As an independent school, Davidson Day is governed by a Board of Trustees whose members serve the school on a voluntary basis.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the following:
 
  • Assuring the relevance and fulfillment of the School’s mission.
  • Hiring, supporting and evaluating the Head of School, who is in charge of day-to-day administration and operations.
  • Securing the long-term financial viability of the School.
To sustain the School and its mission, the Board identifies and studies issues and challenges that will impact the School, then forms policies to address those issues.  This is accomplished through a system of standing committees, as well as strategic committees and task forces, which focus on specific areas of interest and governance in order to enhance the Davidson Day experience.

The School’s Trustees are parents of current students and members of the external Lake Norman community, representing varied skills and perspectives.  All share a deep, personal commitment to the School and its future.  Board members normally serve three-year terms and are eligible to serve up to two consecutive terms.

Board Leadership for 2019-2020

RENÉE BROWN, BOARD CHAIR

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2012
Board Member Since: 2015
Subcommittee: Executive Committee; Capital Campaign Steering Committee; Marketing Committee; Head of School Search Committee
Occupation: Senior Vice President-Marketing, United Health Group, OptumCare
Education: M.A. (Louisiana State University); B.A. (Louisiana State University)
Other Info: Married to Kelly Gimlin. Mother of Sydney '21. Interests include water sports, cooking, and travel.
HOLLY PAEPER, BOARD VICE CHAIR

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2016
Board Member Since:  2018
Subcommittee: Executive Committee; Development Committee; Marketing Committee; Technology Committee
Occupation: General Manager and Head of Marketing, Ingersoll Rand
Education:  M.B.A. (University of Minnesota); B.S. (University of Minnesota)
Other Info: Married to Rolf. Mother of Lukas '27. Interests include food/dining, travel, skiing, biking, and reading.
DEANNA LINDQUIST, BOARD SECRETARY  

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2006
Board Member Since:  2015
Subcommittee: Executive Committee; Board Governance Committee; Capital Campaign Steering Committee
Occupation: Partner, BlueWater Dispute Resolution Group, LLP; Former Executive Vice President and Deputy Counsel, Wells Fargo
Education: J.D. with Honors  (University of North Carolina School of Law); B.A. (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)
Other Info: Married to Doug. Mother of Emma '20. Interests include creative writing, yoga, and lake activities.

Board Membership for 2019-2020


DAVID ALEXANDER

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2014
Board Member Since:  2017
Subcommittee: Chair, Building and Grounds Committee; Head of School Search Committee
Occupation: Owner, Commercial Real Estate; President, J. T. Alexander and Son, Inc.
Education:  B.A. (College of Charleston)
Other Info: Married to Ashley. Father of Sarah '20, Mary '21, and Caroline '25. Interests include travel, attending sporting events, golf, and hunting.
KIRK BLANCHETTE

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2012
Board Member Since:  2019
Subcommittee: Finance Committee
Occupation:  CFO & VP of Strategy, Huber Engineered Woods
Education:  M.B.A. (Wharton, University of Pennsylvania); B.S. (Babson College)
Other Info: Married to Jennifer. Father of Alexis '26 and Andrew '28. Interests include spending time with family, golfing, and hiking.
ALLISON HAMME

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2011
Board Member Since:  2019
Subcommittee: Chair, Head of School Search Committee; Capital Campaign Steering Committee
Occupation:  President Ephesus Consulting; Finance and Operations Director, Lost Worlds Brewing
Education:  M.B.A. (University of Chicago Booth School of Business); B.A. (Knox College)
Other Info: Married to Dave. Mother of River '22 and Winter '24. Interests include spending time with family and travel.
REBECCA HENDERSON

Relationship to Davidson Day: Trustee
Board Member Since:  2018
Subcommittee: Capital Campaign Steering Committee; Technology Committee
Occupation:  Retired, Deputy General Counsel, Wells Fargo
Education: J.D. (University of North Carolina School of Law); B.S. (Appalachian State University)
Other Info: Married to Michael Booe. Interests include traveling and reading.
SEAN HIGBEA

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2012
Board Member Since:  2019
Subcommittee: Chair, Development Committee
Occupation: Retired, Senior Director, Pay Pal
Education: B.S. (Florida State University)
Other Info: Married to Angela. Father of Hailey '20, Hannah '22, and Hudson '26. Interests include spending time with family, water sports, traveling, and scuba diving.
BRAD HORSTMANN

