Originally from Indiana, Kim graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Nursing. With a desire to move west, she then lived in Seattle, Scottsdale, and Laguna Niguel CA working in clinical nursing and management. Finally in 1994 she came to Winston Salem to work at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where she incorporated her clinical experience as an Internal Consultant in Organizational Development. As her young daughter grew up, she struggled socially and academically. When her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, CAPD, and Asperger’s Syndrome, she finally had an explanation for her challenges. Kim was ready to help her, but then realized that few resources were available. Thus to help her daughter and others, she designed and founded the iCan House in 2008. Kim lives in Winston Salem with her daughter, 2 dogs and 6 birds!
Rashaad NelsonProgram Coordinator and Admissions Specialist
Rashaad grew up in Dayton, Ohio and moved to North Carolina in 2008 where he finished high school and attended The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and majored in Therapeutic Recreation. During his time at UNCG he fell in love with the nonprofit world while working for Beyond Academics. He served as Campus and Community Support, directly assisting and facilitating individualized goals and objectives for adults with disabilities attending UNCG. Prior to working at iCan House, he worked for Labcorp as a Billing Specialist gaining valuable experience in data entry. He is excited to be a member of the team and looks forward to helping make a difference in other people’s lives! In his spare time you can catch him playing video games or going to a nice restaurant with his fiance!
Olga DimovProgram Coordinator and Volunteer Manager
Olga graduated from Queens University of Charlotte with a B.S in Biology. After graduation, Olga headed to Scotland to further her studies in molecular psychiatry and politics at the University of Edinburgh. Olga is now pursuing a Masters in Criminology and Criminal Psychology. She has worked in administrative, clinical and academic research related fields, and with at risk youth at a wilderness camp. Olga enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading mysteries, doing photography, and hiking with her two boxer dogs, Charlie and Lucy. She is also writing her first mystery thriller and hopes to become a published author in the future.
Tricia WhalenProgram Coordinator
Tricia joined the iCan team in March moving to the area from Chapel Hill. Originally from Topsail Island, Tricia grew up on a small farm before moving to Chapel Hill for college. While in Chapel Hill, she earned her Bachelors degree in Exercise and Sport Science as well as Psychology. She has worked for the Autism Society of North Carolina- first as a camp counselor, and then as a Program Coordinator for the IGNITE program after graduation. She also has volunteered for the Arc of the Triangle, several UNC campus organizations, and UNC Hospitals. Tricia lives in Kernersville with her adorable purebred mutt named Tristan, and in her free time she likes crocheting, painting, camping, and hiking.
Courtney grew up in Northern Virginia, about 10 miles outside of Washington, D.C. After several years in the big city, she moved to North Carolina where she fell in love with the accessibility to the beach & mountains, the lack of traffic, and most importantly, the people! The only thing that could make North Carolina better would be her three sisters also living here. Courtney attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she earned a degree in Social Sciences. Before joining the iCan House team in 2015, Courtney worked in college administration where she served as Director of Student Services, writing individualized success plans to help at-risk students graduate. At iCan House, Courtney enjoys getting to know each member as an individual and providing them with tools to help increase their quality of life while building their self-esteem. Courtney is a huge animal lover, in fact she met her husband working at Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys. She has a therapy dog, Henri, who will often accompany her on visits to schools, libraries, nursing homes, and sometimes iCan House! Courtney loves working with groups of all ages at the iCan House and feels lucky to be part of such a wonderful community in Winston Salem.
Nilam PatelProgram Facilitator
Nilam is a southern girl at heart. She grew up in a small, conservative town in south Georgia for most of her life. She received a B.S. in Health Promotion and Behavior from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and a M.S. in Public Health, focusing on Epidemiology, from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. After completing graduate school, she pursued a non-profit career in Raleigh, North Carolina where she discovered an interest for the non-profit sector. After a few years, Nilam decided to move to Winston-Salem after marrying her husband, a native North Carolinian. During the past few years, Nilam worked with a local non-profit managing programs within the public school system. Through this adventure, she discovered her passion for working with children and young adults which led to volunteering at the iCan House in her free time. She has been involved with the iCan House ever since and has found the experience to be very rewarding. When Nilam is not helping out at the iCan House, she enjoys reading, spending quality time with her husband and family, being outdoors and dabbling into anything creative and artsy.
Mallory GoldenProgram Facilitator
Mallory has always lived in our beautiful state of NC. Because of this love for NC, Mallory completed her undergraduate degree at East Carolina University and proceeded to earn her Master’s degree at Western Carolina University. She has an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Child Development, Family Relations. Her graduate degree is also in Communication Sciences and Disorders. During the time she spent in college, she was a preschool teacher working with children of diverse backgrounds and disabilities. After graduation, Mallory started working as a speech-language pathologist for a private practice. She continues to work as a speech-language pathologist within Winston-Salem. Mallory is excited to join a wonderful and collaborative team at the iCan House. When Mallory is not with her iCan House team, or working as a speech-language pathologist, you can find Mallory spending time with family and friends, going to the lake, spending time with her dog, or traveling.
Angela Gerena-DiazProgram Facilitator
Angie works part-time at iCan House, primarily with the iClub Junior groups, and during the day teaches at the Alternative Learning Center with high school students in need of some extra support. She has work experience as a middle school history teacher, prevention specialist in the non-profit sector, Christian educator, law-enforcement officer, and director of a middle grade summer camp for challenged youth. Angie graduated Summa Cum Laude from Shaw University. She enjoys working with youth and believes that all children have limitless potential. Angie enjoys spending time her family, social justice advocacy, reading, swimming and helping others.
Julie MusolinoProgram Facilitator
Julie Musolino recently relocated to North Carolina from south Florida. Julie worked for over 30 years in the field of Human Resources with a focus on Affirmative Action and EEO compliance. Her career involved the interpretation and application of government regulations, oftentimes revolving around equal employment for individuals with disabilities and related issues – such as reasonable accommodations.
In 2012 Julie became interested in the opportunities and support available for individuals on the Autism Spectrum. This interest was one of the factors that brought Julie, in early 2018, to North Carolina and to iCan House where she quickly became a valuable addition – as a volunteer.
Julie enjoys exercise at YMCA daily as well as working as a volunteer at Peacehaven farm in Whitsett North Carolina on a regular basis. Additionally, Julie loves landscaping, gardening, and spending quality time with her family. Her family includes Marla (a long-haired mini-dachshund) and Lupe (a wire-haired pointer rescue mix from Puerto Rico).
Julie loves working with the members of iCan and feels she learns from them as they are learning from iCan. Helping others is where Julie finds her joy, and she is thrilled to now be a part of the iCan House program staff.