Meet the Crew: Angie

Meet Angie, the new Operations Coordinator in Roanoke!

Angie was the founder and CEO of St. Vincent's Home and the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center, serving the Roanoke, Lexington, and Lynchburg, Virginia region. She is married to Alan and is the mother of three grown children, one of whom has autism.

Angie began working in the autism field in 1998 with The Autism Program of Virginia, now known as Commonwealth Autism Services, where she provided training and consultations to families, professionals, and school divisions. Formerly a public school teacher, her passion began as a mother seeking to ensure her son received a full education. She quickly turned that passion into a mission to help other families and educators who had limited knowledge, resources, or training.

In 2002, she opened the Blue Ridge Autism Center, and in 2009, she merged the center with The Achievement Center to expand services for individuals with learning disabilities and later provide employment services for adults. Angie has coordinated and participated in ten international trips focused on providing training in special needs education and autism support to underserved communities in Africa, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Central America, and the Middle East.

She has served on the Virginia Autism Council, the Advisory Board for the Virginia Tech Center for Autism Research, and the boards of Katie's Place, Healing Wheels, and the DisAbilities Resource Network. Through the DisAbilities Resource Network, she was a founding board member of Growth Through Opportunity, a program developed in partnership with the Roanoke City Police Department. She also served as a founding board member and chair of Diamonds in the Ruff of Virginia, which matched and trained shelter dogs for people with disabilities and veterans.

Angie was appointed by Governors McDonnell and McAuliffe to serve on the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council and by Governor Northam to serve on Virginia's State Rehabilitation Council.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband and children.

What do you go by?

Angie (my legal name is Angela)

How old are you?

Too old to want to answer this!! But 59 tomorrow 

Where did you attend college or school?

Elon University in NC

Where did you grow up?

Botetourt County

Favorite outdoor activity?

Spending time on the water (ocean, river, or lake)

What's your guilty pleasure?

Ice cream 

What is your favorite type of Beyond Boundaries trip?

White water rafting 

Favorite band?

All time? Boston and Lynyrd Skynyrd.  Current? I really like Chris Stapleton. (Yes, I like a lot of different genres!)

Favorite food?

Italian 

How did you get involved with Beyond Boundaries?

I met Shep and Beyond Boundaries via a grant I wrote with DWR to bring a group of people from Roanoke up to experience white water rafting. That’s all I needed! I initially joined the board and have now joined the organization as an employee.

Why does Beyond Boundaries' mission resonate with you?

I have worked with so many people with unique abilities, including my own son, for over twenty years, and I had big doubts regarding their abilities to access high adventure activities on their own. Beyond Boundaries proved me wrong and enabled me to see so much potential in these individuals.

Fun fact about yourself?

I’ve visited 16 different countries on five continents and five territories. I helped start special education programs in three of these places. 

What does adventure mean to you?

Experiencing the best of life with people of other cultures in faraway places

Favorite animal?

Dog

Favorite place you've traveled?

Either Italy or St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Hard to decide!