Staff and Board of Directors

EMMA PERROTTA - INTERN

Emma Perrotta serves as SparkPoints communications and marketing intern. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in New Media and Mass Communications at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Emma is focusing on her graphic design studies while furthering her knowledge in marketing and communication practices. With this internship, she hopes to gain more experience working with a non-profit that positively impacts community connections. In Emma's free time, she enjoys doing anything outside, traveling to new places, and spending time with her dog and family.

DR. ORA WELLS - BOARD PRESIDENT

As a newly retired Pediatrician, Dr. Ora Wells is continuing to pursue his lifetime passion in wellness. Dr. Wells served Hendersonville Pediatrics for over 30 years, specializing in ADHD, allergies and asthma management. Dr. Wells began his medical career at the University of Chapel Hill and went on to earn his Medical Degree at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He taught Pediatrics as an assistant clinical professor at Charlotte Memorial Hospital where he also completed his Residency. After teaching, Dr. Wells joined Hendersonville Pediatrics where he has been practicing medicine ever since. Dr. Wells takes frequent medical trips to Haiti, where he volunteers through the Consider Haiti organization and also is an avid supporter of Young Life. Dr. Wells enjoys traveling with his wife to visit his kids and grandkids, playing the Bagpipes and riding his motorcycle. You may even see him driving around Brevard in his 1954 Chevy Pickup.

SAUNDRA LEMASTER - BOARD TREASURER

Saundra Lemaster began her career in media sales after graduating from the University of Kentucky with a B.A. in communications. Throughout her career, Saundra has worked in newspaper, television, and radio as an Account Executive and General Sales Manager in Seattle WA, and Raleigh NC. As a strong supporter of her community, Saundra has served on the executive committee of The Jimmy V Junior Celebrity Golf Tournament, a division of the V Foundation, raising money for pediatric cancer research at Duke University. Additionally, she was the Operations Manager for the tournament where young golfers were paired with celebrities. She was also part of the initial phase of fundraising for Montford Hall in Asheville, a non-profit extended-care residential substance abuse program for young men, and she has served on the board of three homeowners associations. Growing up in rural Kentucky, Saundra developed a deep compassion for underserved communities. She is excited to help SparkPoint make a positive impact on the people of Western North Carolina.

MAYOR MAUREEN COPELOF - BOARD MEMBER

Maureen Copelof is a retired US Navy Captain who served on active duty for 30 years.  She returned to Brevard when she retired from the Navy and was elected to Brevard City Council in 2017.  In November 2021 she was elected Mayor, of the City of Brevard.  She has a Masters degree in both Business Administration and Political Science.

Maureen is an avid gardener and is an integral piece in supporting the community’s built environment and its connection to overall well-being. She served on the Brevard Blue Zones Project Steering Committee and is now proud to be continuing the journey with SparkPoint.

DR. MORRIS JENKINS - BOARD MEMBER

Morris is a native of Atlanta and Thomasville, Georgia. He holds a Medical degree from Emory University and his residency training took place at MUSC in Charleston. Dr. Jenkins was a family practice physician and hospice physician for 41 years in Calhoun, Ga, Christchurch, NZ, and Brevard, NC. He was part of the medical staff of Transylvania Regional Hospital from 2009 to 2023 and retired from his practice of hospice and palliative medicine with Care Partners Transylvania in 2021. 

Morris and his wife, Molly and have lived in Brevard since 2009, they have two children and 5 grandchildren. Morris enjoys serving on the Transylvania County Library Foundation Board and during his free time he enjoys bicycling, hiking, music (upright bass), and duplicate bridge.

MARSHA FARRELL - BOARD MEMBER

Marsha Farrell grew up in Sanford, North Carolina. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BSN in nursing and worked in various specialties over a 44-year career. For the last twenty years, Marsha worked as a hospice and palliative care nurse, which taught her the importance of presence, purpose, and quality of life (QOL).

Marsha and her husband Jay moved to Brevard, NC in February 2021. She soon became interested in the Blue Zones Project, becoming a Purpose Workshop facilitator and a speaker at Potluck Moais. Marsha finds her purpose in helping people to advocate for their QOL and to discover what matters to them.

Before moving to Brevard, Marsha volunteered and worked with several non-profit agencies in Huntsville, Alabama, including Hospice Family Care, the Leukemia Lymphoma Foundation, the Vine Pastoral Counseling Center, and the American Red Cross.

Marsha and Jay have three grown children and six granddaughters ranging in age from 4 months to 11 years.

Both Marsha and Jay are busy with volunteer work with Brevard nonprofits and at First United Methodist Church in Brevard.

DAWN DOMINIQUE - BOARD MEMBER

Dawn Dominique is a creativity, joy and purpose facilitator who brings her love of nature, wellness, art and community together to support people in living a purposeful life.

With her background in education and non-profit, Dawn can bring people together to serve and connect with their community in meaningful ways. She moved to the mountains last year and enjoys hiking, painting with acrylics, creating mixed media projects, and designing fun gatherings for conversation and connection. Her Sparkpoint is finding creative ways to ignite purpose and well-being in herself and others to live a joy-filled life!

CAROLYN FOSTER - BOARD MEMBER

I was born, raised, and educated in New Brunswick, Canada, and graduated in 1988 from The Miss A.J. MacMaster School of Nursing in Moncton, New Brunswick. After working for two years as a registered nurse in N.B., I then became a traveling nurse in the U.S. before settling down in Brevard in 1992. I was employed at Transylvania Regional Hospital for almost 29 years before retiring early in August of 2021 and am thrilled to be able to have time to pursue other interests, hobbies, and civic passions. I have enjoyed raising my family in Brevard and love to travel and be outdoors hiking, kayaking, and spending time with family.