People: Current Class

Louise Anderson
Senior Associate, Managing Editor
International Economic Development Council

Ms. Anderson provides economic development planning and consulting services and writes for and edits economic development trade publications for the International Economic Development Council.  Most recently, she has served on her neighborhood association boards in Raleigh and Asheville.  She is currently on the Board of Directors of her daughter’s nonprofit child care center. 

Kevin Baxter
Teacher-Fairview Elementary School
Buncombe County Schools

Mr. Baxter is a third grade teacher with Buncombe County Schools, Fairview Elementary.  He has taught for 31 years.  Mr. Baxter has volunteered with the Southern Poverty Law Center, United Way, Food for Fairview, Exchange Clubs President, and Meals on Wheels just to name a few. 

Joel Bender
Guest Services Manager
The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa

Mr. Bender had trained and worked as a chef before entering retail auto sales.  He became the General Sales Manager for Coastal Acura and a group of dealer shops.  Now he works for The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa as the Guest Services Manager.  Mr. Bender is currently a member of the Buncombe County Adult Care Homes Community Advisory Board.

Vicki Biggers
Principal-North Buncombe Middle School
Buncombe County Schools

Ms. Biggers is in her 34th year in public school education, with the last 29 having been in Buncombe County Schools.  She has been a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, and school administrator and is currently in her eighth year as Principal.  Ms. Biggers has served on the boards of Blue Ridge Area Authority (16 years), Buncombe County Dept. of Social Services, and Asheville Buncombe Youth Services Action Group. 

Barbara Biss
Vice President
Asheville Savings Bank

Ms. Biss is the Vice President at Asheville Savings Bank, managing three areas of responsibility: Loan Servicing, Secondary Marketing, and Market Place Loan Administration.  She has been the chair of the Eblen Heroes for Hope 10K Walk for the past four years.  Also, she has served on the Eblen Celebrity Golf Tournament Committee. 

Kirk Blackard
Director of College Guidance
Christ School

Mr. Blackard has been an educator most of his life.  His interest working with students has extended to jobs at the college, high school, and middle school levels as a teacher, coach, advisor, and counselor.  He is now the current Director of College Guidance at Christ School. 

Shawn Boone
Special Projects Assistant
The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa

Mr. Boone is a Special Projects Assistant to the President and CEO at The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa, often serving as a liaison within the community.  He facilitates employee “Power-Up,” a 32-hour intense motivational seminar.  Mr. Boone serves on the youth committee at the Cathedral of All Souls Church, as well as RiverLink’s Events Committee, Chamber of Commerce’s National Tourism Week Committee, and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.

La’Zendra Bossard
Guest Services Coordinator
YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly

Ms. Bossard is a professional employee with YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina.  She serves as the Guest Services Coordinator at the Assembly.  Ms. Bossard is a volunteer and past chair of the Events Committee for the United Way of Asheville, Member of the Asheville Branch NAACP, and an Active Member and Leader of the River of Life International Church and Iglesia de Rio de Vida.

Maria Bryan

Ms. Bryan is a stay-at-home mom with a “volunteer career.”  She has worked in the past in public relations for UNC Hospitals and with the Study Abroad Program at UNC Chapel Hill.  Ms. Bryan is currently the 2006-2007 President of the Junior League of Asheville and also a current board member and past president of The Health Adventure.

Eileen Buecher
Director, Career Center
UNC Asheville

Ms. Buecher has had 16 years experience with higher education and career centers.  In her spare time, she works with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  She has also trained for three marathons, two triathlons, and three century rides through Team in Training.   Currently, she is serving as the cycling coach/mentor for the Asheville Team.

Linda Carol
Attorney
Linda Carol, P.A.

Ms. Carol is presently an Attorney at Law at Linda Carol, P.A.  She volunteers for Pisgah Legal Services and the League of Women Voters.  She has formerly served on several bar committees, as a Big Sister mentor with Big Brother/Big Sisters, and on the 4th Horticulture Project. 

