Meet The Board

President

Mandy Freeland

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I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Statistics, with a minor in Music Therapy, from Florida State University in 2006. After graduating, I dedicated my career to serving others by working in child welfare, domestic violence prevention, food insecurity, and education through roles at the university, local school systems, nonprofit organizations, and county government.

During my years as a social worker and program coordinator, I often found myself in the kitchen, experimenting with recipes and sharing them with friends and colleagues. This passion inspired me to open HomeSliced Bakery in Conover in 2020 as a side hustle. After its success, I left social work in 2021 to focus fully on my bakery, family, and community service. In 2022, Conover Community Partners was founded alongside other business owners out of a deep love for living and working in the Conover community.

I am an active member of New Life ACC and volunteer as a board member with four additional local nonprofit organizations. I’ve been married to my husband for 18 years, and we have two wonderful sons. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, baking, cooking, running with my dog, crafting, fishing, hiking, biking, gardening, and making music.

Treasurer

Allan Perkins

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I am a proud native of Newton-Conover and a graduate of Newton-Conover High School. With over 20 years of experience in the food industry, I’ve built a career dedicated to creating welcoming spaces where people can gather and enjoy great food. As the owner and operator of 1877 Pub & Grub in downtown Conover, I am committed to offering a dining experience that reflects the charm and hospitality of our community.

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Outside of work, I am passionate about traveling and exploring new places, which often inspires fresh ideas for my business. I am also deeply invested in giving back to the community that has shaped me. Whether through supporting local initiatives or creating a space for neighbors to connect, I take pride in contributing to Conover's growth and vibrancy.

Vice President

Brad Seese

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Born in Baltimore, MD, I have called Catawba County, NC, home for over 45 years. I attended Appalachian State University, majoring in Political Science with a focus on Public Administration and a minor in Public Management.

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I am driven by stories of personal growth and inspired by creative problem solvers. My passion for positive change in our communities fuels my involvement with Conover Community Partners. One of my heroes is Mike Rowe, whose advocacy for vocational studies and blue-collar careers highlights the value of diverse paths to success alongside traditional higher education.

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With over 30 years in advanced textile manufacturing, I serve as the Vice President of Manufacturing at Clothing 2.0, proudly headquartered in Conover, NC. A self-proclaimed "Yarn Geek," I have a quirky passion for technical textiles.

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Outside of work, I am an avid motorsport and NASCAR fan, regularly attending races and celebrating the excitement of the track.

Secretary

Coreana Minton

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I’m Coreana Minton, I am originally from Massachusetts, but have called Conover, NC home for 28 years. I have been in the printing industry for over 35 years. I have worked in all aspects of printing from finishing, darkroom, graphic design, operating printing presses, to full color digital printers. I have been working for Strong Direct (formerly Prospect Vision) for almost 6 years and was promoted to Director of Operations/Digital Press Specialist in October 2024.
 

At Strong Direct, I lead a highly skilled, six-person team that handles high-volume direct mail production. We’ve grown tremendously—moving from outsourcing most of our jobs to now producing and mailing 99.9% of them in-house. We currently average nearly 400,000 pieces of mail each month, with a goal to consistently reach 500,000.
 

Outside of Strong Direct, I co-own Patriot Jerky with my husband, Mark. What started as a side hustle while we both worked full-time jobs has evolved into a thriving family-run business. We began with four flavors of jerky, making everything at night after work. Today, we’ve grown to seven flavors, provide jerky for four beef farms and two ostrich farms, and are stocked in over 100 convenience stores across the region. We manufacture our jerky at our own store in downtown Conover, NC, where we also have a retail shop.

Patriot Jerky is more than a business—it's a mission. We named it to promote patriotism, a value we believe has faded in today’s world. As a small business, we’re proud to give back to our community: supporting local first responders, military, veterans, schools, and families. Each year, we offer two $1,000 scholarships to local high school seniors, and we actively contribute to community fundraisers and events.

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On the personal side, I’ve been happily married to Mark for 14 years. Prior to Patriot Jerky, he worked in the furniture industry for over 30 years as a skilled upholsterer. We have two wonderful children, Kayla and CJ.

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When I’m not working, I enjoy hiking local trails, going to bootcamp classes at the YMCA, and spending quality time with family and friends. Whether it’s managing mail production, growing a small business, or serving the community—I believe in showing up, working hard, and encouraging others to do the same.

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