Mimi Sabates Herbert – Executive Vice President/Business Development
Mimi Sabates Herbert is the Executive Vice President for Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe (B.R.A.K.E.S.), a Teen ProActive Driving School. The nonprofit’s mission is bringing safe driving awareness across the nation, to both teen students and their parents in an engaging, hands-on driving experience. Previously, she was the Business Development Director for Legacy Talent and Entertainment, an entertainment management agency. Past experience includes serving as the Local Marketing Director for the NBA Charlotte Hornets, and as the Promotions and Merchandising Manager for the Charlotte Checkers Hockey Team. In addition, she has previously owned several successful NASCAR Busch Series teams. In the past 25 years Mimi has served on many nonprofit boards that relate specifically to youth services such as The Allegro Foundation and SeriousFun Camp, Victory Junction, Best Buddies and St.Jude.
Terri Pitcher - CFO
Hometown: Troutman, NC
Terri is an innovative, results-driven accounting professional with over 21 years’ experience. Terri manages the Accounting Department at B.R.A.K.E.S. overseeing the day-to-day activities, financial modeling, management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, internal controls, treasury management, P&L and B/S.
Terri was born in Charlotte, NC. Terri earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Catawba College (cum laude). She currently lives in Troutman, NC with her husband Michael and daughter Kaycee. She enjoys barrel racing, riding horses, and watching her daughter play fast pitch softball.
Tonya Phillips - General Accounting Specialist
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Tonya offers more than 36 years of experience in management & public accounting. She has extensive experience in bookkeeping, customer service, and administrative support. Her vast knowledge, experience, and skills serve as the fundamental basis for the daily maintenance of B.R.A.K.E.S. general ledger accounting.
Tonya is a Charlotte, NC native. Aside from accounting, Tonya is also heavily involved in her family, with two members serving as career Police Officers, Fire Fighter and three daughters who are Teachers. Tonya’s hobbies include caring for her grandchildren, church activities, and cooking.
Shawn Gigstad - Relationship Manager
Hometown: Nortonville, KS
Shawn grew up in Southern California before moving to Kansas to pursue graduate studies at Kansas State University. She earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in elementary education from California State University, Fullerton, and later completed her teaching degree at Kansas State University.
Shawn and Doug grew up together in Southern California, and when she learned about the tragedy involving Doug's two young sons, she felt compelled to join his mission to save teen lives
Shawn joined the B.R.A.K.E.S. Team in 2015 as a volunteer, quickly taking on multiple roles and becoming an integral part of the team.
Shawn and her husband farm soybeans and corn. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, attending car shows, and fishing.
Lizzie DeIngenis - Registration Coordinator
Hometown: Concord, NC
Lizzie manages registration for classes, as well as coordinating volunteers, handling the website, creating media for classes including the class presentation, class booklets and surveys.
Lizzie was born in Smithfeild, RI and moved to Concord, NC where she attended highschool and praticipated in extraciricular activites such as softball and broadcasting. Her hobbies include crochetting, knitting, cooking and baking.
Sandy Vides - Registration Assistant
Hometown: Gastonia, NC
Sandy handles the front desk and phones, as well as assists with registration and volunteers. She stocks up class supplies such as the booklets, certificates and name tags.
Sandy was born in Gastonia, NC. Moved to Charlotte than to moved to Concord, NC where she attended highschool and praticipated in extraciricular activites such as Soccer.
John Becker – Logistics Support
Hometown: Panama City, FL
John grew up in Northern California, and served in the Air Force from 1968-1972. He worked for Hewlett Packard from 1974-2004 as an electrician and project manager. After retiring in 2004, he and his wife of 42 years, Kathy, moved to their retirement cabin in the mountains of Northern California.
In Old Station, California, he served as the captain of the volunteer fire department from 2004-2018. He then moved to North Carolina in 2018.
His hobbies are fishing, golfing, hunting, and hiking. He has 3 kids and 4 grandkids. Matt Reilly is married to John’s daughter, Amy.
‘Pops’ was a cone kicker at the first B.R.A.K.E.S. school in 2009, and has since become an office favorite!
My 17 year old son was driving on the freeway yesterday when his tire blew. He said the Brakes class he took last month taught him how respond. No injuries or accident. Tire was less than a year old. Thank you for your class. I am grateful that you offer these classes to teenage drivers.... Click to Read More!
-Katie P
My oldest daughter went through B.R.A.K.E.S. at 16 (she’s 25 now) and was involved in an accident shortly after. A large pickup towing a landscaping trailer pulled in front of her from an oncoming left turn lane. She had the presence of mind to jam the brakes and control steer into the lighter tr... Click to Read More!
-Derek T
