Dayma Huston
Dayma Huston serves as Chair and President of Lump to Laughter, bringing visionary leadership, precision planning and boundless creativity to the organization’s mission.
Born in Puerto Rico, raised in New Jersey, and proudly calling Wilmington home since 1996, Dayma is the owner of Dia Mia Design, an event and wedding planning company she founded in 2002. Her professional expertise in event design, logistics, and execution—paired with a natural sense of order shaped by her military background—has elevated Lump to Laughter’s events, especially the annual Beauty of Hope Gala, to unforgettable experiences that inspire generosity and community support.
Dayma became involved with Lump to Laughter as a volunteer in 2013. Her dedication, organizational excellence, and heart for the mission quickly made her an invaluable asset. When she joined the Board, she brought not only her talent and creativity, but also a deep personal commitment to ensuring every event reflects the hope, dignity, and care Lump to Laughter provides to women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer.
She has a daughter, Amanda who recently graduated from Cornell. Dayma and her husband, Kip, together share a strong commitment to serving the community.
Nikki Simpson
Nikki Simpson serves as Co-Chair and Vice-President of Lump to Laughter Board of Directors and has a heart for encouragement and a deep personal understanding of the cancer journey. A Realtor with RE/MAX in Wilmington, Nikki is known for her dedication to people, her strong community connections, and her ability to walk alongside others during life’s most important transitions.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, Nikki's experience fuels her passion for supporting women and families facing similar challenges. Her journey gives her a unique perspective and compassionate voice on the board, helping ensure our programs truly meet the emotional, practical and financial needs of those in treatment.
Nikki is the proud mother of one daughter, Sidney, and shares her life with her partner, Butch Saunders. Through both her professional network and personal testimony, she is a powerful advocate for Lump to Laughter’s mission across the Wilmington community. Her resilience, positivity, and commitment to serving others make her an invaluable part of the organization’s leadership.
Courtney Last
Courtney Last is a passionate ambassador for the organization throughout the community.
Originally from Northern Virginia, Courtney moved to Wilmington in 2005 to attend UNCW and quickly fell in love with both the city and her next-door neighbor, Michael Last, whom she married in 2012. Together they are raising three energetic children—Cameron, Addison, and Tully—who keep life joyful and full.
Courtney’s connection to Lump to Laughter is deeply personal. After losing her beloved mother to a long battle with breast cancer in 2019, she sought a way to bring light to others walking a similar path. She reached out to Connie Hill and immediately found comfort and purpose in Lump to Laughter’s mission. By 2020, she was already hard at work helping plan the Beauty of Hope Gala, and she has been “all in” ever since. ALL-IN!
Her heart for families facing cancer, combined with her enthusiasm, reliability, and community spirit, make Courtney an invaluable member of the board.
Courtney Last
Courtney Last moved to Wilmington from Northern Virginia to attend UNCW in 2005. She quickly fell in love with Wilmington and her next door neighbor, Michael Last, who she later married in 2012. They have 3 beautiful children, Cameron (8), Addison (5) and Tully (2), that keep them on their toes. Courtney lost her beloved mother after a long battle with Breast Cancer in 2019. After that, Courtney found a sense of peace helping others going through similar obstacles. Courtney reached out to Connie Hill and quickly found comfort from being a part of Lump to Laughter and their mission. She hit the ground running helping with the 2020 Beauty of Hope Gala and is looking forward to planning many more successful fundraising events for Lump to Laughter.
Paul Guccione
Paul Guccione brings decades of executive leadership, operational excellence, and financial stewardship to the Lump to Laughter Board of Directors. A Kansas native, Paul spent over 20 years leading high-performing teams and organizations in California’s Bay Area before relocating to Wilmington in 2020.
He retired in 2025 after serving five years as CEO of Ascent Payment Solutions, where he was known for strategic vision, disciplined financial management, and a people-first leadership style. Now, Paul has turned his focus toward meaningful community impact through board service and local initiatives.
From his very first month on the board, Paul demonstrated his commitment to Lump to Laughter’s mission by actively securing donations for the annual Beauty of Hope Gala and enthusiastically representing the organization in the community. His collaborative approach, business acumen, and passion for service help strengthen Lump to Laughter’s long-term sustainability and expand its reach to women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer in our region.
Dayma Huston
Dayma Fuentes Huston was born in Puerto Rico, raised in New Jersey, but has called Wilmington her home since 1996. She is married to Kip Huston and has one daughter, Amanda. She is the owner of Dia Mia Design, an event planning company she started in 2002. Dayma became involved with Lump to Laughter as a volunteer in 2013. Her organization and planning skills as well as her military (order) experience have been invaluable to the organization's events and annual gala. We were delighted when she decided to join our board and being her creativity and event planning experience.
