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Kelly Carpenter
Originally from Indiana, Kelly is an ordained United Methodist minister. For the past 20 years, he has served as Senior Pastor of Green Street United Methodist Church, a multiracial congregation with a commitment to community service,social justice, ministries with people in recovery, the LBGTQ community, interfaith relations and public activism. In 2006, Kelly founded The Shalom Project, a local non profit seeking to disrupt the cycle of poverty for people. With a B.A.’s in Religion & English Literature from the University of Indianapolis, 1988, and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School, 1994, Kelly has a love of writing/reading poetry, organic gardening, centering prayer, jazz, Jungian spirituality and running. In 2007, his dear friend Georgia Sprinkle began the process of leaving the gift of her estate for the founding of a retreat center. After many talks on long runs, Dr. Scott Wilson and Kelly began mapping out the vision of The Threshold. In 2016 at 99 years of age, Georgia passed the same year that the Threshold project began. He is certified in Dream Group Leadership (2015) and Spiritual Direction (2017) from the Haden Institute. |
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Beth Thoresen
Originally from the Midwest (Milwaukee and Indianapolis) Beth has called North Carolina her home since 1996 when her career in operations management moved her with her family to Greensboro. She now serves as Director, Peer Review Operations for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Since childhood Beth has enjoyed a deep connection with nature, has loved organizing and hosting gatherings for her family and friends and volunteering in her community. She has facilitated refugee resettlement, served as a Stephen Minister, co-created and lead a job placement ministry for unemployed individuals, and has been a host parent and liaison to more than a dozen exchange students from many countries with AFS Intercultural Programs.
Beth is excited to further deepen and share her passions for sustainable living, spiritual development, mindfulness meditation, and healing through connection in nature with the Threshold community. When she’s not working on budget or project spreadsheets, you can find Beth guiding Forest Therapy walks, clearing trails, photographing nature, and assisting at the Threshold Farm.
Maria Teresa Jones
Reverend Jones serves as the Chaplaincy Program Manager for Faculty and Staff Support at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist – Winston Salem campus.
In their role as Chaplain for Faculty and Staff, their primary focus is on “total person care: mind, body & spirit” providing spiritual support, crisis, grief counseling, and spiritual direction to faculty and staff. In addition, they manage The Employee Emergency Fund, an exquisite and valuable tool for staff care and support.
Education across the health system on issues related to compassion fatigue, burnout, and moral distress with emphasis on self-care and emotional resiliency, are some of their responsibilities guided under the administration of Code Lavender.
Chaplain Jones received a Master of Divinity with certification in Spirituality, Religion, and Health Professions from Wake Forest University School of Divinity, is a board-certified chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains, (APC), and a graduate of The Haden Institute with certifications in Spiritual Direction and Leader Dream-Work.
A native of Old San Juan Puerto Rico, a US Army Veteran, and resident of Winston Salem since November 1981.
Reverend Jones serves as the Chaplaincy Program Manager for Faculty and Staff Support at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist – Winston Salem campus.
In their role as Chaplain for Faculty and Staff, their primary focus is on “total person care: mind, body & spirit” providing spiritual support, crisis, grief counseling, and spiritual direction to faculty and staff. In addition, they manage The Employee Emergency Fund, an exquisite and valuable tool for staff care and support.
Education across the health system on issues related to compassion fatigue, burnout, and moral distress with emphasis on self-care and emotional resiliency, are some of their responsibilities guided under the administration of Code Lavender.
Chaplain Jones received a Master of Divinity with certification in Spirituality, Religion, and Health Professions from Wake Forest University School of Divinity, is a board-certified chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains, (APC), and a graduate of The Haden Institute with certifications in Spiritual Direction and Leader Dream-Work.
A native of Old San Juan Puerto Rico, a US Army Veteran, and resident of Winston Salem since November 1981.
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Jissan Michelle Nicolle
Jissan Michelle Nicolle, PhD, BCC, is a professional chaplain and novice Zen priest. She graduated from the Upaya Buddhist Chaplaincy program in 2015 and was ordained as a lay minister by Roshi Joan Halifax in 2016. She completed a Clinical Pastoral Care (CPE) residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and was board certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains in 2018. Prior to chaplaincy, Dr. Nicolle was engaged as a researcher in behavioral neuroscience studying the neurobiology of cognitive decline in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Jissan is currently employed as a spiritual care provider at the Wake Forest School of Medicine and Medical Center. In 2019, Jissan happily made the commitment to deepen her practice and study of the Dharma as a novice priest with Sensei Joshin Byrnes of Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community. |
Rachel Drake
Rachel is an Ohio native who made North Carolina her home in 2014. Rachel is a graduate of Lourdes University with a Master's in Business Administration & B.S. Human Resource Management. During her continued career as a Human Resources professional for various organizations in NC, she deepened her love for yoga & the environment.
Rachel has always been a lover of nature and enjoys spending her free time hiking in the mountains.
In 2020, Rachel founded Earth Sage Refill Shop in Winston Salem with a mission to provide the community a space to learn, explore, and refill all natural products in an effort to reduce single-use plastic consumption.
Rachel is also a certified death-doula, private plant-based chef & yoga instructor, teaching yoga at various studios in the area. She is excited to continue to cultivate community through the environment, food, and spiritual practices.
Rachel is an Ohio native who made North Carolina her home in 2014. Rachel is a graduate of Lourdes University with a Master's in Business Administration & B.S. Human Resource Management. During her continued career as a Human Resources professional for various organizations in NC, she deepened her love for yoga & the environment.
Rachel has always been a lover of nature and enjoys spending her free time hiking in the mountains.
In 2020, Rachel founded Earth Sage Refill Shop in Winston Salem with a mission to provide the community a space to learn, explore, and refill all natural products in an effort to reduce single-use plastic consumption.
