Joan DeSantis
2020 President. Joanie DeSantis was born and raised in upstate New York. She would say she grew up swimming with the fishes with her parents owning Cousins Fish Market in Albany, New York. Joanie has two Associate Degrees, one in Culinary Arts and the other in Hotel Restaurant Management. After vacationing in Oak Island for years, Joanie and her husband decided to move to Wilmington in 2007. Joanie is an Area Director of Sales for Aimbridge Hospitality, serving two hotels in Wilmington. Joanie and her husband, Scott, have two rock star daughters, Cameron and Taylor. Hospitality and making people happy is in Joanie’s blood. She says she lives by an awesome quote from Maya Angelou - “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Jane Dodd
2020 Vice-President. Jane Dodd is a life-long native of the area born in neighboring Burgaw. A graduate of Meredith College and a residential Realtor for over 25 years with Intracoastal Realty, her greatest joys in life are her two sons Haiden and Tyson. Being raised in a close family of faith and caring, her focus in life has always been to share her many blessings with others. Jane is excited to continue her support with Lump to Laughter by serving on the board of directors. It is a ministry that is very dear and close to her heart as she was blessed to be able to walk with the co-founder and her dearest friend, Connie, thru her journey. She looks forward to helping Lump to Laughter continue its amazing success in raising funds for breast cancer awareness and assistance.
Winfred McCoy
Winfred “Wendy” McCoy is an Eastern NC native from Cove City, NC. He is a graduate of UMO (University of Mount Olive) and Elon University. He has been a Mortgage Loan Officer for 34 year and is currently with Union Home Mortgage. Wendy is the father of three beautiful adult children (two sons and a daughter) with whom he enjoys spending quality time together, be it on the water, in the woods, or just rough housing; life is never a dull moment with the McCoy’s! A resident of Wilmington for 30 plus years, Wendy and Lump to Laughter’s Executive Director, Connie Hill’s friendship expands that time frame. Along with Lump to Laughter’s faith based foundations and values, he credits Connie’s infectious spirit and personality to be a driving influence to serve on the Board of Directors. Wendy feels it a privilege to be given the opportunity to support the organization and is eager to begin the journey!
Winfred McCoy
Winfred “Wendy” McCoy is an Eastern NC native from Cove City, NC. He is a graduate of UMO (University of Mount Olive) and Elon University. He has been a Mortgage Loan Officer for 34 year and is currently with Union Home Mortgage. Wendy is the father of three beautiful adult children (two sons and a daughter) with whom he enjoys spending quality time together, be it on the water, in the woods, or just rough housing; life is never a dull moment with the McCoy’s! A resident of Wilmington for 30 plus years, Wendy and Lump to Laughter’s Executive Director, Connie Hill’s friendship expands that time frame. Along with Lump to Laughter’s faith based foundations and values, he credits Connie’s infectious spirit and personality to be a driving influence to serve on the Board of Directors. Wendy feels it a privilege to be given the opportunity to support the organization and is eager to begin the journey!
Bonnie Melville
Bonnie Melville is originally from Pittson, PA and settled in Wilmington, NC in the early 90’s. She has been a mortgage lender with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage since 1998. (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.
Bonnie Melville
Bonnie Melville is originally from Pittson, PA and settled in Wilmington, NC in the early 90’s. She has been a mortgage lender with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage since 1998. (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.
Paul Hayden
Paul Hayden recently relocated to Wilmington from Fayetteville NC where he raised a family for 25 years. Paul is now married to fellow board member Bonnie Melville, and together they have 3 wonderful daughters: Sophie, Isabelle & Kayla. He graduated from Clemson University and started his first career in the US Army as a Field Artillery Officer. Following the military years he came to NC and worked in the Livestock industry raising pigs for a number of years until finding his way into the Real Estate industry. Paul now works for Wells Fargo as a Mortgage Loan Officer (NMLSR #1471761) since 2016. Through his wife Bonnie, Paul was introduced to Executive Director of Lump to Laughter, Connie Hill, and before he knew it he was volunteering for different events and fundraisers around Wilmington. Paul has always enjoyed the involvement of other civic organizations, meeting new faces, and being a part of a greater need. Lump to Laughter has been a saving grace for so many women of our community which inspired Paul to continue being part of something bigger and deserving of his time.
Nicole Jones moved to Wilmington, NC from Columbia, Maryland in the early 90s. She is the mother of four children, three girls and one boy. She has 14 years of Marketing and Project Management experience, as well as 4 years of Office Management Experience. Nicole is currently a licensed NC Realtor. She is thrilled to serve on the board of directors for Lump to Laughter, as she herself is a survivor. Her strong faith in God and God's plan for us all helped to guide her through that experience, as well as other obstacles in life. Jeremiah 29:11 is her go to scripture to remind her of God's perfect plan for good in all of our lives. Her experience and caring heart for others will be a true asset to the organization.
Connie Hill is a Wilmington, NC working mother of 2 and wife who overcame breast cancer when she was 34 years old. She is the Cofounder and Executive Director of Lump to Laughter and the author of “From Lump to Laughter-The Story of Grace.” Originally from Durham, NC she made the coast her home after graduating at UNCW with a BS in Marine Biology and a minor in Education. She has 2 years of teaching experience, 13 years of sales and marketing experience along with 11 years as an executive administrative assistant. Her strength in marketing and networking is an asset to the Lump to Laughter ministry. She has a passion to serve, a love of people as well as a strong determination to help others and it shows in everything she does.