Staff

Katherine Karsten Perry is a native of Winston-Salem and comes to LWS after more than three years working with The Arts Council of Winston-Salem where she was instrumental in development, marketing and event management. During her tenure with The Arts Council, Katherine helped launch and market the collaborative Lifelong Learning Program with Wake Forest University; Sunset Flicks, a summer music and movie series; the Youth Arts Opportunity Fair as well as a variety of other initiatives.

Katherine was also a force behind the creation of an official Arts and Entertainment district in Bristol, TN/VA where she was the Associate Director of Believe in Bristol, a certified Main Street program. Working with a multitude of officials, educators and business owners from both states, she launched Believe in Bristol’s annual State of the Arts celebration along with numerous other events promoting both towns and their creative communities.

Katherine has experience as a contributing writer for Forsyth Woman and Forsyth Family Magazines and spent several years working with the American Cancer Society in Raleigh in program and volunteer management as well as development.

Katherine has a Journalism degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and is the proud mother of three amazing sons.

Katherine can be reached at kp@leadershipws.org or at 336-723-1002 x1204

April D. Garner Davis is a native of Conway, SC. She served as Director of Career Services for Horry Georgetown Technical College for over 11 years. As the Director of The Office of Career Services, April was responsible for developing strategic plans for career and professional development activities for the college’s students and alumni, establishing business and collegiate partnerships throughout the community and the state, and identifying employment opportunities for students and graduates. April has been featured in local and national media for her expertise in career and professional development. Before working in Higher Education, April worked in the marketing and advertising industry for more than 15 years in the Myrtle Beach (Horry County) area. April is a graduate of The University of South Carolina and obtained her Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration from Columbia College, where she was recognized as Graduate Student of the Year.

In addition to her many professional and community service areas, she has been a board member for several nonprofits and the co-host of two live talk shows. April’s numerous involvements are an extension of her dedication to educating others on working collectively to improve social conditions and create opportunities for growth and empowerment.

April D. Garner Davis can be reached at april@leadershipws.org or at 336-723-1002 ext. 1206.

Jared Steward moved to Winston-Salem with his family in 2007 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Music at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, which he received in 2010. During that time he was also telecommuting full time as Cash Posting Supervisor at United Medical Center in Washington, DC. Jared has since worked as a bookkeeper at Separk Music, Sawtooth School for Visual Art, and most recently at The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, where he also worked as the Director of Operations & Finance for three years.

As a musician, Jared teaches private percussion lessons in Winston-Salem and regularly performs as an extra in the percussion sections with the Winston-Salem Symphony, and Western Piedmont Symphony. In his spare time, Jared enjoys the outdoors, studying Japanese, and reading. He is married to Tonya Steward and they have three children, Nicholas, Madeleine, and Matthias.

Jared can be reached at admin@leadershipws.org or at 336-723-1002 ext. 1200.

Riley Garrison Johnson originally hails from Greenville, South Carolina. After graduating from Wofford College in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in English and Environmental Studies, she moved to North Carolina and started her professional career working at the law office of Willson Jones Carter and Baxley as both an Office Manager and Paralegal for multiple attorneys in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. After gaining valuable knowledge and experience at WJCB, Riley moved to Winston-Salem and shifted companies, joining ManpowerGroup Experis, legacy ettain group, where she worked her way up through the organization, eventually partnering with all ManpowerGroup branches across North America and Canada as a Consultant. It was at ManpowerGroup that Riley realized her passion for helping others achieve professional success while utilizing her innate ability to build relationships with people of all backgrounds across the globe.

Outside of her professional career, Riley spends much of her time giving back to the Winston-Salem community. Riley is an active member of the Junior League of Winston-Salem and she is a leading volunteer with the MS Society and the West Salem Community Garden. Riley is an avid gardener and poet.

Riley and her husband Clay currently reside in Winston-Salem with their dog Brawley.

Riley can be reached at philanthropy@leadershipws.org or 336-723-1002 ext. 1205.