Board of Directors

Steve graduated from Manchester University (North Manchester, IN) with a BS degree in 1982. He majored in Accounting and Business Administration.

Steve began his career in 1982 with PricewaterhouseCoopers (Indianapolis, IN) where he was responsible for leading audits of insurance, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and health care clients. He is a CPA. In 1991, he joined Chiquita Brands International (Cincinnati, OH) with roles in Internal Audit and Global Marketing Operation Control. Steve was promoted to Vice President Internal Audit in 1999, where he led a department of 18 associates providing global internal audit and consulting services. Still with Chiquita in 2006, Steve was promoted to Vice President, Finance, Asia, Pacific and Middle East and moved to Singapore where he led a finance/accounting/IT function overseeing a joint venture that included fruit sourcing, shipping and distribution throughout Asia. In 2008, Steve joined Intercontinental Hotels Group in Singapore as Director, Internal Audit, Asia Pacific.

In 2010, Steve moved back to the U.S. and joined Apollo Global (University of Phoenix international unit based in Chicago, IL) as Chief Financial Officer for Chilean acquisitions, where he headed all financial and strategic planning functions. He commuted from Chicago to Chile and is fluent in Spanish.

Steve joined Microban International in Huntersville, NC in early 2013 as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing their global financial operations, IT and customer service efforts. Steve was a key member of the senior management team, reporting to the President and an independent Board of Directors, interacting with banks and other external stakeholders, including an affiliated company in Memphis, TN.

In 2019, Steve joined Jeld Wen, a global leader in door and window manufacturing and distribution based in Charlotte, NC. He is functioning as a regional finance operations leader over a group of manufacturing operations. He provides comprehensive operational financial services and leadership to the group.

Steve has lived in the Huntersville area since 2013 with his wife and daughters. His oldest daughter, Aya, is a teacher in the Tampa, FL area. His daughter, Anna, attended Phoenix Montessori Academy before attending Liberty University after graduation. Steve joined PMA’s Board of Directors in 2015.

Carole was raised in New Jersey in a suburb of New York City. She attended college in New York State and spent her junior year at the University of London, Goldsmiths College. She returned to New Jersey after graduation. After college, Carole pursued a career in social work while studying for a master’s degree. She soon learned that she was more interested in one aspect of her work, appearing in court to testify or accompany clients, and decided to enroll in law school. After graduating, Carole first held a clerkship with the Assignment Judge of the Superior Court. She then went on to private practice with a medium-sized firm. After a number of years, Carole and a partner formed their own firm. She served as a Trustee of the Morris County Bar Association and a member of the District Ethics Committee (NJ Office of Attorney Ethics) where she investigated, charged and tried allegations of ethics violations. Carole practiced until her move to North Carolina.

Carole cared for her young children before venturing back to business. Carole and her husband, John, started KidTime, a drop-in childcare center in Huntersville in 2003. KidTime was a novel concept for the greater Charlotte area and became the model for other entrepreneurs in the region. Carole also helped start a private elementary school in Davidson, NC and was the President of the PTA. She is a founding Board member of The Warehouse Performing Arts Center, a small community-based theater.

Carole has been a realtor with Allen Tate Real Estate in Davidson, NC since 2012. She continues to enjoy the practice of real estate, community involvement and her time as a member of the Board of Directors at Phoenix Montessori Academy. Carole lives in Davidson, NC with her husband, John and two sons, both having attended Phoenix Montessori Academy.

Sue brings over 40 years of professional experience supporting executive leadership and managing complex projects prior to her role on Phoenix Montessori Academy’s Board of Directors.

After graduating high school, Sue began her career at Kimberly-Clark as personal executive assistant to K-C’s Chief Information Officer. In this role, she provided high-level administrative support and gained first-hand insight into the strategic priorities and operational responsibilities of top executives.

After concluding her work as an executive assistant, Sue took on increasing responsibility managing large-scale IT projects for multiple corporate clients. She successfully led cross-functional teams through major system implementations and technology upgrades, ensuring projects were delivered on time and within budget.

Most recently, Sue served as Director of Admissions and Student Services at Phoenix Montessori Academy, overseeing all non-academic operations including admissions, systems and IT support, school accreditation and parent liaison. This experience allowed Sue to develop expertise in areas key to Phoenix Montessori Academy operations.

Sue’s depth of knowledge and hands-on experience make her a valuable addition to the Board of Directors. She brings a unique perspective from her work supporting executives, managing complex projects, and leading operations for an educational institution.

Sue’s expertise will provide critical insights to help guide the school’s strategic vision and ensure effective execution.

Sue currently lives in Kimberly, WI with her husband, Fred. Her son, Alex, graduated from Phoenix Montessori Academy in 2018.

India brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Phoenix Montessori Academy, with a distinguished career in Montessori education spanning nearly three decades. She has been an integral part of the Montessori community since 1995 and has served as Head of School since 2004.

