Kristen Thompson-Riley is a proud native of Mebane, NC where she and her husband, Dave, blended families and raised their six kids.  After earning her Associate Degree from Alamance Community College, Kristen spent 29 years in the corporate world. Alongside her professional career, she dedicated time as a volunteer with Duke Hospital’s Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit, embodying her love for giving back. And in March 2014, she founded Operation Wink in honor of her late father, a project aimed at raising funds to support local schools with negative lunch balances. Her heart for helping others grew even stronger when she fell in love with Little Pink Houses of Hope after her husband participated as a dancer in the 2023 Dancing with the Stars Gala. Kristen is now combining her lifelong professional experience with her passion for helping others to make a meaningful impact in her community.