OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Robert Ferber, MD, President/Treasurer
Robert is a retired physician whose career has spanned private office practice, hospitalist work, and roles in hospital administration particularly focused on electronic medical records, quality, and innovation. As the father of an adult daughter with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Robert has long tried to envision a safe and supportive living situation that will promote the best life for her in the community. Robert knows that there are many other people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who would benefit from available and affordable housing that promotes both independence and community and is excited to work with IndependentWorks to help make such dreams a reality.
Mary Beth Bobek, PharmD, Vice-President/Secretary
Mary Beth received her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan afterwards founded the clinical pharmacy services at both the Cleveland Clinic and New Hanover Regional Medical Center. She later received her MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in entrepreneurship and innovation during that time she became the founding President of TransitionsFoundation-NC. This non-profit helps students with autism transition to community college in hopes of gaining employment. Her passion for autism services stems from her son and she knows with the right services they can flourish as adults and be productive members of society.
Joe Francis, Board Member
Joe recently retired after nearly 40 years with Verizon. He is the father of a young adult son, Shane, who is on the Autism Spectrum. He has been very involved in the Independent & Affordable housing initiative since moving to Wilmington in 2021 and is glad to have become a part of Independent Works. He feels a deep dedication to Shane and has worked with him and his peers since birth with PT/OT, the start of UNC Hemiplegia Constraint Camp in Chapel Hill, and UBC Youth Bowling in Durham for 10+ years. He enjoys fishing and recently completed an extensive home remodel with his partner Beth.
Mike Alberts, Board Member
Mike Alberts has recently retired after a 40-year career as a financial advisor. He and his wife Cathy have three children. Their eldest son Kyle (35) was born with Lowe Syndrome which is a rare genetic disease. Mike has been an advocate for those in the IDD community since Kyle’s birth serving on various boards and committees both in the nonprofit and in the community sectors. Notably he introduced TopSoccer, a program dedicated to providing soccer and exercise opportunities for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities in an inclusionary setting to the Cape Fear region. He managed TopSoccer for 18 seasons. Mike and Cathy have been actively working on ways of providing independent, permanent and affordable housing in an integrated community with an emphasis on those with IDD. They have attended workshops, visited housing communities across the state and are currently active in several ongoing housing and human service coalitions throughout NC.
Cheryl Powell, Board Member
Cheryl Powell is a passionate disability rights advocate and leader from Wilmington, NC, with over a decade of experience advancing equity and inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, she began her career as a Direct Support Professional with Easter Seals UCP before serving eight years on the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities, where she co-chaired the Lived Experience Network Speaks (LENS) advisory under Meet the Need NC. Cheryl has also contributed to statewide efforts through LAND, Work Together NC, and the New Hanover County Schools Exceptional Children Advisory Committee, bringing lived experience and collaboration to every project. Her leadership centers on equity, accessibility, and amplifying the voices of people with disabilities, and she finds joy at home with her husband, Billy, and their chihuahua, Annabelle.
Our Special Advisory Board
Shane Francis, Special Advisory Board
I desire to live independently someday with the help of Independent Works. I have a love of classic cars and classic rock music. I attend a day program at Coastal Enterprises where I’ve made lots of good friends. My hobbies include bowling, drawing, fishing, and basketball.
Jesaya Hargrove, Special Advisory Board
I am an AuDHDer and AuDHD advocate focused on supporting the autistic and disability communities. I serve as the Pender County Autism Society Support Group Leader and the Special Education PTO President for Pender County. I am passionate about advocacy and using my voice across multiple boards to support others. In my free time, I enjoy listening to audiobooks and spending time with my son.
Logan Mills, Special Advisory Board
I live with my mom and grandparents and would like to have a roommate and live on my own one day. I have a green cheek conure named Rocker and a Maltese dog named Vinny. I graduated from The ClemsonLIFE Program. My hobbies are I like to watch movies and sports and play video games and like to hang out with my friends.
Cheryl Powell, Special Advisory Board
Cheryl Powell is a disability policy advocate, educator, and organizer with roots in direct support and a passion for building power in the disability community. She serves as Associate Director of the LAND Policy Education Center and is a proud member of the Disability ACTION Network of NC (DAN NC), where she works to connect lived experience with legislative change. A self-advocate with over two decades in the IDD field, Cheryl has worked alongside people with disabilities at every level — from direct care to coalition leadership. She co-chairs the DD Consortium and serves on the New Hanover County Special Education Parent Teacher Association (NHC-SEPTA). Cheryl believes that real change happens when people closest to the issues are the table — not just a seat at it. She is honored to be part of the IndependentWorks community.
Ali Young, Special Advisory Board
Hi my name is Ann Alexander Young. I live in Wilmington, NC. I went to Coastal Carolina Life Program and graduated in 2019. I attended four years of college at Coastal, where I was a basketball equipment manager. I live on my own now. I worked at the Pine Valley Publix for five years and Bitty and Beaus for four years. My hobbies include making bracelets for people with epilepsy, having bracelet parties, and doing crafts at my summer camp. Also my favorite thing Coastal Carolina and my parents have taught me is to live independently.