Peg Lahmeyer is our Executive Director and co-founder of The ARK. She started The ARK in 1996 as an outreach program to St. Lukes Lutheran Church. Before The ARK was started, Peg and her husband, Jim, were caregivers for her mother who had Alzheimer's.

In 2021, Peg was named The Trailblazer of the Year: Woman of Excellence Award by the Summerville Chamber of Commerce and Honorary Rotarian of The year by the Sumerville Rotary Club. 

In 2025, Peg was honored with the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor. Presented by the Governor, the award recognizes extraordinary lifetime service and contributions to the state. 

When Peg is not at The ARK, she enjoys traveling to new places, reading mysteries and historical fiction, hiking, sightseeing, and spending time with family and her fur babies. 

Michel'le Cathey is our Associate Director at The ARK of SC. She implements the organization’s strategy, including oversight of member services, programs, operations, and financial management. 

Michel'le was a part of The ARK staff from 2016-2019 and has re-joined us after moving back to the area. In 2015, she received her Bachelors in Business Administration from the College of Charleston. Michel'le is a 2018 graduate of the Summerville Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Dorchester program, is a graduate of the 2023 class of Francis Marion's Nonprofit Leadership Institute and currently serves on the AFP SC Lowcountry Chapter Board of Directors. 

When not at The ARK, Michel'le enjoys spending time with her husband & fur babies, listening to true crime podcasts, heading off to the beach & hanging with friends.

Naomi Cills is our Family Caregiver Advocate. Naomi has been with The ARK since February 2014. She facilitates our support groups, our program intakes, caregiver consultations and educational classes. 

Naomi is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a concentration in Mental Health from the University of South Carolina, a Licensed Practical Nurse, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology/Sociology from Charleston Southern University. In her free time, 

Naomi enjoys traveling, watching reruns of Monk and The Golden Girls, touring museums, and spending quiet time on the beach. She treasures family time with her husband, 4 children, 3 grandchildren, and her grand pup Lyla Snow. 

Jan Hyatt is our NOAH (Neighborhood Outreach Alzheimer's Help) Director. Jan joined The ARK staff in June of 2018. She is a master trainer for Powerful Tools For Caregivers and facilitates our educational classes and outreach of our services. 

The NOAH Project is a community outreach effort to assist small towns and rural communities in developing their own services to help families coping with Alzheimer’s Disease. 

In her spare time, Jan and her husband love to ballroom dance and spend time with their children, grandchildren, and friends. Jan also enjoys traveling, reading, being outdoors, playing Mahjong, and loving her two precious dogs Maisie and Sadie. 

Debbie is our Program Director and joined The ARK staff in December of 2019. In her spare time, Debbie enjoys teaching ballroom dancing and has over 40 years of experience. 

Daysha Middleton is the current Office Manager here at the ARK. Her close family friend whose mother attended the Respite care program recommend her based on her bright personality and professionalism. Daysha received her bachelor's in Fashion and retail management from the Art institute of Charleston in 2011. She has a strong work history in customer service which fostered her ability to interact with people from all walks of life. Presently she teaches Sunday school at her church and prides herself on balancing being a wife and mother of two girls (8 years old, 10 years old).

Nancy is the Program Assistant for the Social Respite Program and the Navigation Club (early memory loss program) at the Summerville location.

Bambi Rushton is our Respite Coordinator for our Respite Care Program in Harleyville. Bambi joined the staff in 2016. Over the years, Bambi has taught hundreds of students how to ride and competently take care of their horses at the large farm she and her husband, Larry, own in St. George. In her free time, Bambi loves horseback riding. 

Accountant, Carolina First Tax & Accounting

Re/Max Pro Reality Pratt and Co Team

Retired, Santee Cooper

Retired, Dorchester County EMS 

Home Telecom

Retired, Coastal Community Foundation of SC

The Village of Summerville

Modern Woodmen of America

Leviner Law Firm

Ash Grove Cement Company

Ralph H. Johnson VA Hospital