Peggy McDonald - Chairperson Peggy has been a member of CMSG for 25 years (since 1983) and has been chairperson for 1 year. She is one of the original 8 persons appointed to the NC Senior Games Advisory Board by the Division of Aging a part of the NC Department of Health and Human Services. A trial-run regional games was held in Charlotte in September 1983 with 130 entrants participating. Peggy has a BS Degree in Physical Education from Winthrop University. She taught at Queens University and Central Piedmont Community College for a combined total of 37 years. She retired from CPCC full time in 1999. She still teachs Golf part time for CPCC.
Peggy McDonald
Larry Huelsman - Vice Chair & Treasurer
Larry joined the board in 2008, following two terms as a Park Commissioner for
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. His goal is to find opportunities for the ?kid in
all of us to come out and play?.
He is has been a participant in local and state senior games in badminton, softball and
football throw .
Larry is the Sports Enthusiast Financial Guy with Principal Financial Group.
Larry joined the board in 2008, following two terms as a Park Commissioner for
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. His goal is to find opportunities for the ?kid in
all of us to come out and play?.
He is has been a participant in local and state senior games in badminton, softball and
football throw .
Larry is the Sports Enthusiast Financial Guy with Principal Financial Group.
Larry joined the board in 2008, following two terms as a Park Commissioner for
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. His goal is to find opportunities for the ?kid in
all of us to come out and play?.
He is has been a participant in local and state senior games in badminton, softball and
football throw .
Larry joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Games Board in 2008, following two terms as a Park Commissioner for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. His goal is to find opportunities for the "kid in all of us to come out and play." He is a participant in local and state senior games in badminton, softball and football throw. Larry is the Sports Enthusiast Financial Guy with Principal Financial Group.
Larry Huelsman
H.C. Woody Woodward - Local Games Coordinator Woody has been a part of CMSG since 1997. As a Recreation Coordinator Supervisor with MCP&RD he served as a liasion to the Board from 1997-2003. In 2003 he became Chairman of the Board of Directors which was the 20th Anniversary of CMSG having started in 1983. Woody retired from MCP&RD in July 2010 having spent 40+ years in the RecreationLeisure Field and became the CMSG Local Coordinator. Woody is working to bring more of the 165,000 citizens of Mecklenburg County ages 55 and better into the program.
H.C. Woody Woodward
Yo Osborn - Performing Arts Coordinator
Yo has been teaching line dancing, hula, water aerobics and chair exercise to seniors in the Charlotte area for over twenty years. Her involvement with Senior Games started at the state level as a lead instructor for SilverLiners. While teaching several groups; line dancers, hula dancers and coaching the cheering group for Mecklenburg Park and Recreation, she encouraged them to enter the performing arts portions of the Games. Yo has continued her involvement with the Games as a volunteer, a coach, a participant and as a board member.
Yo Osborn
Marty Garges - Visual/Heritage/Literary Arts Coordinator Marty and her husband, Jim, have called North Carolina home for the past 4 years. Most of her adult life was spent in Ohio living in Columbus, Kettering and Cincinnati. Four years were spent in Indiana while she attended college at Indiana University earning a BS in Recreation and Park Administration. Marty’s interest in working with Seniors started in the early 1990s when she was given the opportunity to work for the City of Miamisburg in the Senior Center. She quickly realized that Seniors know how to have fun! She has worked for two other Centers in Centerville and Cincinnati. Marty loves her job in Charlotte and especially the role she plays with Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Games, hosting the Silver Arts: Visual, Literary and Heritage Arts competition at Tyvola Senior Center.
Marty Garges
Michelle Hitselberger - Ambassardor Coordinator Michelle Hitselberger, Executive Director Shepherd’s Center South and co-founder of Leisure University & Travel joined Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Games Board 2010. She has been been an advocate and supporter of senior adults in Mecklenburg County and surrounding communities for the past 24 years. Support for Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Games and Silver Arts began when she had Ambassadors come to speak and “cheer” on the seniors in her organization while Director of Senior Adult and Community Recreation Programs at Matthews United Methodist Church, Matthews, NC. Having worked with senior adults organizations within non-profit, for profit and government agencies over the past 24 years, her passion is to provide quality programs and empower seniors to stay active. With a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Mgt she has a vision to see all senior groups educated in the fun, fitness and cultural opportunities Senior Games has to offer. Michelle is currently the Ambassador Coordinator, scheduling speakers and programs in the community to promote CMSG.
