OUR TEAM

Ingrid is a passionate advocate for individuals with special needs and a dedicated community builder. She is the founder of Sarah’s Acres, an innovative special-needs community inspired by her daughter, Sarah (25), who was born with a rare neurological disorder, Pitt Hopkins syndrome. Through collaboration with family, friends, other special needs families and experts in the field, Ingrid is leading the charge to pioneer a new model for inclusive living.

Previously, Ingrid served as Executive Director of Girl Power 2 Cure, Inc., an organization she launched in 2006 to connect young girls with peers with special needs—an idea inspired by the meaningful friendships formed between her daughter and classmates. Ingrid is also a co-founder and Trustee of the Rett Syndrome Research Trust.

Kelly brings nearly a decade of experience as a trusted family support professional working alongside Ingrid at Girl Power 2 Cure, Inc. Her passion for advocacy is deeply personal, shaped by her lived experience as the mother of two children with significant support needs.

Her daughter, Brooklyn (20), has Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects her ability to speak, walk, and use her hands. Brooklyn is G-tube fed and lives with epilepsy. Her son, Boston (16), was born prematurely at two pounds and was later diagnosed with Down syndrome and autism.

Kelly is a key driving force behind the Peace of Mind Community concept, working to make Sarah’s Acres a meaningful and innovative solution for families navigating the challenges of limited housing options for individuals with special needs.

Peter is an internal medicine physician with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Alongside his wife, Ingrid, he is helping to envision a new approach to aging with a child who has special needs. As Medical Director of a senior living facility, Peter sees firsthand the unique challenges families face as they grow older while continuing in caregiving roles.

He brings both professional expertise and personal commitment to Sarah’s Acres, working to create a safe, healthy, and engaging community that attracts and supports exceptional caregivers and medical providers. As Sarah’s father, Peter is dedicated to building a forever home where she—and others—can live fully, with dignity, connection, and high-quality care.

Pierce Harding is an environmental professional with a passion for helping communities grow in thoughtful and sustainable ways. He currently works as an Environmental Specialist for the Town of Christiansburg, Virginia, where he supports green infrastructure projects, environmental review, and community-focused initiatives within municipal government.

Pierce earned a Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia School of Architecture, where he built a strong foundation in land-use planning, community engagement, and urban design. His work is grounded in public service and driven by an interest in creating places that are both functional and resilient.

A graduate of the Cardozo School of Law, Sam has developed a wide range of experiences across the business, housing, and nonprofit sectors. He has been a fellow with the Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC) since 2015. He is also a member of the Cooperative Professionals Guild, as well as the co-founder of Common Shares, a nonprofit focused on developing the cooperative sector in Virginia.

Sam's expertise extends from the development of foundational legal and governance structures to property transactions, lending negotiations, and conflict resolution. His clients have included worker cooperatives, nonprofits, and traditional businesses in fields as diverse as nature conservation, intentional community, therapy, medicine, advertising, manufacturing, arts education, yoga, martial arts, and the service industry. 

He has been a guest lecturer at University of Virginia's Community Organization and Social Enterprise Clinic as well as the New School in New York City. He has also represented many businesses converting to cooperative ownership in collaboration with the ICA Group.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Katie earned her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Virginia, and moved to Richmond after graduation.  Katie owns and operates her own Architectural practice, Cortez Architecture, PLLC, through which she focuses on the making of place, the building of community, and also hopes to teach about the importance of design through the built environment. 

Fred Øesch (pronounced "Esch") is the principal of Øesch Environmental Design [Ø.E.D.] near Charlottesville, VA. As the founder of a Design / Build firm, Oesch has designed Master Planning, Architecture, Interiors, Furniture, and Fine Art for more than 40 years. He has conducted research and lectured at Universities across the U.S. and Europe. His specialty is healthful, energy efficient, alternative building, inc., solar design, timber frame, straw bale construction, earth sheltered structures, living earth roofs, and natural environmental control systems. Oesch has technical experience, teaching, and management of human and material resources; encompassing the full range of design disciplines. 

Øesch projects have been featured on Home and Garden Television [HGTV], and in numerous newspaper and magazine publications. Oesch received the Virginia Sustainable Building Network [VSBN] 2007 Green Innovation Award for the Best Single Family Residence, the 2009 Green Innovation Award for Best Green Designer, and the 2019 Viridiant [EarthCraft] Award for Best Single Family Residence. Oesch is currently completing a new book titled, "Symbiotic Living: Elements of Timeless Design & Building Solutions."

Racey Engineering PLLC is a privately held SWaM- and HUBZone-certified engineering and surveying firm based in Luray, Virginia. Established in 2002, with roots dating back to 1994, the firm provides practical, cost-effective engineering and surveying services to public and private clients. Racey Engineering is fully licensed and insured in Virginia and holds professional engineering and land surveying licensure across multiple states in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

Led by a team of multidisciplinary licensed professionals, the firm offers expertise in civil, structural, mechanical, plumbing, construction engineering, project management, inspection, surveying, and mapping. Racey Engineering supports a wide range of projects—from residential and commercial development to utilities, subdivisions, and construction surveying—delivering tailored solutions with the technical rigor of a regional firm and the personalized service of a hometown partner.

We are partnering with All Needs Planning to support families who plan to move to Sarah's Acres with a broad range of support from financial planning to Virginia benefits. They take a holistic approach to planning by considering the needs of the entire family, as well as each individual. By working with them, your family will receive a customized, family-centered Special Needs Action Roadmap that follows their Care, Protect, Grow model to give families a financial and investment plan, legal strategy that includes decision-making support, and advocacy and support strategy that includes a plan for government benefits. 

Virginia Asset Management (VAM) is a comprehensive financial services firm. The firm offers a diverse range of programs, encompassing the types of protective and planning methods businesses need as they develop and change.  They also develop customized solutions to assist individuals, professionals and business owners reach their personal financial goals.  They are a locally owned firm looking to grow organically, with a focus on developing citizen leaders while giving back to the community