JoAnn Ellis is the executive assistant to Foundation President Penny McPhee. Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked for Delta Air Lines where she invested 12 years in building a strong reputation for professionalism, first as a flight attendant and then in an administrative role at Delta Headquarters where she supported a variety of senior Delta executives. While playing on a varsity field hockey/lacrosse team, Joann earned a Bachelors degree in International Relations at the University of Maryland, and began her career working at the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago in Washington, DC.

JoAnn is from an extremely close knit family that consists of her parents, one brother and sister, and resides in Fayetteville with her 15 year old "soccer star" daughter, Adaeze. They both enjoy devoting some of their leisure time engaging in volunteer activities with the March of Dimes and Juvenile Diabetes.