Laura C. Clark
Laura C. Clark brings extraordinary clinical expertise and compassionate advocacy to the Lump to Laughter Board of Directors. As an Oncology RN Navigator and Breast Clinic Program Coordinator at the Novant Zimmer Cancer Center, Laura works one-on-one with breast cancer patients every day—guiding them from diagnosis through treatment and beyond as a trusted advocate within the healthcare system.
Raised on the island of Maui in Lahaina, Laura earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. She spent more than 20 years serving as a registered nurse in Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio, before relocating to Wilmington to join NHRMC as an operating room RN. Specializing in breast oncology, she worked alongside numerous surgeons before stepping into her current navigator role in 2019.
Laura’s firsthand knowledge of the medical, emotional, and practical challenges patients face makes her an invaluable asset to Lump to Laughter’s mission. Her experience, insight, and heart for patients help ensure the organization’s programs truly meet the needs of women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer in our community.
Bonnie Hayden
Bonnie Melville is originally from Pittson, PA and settled in Wilmington, NC in the early 90’s. She has been a mortgage lender since 1998 and is currently with Tidewater Mortgage Services. (NMLSR# 450593). She has a daughter, Kayla and in 2020 married Paul Hayden and welcomed two additional daughters, Sophie and Isabelle. Bonnie became involved with Lump to Laughter because of a strong family history of breast cancer and believing in the mission of the ministry. We are excited to have this hard-working lady on our board. Bonnie has such a spirit of caring and giving which is a perfect fit for the ministry.
Caitlin Maupin
Caitlin Maupin brings compassion, dedication, and a heart for advocacy to our Board of Directors. Born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Caitlin relocated to Wilmington in 2021 to complete a lifelong goal of finishing her degree at UNCW, where she studied Criminology.
While at UNCW, she interned with the New Hanover District Attorney’s Office and now serves there as a legal assistant. In her role, Caitlin supports victims during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, priding herself on the care, patience, and empathy she brings to her work each day.
Breast and ovarian cancer awareness is deeply personal to Caitlin and her family. Her sister carries the BRCA2 genetic mutation and is a breast cancer survivor, giving Caitlin a meaningful connection to Lump to Laughter’s mission and the families it serves.
She is excited to bring her enthusiasm and dedication to the organization. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys spending time with friends, working crossword puzzles, cooking, and watching Seinfeld reruns.
Brian Nadeau
Bio coming soon
Nicole Jones brings compassion, faith, and professional expertise to her role on the Lump to Laughter Board of Directors. A survivor herself, Nicole serves with a deep personal understanding of the challenges women and families face during a cancer journey & a heartfelt desire to walk alongside them with encouragement & hope.
Originally from Columbia, Maryland, Nicole moved to Wilmington in the early 1990s and has built both her family and career here. She is the proud mother of four children—three daughters and one son—and brings more than 14 years of experience in marketing and project management, along with four years of office management experience. Nicole is currently a licensed North Carolina Realtor and works with OmniStar Financial, where her organizational skills and people-centered approach shine.
Her strong faith has been a guiding force throughout her life, especially during her cancer experience. Jeremiah 29:11 remains her anchor and reminder of God’s promise and purpose. Nicole’s caring heart, steady faith, and professional background make her a meaningful and impactful part of Lump to Laughter’s leadership.
Connie Hill is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Lump to Laughter, leading the organization with vision, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer in the Wilmington community.
A breast cancer survivor at age 34, Connie transformed her personal journey into a mission of hope for others. She is the author of From Lump to Laughter – The Story of Grace and has dedicated her life to ensuring no one walks the cancer journey alone.
Originally from Durham, North Carolina, Connie made the coast her home after graduating from UNCW with a BS in Marine Biology and a minor in Education. Her professional background includes teaching, real estate sales and marketing, and almost two decades of executive administrative leadership—experience that now fuels Lump to Laughter’s outreach, partnerships, and growth.
A working mother of two and married in 1997 to Flint, Connie’s gift for marketing, networking, and connecting people to purpose has become a cornerstone of the organization’s impact. Her passion to serve, love for people, and steadfast determination to bring light into difficult seasons are evident in every aspect of her leadership.
Melanie James serves as Program Director for Lump to Laughter and has been part of the organization’s story since its very beginning. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to walking alongside families facing breast and ovarian cancer with faith, compassion, and practical support.
Melanie’s career blends nonprofit leadership, business operations, and hands-on community service. She previously served as Executive Director of Heavenly Stock, a children’s clothing ministry supporting local families, and later held a leadership role with the Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM), advancing housing repair and community support initiatives.
Before transitioning into real estate sales, Melanie worked in property management as well as real estate and construction accounting, giving her valuable financial and operational insight. Today, she continues to serve clients in real estate with the same clarity, compassion, and real-world expertise that she brings to Lump to Laughter.
A devoted mother of two, Melanie is deeply family-oriented and finds purpose in serving others both personally and professionally—making her an integral part of the heart and leadership of L2L.