Employment > Meet Our Staff
Year Round Staff At Don Lee Center
Rev. John A. Farmer - Center Director
Rev. John a. Farmer has been the Director of Don Lee since 1977. He is an ordained United Methodist Clergy person and a Certified Camping Professional by the American Camping Association. He is married to the Rev. Penny Dollar Farmer who pastors the Alliance and Arapahoe UMC near the Center. Together they have two daughters, Elizabeth and Grace. John is also a Certified Sailing Instructor Trainer by the U.S. Sailing Association. In addition to giving leadership and direction to Don Lee, he is the past Chairperson of |
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| the National United Methodist Camp And Retreat Leaders Committee for the General United Methodist Church. John continues to create an environment of trust and challenge where campers can grow in relationship to themselves, to others, to all of creation, and to God. |
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Joe Bliss - Maintenance Coordinator
Joe Bliss joined the Don Lee Center as our Maintenance Coordinator in October of 2000. He has two sons, Patrick and Spencer. Joe lives on Dawson Creek in Arapahoe, and went to college for Business and Mathematics. He has worked for 15 years in commercial and residential construction, spent 16 years in the military, and was a cross-country truck driver for 10 years. He has spent a lot of his time here maintaining and improving the grounds and facilities and has many more ideas for the future! Joe also is the licensed operator for our Waste Water |
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Treatment Plant and the Ground Water Operations. He leads a maintenance staff that varies in size depending on the season. Joe is also active in his local church in Oriental, sings in the Adult Choral Group for the community, and from time to time performs with the local community theater group. He is a sailor who enjoys the Oriental sailing community's regatta series.
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Darlene Wright - Food Service Coordinator
Fried Chicken and homemade cinnamon rolls are special treat whenever Darlene is in the kitchen. Darlene began working in the summers in 1978 for Don Lee and now she is with us full time year around to ensure an outstanding home style meal experience for every guest. She serves over 60,000 meals each year to guest old and young alike. When people are happy with their food Darlene is happy. Darlene is married to Terry Wright and they have no children, but she keeps up with a great number of nephews and Cousins. |
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Missy Faist - Office Manager
Missy is originally from New Jersey but moved to Pamlico County in 1990. Before joining us at Don Lee Center in the spring of 2006, Missy was the secretary at the United Methodist Church in Oriental. Missy and her husband, Jene, have three children, Ryan, Ashley, and Shelby, and a cat and dog. Missy enjoys crafts, sewing, and reading. |
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Perry Cheatham - Sailing Program Coordinator |
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Perry, a life long sailor, grew up in Henderson, NC where he spent much of his childhood sailing and boating on Kerr Lake. His parents, avid Hampton One Design racers, spent most weekends in the summer traveling with the kids to every regatta within a days drive, including several trips to the lower Neuse River and Oriental each year. As Perry grew older, his love for the water and particularly the Neuse deepened. Finally in 2002 he and his wife Susan made Pamlico County their home.
Perry joined the Don Lee family in January 2007 after completing a 6 month cruise of the Bahamas and Southeast US on his 38 foot cutter “Grace”. He most enjoys sharing his love of the water with the next generation of young sailors.
Perry is a graduate of Brown University, holds a US Coast Guard OUPV license, and is a US Sailing certified Small Boat Instructor. |
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Dawn Brut - School Program Coordinator
Dawn is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. She received a degree in Biology, Art, and Secondary Education from Thiel College in Greenville, PA. After being a long time camper and staff member at a camp in PA, Dawn decided to join us at Don Lee Center in the Fall of 2004. She started as a coastal staff member and has been our School Programs Coordinator since the Fall of 2005. Dawn loves living in North Carolina and plans on staying for a while. |
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David Weber, Jr.-
Retreat Ministries Coordinator
David was born in East Aurora, NY. He received a BS degree in Recreation from Grand Canyon University. David has lived in 9 different states acrossed our great nation,and moved to North Carolina in the Spring of 2006. He has had a passion for the Camping and Retreat Ministries since his fisrt camping experience when he was in 3rd grade. David has previously worked as a coastal staff member in the Fall of 2000 and met his wife Jen (Turner) here at Don Lee. Jen and David have a three wonderful children; Loralei, Freddy, and Harleigh. David says that North Carolina feels like home and he truely loves the opportunity to work at Don Lee Center. |
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