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.
Morgan Clark - Travel Coordinator
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Morgan handles flight, hotels and transportation for the B.R.A.K.E.S. instructors.
Tayla Smith – Travel Asisstant
Hometown: Concord, NC
Tayla assists in getting our instructors to and from classes by booking flights, booking hotel rooms and booking rental cars.
Tayla is a huge fan of NHRA, her and her father attended every race since she was 15 years old. When she heard about Doug Herbert and what he is doing to help our community, she knew she had to be a part of it. After her interview she was so excited about being an asset to making a change one teen driver at a time!
Tayla has more than 10 years of customer service experience. She graduated from Rocky River high school. She grew up playing basketball, soccer volleyball and was on both the JROTC drill team and raiders team. Her and her husband, Bryan currently reside in Concord NC and have a beautiful baby girl, Leah and the best dog, Zeus. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, training/playing with her dog, painting, reading, working out, and listening to music.
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!
I am writing as a mom of 2 sons, ages 19 and 21, who each participated in the B.R.A.K.E.S. program when they were 15. Neither were excited that I insisted they attend this course. Both actually enjoyed the course and learned a lot. Since receiving their licenses, my oldest has called me at ... Click to Read More!
-Jessica D
The BRAKES experience was fantastic! I thought the training was superb and that the entire experience was fantastic. I really enjoyed speaking with Doug and Matt - both great guys. The rain made for even better training for Connor! I told Doug that I really want to help promote other Orlando B... Click to Read More!
-Christopher R. Townsend
