Staff & Leadership

Karen Parker, President & Chief Executive Officer 

Karen Parker is the President & CEO of Safe Alliance and has served for the past 32 years with governmental and societal justice organizations in North Carolina, Georgia and Texas. In January, Karen announced she was stepping down as President & CEO and her last day would be June 30, 2023.

In 2009, she was appointed by Governor Beverly Perdue to chair the North Carolina Domestic Violence Commission. She is also a past board co-chair of the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Currently, Karen is Chair of The Umbrella Center Steering Committee and serves on the board of Race Matters for Juvenile Justice. In 2017, she was awarded the Peter Gilcrest Lifetime Achievement award from the Crime Victim's Coalition. In 2019, Karen was honored for her equity and diversity work when she was recognized by Leading on Opportunity as an Inaugural Opportunity Champion and by the Charlotte Association of Fundraising Professionals as Outstanding Champion of Diversity. Most recently, in 2022, Karen was presented the Dogwood Award from Attorney General Josh Stein in recognition of her work to make communities safer, strong and healthier. 



Laura Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer & Legal Counsel

Laura Stone Lawrence, is the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for Safe Alliance. Laura joined Safe Alliance in 2011 and oversees all domestic violence and sexual assault programs. As announced in January, Laura will become Safe Alliance's President & CEO on July 1, 2023.

She was deeply involved in planning for and opening Mecklenburg County's pre-cursor family justice center, the Survivor Resource Center. Laura also serves on the Family Justice Center Steering Committee and The Umbrella Center Capital Campaign Committee which are planning for and raising $35M for Mecklenburg County's full service family justice center, The Umbrella Center.

She is an active member of the Mecklenburg County Bar and has served on the Judicial Nominating Committee and the Ayscue Nominating Committee. Before entering the non-profit world, Laura had a lengthy career at the international insurance company, Royal & SunAlliance, where she held numerous roles including US General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Managing Attorney. Laura received her law degree from The Dickinson School of Law, Pennsylvania State University and interned for The Honorable Sylvia Rambo, US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She is admitted to practice law in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. She has been named 40 Under 40 by the Business Journal and is serving on Women Executive's WINGS Board.
 
 
     
Victoria Levy

       Chief Financial Officer     
  victoria.levy@safealliance.org 
   



              

 Cori Goldstein, LCSW
  Deputy Chief Operating Officer
    cori.goldstein@safealliance.org

   

             

​​​​​​Suzanne Canali
     Director of Legal Advocacy   
             suzi.canali@safealliance.org 
         
   


            

Jamie Sellers
   Director of Victim Assistance Court Program & Hotline
             jamie.sellers@safealliance.org       
  
                                                                                    
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Tim Williams 
  Director of Shelter Services   
                tim.williams@safealliance.org 
             
 










                                     


 
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    Sydney Hammond
       Deputy Chief Development Officer
       sydney.hammond@safealliance.org

       
 
                

     Sarah-Kate Pease
Director of Corporate & Community Engagement
          sarahkate.pease@safealliance.org  

     

               

LeeAnne Thompson-Forte
  Director of STRC/Lake Norman Services 
      leeane.thompsonforte@safealliance.org 
   

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     Irene Massey
  Survivor Resource Center Manager 
                      irene.massey@safealliance.org              

In an emergency please dial 911

Call the Greater Charlotte Hope Line 24/7 for info on parenting, domestic violence and sexual assault 980.771.4673.

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