Staff News & Transitions

Announcing Promotions

We’re pleased to announce the promotion of Eric Freeman (far left) to Accounting Manager in our Finance department, and Anna Brewer (middle left) to Program Associate in the Community Investment area. Congratulations Eric and Anna!

Welcoming our new Director, People and Culture

In mid-November Lissa Cheek (middle right) joins the Foundation as our new Director, People and Culture, filling a critical new role during an exciting time of organizational growth. Lissa will direct our human resources area, with responsibility for designing and sustaining a people-centered environment that aligns with our mission, vision, and values.  

Lissa, a native of Winston-Salem, attended our local public schools and is a proud 1994 Winston-Salem Foundation scholarship recipient! She received her Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Winston-Salem State University.  Lissa joins us from the human resources department of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. She has over 10 years’ experience in human resources administration, employee benefits, and strategic performance management, among other roles. Lissa has a passion for human resources and has demonstrated experience within the areas of total rewards, employee wellness and engagement, training and professional development, employee relations, and equitable design.  She also holds a Master of Healthcare Administration, specializing within Operations management. Welcome to the team Lissa!

Brittney Gaspari Leaving WSF

Today we share the bittersweet news that Brittney Gaspari (far right) will leave the Foundation at the end of December. On staff since 2004 and currently serving as Vice President, Community Investment, she has led a large team supporting local nonprofits through partnerships and grantmaking and helped develop the Foundation’s inclusive economy and educational equity focus areas.  

LaTida Smith notes, “Brittney joined the Foundation in 2004 as a program officer. Over 18 years she led the development of our focus areas and mission aligned-investing, brought community investment and student aid under one department and championed our training on emergent learning and trust-based philanthropy. Brittney has made extraordinary contributions to the Foundation and our community and will be dearly missed.”