Kristy Kulberg serves as the Executive Director of the Coastal Carolinas Disaster Resiliency Agency (CCDRA), which is the Long-Term Recovery Group for Craven County. After losing her home in Hurricane Florence, Kristy felt a deep desire to give back to her community and fellow disaster survivors. This led her to join the disaster recovery field as an AmeriCorps service member, eventually becoming a staff member at CCDRA. Over the years, she has held various roles within the organization, including Disaster Case Manager, Director of Operations, and now Executive Director.

Kristy is committed to helping disaster survivors achieve complete recovery. Her passion for Case Management, whole recovery, meeting people where they’re at, Emotional and Spiritual Support, and non-profit work adds a unique perspective to the communities she serves. She places high value on collaboration, compassion, and community, and works tirelessly to build partnerships that help move communities from response to recovery and resilience.

Ilham Thurston has been immersed in the world of Disaster Response and Recovery since 2017 where
she began as a Disaster Case Manager at Lutheran Services Carolinas-Disaster Services. She now holds
the title of LSC-DS Disaster Assistant Director and continues to expand her efforts within the local
Eastern North Carolina Community and beyond.

Outside of her normal LSC-DS duties, Ilham is an active member of the North and South Carolina
Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster and the National VOAD Donations Management Committee
Member.

Ilham’s leadership, communication, and organizational skills have led her to be selected by NC Governor
Roy Cooper for the NC Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service in 2021. She has also received the
President’s Gold Volunteer Award in 2023 for her passion, ever-growing talents, and expertise in the
realm of Disaster Management.

Laura Block holds a BA in biochemistry from Brandeis University, and a doctorate in Pharmacy from
Mercer University’s Southern School of Pharmacy. She is a retired clinical hospital pharmacist and
medical education writer. From 1997 to 2023 she volunteered as an Event Medic. She served with the
CA-4 and GA-3 DMATs (Disaster Medical Assistance Teams) from 2001 to 2011 as a team pharmacist and
Deputy Logistics Chief. She was a member of the GA-3 DMAT Radiation Working Group and spoke at
national conferences for the National Disaster Medical System, The American Society for Health-System
Pharmacists, and the Arizona Association of Emergency Managers.

In 2016, Laura relocated from Georgia to North Carolina and in 2017, she joined Team Rubicon and
immediately joined local leadership. For the past 3 years, she has been the South Branch Membership
Lead, overseeing recruitment and retention for 12 states in southeast and southcentral united states.

In 2018, Laura became involved with NC VOAD and served 3 years on the Board of Directors and 1.5
years as Vice President. She is a member of the NC VOAD SERT Team, helping to staff the state EOC, and
she chairs the Volunteer Management Committee. She is a member of the UMCOR Hazardous Tree
Team, NC REVC (Radiation Response Team) and the NC HHS working group on protocols for Mass
Repatriation and Refugee Resettlement. She recently began consulting as a volunteer pharmacist with
the Paul Carlson Partnership which provides ongoing healthcare in The Democratic Republic of the

Daniel Altenau has been a member of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh since 2014 and is the Director of Communications and Disaster Services for the agency.  He helped lead the agency’s response to Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence. Daniel has extensive experience with Disaster Case Management and is a trainer for the Catholic Charities USA DCM Essentials Training.  Daniel is on the National VOAD Communications Committee and previously served on the NC VOAD Board from 2015 – 2020 and served as President from 2019 – 2020.

Cassandra Campbell is the founding Executive Director for the Robeson County Disaster
Recovery Coalition, Inc. in Lumberton, NC, which is the long-term recovery organization for the
county. As Executive Director of RCDRC, Inc. for the past eight years, she has led disaster
recovery efforts after major hurricanes, including Matthew, Florence, Michael, Debbie, and
Helene. Under her leadership, the RCDRC has successfully mobilized volunteers, secured
funding, and partnered with various organizations to rebuild and restore hope in the devastated
areas. Her personal experience and academic background have provided her with a strong
foundation in human services and an understanding of the complexities involved in crisis and
trauma response that arise during disaster recovery operations.

In addition to her work with the RCDRC, Cassandra has been a driving force in the broader
disaster recovery community participating in numerous panels and conferences and advocating
for policy changes that increase awareness about the importance of preparedness, resilience, and
community support in the aftermath of natural disasters. Cassandra’s dedication to the
community is evident in her hands-on approach, often seen working alongside volunteers and
community members to provide immediate relief and long-term support. As a mentor and role
model, she continues to inspire the next generation of leaders in crisis management.
Ms. Campbell has a B.S. in Human Services Management from the University of
Phoenix and a M.A. from Liberty University in Human Services Counseling, specializing in
Crisis and Trauma Response.

Andy serves as the Director of Strategic Growth for WARM NC in Wilmington, NC. Andy keeps operations running smoothly, from administrative oversight through community relations. He brings 15 years of ministry experience as a Youth Minister and Missions Pastor at Baptist churches in Georgia before coming to North Carolina.

Since Hurricane Florence hit in 2018, Andy has taken on leadership roles in several Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRG). He serves as chair of the LTRG’s construction committees in Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties. Other disaster-related efforts include Hurricane Katrina recovery in Biloxi. MS and recovery from a 2014 ice storm in Augusta, GA. It is a joy for him to connect with other agencies in the recovery effort.

Under the leadership of Dr. Rodney Coles Sr., Interfaith Clergy established a Disaster Recovery Partnership for Pitt County following the 2016 storm. Through this initiative, they collaborated with Call Matthew to provide vital resources and supplies to the community, churches, and local agencies. 2017 they expanded their efforts, forming the Eastern NC Disaster Recovery Team to serve 18 counties. Partnering with multiple organizations, they work as a unified team to provide supplies and services to those in need.

Jesse Boeckermann is the Western Region Director of the Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte working out of the Asheville office. He has been in this role since January of 2021 and oversees Disaster Relief for the agency. He earned his Bachelor of Journalism in the College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He holds a Masters of Management and Leadership from Montreat College in Asheville. After a 10-year broadcasting career in television and radio news and sports, Jesse served as the Program Director for People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM), a nonprofit in Charlottesville, Virginia. Upon moving to North Carolina he served for over five years in higher education at Montreat College, working in Admissions, before coming to Catholic Charities in 2021.