Part of Our Family: The Relatives Team

The Relatives team members come from all different backgrounds to make a diverse group of counselors, mentors, and transition specialists. We work around the clock to keep our youth safe and secure. From the staff to the youth we serve, we value this family above all else.

Leadership

Trish Hobson – Executive Director

Trish brings years of experience as she recently served as Vice President of Alexander Children’s Foundation before joining The Relatives as Executive Director in 2016. Prior to working at Alexander Youth Network, in January 2015, she worked at the YMCA of Charlotte as their Senior Financial Development Director. Trish joined the YMCA after six years with the Emergency Winter Shelter, now the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte. She also served as the CEO and Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. and served as Treasurer for the Charlotte chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Trish currently serves on the Board for the The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum of Care (CoC)

Lynn Cuddy – Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives

Lynn joined The Relatives family in November of 2016, after moving from Rhode Island with her husband and three children. She brings with her 15 years of experience in grant writing, contract management, and community programming as well as a Masters of Social Work in Community Organizing, Policy, Planning and Administration. She’s thrilled to have found a home at The Relatives and to be putting her skills to work on behalf of the most vulnerable youth and young adults in Charlotte.

Spencer Guthery – Director of Philanthropy

Spencer joined the The Relatives staff in June 2012 after volunteering with her family for several years and falling in love with the mission of helping kids who otherwise would not have a voice. A native Charlottean, she brings years of experience that includes fundraising and building community relationships.

Thomas Montaglione – Program Manager of Young Adult Programming

Thomas has been working in the social services field since 2009. He joined The Relatives team in 2016 as a case manager where he discovered his passion for housing Charlotte’s vulnerable, young homeless population. In 2018, Thomas took on the new role of Housing Program Supervisor where he directs both our transitional living home and scattered site housing. Thomas has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Criminology and Justice.

Genine Donovan – On Ramp Resource Center Program Supervisor

Genine joined The Relatives 2016 as a volunteer. She volunteered for six months before becoming a permanent fixture to the youth as On Ramp Resource Center Assistant. She went on to become the Transition Coordinator, providing effective and supportive services to the youth we serve. Genine is dedicated to all the youth in the program and ensures all their needs are met and encourages them to work tirelessly towards their goals. She is like a family member to all our young adults, many of them even call her “mom,” “auntie” or “”grandma.”

Akeliah Stewart – Youth Crisis Center Program Manager

Akeliah joined The Relatives team in 2011 as a volunteer. Soon after, she began a full-time position with us before moving onto Program Supervisor, and now Program Manager. She has always been a youth advocate since she began working with young people at the age of 14. She carries a Bachelors of Science in Education and a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Kayla Williams – Youth Crisis Center Program Supervisor

Kayla joined the The Relatives team in 2015 as a Crisis Counselor. She has five years of experience working with at-risk youth and their families. Kayla transitioned to the Outreach Coordinator position in 2018, and now serves as Program Supervisor of the Youth Crisis Center. She is passionate about collaborating with partner organizations to ensure the needs of our community are being met and every child gets a chance to make it. It is also important to her to be a voice for those who do not have one. 

Meg Doherty – Program Assistant

Meg joined The Relatives team as a recent graduate of Saint Joseph’s University with a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies. Meg collaborated with local non-profits in Philadelphia throughout her studies, providing social media support.  She now channels that passion through messaging, communications and marketing for The Relatives. 

Board of Directors

Learn more about the Relatives team from our  Relatives newsletters.