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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
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.
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.


Rev. Melissa Cooper-Retreat and Faith Formation Coordinator Melissa is a gradute of Boston University School of Theology with a Master of Theological Studies degree with a concentration in Ministry in Church and Society. She is a Commissioned United Methodist Deacon from the Memphis Annual Conference. She and her husband Will Cooper are living in Oriental. She will work with faith formation, worship, and program leadership for the summer program and will work directly with local churches in planning retreat experiences.

John Delamar - Sailing Coordinator John Delamar was born and raised in Pamlico County. He has been facinated with the water since he was a small child. John as spent countless days exploring the Neuse River, Pamlico Sound, and it's surrounding areas, searching for fish, and enjoying th eunique environment which he calls home. After five years years at UNCW and about ten thousand hours of documented surfing time, John worked as a dock master at Bald Head Island Marine, owned a small construction business, and spent many hot summers at a local boatyard. John was an LIT at Don Lee Center in 1997 and could have never guessed that one day he would ebe back in a leadership role at Don Lee. BUT, here he is, striving to make the Don Lee sailing program a legend...or at least, really cool.

Jason Haines -Head Chef Jason Haines, born in New Bern, North Carolina has been our Executive Chef here at Camp Don Lee since the spring of 2009. He has brought his love of the culinary arts to us along with his impressive skills in food preparation of proteins and local seafood. He attended Carteret Community College and graduated with a degree in the Culinary Arts. He has participated in several competitions, Carteret Community College Bouillabaisse Competition, the Carteret Community College Shellfish Exposition, and the Havelock Chili Competition. Jason is a firm believer in supporting local produce and fisheries and uses them in an array of culinary masterpieces. He is the loving husband of Alexis Ireland, and the proud father of two beautiful little girls. In his off time he enjoys fresh water fishing and game hunting.

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.

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

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.





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.

John Delamar - Sailing Coordinator