Staff Biographies

Mary Moorman Holmes joined Cumberland Community Foundation as Executive Director in 1997.  A native of Fayetteville, NC, Mary received her Masters in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill and her undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University. 

Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, Mary was a commercial banking officer and the City Executive for First Union National Bank.  Previously, she was a hedge analyst for a commodities trading firm in New York, NY and on staff at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice, Italy.

Mary is involved in numerous initiatives to improve the quality of life in southeastern North Carolina and has served on many boards at the state and local level.  She was Chair of the NC Association of Community Foundations in 2006 – 2007 and recently served on the board of the NC Network of Grantmakers.  She is a 1997/1999 Fellow of the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations and a 2001 Hull Leadership Fellow of the Southeastern Council on Foundations.  She is the 2001 recipient of the ATHENA Award of the Fayetteville/Cumberland Chamber of Commerce.

Rachel Anderson is the Finance Director for Cumberland Community Foundation.  She is responsible for maintaining the financial integrity of the Foundation and providing services to donors.  Rachel joined the Foundation staff in April 1998.

A native of Fayetteville, NC, Rachel received her undergraduate degree from Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC.  She is a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Raleigh, NC.

Rachel completed the Leadership Fayetteville program through the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce in May, 2004.  She was awarded a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University, Durham, NC in 2002.  Rachel has been commissioned as a Notary Public for the State of NC since 1991. 

Soula Bantsolas manages the foundation’s internal operations and facilities and provides grantmaking services for donor advised funds.  She previously worked as an office manager and a residential loan officer in the Fayetteville area.

Soula received a BA in Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She is a graduate of the Leadership Fayetteville program and has received a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.

Susan Barnes manages the Foundation’s scholarship program, communications, events and the Women’s Giving Circle of Fayetteville.  She previously worked as the preschool director for Hay Street United Methodist Church and as an administrative assistant in the financial services area.

Susan received her A. A. from Peace College and a B. S. in Industrial Relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Erica Gordon manages the Foundation’s grants and nonprofit services.  From 2000-2006, Erica worked for the Children’s Aid Society in New York City, overseeing implementation of the Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program at several community based organizations and public schools throughout the city.  She began her work in the nonprofit sector as a community health educator from 1995 to 2000.

Erica received her bachelors in health education at Pennsylvania State University and her masters in health studies from New York University.

Kimmi Teague Nettles has been the Coordinator for the E.E. Smith Academic Excellence Giving Circle at Cumberland Community Foundation since October 2007.  As of May 2009 The Giving Circle has 24 Members and 18 “Friends” that have raised over $13 thousand dollars since they began in early 2008. 

Kimmi is a native of Kosciusko, Mississippi.  She received her B. S. in Business Administration/Marketing from Troy University-Troy, Alabama.  Prior to joining the staff of the foundation, Kimmi coordinated preschool and children’s ministry work in Prattville, Alabama as a Ministry Assistant at a large church for 6 years.