Our Team
Mary Wright, Founder & CEO
Mary is the mother of one three children, Amber, Everett, and Sontoria. She is also nana to three grandchildren, DJ, Gabe, and London. Her family life is very important to her and she believes that being present in their lives is essential to who she is, and who they have and will become. She begin her career in information technology in1995, as a mainframe program developer. She worked her way up the ladder into different leadership roles that provided her the experience to inspire and motivate those she led. She received several awards and accolades from her superiors for outstanding leadership and organizational skills. She took pride in each and every role and always took the opportunity to mentor and encourage peers to never give up on their dreams. Mary retired from corporate America after 23 years. She has a heart for people and has spent most her life serving others either in an official capacity with her local church, or volunteering in her community. As Mary contemplated her next step, she is reminded of the Lord's instruction to use what she has learned through her personal trails and tribulations to help, guide, inspire, and encourage others, that they too can turn their life around.
Mary's Why
We all have pivotal moments in our lives that shape us into who we are. Some are more drastic than others. Some have to be drastic in order to get our attention. I have personal experience with abuse, financial poverty, depression, and low self-esteem. Although I wanted to give up something inside me wouldn’t let me. And One day healing came through the love of Jesus, and My life has changed. I guess one may say out of the ashes I rose! The earlier chapters in my life weren't that great but it has played a part in who I have become today.
Throughout the years I keep hearing the stories of young adults as they struggle to reclaim their lives by starting a new, and better chapter in their life. Listening to young adults and their struggles birthed the idea of having a facility for those in need of support to start their Next Chapter in Life. I believe with all my heart that God has laid this mission before me. In Joel 2:25, God tells us that He will restore what was destroyed in our lives. What the locusts destroyed for me was hope and joy and success. God has given it back ten times over. I do not look back, except to acknowledge how far I have come. Sure, I have fallen. But, with God’s help, I always get back up. And now I want to pass on what I have learned.
Emily Phillips, Director of Training and Development
Emily is the mother of one son, Darius and nana to two grandchildren, Sydney and DJ. She is a Quality Process Improvement Professional in corporate America. As a quality professional, she conducts quality reviews of business processes to determine if the process is working as designed and or identify any gaps that may keep the process from delivering the expected output. If gaps are found, she assists the stakeholder in mitigating the issue to lessen or eliminate any associated risks to the business.
She is a skilled expert user for the Microsoft Suite as an expert user for its suite of software products. She has taught/instructed several classes such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint to users of all knowledge levels.
"When I learned of The Next Chapter Resource Center (TNC) I immediately wanted to be involved. I have always wanted to be able to utilize my current skills and experiences to help others, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I believe the vision of TNC is notable and its presence in the area will be a wonderful asset to the tri-city community at large. I am excited to be a part of such a great movement."
We are fortunate to have her utilize her knowledge and expertise to help others turn the page in their story.
Emily's Why
LaTeasha Skinner, LPC., Clinical Director of Mental Health Services
LaTeasha 's Why
LaTeasha is married to Darrell Skinner Sr and the mother of 4 children, Destiny, Darrell Jr., Madilyn, and Ryleigh. She has devoted more that 10 years in the mental health profession working for other organizations, prior to stepping out on faith to open her practice. Today she is founder and owner of The Life Source, LLC. Since inception her practice grew quickly, so much so that she has brought on two other therapists to help support the growing need for mental health counseling in our community. Mental Health Awareness is her passion and she is sought out throughout the region by many clients and interns in her practice because of her insightful thoughts, genuine spirit and tenacity.
"As the Clinical Director of Mental Health, I look forward to helping this population start their next chapter mentally ready. This is my way of giving back to the community and bringing more awareness of the importance of mental health and helping this particular population that is often looked over."
Dorothy Berklin, Director of Human Resources
Dorothy Berklin, is a daughter, sister, wife, and mother. She is an army brat whose dad retired and moved his family to settle in Columbus, Georgia.
There she went to and graduated from Hardaway High School and went on to Columbus State University, aka Columbus College. She pursued and obtained a degree in Medical Technology. She knew that she always wanted to work in the medical field but finding that niche was not easy, and it took a couple of different turns before she found her place. Being a medical technologist doesn’t get the accolades that nurses or doctors receive, but she didn’t go into my field for its prestige; being behind the scenes and providing that quality care needed to treat patients is truly an incredible feeling of accomplishment. She has been in this field for 30 years, and enjoys teaching those coming into the field all that she knows and has learned over the years.
During her time off or downtime, she enjoys spending time with friends, working out, taking walks, reading, watching tv, crafts, redecorating her house, and her new passion for cooking and trying out different recipes. She is also looking forward to traveling and going to other parts of the world.
Mary asked me if I would be a part of The Next Chapter Resource Center, learning all that this organization embodies and willing to accomplish to help those young adults who need a support system, to help them take that next step. Becoming a part of this organization was life-changing, life-altering, but in a good way. I have learned to wear different hats and take on several roles, and I'm genuinely learning what giving of oneself, time, and talent mean. This organization will help young adults garner the strength and courage to take the next and necessary steps to get back on their feet and begin that next chapter by turning the page. That’s why I chose to become a part of this worthwhile nonprofit organization.
"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
Winston Churchill