Rudy fell in love with nonprofits as a teenager inspired by his mother’s impact at the local soup kitchen and elderly care program. This passion for charitable work stuck through college in leading multiple collegiate programs focused on community while receiving his BA in Communications at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. Working side by side with patients for the last 18 years in the medical device field Rudy’s passion to change lives is second to none. After Rudy’s son was diagnosed with autism in 2009, he knew his path would change and he is now spending his days helping more people impacted with autism live a better life. When Rudy is not working you will find him being the pacing gymnastics Dad to his two girls, playing guitar, taking pictures of the kids and always with a coffee in hand.

Becky brings her unconditional love for all living creatures into all she does as co-founder of Autism Strong. In the last seven years she has fostered more than 50 dogs, cats, bunnies, and a bird or lizard a time or two for the Carolina PAWS, non-profit organization here in Charlotte. Her unwavering love and ability to do what’s right for every soul is the quiet strength that keeps her family and the foundation going. Becky is a professional violinist for the Queen City Ensemble and when she isn’t taking care of the kids, the pets and brides for her violin trio she is teaching Crossfit gymnastics, reading or spending time at the lake with the family.

John Neuman has over 19 years of biotech device experience with the same international company. From customer service to sales and now leadership, he has had a wide-range of experience within the organization lending to a more whole-picture lens in his approach.

Chrissy Wilson is the Office Manager at Flourish Family & General Dentistry, bringing over 20 years of experience in customer service and office leadership. As a dedicated autism mom, she is passionate about advocating for families and connecting them with resources to support children on the spectrum.

Chrissy is a proud mom of three: her oldest is an Army veteran, her 11-year-old son Rylan is nonverbal and a gentle soul, and her 6-year-old daughter is full of kindness. She finds joy in supporting families, building community connections, and helping others thrive in all areas of life.

Jon Little brings nearly 30 years of experience leading construction projects—both new builds and renovations—throughout Charlotte with one of the area’s largest construction firms. A close friend of Rudy Thoms, Jon has been a steadfast supporter of Autism Strong from its early days and continues to play an integral role in the community.

Outside of work, Jon enjoys connecting with local families and supporting initiatives that make a meaningful impact in Charlotte.

LauRen Merola Strager is a former NFL & NBA cheerleader turned radio host. Kicking off her career in Miami as a sports broadcaster, LauRen has over a decade of experience and currently hosts morning radio show, the Maney & LauRen Show in Charlotte, NC.  She is a champion for the Autism community.

Gabe Veiga is an executive in the trucking manufacturing industry with more than 15 years of international experience in the U.S., Brazil, and Germany. He currently serves as Sales Regional General Manager for Daimler Truck North America, where he has held leadership roles in sales, finance, operations, and pricing since beginning his career with the company in 2011. In addition to his work in the trucking industry, Gabe is actively involved in Daimler’s Culture and Belonging Council, helping foster an inclusive workplace.

As an autism dad, Gabe is passionate about advocating for the autism community and supporting families like his own. He and his wife are proud parents to three children—Leo, Cecilia, and Sofia—and in his spare time he enjoys tennis, traveling, watching sports, and spending time with his family.

Sarah Young is the Chief Financial Officer of Bell Partners, where she leads the company’s accounting, finance, tax, IT, financial planning, legal/compliance, and risk management teams. She also serves on the Executive and Investment Committees.

Before joining Bell Partners in 2025, Sarah spent a decade at Quarterra Group, a subsidiary of Lennar, where she served as CFO and senior managing director, overseeing financial operations and strategic planning across multiple residential platforms. She also brings prior experience from Walton Street Capital and Ernst & Young LLP. A proud Tar Heel, Sarah holds both a Master of Accounting and a BA in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and their two young sons.

Rarely spotted without a coffee in her hand, Stephanie much prefers coffee shop chats to board room meetings. As a Professional Speaker, Trainer and Consultant, she has dedicated expertise in sales, customer service, branding and social marketing. From being an award-winning fundraiser to being crowned 2014 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year and a working background with the American Diabetes Association and Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio, Stephanie brings nearly two decades of nonprofit sector expertise and passion to ASF. When she isn’t training, writing, fundraising or sipping caffeine, you’ll find Stephanie playing with her three girls, two doods and trying to cut off her husband’s “modern” mullet.

Hello, I’m Christy, a rare Charlotte native. I grew up volunteering for numerous nonprofit organizations in the area. After graduating from North Carolina State, I returned to my passion for helping and empowering others and began my career in nonprofits! I love spending time with my husband, our two young girls and our very energetic pup. In my free time I also enjoy outdoor activities, hiking, reading and any arts and crafts project.

Resa has over 25 years of experience in nonprofits and education across the Charlotte area. She holds an MBA from Columbia Southern University and a Graduate Degree in Communication Studies from UNC Charlotte, and is passionate about lifelong learning—from HR to stained glass making. A dedicated explorer, Resa has traveled to nearly every U.S. state and five of the seven continents but can be found most often at her dad’s winery or in the backyard playing with her German Shepherd, Cali.