Board of Directors
Joseph Lopardi
Joseph was born in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 10 his family moved to the town of Lindenhurst on Long Island, New York where he attended high school and played football, lacrosse and basketball.
Joseph continued his education at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York and SUNY Farmingdale.
He is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors. Previously he was employed with Merrill Lynch also as a financial advisor.
His interests include sports, sports, and more sports. He also enjoys history.
Joseph believes his favorite personal accomplishment has to be his three children. He loves being a dad. He and his wife, Karen are residents of Mooresville, North Carolina.
Kurt B. Morphis (Garrett’s best guy buddy)
Kurt is a 2000 graduate of First Assembly Christian School in Concord, North Carolina. At FACS Kurt was a member of the National Beta Club, President of the student council and the Captain of the Varsity Soccer and Varsity Basketball teams.
In 2004 Kurt graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a degree in Earth Science and Geology.
His interest includes helping conduct soccer and basketball training clinics and missions organizations.
Kurt is presently employed with Charlotte Wire and Cable in the area of sales.
Hannah “Katy” Thomas (Garrett’s sister)
Katy is a 2005 graduate of First Assembly Christian School in Concord, North Carolina. While attending FACS she was the editor of the yearbook and the school newspaper.
In 2009 She graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida with a degree in Communications. She was the Talent Coordinator for the nationally aired T.V. show, Real and Willing T.V. for three years. The University formally recognized her for her work with Real and Willing by receiving the top communications student award of the graduating class of 2009.
Since 2009 she has been employed with Data Doc Imaging Services Company in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Her interest includes travel and spending time with family and friends. Her passion is helping those who are affected by Cystic Fibrosis.
Kathy Thomas
Kathy is a native of Concord, North Carolina, where she and her husband, Dean still reside. She attended UNC-Greensboro and graduated from Western Carolina University with a B.S. in Education. She taught school in Southern Pines, North Carolina and later moved back to Concord where she was the coordinator for the Vocational Instructional Program with Cabarrus County Schools for 6 years. In 1979 she received a Master of Education from UNC Charlotte. In 1985 she and her husband purchased a data imaging company, DataDoc formerly BiCom, Inc., where she is presently employed as Vice President. In 2005 she received a Ph.D in Theology from Life Christian University.
She has served on the board of directors of BiCom, Inc., DataDoc, and The Carolinas Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
She is mom to Garrett and Katy Thomas and mom in law to Sarah.
She attends The Refuge Church in Concord, North Carolina.
John A. Horne
John A. Horne spent 37 years working for Duke Energy. John worked in several different facets of the corporation including Duke Communication Services and Duke Engineering Services. While at Duke Energy, he was awarded with the Chairman’s Award for outstanding teamwork representative of Duke Power Company’s vision, mission and guiding principles. He is a Senior Member of the International Right of Way Association, and past president of Chapter 31. In 1995, John was awarded the IRWA Professional of the year. John’s civic commitments led him to becoming the Mecklenburg Kiwanis Club President, in Charlotte, NC. John is a 1973 graduate of Western Carolina University where he received his BA in Business. John currently sits on the Advisory Board of the College of Business at WCU. He is an active member of the Kappa Alpha Order, and maintains a close relationship with many of those brothers today. In his free time, John enjoys spending time in the outdoors hiking, fly-fishing, watching horse races attending Carolina Panther football games, and Western Carolina University athletic events. John also enjoys volunteering in the community with charities like the Garrett Thomas Foundation. He is married to June Horne and they have one son, Tucker. All attended Western Carolina University.
Amanda Williams
Amanda is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she attained her BSBA in Marketing. Amanda now has a career in Medical sales, selling Mobile X-ray and Ultrasound services across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, her boyfriend, riding her horses, Trapper and Splash, and playing with her dog, Kahlua. Amanda played collegiate soccer and still plays on recreational teams when she finds the time. Amanda lives in Asheville, NC where she has fallen in love with the beautiful North Carolina Mountains. She enjoys hiking and exploring with her friends and her four-legged friend, Kahlua.
Dean Thomas
Dean Thomas is President of DataDoc Imaging Services in Charlotte, NC. He has served in this position since April of 1985. Dean is a 1975 graduate of Western Carolina University. He is an avid golfer and enjoys time riding his Harley. Over his professional career he has served as a director of various boards. He presently serves as a director of the Refuge Church where he is a member.
Dean is a lifelong resident of Concord, NC where he resides with his wife Kathy. He is dad to Garrett and Katy and Dad-in-law to Sarah.
June Smith Horne
June grew up in Delray Beach, Florida and attended Western Carolina University studying Home Economics. She married her husband, John (also a GTF Board Member) and moved to North Carolina in 1985. They live in Huntersville.
In addition to being a mother of a grown son, Tucker, she has managed a real estate office and has been a preschool director as well as working with children with special needs. June has volunteered for various charities and her church, as well as Boy Scouts, and local schools.
June loves cooking, crafts, photography, travel and helping others.
Her favorite quote is: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” John Wesley