Michelle Hitselberger
Ashley Gang - Summit Place of Southpark Ashley the Director of Sales and Marketing with Summit Place of SouthPark has been a Board Member of CMSG since September of 2007. Ashley became aware at a young age that working with our senior population is what she was destined to do. Ashley started out as an activity assistant, then moved on to be a social worker and has since been involved in the Sales and Admission side of senior living. Ashley has been in the senior industry for 13 years now and states that because of the wonderful relationship and friendship she had with her "Gram" she is right where she is supposed to be professionally. Ashley thoroughly enjoys working every day with new and current families/residents and takes pride in knowing that Summit Place of SouthPark is an honest community that is providing quality services.
Ashley Gang
Denise Weber - Humana
Jennifer Phillips - Atria MerryWood Jennifer Phillips has been working with Mecklenburg County Senior Games for over six years, with three of those years as a Board Member. She comes to the board with a background in retirement living and senior center management. Currently, she works for Atria Merrywood and holds her North Carolina Assisted Living Administrator's License. Jennifer has a love for seniors and has dedicated her career to this population, begining as a Social Work in a nursing home environment and then earning her Master's degree in Gerontology. She is proud to serve on the Board for Senior Games and loves opportunties to be an advocate for older adults. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys practicing yoga, spending time with her two dogs, and traveling to do volunteer work in third world countries.
Bettie Faulk - Hospitality and Events Bettie has been involved with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Games since it’s beginnings, first by taking seniors to the events and volunteering with the games and later as a participant herself. She is a Second Generation participant. Bettie has been a valued participant in many events, most notably by being a member of our cheerleading squad, who act a ambassadors for the games.Bettie also serves on the Board of Directors and chairs the Hospitality team. Bettie retired from the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services - Senior Citizens Nutrition Program - Pineville Site after 22 years of service.
Karen has an Associates degree in Recreation from CentralPiedmontCommunity College. She also has a certificate in Gerontology Studies. Karen is currently a Social Services Program Supervisor for the Mecklenburg Senior Citizens Program, and has 23 years of experience in this area. In 1996 Karen was recognized by the Charlotte Chamber for her outstanding job performance with older adults. She was awarded the Mecklenburg County Employee of the Year. In 2007 she has been nominated again for the same award. She is also a pioneer with Senior Games. In 1982 under the direction North Carolina Division of Aging, Karen helped develop the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Sr. Games program. She has also served on the Charlotte - Mecklenburg Senior Games Board of Director for over 12 years.
Karen Hefner
Kate Wheeler - YMCA (Coordinating Agency) Kate has been on the CMSG Board of Directors for 2 years. She is currently the Wellness Experience Director at the Harris YMCA. Part of her job is to head up the Active Older Adult activities. Kate has a BS degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in Health Promotion and Wellness as well as in Sports Management. Kate says, "I love all sports and think this is a great way to connect our seniors with games they enjoy."
Kate Wheeler - YMCA (Coordinating Agency)
John Anderson - Cornelius Park and Recreation (Coordinating Agency)
Jason Peterson - Matthews Park and Recreation (Coordinating Agency) Jason has been on the CMSG Board of Directors for 2 years. He is currently the Athletic Program Coordinator for the Town of Matthews Parks, Recreation and Resource Department. He has been with the department for 5 years. Jason has a BS degree from UNC Greensboro in Recreation Management. Jason is also the chair of the Athletic Director Committee for North Carolina.
Jason Petersen
Jennifer Honaker - Pineville Park and Recreation (Coordinating Agency) Jennifer Honaker serves as the Athletic Coordinator for the Town of Pineville Parks and Recreation. She previously served as the Local Coordinator for the Gaston County Senior Games and was a founding member of the games in Gaston County. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Queens University of Charlotte in Communications in 2006. Jennifer played on the softball team at Queens for 4 years and during her tenure at Queens they won the regular season, Conference Tournament and made their first ever NCAA appearance. She also Received her Master of Science from Middle Tennessee State University in Sport Management in 2007.
Jennifer Honaker
Lola Massad - Mecklenburg County Park & Rec (Coordinating Agency)
Lola has been involved with Senior Games through her work with Mecklenburg County
Park and Recreation Department as a sponsoring agency for over a decade and now serves as the
department’s representative on the Senior Games Board. She oversees the Park and Recreation’s
Community and Recreation Center Services Division which includes all the Recreation Centers
and Fitness Centers. Lola leads the department’s commitment to providing senior citizens
opportunities for a variety of programs, services and amenities. She has served the county since
1983 in many capacities in the park and recreation department. Lola is a Charlotte native and a
graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill where she played collegiate softball. Lola enjoys all sports, hiking,
biking, and table tennis and just about anything outdoors.
