical audiologist at Greensboro Ear, Nose and Throat where she has worked for eighteen years.  She earned a B.S. in Psychology from Appalachian State University. She holds a Master's degree in Audiology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Florida. Heather and her husband, Ben, have two wonderful children with autism.  Recognizing she had to make a better future for her children and other children affected by autism, she began the work to start a school.  Heather along with a group of like-minded parents formed a board to start Lionheart Academy of the Triad with programming specifically for children with high-functioning autism.  Heather has always felt strongly that parents of children with autism should have a choice in how to educate their children.

Committees: Fundraising, Strategic Planning

hpardue@lionheartacademy.com

David Gandee

Treasurer

David Gandee received a BS degree from East Carolina University.  David has business and management experience in a wide arena ranging from athletics program management, to working with large retail companies in the logistics and supply chain field.  In his current role, David serves as the Director of National Accounts for a global distribution company, where he directs business activity for multibillion dollar key account customers.  David brings 29 years of business and financial management experience to the board and is pleased that he can combine his time and talents with his passion for fostering independence for students in the autism community at Lionheart.  David has 2 amazing children. His daughter Blaire is a current Lionheart High School student, and his adult son Brayden is thriving in his career path in carpentry.  In his free time, David enjoys mountain biking, pickleball and watching Blaire excel at horseback riding.

Committees: Finance, Strategic Planning

dgandee@lionheartacademy.com

Debbie Love

Committees: Governance

dlove@lionheartacademy.com

Chris Justice

Committees: Building

cjustice@lionheartacademy.com

Julie Taylor

Julie Taylor received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Akron, Ohio. She owns Taylor Engineering & Consulting, PLLC. Julie has 4 children, and her son Jacob has autism. Jacob has attended Lionheart Academy since it's inception in 2015.  Julie has served on various boards specific to the autism community including the Autism Society of NC - Guilford County Chapter, Autism Unbound, and the Easter Seals Advisory Board. She also served on the advisory board for Our Lady of Grace School.

Committees: Strategic Planning

jtaylor@lionheartacademy.com

Mike Matzinger

Committees: Finance

mmatzinger@lionheartacademy.com

Tripp Starling

Committees: Fundraising

tstarling@lionheartacademy.com