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 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 meeting and 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. 

Jessica Pridgen
Placement Coordinator

Jessica is new to the Select Sitters team, working as a Placement Coordinator since October 2021. She has an A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education and a B.S. in Environmental Management, and she has been an early childhood educator and professional for over 10 years, having worked as both as a teacher in licensed childcare facilities and as a full-time nanny here in North Carolina. Jessica loves spending time outdoors with her 10 year old daughter, Skyler, and their spunky shih-tzu, Bow.

Mandy Foalima
Administrative Coordinator

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!

Megan Tillett
Recruiter

Megan is the newest team member here at Select Sitters, having been a Recruiter since May 2021! Prior to that, she attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in School Administration. Having spent a decade in correlating positions, Megan was most energized by the teacher-recruitment process, as well as partnering with families and children to tailor an educational experience that they were confident about and excitedly engaged in. She is thrilled to transfer those areas of professional interest into her Recruiting role at Select Sitters, while also collaborating with a wonderful team of colleagues. Personally, Megan lives in the Triad region with her husband, Jeremy, and son, Shepherd. Megan and her family enjoy regular outdoor adventures, reading, going on walks with their dog, Jake, and indulging in frequent visits to both Blowing Rock and Wilmington.