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2012
Board Member Since:  2017
Subcommittee: Finance Committee; Building and Grounds Committee; Marketing Committee
Occupation: Managing Partner, Wedge Capital Management
Education:  B.S.B.A. (Appalachian State University)
Other Info: Married to Kelly. Father of Connor '19 and Ashlynne '20. Interests include spending time with family, travel, and sports car racing.
RON HORTON

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2016
Board Member Since:  2018
Subcommittee: Chair, Technology Committee; Marketing Committee; New Campus Coordination Committee;  Head of School Search Committee
Occupation: President, Pinnacle Consulting
Education:  B.A. (Davidson College)
Other Info: Married to Missy. Father of Trey '23 and Halle '25. Interests include spending time with family, traveling, and attending kids' sporting events.
DEANNE JAMES

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2006
Board Member Since:  2014
Subcommittee: Board Governance Committee; Development Committee
Occupation:  Comptroller, North Mecklenburg Animal Hospital; Partner and Owner, Jill of All Trades
Education:  M.S. (Boston College in Paris, France); B.A. (Sweet Briar College) 
Other Info: Married to David. Mother of Teagan '17 and Cameryn '21. Interests include spending time with family, travel, hiking, reading, movies, and theatre.
BARRETT KOLLME

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2013
Board Member Since:  2015
Subcommittee: Executive Committee; Chair, Finance Committee; Development Committee
Occupation:  Risk Management, Wells Fargo Securities
Education: M.B.A. (Duke University); B.S. (University of Virginia)
Other Info: Married to Astri. Father of Burns '15, Elizabeth '16, and Ellie '22. Interests include spending time with family, travel, exercise, and golf.
DENNIS LEHMAN

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2012
Board Member Since:  2019
Subcommittee: Finance Committee
Occupation:  Partner, NCA Financial Planners
Education:  B.S. (Kent State University)
Other Info: Married to Mary. Father of Allison '21 and Erin '24. 
MICHELLE MOORE

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2016
Board Member Since:  2019
Subcommittee: Board Governance Committee; Technology Committee
Occupation:  Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group
Education:  M.B.A. (University of Rochester); B.S. (Cornell University)
Other Info: Married to Eric. Mother of Eric '27 and Jake '28. Interests include spending time with her boys, tennis, golf, and running.
ALI NIKROOZ

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2009
Board Member Since:  2018
Subcommittee: Board Governance Committee; Building and Grounds Committee
Occupation:  President, Couture Knots Hand Knotted Rugs
Education:  B.S. (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)
Other Info: Married to Susan. Father of Tara '23 and Kameron '28. Interests include spending time with family, travel, dog training, UNC Basketball, and the Charlotte Hornets.
JEFF STANTON

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2017
Board Member Since:  2019
Subcommittee: Capital Campaign Steering Committee; Marketing Committee
Occupation: President, Big South McDonald's Owner/Operator Association
Education: Attended Appalachian State University and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Other Info: Father of Kaleigh '28 and Madison '31. Interests include Panthers football, UNC basketball, CrossFit, Whitewater Center, travel, and food/dining.
MELISSA NELSON TATE

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2007
Board Member Since:  2017
Subcommittee: Chair, Capital Campaign Steering Committee; Board Governance Committee; Chair, New Campus Coordination Committee; Head of School Search Committee
Occupation:  Enterprise Leader, Sales Excellence, Ingersoll Rand
Education: M.B.A. (University of Minnesota); B.B.A. (University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh)
Other Info: Married to Chuck. Mother of Caleb '20 and Sydney '24. Interests include watching my kids participate in competitive sports, being active, the outdoors, cooking, and traveling.
BRIAN TIERNEY

Relationship to Davidson Day: Current Parent since 2013
Board Member Since:  2019
Subcommittee: Chair, Board Governance Committee; Capital Campaign Steering Committee
Occupation: Owner, Residential Development Company; Sullivan Tierney Industries LLC; BT Pools and Docks LLC
Education: B.A. (DePaul University)
Other Info: Married to Sheila. Father of Moira '29. Interests include traveling, golf, and attending sporting events.

School Information

750 Jetton Street
Davidson, NC 28036
[P] 704-237-5200   [F] 704-896-5535

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DAVIDSON DAY SCHOOL
An Independent Day School educating students 2 years old through 12th grade
COLLABORATION  |  CREATIVITY  |  CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT