Abigail Jennings
Co-founder, Chair of the Board of Trustees
AbigailJ@pioneersprings.org

Abigail is president of Lake Norman Realty, a full-service real estate firm with seven offices serving the Lake Norman region.  Her innovative vision has allowed her to steadily grow her firm into one of the largest brokerage firms in the Charlotte region.
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The impact of Abigail’s leadership is felt in her community as well. In addition to being a co-founder of Pioneer Springs in 2012, she is also a founding director for blueharbor bank, a community bank based in Mooresville, NC serving the Lake Norman region. Abigail is also founder and president of the Lake Norman Lucky Cat Program, a non-profit dedicated to humanely managing the population of community cats through TNRM (trap-neuter-return-manage).  She also serves as vice-president of the non-profit economic development organization, SICDC (South Iredell County Development Corporation), Board Member for the Hugh Torance House and Store, and Advisory Board Member for the Children's Schoolhouse, a co-op preschool in Huntersville, NC.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Creative Arts, her love of nature, local history, and the arts were inspirations as a co-founder of Pioneer Springs.  When free time is seized, she enjoys creating art, preserving historic properties, and spending time in nature with her family.  She is married to co-founder Randolph Lewis and together they are Pioneer parents of Genevieve and Sophia.

Erik Giles
Co-founder, Treasurer, Chair of Finance Committee    
Erikg@pioneersprings.org

Erik is the Head of Data Management for Global Corporate Systems Technology at TIAA. Prior to working with TIAA, Erik was a Strategic Program Management consultant for Wells Fargo/RGP.  He also has been a consultant for Ally Financial Inc. and Bank of America, among other institutions. Erik is a difference maker with strong leadership skills and the ability to influence change.  He has served as a strategic consultant and program manager in companywide restructuring, system/process re-engineering, data management and other value add projects. Through effective thought leadership, executive communication, process improvement, analytical and software development, he has leveraged these skills to consistently improve the organization’s efficiency/productivity goals with a proven record of accomplishment for driving results.

Erik received his MBA and BSBA in Management Information Systems with honors from the Belk College of Business at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  He also attended the University of Maryland College Park.  Erik is a co-founder of Pioneer Springs, and is a Pioneer parent of Taylor and Harper.

Erin Steenwyk
Secretary of the Board Trustees
ErinS@pioneersprings.org
 
Erin Steenwyk brings her extensive experience in charter school law, special education law and requirements, and sales and marketing to her role as trustee for the Pioneer Springs board. 

Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Studies with double minors in Philosophy and Economics, Erin graduated Cum Laude as a Notre Dame Scholar at the University of Notre Dame. While working full-time as a volunteer teacher in Montgomery, Alabama through the Alliance for Catholic Education, Erin then completed her Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Portland. 

Erin found her true passion in working with at-risk youth and during her career, she taught middle school Language Arts and Drama to both gifted and at-risk, low-performing students in the Charlotte Mecklenburg district. Creating an experimental curriculum utilizing science and social studies content that reinforced reading and comprehension skills, Erin helped students learn to read and graduate on time and on grade level.  Her desire to help did not stop in the classroom, she also participated in after school, weekend, and summer tutoring for at-risk students and served as volleyball coach, girls soccer coach, boys basketball manager, and boys track coach while also partnering with students to create a new yearbook and drama program.  
 

Peter Blumenfeld
Board Trustee, Chair of Facilities Taskforce
Peterb@pioneersprings.org
 
Peter is a Senior Project Manager and the Multisite Practice lead for the Carolinas market for JLL.  He is an experienced project manager with a proven track record of adding value to an organization’s portfolio in architecture and construction. He has worked in architecture and construction for over 15 years.   He received his Bachelors of Architecture with a Minor in Business from the University of Miami. He has vast experience in planning and zoning, permitting, and historic preservation as well as commercial, healthcare and residential construction and design.  He is an associate member of AIA and the National Eagle Scout Association.  He held the role of Cub Master for Pack 13 (Hornets’ Nest District) for over 6 years and currently is an assistant scout Master with Troop 13.  He actively volunteers with the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society (2010 – Present).  Peter is an Eagle Scout Award recipient, and has also received these notable awards: the Da Vinci Award (Innovation to the company), Carolinas Innovation Award (Innovation to the market), and the Spotlight Award Recipient (Catalyst award for being a role model).

Sandra Knox
Board Trustee
Sandrak@pioneersprings.org
 
Sandra Knox is owner of Sandra Knox, PC in Cornelius, NC, where she a practicing attorney.  She is a graduate of the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University where she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence. She received her AB in Political Science from Davidson College. Her practice areas include commercial and residential real estate, small business formation and planning, and estate planning (wills, trusts, powers of attorney etc.  Sandra is a founding board member of Pioneer Springs Community School.  She also enjoys volunteering for Schnauzer Rescue of the Carolinas.