Lola Massad
Matt Wagner - Levine Jewish Community Center (Coordinating Agency)
Matt Wagner, USPTA P1 Professional, has been a Director of Tennis in Charlotte, NC (5 years), Atlanta, GA (3 years), Head Tennis Professional in Delray Beach, Florida (1 year), Director of Junior Tennis at clubs in Aurora, IL (2 years) and Ypsilanti, MI (2 years), and a teaching professional for over 17 years. He has worked with children from the ages of 3 years and up, including numerous High Performance athletes. His previous programs groomed players from the Pee Wee Tennis level up through Nationally Ranked players and several of his students have gone on to play NCAA Division I tennis, and a few have earned points on the ATP and WTA Tour.
His adult teams have several city/league championship titles in Charlotte (2), Michigan (2) and Georgia (7), 2 women's USTA 3.5 sectional championship teams, and one 5.0 National qualifying team, along with numerous district championship teams from Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, and Florida.
Matt has spoken at several USPTA conventions and various state professional symposiums on topics ranging from tennis conditioning for junior athletes, the modern game of doubles, business endeavors for the independent professional, managing tennis centers on a tight budget, formulating business models for tennis, and adult recreational tennis.
Matt Wagner
Robert Burns - Historian Robert started in Senior Games 20 years ago, with emphasis on the four B’s; Badminton, Biking, Bowling and Bocce; but also likes croquet, shuffleboard, swimming and entered photos in the SilverArts portion. Robert has been an active member of the Board of Directors and serves as a great representative for the local games, Robert can usually be found at every event showing his true dedication to the games.
Robert Burns
Non Voting Members
Preston Buckman - Athletics (Mecklenburg Park and Rec) Preston Buckman is originally from Red Creek, NY, about an hour north of Syracuse on Lake Ontario. Preston attended SUNY Brockport and earned his Business Management and Marketing Degrees as well as a Sports Management Degree. He moved to Charlotte in the summer of 2006 after graduating. Preston then worked at Harris YMCA in the athletic department running the youth and adult leagues until joining Park and Recreation in 2008. In addition to his responsibilities with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Games, Preston oversees the public tennis courts and all race events for Park and Recreation.
Lori Saylor - Volunteer Coordinator (Mecklenburg Park and Rec) Lori Saylor is the Volunteer Service Coordinator for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. She was born at the Bethesda Naval hospital when her father was stationed at the Pentagon. The most interesting assignment for her family was the three years spent in Turkey. She went to High School in Raleigh NC and attended UNC G graduating with a double major in Early Childhood Education and Psychology with a Minor in English Literature. She began her work career with Ivey’s Department store where she worked as a Buyer for 17 years before coming to the Belk Department Store where she continued her career as a buyer for 7 years. She came to Park and Recreation working in the Therapeutic Recreation Division for a year during which time she completed her course work for her Masters of Education in Special Education (Severe/profound) at UNC Charlotte. She took a full time position with the Department in 1998 as the Resource Development Coordinator. Her position changed to Volunteer Services Coordinator several years later. She has built the volunteer department from nothing to averaging over 16,000 volunteers a year. She was the 2010 recipient of the Governors’ Medallion Award in the Volunteer Coordinator category. She serves on the Hands on Charlotte, Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Center, MAVA (Metrolina Association of Volunteer Administrators) and RSVP (Retired and Seniors Volunteer Program) boards. She is an animal lover spending most of her free time saving animals and penning the S.A.V.E. (Saving Animals Via Emails) emails. She is the proud “Parent” of her Boys; Prince and Bruno (two vivacious Dalmatians) and her Precious Kitties: Stinker, Sissy and Gracie.
Crystal Long - Mecklenburg County Park and Rec Crystal Long is currently a Recreation Specialist for Senior Programs with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. She has been with the county for over 6 years and took on her current responsibilities August 2011. Graduating with a degree in Leisure Services and Tourism Management from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, she has been in the industry for over 20 years. In August 2008 she completed a Masters Program in Philanthropy and Development at St. Mary’s University Winona. She loves her current position because it allows her the opportunity to work with those that truly love to “Recreate all Year” and as retirees…have the time to do so. Crystal enjoys taking the MeckSeniors on day trips, providing them with monthly workshops and is in the process of planning a fun and exciting Senior Summer Camp. She hopes to encourage more participation in the Senior Games and to travel with a group to Raleigh as they win Gold!
Crystal Long
Dahn Jenkins - Levine Senior Center Director (Coordinating Agency)
Heather Shrewsbury - Webmaster Heather has been involved with Senior Games for about 4 years. She works for the Department of Social Services Senior Citizens Nutrition Program. Heather started with Senior Games by providing administrative support as needed with the Department of Social Services. Heather enjoys working with Senior Games as the webmaster and photographer.
In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time with her husband, Charles and playing with her son, Jason.
