Our Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
At Open Door Ministries we know that having the right people for the job, allows us to encourage, lead, and motivate our guests to fulfill happy, healthy lives!
Executive Director
Ryan Ross
With over 18 years of executive management experience in government, private, and nonprofits organizations. Ryan has a vision and passion to help better our communities and assist those in need. Having served ODM for 3 years, he has ensured an organization so beneficial to the community remains a strong member of society. With degrees in Political Science and Government, Literary Theory & English, Psychology/Counseling, and Municipal/County Administration, Ryan has crafted ODM into an organization designed to help everyone in every walk of life!
Finance Director
John Mcnair
John is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant with over 30 years of experience in the accounting and banking industry. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Winston-Salem State University, Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from North Carolina A&T State University, and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School.
John is a member of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Director of Operations
Orel Henry
Orel is the last of 12 children born and raised in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. He saw and experienced things at a young age that his older siblings were going through. Through these experiences, he developed a passion for helping people to be their best selves and improve the community around them.
After high school, Orel moved to Atlanta to go to college. This is where he met his wife, Rhonda.
They eventually moved to the Triad in 2010. With a background in business and technology, Orel has helped many organizations improve their status and bottom line in the corporate, government, educational, and non-profit sectors. When not working, he enjoys being with his family. Rhonda and Orel has been married for over 30 years and have 3 girls.
Orel has an undergraduate degree in Engineering, an MBA, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in leadership. Fun-Fact: Orel loves the water and would prefer to wear a tee-shirt, shorts, and flip flops.
Director of Advancement
Ivan Huffman
Ivan grew up in the triad area, near Winston-Salem, and has always remained close to his family and especially his twin brother with special needs. This bond with his brother has created a desire to assist those in need and help educate those who may not know the need is present, especially in the area of mental health.
A recent graduate of Western Carolina University, with degrees in Business Law and Marketing, Ivan hopes to bring his passion for service, and experience in event coordination, marketing psychology, and business legal structures to help ODM grow. Ivan is a member of the American Marketing Association and is pursuing a Masters in Innovation Leadership from WCU with hopes to continue his role of conveying ODM's mission to the world.
Men's Shelter Director
Andrew Prochet
Andrew has been employed at Open Door Ministries since 2019. Born in Inglewood, California to two Haitian American parents and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Since his first job out of college was as a foster case worker, he has had a calling to help families in need. Andrew was raised in the church, and was taught that we can help everyone if we put our mind to it. Andrew feels there are so many people that are in need of assistance, and he would not be doing this World any justice if he just left it the way it is. He loves the feeling of helping individuals and families in need, especially when they return years later to show what they have accomplished. Everyone has a purpose, and this is his!
Aurthur Cassell Memorial Transitional Housing
Clinical Director
Elisabeth Fischer-Waters LCSW.
Beth is a mom of 10, and a grandmother to 18. She has an undergrad degree in Psychology from High Point University and a Masters in Social Work from NCAT and UNCG Joint SW program. Beth has been working with Veterans at Arthur Cassell for many years and is passionate about those in the community. Besides her passion of working to end homelessness she loves working with her dogs.
Men's Shelter Case Manager
Stacie Griffin
Stacie is originally from Winston-Salem, NC, and has four children, two boys and two girls. She first came to Open Door Ministries in 2020 as a Winston-Salem State University social work intern. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Social Work degree, she was offered employment as a case manager in the agency's housing department. Currently, she is a case manager in the men's shelter where she work with individuals, families, and support networks to implement effective person-centered intervention plans that help to enhance lives, strengthen relationships, and encourages self-sufficiency. At present, she is pursuing a Master of Social Work at UNC-Charlotte and is committed to focusing on the needs of vulnerable populations by fostering health and well-being through social and economic justice. Her future plans include obtaining clinical licensure to increase her skill set to provide greater outcomes.
Emergency Food Assistance Manager
Stepahnie White
Stephanie has a great passion for helping individuals that are mentally challenged or have special needs. She love's being a helper and also assisting the under privileged to the best of her ability. Through the food pantry program she categorizes, inventories, and distributes food items to families in need.
Housing and Emergency Assistance Manager
Demetrius Jones
Demetrius is currently studying for my Human Service Practitioner License; she has an Associate in Applied Science, and is enrolled at Methodist University studying Social Work. She also has a diploma in Substance abuse. Demetrius is also a certified Addiction and Recovery Specialist.
She chose to work at ODM because it gives her the opportunity to see herself making a difference one person at a time.
Housing and EA Assistant
Kayla Cunningham
I am a prospective graduate student at North Carolina A&T State University, pursuing a career in Social Work. I am truly thankful for the incredible opportunity ODM has provided me to serve one of the most underserved communities in our society today. Because of personal experiences, I am deeply passionate about assisting individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues and am committed to fostering positive social change.
Receptionist / Scheduler
Vivian Waden
Vivian graduated from Richmond Senior High School in 1973 and attended the following : RTI,GTCC ,North State School Of Theology Bible Training Institute. She graduated from Tomlinson College in 1981 with an Associate Degree, License Minister in the Church Of God Of Prophecy.
In 2005 Vivian joined Open Door Ministeries, doing Data Entry. She is currently the receptionist and scheduler for appointments.
In-Kind Donation Coordinator
Lawrence Freeman
Lawrence was born in West Africa. Liberia and studied his BS in social work at UNCG and received AAS in human services, an AA in general education and an academic two years’ certification in substance abuse treatment.
Lawrence is a well-rounded person with the ability to work with people from all walks of life. Lawrence is a member of the leadership team personnel in the Kingdom Building Men’s Ministries, at Life on Lexington Church. He is also a president of the Liberian's non-profit organization, and an executive on board of the directors of Jalloh’s Upright Refuge/Immigrant Services of Greater Greensboro. Lawrence chose to work at Open Door Ministries to make a difference and have an impact on the lives of those less fortunate, help his local community, and build skills and experience that can benefit his career. This gives him a great sense of pride and self-worth as he himself has experienced homelessness and poverty.