Allison Carlson
I am the Founder of An Open Chair, Inc. The idea for An Open Chair, Inc. came to me from something much greater than myself. Putting all the pieces of this Company together is a great accomplishment. I was able to complete this mission with love and support from several people who believe in me. With their love and encouragement the dream of creating this company is now a reality. I am grateful. May everyone BE STILL AND KNOW. That is my wish.
Melinda Evans
Melinda Evan is the Creative director for An Open Chair, Inc. She did all the graphic design work and helped develop the small chair. She never lost site of the end product.
Melinda Evans is the Creative Director and Owner of Designs by M.E., Inc., a design company based in Newport News, VA. She has worked in design, advertising, and print production at several top companies in Pennsylvania and Virginia before starting her own business, in August of 2006.She lives in Newport News, Virginia with her husband Brian and their two cats Kali and Sunny.
With 20 years experience in graphic design Melinda has made the chair project her passion. Effortlessly she made our idea come to life. With her drive and dedication An Open Chair was able to come to fruition. We are forever grateful for her talents.
Lauren Small
Lauren Small is our Vice President of Marketing. She assists in the development of marketing activities for An Open Chair, Inc. where she has served as an advisor since the inception of the company.
Her background includes considerable experience working in the non-profit arena. Since 2003, she has worked as a consultant for the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center in Chesapeake, Virginia where she has educated and mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs on the development of their strategic marketing plans. Lauren is the spouse of a retired U.S. Naval Officer. She has traveled the world living in Monterey, CA., Panama, San Diego, CA., Bahrain and Key West, FL. She is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia where she and her husband, Matthew, currently reside with their teenagers Aubrey, Ariel and Luke.
Lauren is passionate about the message of hope the chair brings. She believes this small chair can make a big difference in many lives all over the world. We are grateful for her gifts.
Catherine Magill
Quan “Catherine” Magill is our Sourcing agent for An Open Chair, Inc. Catherine spent hours trying to find the best factory in China to produce our little chairs. It is obvious that her expertise was a large part of the chair success.
Catherine was born and raised in China. She came to USA in 1998 as a graduate student at Old Dominion University and received her Masters’ Degree of Science in Accounting and her Masters’ of Business Administration.
In 2005, she started Great Bridge International, LLC, a business that imports goods, and also helps American companies to source items (find Chinese manufacturers) from China. Catherine worked in China for five years sourcing items for foreign companies, before she came to the States. Great Bridge International has an office in Qingdao, China. The staff in China visits factories for quality control before the shipment is sent to the United States. GBI prides itself on dependability, timely delivery, and excellent communication with its Chinese suppliers.
Catherine’s dedication to An Open Chair, Inc. comes from her great desire to help people in need all over the world.
Sherri Ann Stein
Sherri has joined An Open Chair, Inc as our South Eastern sales coordinator. She brings years of sales and marketing experience to our company.
Sherri is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University School of Business with a degree in Marketing. Her tenures include positions with Fortune 500 companies such as Philip Morris USA and PepsiCo/Frito-Lay. She has received several awards in sales, design and implementation of new training programs and leadership. As a developing partner of Robert Alexander Medical Corporation, she assisted in the development and marketing of what became one of the best new dental products for the year 2000 in clinical trials conducted by Clinical Research Associates.
Since then, Sherri has dedicated herself to raising her son and working with disadvantaged women and children. She has seen people crumble at the burdens they carry because they think they are alone, but they’re not and this little chair is such a potent reminder that they don’t have to be. She believes the chair, in its small way allows you to be still in this world of continuous communication and endless trials to speak with God, if even for a moment, and know that He is listening.
B. Sheila Clendenning
B. Sheila Clendenning is our Newsletter Editor/Special Events Assistant.
After 31 years as an instructor of Spanish in the public high schools of North Carolina, Sheila now applies her passion for relationship-building to her work as an Administrative Coordinator for the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. Films, books, gardening, artsy-craftsy pursuits interest her, as do learning and volunteering. She serves as the Secretary/Membership Chair for the Chesapeake Arboretum (www.chesapeakearboretum.com) as well as on the Chesapeake Crime Line Board of Directors and the Chesapeake Tourism Advisory Board. Sheila is thrilled to contribute, even if in a very small way, to the success of this very special"Chair-ity" project. She rejoices as it touches and changes lives around the world.