Jeanne Bryne
Board Trustee, Chair of Academic Excellence Committee
JeanneB@PioneerSprings.org

Jeanne’s education career spans 32 years as a K-12 Physical Education teacher, administrator and district coordinator/curriculum specialist.  She is National Board-Certified Teacher and a National Trainer with The First Tee National School Program.  She holds a Masters of Arts Degrees in Physical Education, School Administration and Curriculum Specialist.   During her career she was named Regional Teacher of the Year and served as a Professional Development Master Teacher during her tenure with the Charlotte Mecklenburg School District.   Jeanne has taught and coached at all levels (K-12) throughout her 32-year career.  Jeanne enjoys officiating High School volleyball with the NCHSAA and has done for 24 years.   In her spare time she enjoys playing pickleball, reading and gardening.

s​Dr. James T. Freeman
Board Trustee
jamesf@pioneersprings.org
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 Dr. James T. Freeman has dedicated a significant portion of his personal and professional life to his work in the nonprofit and community services. Much his efforts have been around working with African American families in support of enhancing their growth and development, to assist them with competent community services that reduce barriers, in a strategic effort to build strong families and safe communities. Among the values that he holds true are dignity, respect, spirituality, community and education. Dr. Freeman serves as an Assistant Professor for the MSW program at Johnson C Smith University. As a part of the inaugural graduate faculty for the graduate MSW program in the School of Social Work. Dr. Freeman has helped to create a MSW program with the mission and focus of preparing Culturally Competent Advance Generalist Graduate Social Work Practitioners.

​Dr. Freeman currently focuses his academic research and scholarship on the development of graduate African American social work students who are trained to work with and advocate for social, economic and political justice for marginalized African American families in impoverished urban communities. Dr. Freeman’s work in Human Services, Child Welfare in addition to his focus on Race and Culture in Social Work practice, has afforded the following professional partnerships. Dr. Freeman has consulted on a three-year project with the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) funded by the Kresge Foundation representing the Black Administrators in Child, which focused on the “Preservation of Culturally Specific Human Service Organizations.” Dr. Freeman continues to serve the National Association of Black Social Workers as the National Chair of Professional Development and Co Chair of Programs on the National Conference Committee.

​Dr. Freeman received his BA in Psychology with a minor in Religion from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington Pennsylvania, his MSW from the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work in Pittsburgh PA, the MBAe for Executive Leader from the Katz Business School at the University of Pittsburgh and his PhD from Morgan State University in Baltimore Maryland. He is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) holding license in both Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Dr. Freeman’s love for education and the social work profession has afforded him the opportunity to serve the following universities in the capacity as Adjunct/Assistant Professor: the University of Pittsburgh, Morgan State University and Johnson C. Smith University.
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In addition to his academic and scholarship activities, Dr. Freeman’s community practice work has incorporated both clinical and administrative experiences. Dr. Freeman has served as the Associate Director for the NorthShore Community Alliance. In this role he oversees all programing and community work. Prior to joining the NorthShore Community Alliance, Dr. Freeman served as the Executive Vice President of A Second Chance, Inc. (ASCI) the first holistic Kinship Foster Care organization in the United States, established by Dr. Sharon L. McDaniel in Pittsburgh PA, Allegheny County.
Dr. Freeman is a sought after lecturer and public speaking on Child Welfare and Human Service Organizational Leadership, Race and Cultural Identity, The African Centered Paradigm and Best Practice in Mental Health and Direct services with African American Families, presenting as several national and local conferences including The National Association of Black Social Workers, the Black Administrators in Child Welfare, Child Welfare League of America, One Church One Child Adoption Conference and National Black Child Development

De'Onn Griffin, PhD, MBA
Board Trustee
deonng@pioneersprings.org

Dr. De’Onn Griffin is the Senior Director of Executive Development for Gartner Inc. in Charlotte, NC. An articulate, engaging communicator skilled in strengthening relationships, De’Onn is a professional business educator with over 20 years of corporate learning and training career success. From facilitating workshops, tutoring, e-learning, outreach and PTA President to six years in Command and Control/Base Operations with the North Carolina Air National Guard, De’Onn brings a breadth of experience to every role. Her background includes leadership positions which took her to Paris, France as Global Learning and Development Manager for Carlson Wagonlit Company. In addition, she has served as Professor of Business Administration with the world-renowned ITT Technical Institute, as well as for Sanford Brown College.  She has also held esteemed roles with XM Satellite Radio, and Volkswagen of America.

De’Onn’s community support is as vast as her professional experience.  In addition to serving on Pioneer Springs Board and Social Justice Committee; she also serves on the board for Time Out Youth.  She has previously served as Chair for the Leadership Development Institute for the Junior League of Charlotte, president of the PTA for Hornet’s Nest Elementary Schoo, and the Executive Board Member of the District Advisory Council of the Title 1 Schools for Fairfax County.