Meet The Team
From left to right: Sara (Recruiter), Ashley (Recruiter), Kara (Owner), Jessica (Operations Manager) & Mandy (Administrative Assistant).
About Us
Kara Varnell
Owner
Kara is a mom of two rambunctious and sweet children Luke (7) and Eliza (who is 4 going on 13)! She has worked in almost every role with children in her career including babysitter, summer nanny, live-in nanny, live-out nanny, date nights, overnights, and working with special needs. She has a Master’s degree in Human Services with a focus on Marriage and Family, and thoroughly enjoys building relationships with both her clients and nannies. Kara is married to her high school sweetheart Caleb, co-owner of Select Sitters, who is a Real Estate Attorney in Raleigh. In the very limited free time she has, Kara enjoys reading, baking, the beach, family game and movie night, and being outside.
Jessica Whitley
Operations Manager
Jessica has been working with Select Sitters since March of 2018. She's originally from Indiana but moved to North Carolina in 2014 to be with her husband. She has her A.A.S. in Veterinary Technology from Harrison College and her B.A. in Communications from Southern New Hampshire University. She loves connecting with the families we serve, and always looks forward to interviewing potential babysitters and nannies! Jessica enjoys working out, reading, cooking and baking, playing with her dogs, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
Sara Costner
Recruiter
Sara has worked for Select Sitters as a recruiter since November of 2017. She appreciates the wonderful opportunity to work here! She has met great people, watched the agency grow, and has learned so much along the way. She graduated from NC State (Go Wolfpack!) with a degree in Communication and lives in Wake Forest with her husband and two awesome kiddos. They love traveling, great movies, and all things basketball!
Mandy Foalima
Administrative Assistant
Mandy is a part of our administrative team. She started working for us in November of 2019. Mandy views listening to parent's needs as the most crucial part of her role, so we can appropriately match families to our exceptional babysitters! Mandy is a former babysitter and nanny herself, so she looks forward to applying her experience and point of view to be a unique voice within our team and amongst our sitters! She is a recent Meredith College graduate where she studied Psychology and Communication. She enjoys exploring the Triangle, spending time with her loved ones and her sweet puppy Ollie!
Ashley Giampietro
Recruiter
Ashley has been a Recruiter for Select Sitters since July 2019. Since graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2010, she has worked in a variety of industries, including elementary and middle school teaching, training, child and animal welfare, and recruiting! She has a passion for the nanny and babysitting industry, as she is a former babysitter and nanny herself. Ashley loves spending time with her family and friends, being a toddler mom, traveling, and also enjoys the great outdoors!