Our Team
Our staff and board are a small group of people who lead and govern Tamarisk. They bring different skills and perspectives, but share a commitment to the relationships at the heart of this community.
Lauren Clark
executive directorLauren grew up in Charlotte, came to Raleigh for NC State, and never really left. She studied social work, and now leads Tamarisk as Executive Director. She cares deeply about young adults impacted by foster care, kinship care, and adoption — and about equipping the Church to step into those spaces. Through relationship-centered care and partnerships across the community, she hopes to help build places where young people can experience stability, dignity, and hope.
Eric Carboni
board member, operationsEric is a software engineer, a former foster parent, and now an adoptive dad. Married to Conner. He serves as Board Chair of Tamarisk, where he's spent a lot of time behind the scenes helping build the organization. Outside of work, he runs on coffee, collects CDs (physical media is back), and watches a lot of movies. He cares about making sure Tamarisk has the structure and steadiness to keep showing up for the young adults at the center of its work.
Austin Moore
board member, treasuryBorn and raised in Raleigh, Austin is a Certified Financial Planner at CAPTRUST, husband to Natalie, and dad to Gus. He went to NC State (and still roots for them, along with the Chargers and the Canes). He plays basketball, tennis, and golf, watches more reality TV than he'd probably admit, and believes financial literacy should be within reach for anyone — no matter where they're starting from.
Kristen Thomas
board memberKristen is a licensed clinical mental health therapist in Raleigh, a single foster and adoptive mom, and someone whose own story includes aging out of foster care. At Tamarisk, she helps lead the weekly gatherings, bringing all of that lived experience into the room with her. Her foster license is closed now, but her door stays open to young adults transitioning out — and her story has opened doors for advocacy, speaking, and writing alongside others who've lived it too. She loves Jesus, and follows him into the work of helping systems and communities care better for the people most often overlooked.