Board of Directors
Julie Pace
Founder
Julie Pace is a Rockingham County local, mom, entrepreneur, and community builder who is passionate about creating spaces where people feel supported, connected, and seen. With a background in business and a strong entrepreneurial mindset, she brings both heart and structure to the work she leads.
​​
Her commitment to supporting families navigating autism is rooted in real-life experiences and meaningful conversations within her community. As a mom to twins who have both been diagnosed with autism, this work is deeply personal to her. Julie is known for her ability to bring people together, build genuine relationships, and turn ideas into action in ways that make a tangible difference for local families.
​​
Deeply connected to Rockingham County, Julie values the strength of a small community and the way people show up for one another. That perspective continues to shape her approach, focused on connection, accessibility, and meeting families where they are.​
Outside of her work, Julie enjoys spending time with her husband, Hunter, and their twins, Ashton and Abigail, always looking for their next adventure, whether that’s exploring somewhere new, trying something fun, or simply making memories together.
Amy Chan Hardison
Co-Founder
Amy brings over 20 years of project management experience and a love for spreadsheets and to-do lists to her work as a small business consultant, helping businesses start strong and grow with confidence—from planning and systems to websites and marketing.
​
A proud UNC–Chapel Hill graduate, she earned her MBA in Chicago and later served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Vanuatu before returning to her hometown in North Carolina.
She is also a mom to a neurotypical son and is intentional about raising him to be inclusive, kind, and empathetic toward children of all abilities, including those with autism.
Outside of work, Amy supports her husband’s art career by helping manage large-scale public mural projects and enjoys life and travel with their young son.
Ashley Snow
Board Member
Ashley Snow has worked in healthcare for over 15 years and has proudly called Rockingham County home her entire life. She is passionate about serving local families and strengthening opportunities for children in her community.
Ashley has been married for 13 years and is a proud mother of three, including one child with an autism diagnosis. Her personal experience navigating autism fuels her heart for advocacy, awareness, and increasing access to resources for families in Rockingham County.
She serves as PTO President at the local middle school and as President of the high school volleyball and softball booster programs. With years of experience leading fundraisers and organizing community events, Ashley brings strong leadership and a deep commitment to service to Acts4Autism.
Ashley is honored to be part of Acts4Autism and is dedicated to helping expand resources and awareness for autism in the community she loves.
Peyton Dawson
Board Member
Peyton Dawson is a devoted stay-at-home mother and proud partner of 11 years. She and her partner are the loving parents of their four-year-old son, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two.
Following their son’s diagnosis, Peyton and her family fully embraced the journey—committing themselves to learning, advocating, and growing alongside him every step of the way. What began as a deeply personal experience has evolved into a heartfelt mission to support, encourage, and uplift other autism families within the community.
As a board member of Acts 4 Autism, Peyton brings compassion, understanding, and invaluable lived experience. She is dedicated to helping create meaningful change and ensuring that no family navigating an autism diagnosis feels alone.
Jillian Pruitt
Board Member
Jillian Pruitt is a Privacy Analyst at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she conducts investigations for both real and perceived privacy incidents as well as providing privacy guidance to stakeholders per federal and state privacy regulations.
Her background includes working within UNC-Chapel Hill’s Office of University Counsel as a Business Services Coordinator primarily supporting litigation and research regulatory matters.
​
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Personally, she is married to her high school sweetheart, and mom to Liam and Laina. Liam is autistic and is the primary reason for Jillian’s advocacy work in Rockingham County.
You can catch Jillian at her local CrossFit gym or curled up with her Kindle and a coffee while juggling all things motherhood.