Rachel is also a certified death-doula, private plant-based chef & yoga instructor, teaching yoga at various studios in the area. She is excited to continue to cultivate community through the environment, food, and spiritual practices.
Zoe Wilson
The oldest "zister" of the Wilson family, Zoe has a bachelor degree in Communication from NC State University and an MBA masters degree in Business Analytics from UNG Greensboro.
She works at Volvo Group as a Marketing Business Analyst supporting websites and digital transformation for Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks.
In her free time Zoe enjoys walking her pit terrier dog, running half marathons, and crocheting.
Roger Pearman
Roger Pearman is s a management consultant, leadership coach and a gifted trainer. He has co-founded numerous companies and developed a host of tools for leaders exploring type, leadership and for health and well-being.
Roger consults with executives and leaders in government, business, and education across the world. He is an author of numerous articles and books, notably I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just Not You and People Skills Handbook: Action Tips for Improving Your Emotional Intelligence.
He is the co-founder of numerous companies, and Managing Partner of an innovative and dynamic talent development firm TalentTelligent, LLC. Roger was awarded Alumni of the Year by the Graduate School of Wake Forest University, and hgis research was honored with the Isabel Myers Memorial Research Award. For more information about Roger Pearman
Roger Pearman is s a management consultant, leadership coach and a gifted trainer. He has co-founded numerous companies and developed a host of tools for leaders exploring type, leadership and for health and well-being.
Roger consults with executives and leaders in government, business, and education across the world. He is an author of numerous articles and books, notably I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just Not You and People Skills Handbook: Action Tips for Improving Your Emotional Intelligence.
He is the co-founder of numerous companies, and Managing Partner of an innovative and dynamic talent development firm TalentTelligent, LLC. Roger was awarded Alumni of the Year by the Graduate School of Wake Forest University, and hgis research was honored with the Isabel Myers Memorial Research Award. For more information about Roger Pearman
Mary Jac Brennan
Mary Jac Brennan enjoys connecting people with nature through gardening and gardens. As a landscape designer and consultant, she has helped bring change into the lives of home gardeners, school communities, and commercial entities through the design and development of sustainable and seasonally inspiring landscape gardens. Mary Jac taught environmental science to high school youth. True to her horticultural training (Clemson University), she used a quarterly garden project to help students experience the natural world first hand.
As the first Community Garden Agent of the Forsyth County Extension, she established the Forsyth Community Garden Program and Community Garden Mentor Training program from 2010-2013. In July 2013, she was hired by NC A&T University to support and educate small farm operators in sustainable fruit and vegetable production. Mary Jac developed and led the Forsyth County Urban Farm School from 2015-2020.
After retiring, Mary Jac has consulted with the MICDC Farm Incubator, has designed residential gardens, taught online courses, been a presenter at the UNC Botanical Gardens, and has compiled a curriculum for NC State on CSA development. Mary Jac enjoys spending time growing gardens on her small farm near Walkertown, NC., hiking and biking, and going to the beach with her husband. She is the mother of 3 adult sons and grandmother to Colin and Isla.
Mary Jac Brennan enjoys connecting people with nature through gardening and gardens. As a landscape designer and consultant, she has helped bring change into the lives of home gardeners, school communities, and commercial entities through the design and development of sustainable and seasonally inspiring landscape gardens. Mary Jac taught environmental science to high school youth. True to her horticultural training (Clemson University), she used a quarterly garden project to help students experience the natural world first hand.
As the first Community Garden Agent of the Forsyth County Extension, she established the Forsyth Community Garden Program and Community Garden Mentor Training program from 2010-2013. In July 2013, she was hired by NC A&T University to support and educate small farm operators in sustainable fruit and vegetable production. Mary Jac developed and led the Forsyth County Urban Farm School from 2015-2020.
After retiring, Mary Jac has consulted with the MICDC Farm Incubator, has designed residential gardens, taught online courses, been a presenter at the UNC Botanical Gardens, and has compiled a curriculum for NC State on CSA development. Mary Jac enjoys spending time growing gardens on her small farm near Walkertown, NC., hiking and biking, and going to the beach with her husband. She is the mother of 3 adult sons and grandmother to Colin and Isla.
Scott Wilson
While attending Wake Forest University Scott spent summer vacations working on his family’s apple farm where his brother Dan continues as owner of Hicks Orchard and Slyboro Cider house in Granville, New York. He is now an associate professor of orthopedic oncology at Wake Forest Atrium Health Comprehensive Cancer Center and adult reconstruction at Davie Medical Center. Scott and Kelly met through Green Street Church. On one of their many runs around Salem Lake, Kelly shared his friend Georgia Sprinkle’s vision of creating a retreat incorporating organic farming with spiritual formation programming.
Scott envisions a time soon when Threshold will be able to offer more extensive overnight and weekend programming that blends ancient wisdoms of spiritual insight with contemporary theories of scientific inquiry to celebrate the mystery of our witness to creation.
While attending Wake Forest University Scott spent summer vacations working on his family’s apple farm where his brother Dan continues as owner of Hicks Orchard and Slyboro Cider house in Granville, New York. He is now an associate professor of orthopedic oncology at Wake Forest Atrium Health Comprehensive Cancer Center and adult reconstruction at Davie Medical Center. Scott and Kelly met through Green Street Church. On one of their many runs around Salem Lake, Kelly shared his friend Georgia Sprinkle’s vision of creating a retreat incorporating organic farming with spiritual formation programming.
Scott envisions a time soon when Threshold will be able to offer more extensive overnight and weekend programming that blends ancient wisdoms of spiritual insight with contemporary theories of scientific inquiry to celebrate the mystery of our witness to creation.