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 Garner Davis is a native of Conway, SC. She served as Director of Career Services for Horry Georgetown Technical College for over ten 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, the state of South Carolina, and nationally, and identifying employment opportunities for students and graduates. April has been featured in local and national media for her career and professional development expertise. She was also recognized as Horry-Georgetown Technical College’s Educator of the Year for 2019 in the South Carolina Technical Education Association Staff category. At HGTC, she co-chaired and co-authored the college’s quality enhancement plan (QEP) in 2019, which was recognized by SACSCOC as a stellar strategic plan for student success with zero recommendations. Before working in Higher Education, April worked in the marketing and advertising industry for over 15 years in the Myrtle Beach (Horry County) area. She completed undergraduate studies at The University of South Carolina. She later 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, April is a board member for several nonprofits and is the co-host of a weekly online community talk show for her hometown of Conway, SC. Her numerous involvements are evidence of her dedication to educating others on working collectively throughout the community 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.

Freida Lynn Mitchell is a native of Wilson, North Carolina and has been a Winston-Salem resident for the past 8 years. After graduating from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with dual focuses in Journalism and African American Studies, she moved to Chicago to pursue a longtime passion, a baking and pastry culinary arts degree.

Freida spent the next 10 years  focusing her talents in the restaurant service, event planning, coordination and sales field before being offered an opportunity to leave the 2nd City, her 2nd home and open the first boutique hotel in Winston-Salem, in the famed original headquarters of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. During this tenure, Freida became fully immersed in the Winston-Salem community and skills she learned at this time including market intelligence, event planning, and relationships with various market segments will serve her well in her new role at Leadership Winston-Salem.

As a 2021 Flagship LWS graduate, the Most Virtual Class Ever – “The Bridge Builders”, she has since felt the overwhelming draw to use her talents and expertise in alignment with the LWS mission, helping further connect the Winston-Salem community and be present in connection with the community, in meaningful and purposeful ways. Prior to joining LWS, Freida worked as a hospitality professional most recently as Event Manager for Reynolda House and Reynolda Gardens.

Though a devoted wife and mother, Freida uses her gifts and time to be of service through the Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. When not engaged in career or philanthropic pursuits, she is in her kitchen, challenging herself through baking projects or relaxing reading a book.

Freida can be reached at fmitchell@leadershipws.org or at 336-723-1002 ext. 1207.

Denise A. Smith, a native of Flint, Michigan, relocated to North Carolina in 1994. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing from Winston-Salem State University, where she was also inducted into their Top 40 under 40 alumni in 2015. She then attended the University of Phoenix, pursuing an MBA in Marketing. Her professional journey has been marked by success in various roles. She started as a communications assistant for NASCAR at Keystone Marketing and later held the position of Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton hotels. After working a decade with Hilton, she ventured out independently and became the owner of N’Vision Consulting. Her areas of expertise span hospitality management, human resources, administration, brand development and management, fundraising, philanthropy, special projects, donor support, conference and corporate event planning, and ground-breaking initiatives. In addition, Denise is well-known in the community for being a bridge-builder, an excellent orator, and a collaborator who is passionate about her work.

Denise has been the recipient of several prestigious awards and professional recognitions, including the Above and Beyond award by The Winston-Salem Mayor’s Council for Persons with Disabilities, the Director of Sales of the Year award, the Director of Sales Success award, the Director of Sales Merit award, and the recipient of the Black Achievers in Business and Industry award. She is also committed to social action and public service. As a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated member, Denise actively volunteers her time and efforts to their local chapter’s worthy causes and initiatives. She enjoys spending time with family, reading, and listening to jazz and blues in her spare time.

Denise is the proud mother of two amazing young women, Kaiyah and KaMari, and has a beautiful granddaughter named Haarlem Reign.

Denise can be reached at dsmith@leadershipws.org or 336-723-1002 ext. 1205.

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. Jared is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and currently serves as First Counselor to the Bishop in the Winston-Salem Ward. 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 jsteward@leadershipws.org or at 336-723-1002 ext. 1200.