ROC Staff
Darren Ash
Executive Director
Darren serves as full-time Executive Director at no salary. His main role is to connect student participants to the construction industry in the form of mentorships, apprenticeships and permanent job placement. He was one of three founding partners of Apartment Realty Advisors (ARA), the largest private multifamily investment sales company in the U.S. until it was purchased by a publicly traded firm. He also founded and ran Charlotte Family Housing (CFH) for seven years, now the largest shelter to rapid rehousing agency in North Carolina. After CFH, he founded and ran Common Wealth Charlotte (CWC), a trauma-informed financial education and emergency loan program for low-wage workers. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1982 with a Masters of Tax and CPA designation.
Email Darren at dash@roccharlotte.org
Margaret Thornton
Associate Director
Margaret serves full time for The ROC as Associate Director. Before The ROC, Margaret worked at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) under Carl Perkins Federal Program as a Career and Technical Education Coordinator. Prior to working at CPCC, Margaret owned her own small design and construction company. Margaret’s nickname is “Mother ROC”!
Email Margaret at mthornton@roccharlotte.org
Tom Derthick
Lead Instructor
Tom Derthick has been a Carpentry/Construction Management Instructor at Central Piedmont Community College since 2007. This summer (2024) he is moving to ROC Charlotte as Lead Instructor. He’s known the value of the trades and the doors they can open since his first summer job.
Email Tom at tderthick@roccharlotte.org
Hailey Brown
Career Pathway Coordinator
ROC College
Hailey Brown serves The ROC by developing student career plans and providing student support. Prior to joining the ROC, Hailey was a CMS middle school teacher, and has always had a passion for creative, hands-on learning. Hailey holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Florida State University in Education.
Email Hailey at hbrown@roccharlotte.org
Jane Jacobs
Career Pathway Coordinator, ROC Direct
Julius L. Chambers High School
Garinger High School
Jane Jacobs serves The ROC by developing student career plans and providing student support. Prior to joining The ROC, Jane was a Student Success Navigator at Central Piedmont Community College; helping students through their enrollment process and connecting them to services and resources. Jane holds a Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and a Masters degree from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Email Jane at jjacobs@roccharlotte.org
Makenzie Ward
Career Pathway Coordinator, ROC Direct
West Mecklenburg High School
Makenzie serves The ROC by developing student career plans and providing student support. Prior to joining The ROC, Makenzie was a CMS middle school teacher and student case manager, pushing students to be the best versions of themselves. Makenzie holds a Bachelor’s degree from Winston Salem State University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree from Fayetteville State University.
Email Makenzie at mward@roccharlotte.org
Vivian Scharager
Career Pathway Coordinator, ROC Direct
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology
Harding University High School
West Charlotte High School
Vivian Scharager serves The ROC by developing student career plans and providing student support. Prior to joining the ROC, Vivian worked for the Environmental Health & Safety department at Central Piedmont Community College. She has a strong background in facilities management, operations, and project coordination. Vivian is a strong advocate for multicultural exchanges and is deeply committed to showing young people that there is a whole World out there to explore.
Email Vivian at vscharager@roccharlotte.org