Movers and Shakers

Meet our Board of Directors, the people who keep NextStep Raleigh exciting, respected, and moving forward.

Board of Directors

karen thor, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

President and Founder, NextStep Raleigh

Karen Thor worked in banking for over 20 years, holding positions as Director of Treasury Management, Small Business, Group Banking and Credit Cards. She completed her career in banking as CIO and Executive Vice President at National Commerce Financial, a $26B financial institution. She also ran a successful consulting company, Revenue Enhancement Associates, teaching community banks how to establish high performing treasury management and group banking divisions. Karen then joined Deluxe Corporation’s Treasury Management Solutions division as a national sales manager, leading a nationwide team selling complex payments software. In 2015, Karen’s son was hit by a car and suffered a C2 break, paralyzing him from the neck down. She and her family immediately moved to Atlanta so that Michael could rehab at the Shepherd Center, one of the top SCI rehab centers in the country. It was there she saw the immense benefits of activity-based therapy. After 2 ½ years, it was time to come home to the Raleigh area, but we found that the opportunity to continue aggressive activity-based therapy was very limited. We decided to open NextStep Raleigh to allow our son to continue his recovery while giving this same opportunity to others.

Paul Baron, PhD

Veteran Affairs

Additionally, Paul has a strong interest in veteran affairs and is dedicated to supporting initiatives that benefit military veterans through health, wellness, and reintegration program.

Jan browder

Strategic Marketing

Jan is a seasoned business and marketing professional with extensive experience in B2B technology, supply chain, consulting, sales, and business transformation. Throughout her career, she has worked with leading companies such as Oracle, Tata Consultancy Services, IBM, and several startups. Jan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Logistics from The Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from Meredith College.

Now retired, Jan resides in Cary, NC, where she enjoys traveling, volunteering, practicing yoga, and spending quality time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Margie Hennessee

Board Member

Tim Hopper

With over 30 years of experience in the medical device and healthcare industries, Tim Hopper has built a robust career marked by leadership in sales, marketing, and executive positions at top multinational companies such as Medtronic, Covidien/Tyco Healthcare, and Teleflex. His extensive background includes 15 years within large corporate environments, after which he shifted his focus to entrepreneurship, immersing himself in the thriving North Carolina startup ecosystem.

Tim took an ownership and leadership role in GILERO, a medical device design, development, and manufacturing firm, where he shaped long-term growth strategies. During this time, he co-founded Infield Medical, a medical device accelerator specializing in low to mid-tech devices with a clear regulatory path (Class I/II 510(k)) and significant potential for revenue generation or strategic exit within two years. His work also led to the creation of 623 Medical (makers of nüm), which became a self-sustaining, revenue-generating company.

In 2016, a tragic accident left his youngest son with a spinal cord injury (SCI), inspiring Tim’s deep involvement in the neuro-rehabilitation and neuromodulation fields. Recognizing the limited access to neuro-rehabilitation technologies in the U.S., he partnered with a European-based robotic rehabilitation company to introduce their products to the U.S. market, helping individuals like his son and others suffering from neurological deficits.

Currently, Tim is focused on guiding startups through the commercialization and strategic planning of innovative healthcare technologies aimed at improving lives. He holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business. Residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife of 30 years, Tim is the proud father of three children, all graduates of local NC universities.

Alexander "sasha" rabchevsky(pHD)

Professor of Physiology at the University of Kentucky, College of Medicine

Alexander “Sasha”Rabchevsky (PhD) is a tenured Professor of Physiology at the University of Kentucky, College of Medicine and is a core member of the Spinal Cord & Brain Injury Research Center. Notably, he is, himself, paralyzed from the chest down as the result of a motorcycle accident in 1985 which fractured his sixth thoracic vertebrae rendering him a complete T5 paraplegic.  He has gained international recognition as a leading expert in the pathophysiology of both mitochondrial and autonomic dysfunction following SCI.  

Dr. Rabchevsky has and continues to serve on various study sections, both federal and private, he is an associate editor and reviewer for various scientific journals, and his distinct studies have been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the International Spinal Research Trust, the Paralyzed Veterans Administration, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the University of Kentucky. 

Since 2009, Sasha has served on the Board of Directors for the non-profit, No Barriers USA, that provides transformative experiences to empower people with various forms of disabilities to manifest ground-breaking innovation and discover the potential that lies within themselves – to overcome impairments in a world full of perceived obstacles. Since 2013 he has also served as co-founder and vice president of the Kentucky Congress on Spinal Cord Injury (KCSCI) that advocates for individuals with SCI in the commonwealth, and he serves on the Board for Independence Place, KY, a non-profit that supports KCSCI and further fosters inclusion and employment for individuals with a range of abilities.

Jim Passe

Legal Advisor

Jim Passe is the founder and principal attorney of Passé Intellectual Property, LLC, a full-service patent law firm specializing in patent application drafting, portfolio management, and legal opinions. With over 40 years of experience, Jim provides strategic guidance to individuals and small to medium-sized companies across various industries, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals.

Confined to a wheelchair since 1996 due to a spinal cord injury, Jim has overcome significant challenges and thrived. An accomplished illusionist before his accident, he is now recognized as one of the best magicians in the country.

Jim's talents extend beyond magic—he is a former U.S. Olympic Team Cyclist, an electrical contractor, and a gourmet chef. Despite the challenges of his injury, his passion for illusion remains at the forefront of his life. 

Jim is licensed to practice in North Carolina, Illinois, and Michigan and continues to inspire through his work both in the legal field and in the world of magic.

Jerry Schafer

Development

Jerry Schafer brings over three decades of executive experience in business development, operations, and finance for global companies. Before retiring, Jerry served as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Development for McDonald’s Corporation, overseeing the company’s global expansion initiatives. He previously held key leadership roles, including Chief Operations Officer and Executive Officer of Development for McDonald’s China, and Chief Financial Officer at Chipotle Mexican Grill, where he was integral in the company’s early growth stages and international expansion efforts.

Jerry began his career in McDonald's management during college and advanced through various accounting, finance, and real estate development roles. With a strong background in driving business growth, Jerry is eager to contribute his expertise to the continued success of NextStep Raleigh.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Walsh College and is a licensed CPA. Jerry currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Walsh College, is a former Board Chair for the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and Wake, and is an active member of the Finance Committee for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Triangle.