Our Staff

JOHN WILKENING, CCM
General Manager/Chief Operating Office

John has been in the resort and private club industry for close to 30 years. Most recently John was the Club Manager for Brier Creek Country Club and was honored to be named a Mid-Atlantic regional field expert in Food and Beverage for ClubCorp. Prior to being owned by ClubCorp, John worked for Toll Golf where he served for most of 2019 in a dual role as Assistant General Manager for Brier Creek and The Hasentree Club in Wake Forest. During his time with Toll, John successfully took on several special Food and Beverage projects and initiatives for Toll Golf at various properties in the division. In 2016, John earned the designation of Certified Club Manager (CCM) from the Club Manager’s Association of America.
Originally spending most of his life in Lake George, NY – John currently resides in the Raleigh area with his wife, Elizabeth and their dogs Murphy and Ziggy.

JASON KINDER, USPTA
Director of Racquet Sports

As the Director of Racquet Sports, Jason is responsible for evolving our tremendous racquet sports department.  Continuing to develop our professional team, our adult and junior racquet sports programs, our 31-court racquet sports facility, and our pro shop.  Jason also serves on the Executive Leadership Team for North Hills.  After growing up in Richmond, VA, he attended the University of North Carolina Greensboro, earning his degree in Exercise and Sport Science. Jason is certified by the USPTA as an Elite Professional, a Certified Racquet Sports Executive (CRSE), a USTA High Performance Coach, and a certified Padel and Pickleball coach. He has worked in the tennis industry for over 35 years, most recently, working at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.  

LILO PELEGRINO
Assistant Director of Racquet Sports

Murillo Pelegrino, mostly known as “Lilo”, came from Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2008 to attend the University of Mount Olive as a dual athlete, playing soccer and tennis as an undergraduate. He held the record for the most wins in a tennis season in school history. He was selected all-tournament team and second team all-conference when they won the first ever championship in school history. He taught and coordinated a myriad of summer camps upon graduating with a Sports Management degree. He has a special interest in tennis-specific fitness and works with all levels of juniors and adults. Lilo is a USPTA certified professional. He worked at Hollow Rock Racquet & Swim Club, for over 2 years before coming to North Hills Club in 2014 as an Assistant Tennis Professional. Through the years, he moved up to Junior Coordinator, Head Professional, and now Interim Tennis Director. He lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife Brittany, his son, Benji, and their dog Icy.

MICHAEL BLACKWELL
Executive Chef

Originally from Endicott, NY, Michael attributes his love for cooking to his childhood Sunday family dinners at his grandparents’ house. After high school Michael attended Connecticut Culinary Institute where he earned a degree in Advanced Culinary Arts. After returning to New York he quickly ascended to the top ranks of the kitchen. He then moved to New Jersey where he worked as a Sous Chef and Executive Chef at top restaurants, hotels and universities including The Pluckemin Inn, The W Hotel Hoboken and Farleigh Dickinson University. In 2017 He relocated to North Carolina where he assumed the Sous Chef role at Carolina Country Club. Michael’s passion is seen through his use of fresh seasonal ingredients that he lets “speak for themselves”. In his downtime you will find him at a golf course or at home cooking and experimenting.

RON FALKOWSKI
Assistant Club Controller

Ron is originally from Northern Delaware and currently resides in Wake Forest. He moved to Raleigh in 2006 with his wife Susan and soon began working for Toll Golf as Club Controller at Brier Creek CC. After Club Corp bought Brier Creek in 2019, Ron began working for Concert Golf as a regional controller in charge of both Macgregor Downs in Cary and 12 Oaks which is in Holly Springs. Ron then came to North Hills Club in October of 2021 where he works in the business office. When not at the club, you may find Ron playing golf or spending time with his wife, 3 children, dog and fish.

CHRISTINE JOHNSON
Director of Operations

As Director of Operations at North Hills Club, Christine is responsible Membership and Events as well as the daily operations of the Pool in and out of season. Christine grew up as a member of the club and began her work here in 2003 as a seasonal employee working in the snack bar. During her time working here she has attended UNCW, where she received a B.A. in Athletic Training and continued her education at Southeastern Louisiana University receiving an M.A. in Kinesiology. Christine is a Board Certified Athletic Trainer and Licensed in North Carolina.

ELIZABETH WILKENING
Director of Marketing & Communications

As Marketing and Communications Director, Elizabeth is responsible for developing and implementing communication, marketing, and branding strategies for the Club. She develops strategic communications plans, oversees and executes social media strategies and engagement, and designs effective marketing material for both the public-facing and Members-only sides of North Hills Club. After growing up in Greenville, SC, she attended the University of South Carolina. Elizabeth has worked in the hospitality industry, with both corporate and privately-owned organizations, for over 15 years; most recently, she was with Brier Creek Country Club, as their Marketing and Communications Coordinator.

When not working, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her three children, her husband John, and their dogs Murphy and Ziggy.

CHRIS CARPENTER
Director of Maintenance

Chris is originally from the state of Indiana, but lived in Western Pennsylvania for over 30 years. As a former golf professional, Chris enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family when not at work. Chris has been working in maintenance since 2015, and he came to North Hills Club in February of 2022 helping us maintain our growing facility.

LOFTIN FARRAR
Director of Fitness & Aquatics

A native of northeastern North Carolina, Loftin grew up in the small town of Ahoskie. She played club soccer and club tennis at the University of Georgia and graduated with a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies. She has been a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer for 10 years. She is a Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist, has certifications in spin and TRX, and has coached high school soccer for several seasons. She's trained clients from ages 7 to 87 and enjoys working with them to find a routine that is both challenging and fun! When she's not working, she can be found walking her dog, playing a sport, or spending time with her family.

SADIE SINGLETARY
Director of Youth Activities

Sadie, a Raleigh native, began her career in hospitality over 12 years ago; she has since been sharpening her interpersonal and communication skills while creating memorable experiences for guests and Members. She recently switched her focus to Youth Activities with North Hills Club, an area she can exercise her passion and be creative, patient, and empathetic. She coordinates and organizes meaningful programs and activities promoting social interaction, teamwork, and personal development all while maintaining a safe and engaging environment for the youth to learn, explore, and express themselves. Working with young individuals allows her to live out her inner-child, positively impacting lives by connecting and inspiring them. This part of her journey has been incredibly rewarding.

In her free time, you could find her laughing loudly alongside husband, John, and son Karter. Some of her favorite hobbies includes: reading, painting, gardening, and cooking, which inspires her to learn, grow, and create.

DEREK WELLS
Pro Shop Manager

Derek moved to the Raleigh area from Long Island where he was an employee of Sportime Tennis Club for over a decade. He was one of many PTR-certified pros there, along with a Pro Shop attendant and Racket Stringer. Derek is always up-to-date on all things tennis not only for his own benefit, but also to provide knowledgeable advice for anyone seeking to improve their game. From finding the most comfortable (yet supportive) shoe, to choosing the string that best suits your play style and specs of your racket of choice, he will always be available to provide his most professional advice.