Henson, Orndoff to Lead NCAJ in 2025-26

New Slate of Executive Committee Officers, Board of Governors Members Elected

Carma Henson, a partner in the Raleigh firm Henson Fuerst, will lead the North Carolina Advocates for Justice as its president for 2025-26, and Jason Orndoff of Orndoff Law Firm in Hickory, will serve as president-elect.

NCAJ members in attendance at the group’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 19 in Charlotte approved Henson and Orndoff along with the slate of Executive Committee and Board of Governors nominees to lead the organization for 2025-26. Terms of service begin July 1 to coincide with NCAJ’s fiscal year.

The leadership slate had been previously approved by the NCAJ Board of Governors in April. The Board of Governors includes two new members, Lindsey Granados of Cary and Chris Heaney of Raleigh. The Executive Committee includes one new member, Drew Culler, and one rejoining member, John McCabe.

The 2025-26 Executive Committee is:

• Carma Henson, Raleigh – President
• Jason Orndoff, Hickory – President-elect
• Kevin Bunn, Cary – Immediate Past President
• Drew Culler, Durham – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Vice President
• Lauren Newton, Charlotte – Education Vice President
• Stewart Poisson, Wilmington – Legal Affairs Vice President
• Anna Pishko Kalarites, Raleigh – Legislative Vice President
• Sheila Chavis, Raleigh – Membership Vice President
• John McCabe, Cary – Past President Appointed by the President
• Kristen Dewar, Concord – At-Large
• Jon Moore, Charlotte – PAC Chair

Members of the Board of Governors Class of 2027, which will complete its two-year term in 2027 are:

• Kristen Beightol, Raleigh
• Michele Cybulski, Greensboro
• Lindsey Granados, Cary (This is her first year of service on the NCAJ BOG.)
• Scott Harris, Raleigh
• JK Moser, Winston-Salem
• Paige Pahlke, Charlotte
• David Sherlin, Raleigh
• Brad Smith, Charlotte
• Pat Wallace, Raleigh
• Jeremy Wilson, Wilmington
• Chris Heaney, Raleigh (He fills the unexpired term of Drew Culler. This is his first year of service on the NCAJ BOG.)

AAJ Delegates approved this year are:

• John McCabe, Cary – AAJ State Delegate
• Karonnie Truzy, Greensboro – AAJ Minority Delegate