Amanda J. Fitzgerald, JD
Executive Director
Tracy M. Nicholson
Case Manager
Amanda Fitzgerald joined Disability Advocates in July 2021. She brings a legal background and over 15 years of non-profit and philanthropic experience to the role. Amanda oversees the administration of the organization and works directly with the organization’s Board of Directors to ensure that it fulfills its mission.
Tracy Nicholson joined Disability Advocates in May 2025. She brings 18 years of experience as a paralegal advocate for Legal Aid. In that role, she handled Disability/Medicaid claims, Unemployment Insurance Claims, Subsidized Housing denials, and Individual Education Plans. Tracy works directly with Disability Advocates’ clients and coordinates with contract attorneys for clients with cases at the hearing or Appeals Council levels.
Attorneys
Disability Advocates contracts with experienced, Board Certified Social Security Disability Specialist attorneys to represent our clients at the Administrative Law Judge and Appeals Council levels of the disability process.
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Laughter, Board Vice Chair
Managing Director, Client Service, Verger Capital Management
Paulette Smith, Board Treasurer
Office Administrator, Trinity Presbyterian Church
Patrice Williams, Board Secretary
Director of Communications, Crossnore Communities for Children
Ian Burdick
Director of Biopharma Business Strategy, Solesis
Fleming El-Amin
Board Chair, Former Forsyth County Commissioner for District A
Shawanna Nicole Moore-Geter
Founder/CEO, Counseling with a Purpose, PLLC
Tyler Pruitt
Instructional Technologist, Wake Forest University
Executive Director, World Tea Association Inc
Executive Director, Chinese Language Teachers Association of North Carolina
Jennifer Szescula
Grants and Contracts Manager, Wake Forest University
Craig Thomas, CFA
Chief Investment Officer, Verger Capital Management
Tricia Walker
Operations Director, Verger Capital Management
Alison Westbrook
Forsyth County Department of Social Services, Adult Medicaid