India is a seasoned educator and trainer, specializing in Montessori Elementary I and II (math and philosophy) as well as Montessori Secondary I. Her commitment to Montessori education is reflected in her comprehensive academic background. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Belmont Abbey College, where she graduated cum laude from the honors program. Furthering her dedication to Montessori pedagogy, India achieved certification in Montessori Elementary I & II (grades 1-3 and 4-6) and Montessori Secondary I (grades 7-8).

Her academic journey continued at Endicott College, where she completed a master’s program and earned a Master’s degree in Education, with a specialization in Montessori and Integrated Learning. Currently, India is advancing her educational expertise as a doctoral student at The University of Wisconsin River Falls.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, India is a devoted spouse, parent, and grandparent. Her passion for education and her commitment to nurturing the growth and development of both students and teachers make her an invaluable leader at Phoenix Montessori Academy.

Don Bowen served in the U.S. Military working in the electronics field for several years. After leaving the service, he attended college in Illinois where he focused on Information Technology and Instruction Design, graduating with honors. Don worked in the field of Human Resources before moving to Charlotte where he began his tenure with the Department of Homeland Security. He joined the Phoenix Montessori Academy Board of Directors in 2016.

Don lives in Charlotte with his wife and two children. One of his children is currently a student at Phoenix Montessori Academy.

Sabrina Brathwaite is a Financial Advisor and one of the partners of BFGvU Partners. Sabrina has been with Merrill Lynch since 2007.

Sabrina is a graduate of Winthrop University where she received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration. She has also earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation and the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor.

Sabrina enjoys volunteering and dedicating time to giving back to the Charlotte community. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Public Service Sorority, former Board Member and 2019 Luncheon Chair of Good Friends Charlotte, 2019 Who’s Who Black Charlotte Recipient, member of the Winthrop University College of Business Advisory Council, Advisory Board Member for the YWCA Charlotte, and 2023 Charlotte Regional Alliance Emerging Business Leaders participant.

Sabrina lives in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte with her husband, Frederick, and her son, Shabak, who currently attends Phoenix Montessori Academy.

My name is Daniel, but I go by Dan or DP, depending on how many Dan’s are in the room. I work in the FinTech industry for a large digital bank, Ally Financial. I specialize in Employee Monitoring, Forensic and Detection Tool Administration, and Project Management. I have been a Project Manager for over 20 years of my career and just transitioned over to banking in 2017. In my previous career I managed top tier Country Clubs, serving as a Clubhouse Manager up through Assistant General Manager where I utilized my strengths as a Project Manager and Team Builder for Club Members, Guests, and most importantly my Team.

Over my career I have had the opportunity to be a part of many people’s lives. I am an Ordained Minister with the American Marriage Ministries, where I have had the pleasure of marrying wonderful couples. I am Certified in Diamonds, through the Gemological Institute of America. My family owns the business of Wholesaling Jewelry. I have owned my own Gourmet Ravioli Pop-up restaurant with my brother in Washington, DC. I am a Certified Fraud Examiner, through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners which ties in well with my current role.

While I have had many great occupational accomplishments, my favorite personal accomplishments thus far in life are my two (2) boys, Porter and Valor, I am married to a wonderful woman, Ashley, who truly understands me, and I am now the proud Host Dad to a wonderful Spanish Exchange Student, Marta, who will be joining us and the PMA family for the next 10 months.

I am passionate about making sure that I do things right. I believe that if we all work towards the same goal and do it with good intentions, we are unstoppable. I believe in working hard and being present in everyday life, whether I am coaching T-Ball, Soccer, Basketball, or Flag Football, we must show consistency in our efforts. I strive to teach core principles that my family instilled in me and pay it forward to my children.

If I save any time for myself, I enjoy playing the bass guitar, hunting with friends, hiking, camping, and fishing. Mostly, I love going on vacations with my family. This is where a lot of memories are made and those will get further and further from our grasp as the children get older.

Sally currently works in Human Resources for an athletic retail company, leveraging a diverse professional background in life coaching, consulting and leadership across the nonprofit, human services and financial sectors. She is a graduate of Appalachian State University, completing undergraduate studies in Psychology and graduate studies in Community Counseling.

Sally’s philanthropic journey began in 1999 with ECHO Ministries, where she helped establish and served on the Board of Directors for The Ark, an emergency and transitional homeless shelter in Elkin, NC. Since then, she has served on the Board of Directors for HOPE House in Huntersville, NC and other nonprofit organizations.

As a member of the Phoenix Montessori Board of Directors since 2018 and a PMA parent since 2015, she is dedicated to valuing each person’s contributions and merging diverse perspectives to achieve PMA’s mission. She is passionate about fostering understanding, collaboration and inclusive dialogue.

Sally is a mother of two boys who were both students at PMA with her youngest still attending.