Ned Erickson - CO-Director

Ned Erickson grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Davidson College and upon graduation moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to join the staff of Young Life. In 2000, he became the Area Director, a position he held until he and his wife moved to Colorado for her pediatric residency. While there, Ned taught English, led worship at a large church, became the recruitment director for Denver Young Life, joined a consulting firm where he eventually was promoted to Vice President, and helped found an education research and development company. Meanwhile, he wrote his first book, Falling Into Love: How an Average Guy Got the Girl of His Dreams. 

He and his dream girl eventually moved back to Winston-Salem where Ned continued to write for a number of magazines including Group, Young Life Relationships, and Relevant. His second book Clay came out in 2014. His two most recent books are part of the 426 Series published in 2016 by Whitecaps Media. The first is called Get This: the answers to life's final exam, and the second is The Reason: why you were made. 

In 2015, Ned along with a group of community leaders, founded the Winston-Salem Fellows, where he has served as Founding Director, Executive Director, and now Co-Director.

Ned is heavily involved in the community of Winston-Salem where he serves on multiple boards, committees, and community initiatives. He serves as a consultant for companies interested in strategic community engagement in his role at Piedmont Federal Savings Bank as the Director of Community Impact. He also is part-owner of a bakery, coffeeshop and taproom in downtown Winston-Salem, a fry business, and does business development for an IT Company.

Ned and his wife Lia have two children, Anna Rose and David. His family loves the outdoors, particularly fishing, hiking and rock climbing. Ned also loves to run. As a matter of fact, in 2014 he set the record for running the North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway: 252 miles in 4 days, 8 hours, and 38 minutes.

HEATHER “HEF” TURNER - CO-DIRECTOR

Heather “Hef” Turner grew up in southwestern Virginia. She attended Gardner-Webb University, outside of Shelby, North Carolina. In the fall after graduation, she accepted a position on Young Life staff in Shelby where she served in several positions over the next six years.

In 2015, Hef and her husband, CT, as well as their new daughter, Reese, moved to CT’s hometown of Winston-Salem. During this time, Hef stepped away from the workforce to be at home with Reese and their second daughter, Miller Jane, who was born in 2016. In the fall of 2017, she began to work virtually with a branding and web design agency based out of Nashville, TN. Since her time in Winston-Salem, Hef has enjoyed participating in the Imago Dei Ministries and has recently joined the leadership team.

In 2022, after serving as interim director, Hef was enthusiastically promoted to Co-Director of the Winston-Salem Fellows.

When not playing “princesses” with her daughters, Hef enjoys being physically active as well as a strong cup of coffee! She is honored and humbled to be a part of the Winston-Salem Fellows.