Board of Directors

Angela Miller is the founder and Chairman of Laura’s Village, which was inspired by her daughter, Laura.  Angela has a Bachelor of Science in Education, and she has taught at international schools overseas, as well as schools within the United States.  She is a bio and adoptive mom to five grown children, has worked with a nonprofit to care for critically ill orphans overseas, has provided respite for at-risk children here in the United States, and is authoring a children’s book highlighting her driving passions: faith, family, adoption, and special needs.

In addition, Angela is active in the special needs community, as her oldest daughter, Laura, has severe intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).  “I believe that God has created every person for a purpose.  No matter what level of ability exists, everyone is able to make a positive impact on the community.” 

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us; Eph. 3:20

Denise is a founding member and Vice Chairman of Laura’s Village. She has an MBA from West Virginia University, A BS in Business from Fairmont State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant.  As the parent and direct service provider for her adult son with I/DD, she assisted with development of and co-leads SOAR, a special needs ministry at Rocky Mount Church in Mooresville.

Denise draws on her experience with state-level support programs in West Virginia and Ohio to help with special needs initiatives in North Carolina.  She has held key leadership roles on the Boards of Directors for Tygart Valley United Way, Disability Action Center (formerly The Arc of Marion County), Fairmont UMC League Basketball, and Johnnie Johnson Blues & Jazz Society.

As a past director at FirstEnergy Corp. in Akron, OH, Denise oversaw strategy and project planning, regulatory compliance, technology, and quality programs.  She established the utility’s customer experience and data analytics functions and has held leadership roles in EEI and AEIC industry associations. She is an adjunct professor at Fairmont State University in West Virginia, currently teaching project management and previously having taught accounting; Denise co-owned the Book & Bean House of Coffee in Fairmont, WV, during which time she served as Chair of the Economic Restructuring Committee for Main Street Fairmont and was named Business of the Year by Main Street West Virginia.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Phil. 4:13

Michaela Smyth has been passionately serving individuals with developmental disabilities since 2014. With extensive experience in teaching essential skills through evidence-based techniques, she effectively collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support for each individual.

Michaela holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from New Mexico State University and a Master of Education in Foundations of Behavior Analysis from the University of Cincinnati, achieving Board Certification as a Behavior Analyst in 2016.

As the Business Development Director at Laura’s Village, Michaela identifies new business opportunities that empower individuals to participate fully in their communities and receive the support necessary to flourish in their natural environments.

Specializing in organizational behavior management, she employs a behavioral scientific approach to enhance efficiency and productivity. Michaela analyzes systems and staff performance to identify opportunities for improvement and implements targeted enhancement strategies.

Driven by a commitment to quality, she leads initiatives to improve clinical outcomes, manage risks, and ensure compliance while enhancing overall organizational performance. 

Felicia Davis holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. With over three decades of experience in education, she spent 24 years as a band director and an additional 8 years as an instructional coach. Felicia retired from North Carolina public schools in 2021 after a distinguished career.

Currently, she is working in Digital Information Design, with a focus on Interactive and Digital Mass Media. Felicia and her husband, Ken, are the proud parents of their daughter, Kendall, who is 27 and lives with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:14