Our Staff

The people behind Compassion Care Center.

The team at Compassion Care Center is dedicated to serving our community with compassion, respect, and genuine care. Every person who walks through our doors is welcomed and valued.

Jennifer Hemric

Jennifer Hemric

Executive Director

Jennifer Hemric serves as the Executive Director of Compassion Care Center, where she leads the ministry behind the scenes, seeking God’s will and vision for the center and faithfully pursuing His call to advance His Kingdom.

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Jennifer has served in this role for more than 18 years, after first volunteering at the center for a year. She holds an AAS in Accounting and a BA in Elementary Education, bringing a unique blend of leadership, education, and practical experience to her role.

What Jennifer loves most about serving at Compassion Care Center is getting to know the amazing women who walk through the doors. She considers it a privilege to come alongside each woman, hear her story, and help her recognize that she is not alone.

Outside of work, Jennifer loves spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She enjoys traveling and exploring new places and is also a co-owner of Alpha and Omega Corn Maze, where she enjoys creating memorable experiences for families in the community.

Jennifer wants every woman who comes to Compassion Care Center to know that she is enough and that she is made in the image of God. She hopes each client leaves knowing, “You can do this.” Her heart is to come alongside women with compassion and encouragement, helping them reach their goals and dreams while reminding them of the value and purpose God has given them.

Stevie Johnson

Stevie Johnson

Assistant Director

Stevie Johnson serves as the Assistant Director at Compassion Care Center; overseeing donor relations, bill pay, fundraising, events, and client relations.

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Before joining Compassion Care Center, she owned a boutique and managed its marketing. With her time as a Boutique owner and her BS in Elementary Education and History, Stevie brings experience in education, business, marketing, and relationship-building. She has served in pregnancy resource ministry since 2019.

What Stevie loves most is sharing the story of Compassion Care Center with donors and the community—bragging on the work God is doing through the ministry and helping others discover how they can get involved through giving, volunteering, prayer, and more.

Outside of work, Stevie is a coach’s wife and mom of four boys. She loves spending time with her family, doing all things outdoors, and indulging in cookies with milk.

Stevie is naturally inquisitive and genuinely loves getting to know people and their stories. Don’t be surprised if she asks lots of questions—it’s her way of making sure clients feel known, valued, and cared for. She is grateful to be part of what God is doing through Compassion Care Center and to invite others to be part of it too.

Kayla Shealy

Kayla Shealy

Client Services Director | Certified Lactation Counselor

Kayla serves as Client Services Director and Certified Lactation Counselor, supporting clients through shopping appointments in the boutique, enrollment in the JEWYL program, follow-ups, discipleship, and breastfeeding education.

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She also teaches breastfeeding classes and provides personalized lactation assessments and support.

She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2017 and later embraced her calling into motherhood with the birth of her daughter in 2021. Through her own breastfeeding journey, she discovered a passion for helping other mothers navigate challenges with confidence and care. She became a Certified Lactation Counselor in 2024 and also holds CNA and CPR certifications.

Kayla has served with Compassion Care Center for 4 years, beginning as a volunteer in 2018 before joining staff in 2022. She loves walking alongside clients through pregnancy and postpartum, building relationships, and watching both moms and babies grow and thrive over time.

In her free time, she enjoys being with her family, reading, gardening, and a good cup of coffee. She also finds joy in restoration and transformation—seeing something once worn or overlooked become beautiful again.

Kayla wants clients to know: You are loved, you are known, and you were made for such a time as this.

Cenia Ramirez

Cenia Ramirez

Client Services

Cenia provides compassionate support and guidance to women and families by connecting them with pregnancy resources and practical assistance.

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She helps clients navigate available services, enroll in parenting classes, coordinate appointments, and shop in the boutique for baby and maternity items in a welcoming, judgment-free environment.

She has 6 years of experience in client services and working with families and children in education settings. She also brings training in crisis management, human behavior, first aid, as well as HIPAA, OSHA, and Preborn training. Cenia is a mom of two, which deepens her understanding and compassion for the families she serves.

What she loves most about her work is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference during an important season of life. She finds joy in offering hope, encouragement, and practical support, and in seeing clients feel seen, valued, and supported.

Outside of work, Cenia enjoys spending time with her family, going on walks, reading, and cooking. She loves exploring different culinary traditions and learning new recipes.

Cenia is committed to providing compassionate, nonjudgmental care and wants every client to know they are welcomed and cared for from the moment they walk in.

Sarah Pina

Sarah Pina

Client Services, Peer Counselor

Sarah Pina is a Peer Counselor at Compassion Care Center with a heart for walking alongside women through difficult and uncertain seasons.

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Her goal is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where every client feels heard, seen, loved, and supported. Whether someone is facing addiction, pregnancy loss, abortion, teenage pregnancy, motherhood, or another life challenge, Sarah wants each woman to know that she is not alone, that there is hope, and that it is never too late for a new beginning.

As a mother who has experienced teenage pregnancy and difficult seasons of her own, Sarah understands that life does not always go according to plan. Her passion for listening, encouraging, and helping women has been part of her life for many years. She loves helping clients take practical steps toward a better future, whether that means finding resources, pursuing a GED, looking for employment, creating a resume, healing from past experiences, or simply having someone who will listen.

Sarah’s faith in God is at the heart of how she serves. She considers it a privilege to meet women where they are and encourage them as they discover their worth, recognize their strengths, and move toward the future God has for them. One of her greatest joys is watching someone go from feeling defeated and unsure to finding hope, confidence, and the courage to thrive.

Outside of Compassion Care Center, Sarah’s greatest joy is being a mom. She is spontaneous, adventurous, loves people, and is always willing to try something new—including jumping out of an airplane! She describes herself as an open book and someone who is always ready to jump in and help.

What Sarah wants every client to know: You don’t have to have everything figured out or walk through your struggles alone. Sarah is here to listen without judgment, offer support, connect you with resources, and remind you that it’s never too late to begin again.

Katie Pendry

Katie Pendry

Special Projects Director

Katie Pendry serves as the Special Projects Director at Compassion Care Center, where she works in social media, marketing, event planning, and creating spaces that feel welcoming, comfortable, and inviting.

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With an AAS in Interior Design and a passion for design that began in childhood, Katie has been volunteering and working in design since 2017.

What Katie loves most about her role is finding creative ways to reach women and families through social media and marketing while helping create an environment where everyone feels welcomed and cared for. She wants every person who encounters Compassion Care Center, whether online or in person, to know that they are not alone, that they matter, and that there are people who genuinely care about them and want to help.

Outside of work, Katie enjoys traveling and spending time at the beach with her family. She loves a good before-and-after project, getting lost in a good book, and finding creative ways to make spaces and experiences beautiful and meaningful.

Katie is passionate about using creativity to connect people with compassionate care and creating spaces where women and families feel comfortable, valued, and welcome.

Our Volunteers

Behind our staff is a dedicated team of volunteers who give their time and talents to serve families in need. From helping in the boutique to assisting with classes and organizing donations, our volunteers are the backbone of everything we do.

Interested in joining our team? Learn how to get involved.