Vernon Daugherty, Jr.
Dean, Engineering and Applied Technology
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Mr. Daugherty has worked at various Community Colleges in a variety of positions, including instructor, department chair, and project director.  He has spent 12 years of service as a deacon and elder.

Carlton Denning
Division Chief
Fire Department, City of Asheville

Mr. Denning has come up through the ranks to his current position as Division Chief over training for the department.  He has spent years of service with MDA (Telethon, “Fill the Boot” Campaign, MDA summer camp, etc.), United Way member for Manna Food Bank, and as the Coordinator for Fire Department and the “Day of Caring.”

Sana Efird
Director of Special Events and Grants
Carolina Day School

Ms. Efird's responsibilities at the Carolina Day School are to plan and manage the school’s special events to enhance Carolina Day School’s fund-raising and friend-raising programs.  She also works researching, cultivating, and soliciting private and corporate foundations and individuals to support school funding priorities.  Ms. Efird is currently a Board Member of Mountain Area Child and Family Center and WNC Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Bart Floyd
Site Coordinator
Pathways for the Future, Inc.

Mr. Floyd worked for “Disability Connections” in Macon, Georgia, for six years.  He worked as a peer advocate, where his duties included assisting people to achieve their desired level of independence.  Mr. Floyd is the Chairperson of Asheville Mayor’s Committee for Citizens with Disabilities and a member of the Community Transportation Advisory Board.

Jes Garner
Director of Leadership Giving
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County

Ms. Garner was recently promoted to Director of Leadership Giving, at United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County.  In this role, she is responsible for cultivating new and maintaining seasoned relationships with 1,200 donors that give Leadership Gift of $1,000 or more to our community each year.  Ms. Garner has worked with the Young Leaders and Women’s Initiatives extensively, in her spare time.  She is currently managing a monthly project at ABCCM Women’s and Children’s Shelter.   

Hunter Goosmann
General Manager
Education & Research Consortium

Mr. Goosmann leads a nonprofit group charged with expanding the region’s technical infrastructure-in particular, for the educational, research, and government communities.  Over the years, he has volunteered at suicide phone hotlines and battered-women’s shelters, and has technically supported various nonprofit groups. 

Shelly Houston
Assistant Vice President and Commercial Portfolio Specialist
SunTrust Bank

Ms. Houston works for SunTrust Bank in the Commercial Lending Department.  Her role as a Commercial Portfolio Specialist is to support the Commercial Lenders in their daily activities and to underwrite commercial loans.  She is currently involved with the Western North Carolina Down Syndrome Society & Co-Chairing the 2006 Buddy Walk. 

Alan Kirkpatrick
Program Manager
Junior Achievement

Mr. Kirkpatrick’s responsibilities as Program Manger of Junior Achievement include volunteer recruiting, managing business relationships with schools, school systems, other nonprofit organizations, and firms that provide us with committees on behalf of the organization.  He is the Co-Founder of FBSOA, a nonprofit organization, dedicated to training and organizing soccer referees in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Haywood Counties.  Mr. Kirkpatrick also serves as Vice President of the WNC Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association. 

Leah Madamba
Program Manager
SUWS of the Carolinas

Ms. Madamba is the Program Manager and Clinician for the Season’s Program at SUWS of the Carolinas.  She’s been working in outdoor behavioral healthcare for 10 years and helped to open the Seasons Program for 10- to 13-year-old youth-at-risk.  In 2005, she joined her neighborhood Association’s Board, Beverly Hills Home Owner’s Association, and still serves on it.  Ms. Madamba is also a member of Paws with a Purpose along with her Delta Society certified Labrador, Zeb. 

Jason Mann
GIS Coordinator
City of Asheville

Mr. Mann is responsible for the overall Coordination/Management of the City of Asheville’s Geographic Information System.  His Guiding Principle is to “always try to do the right thing and be honest.”

Judy McKnight
Owner
Chef Michael’s Catering, Inc.

Ms. McKnight operates a catering business and restaurant where she is involved with human resources, sales, marketing, and accounting.  She is a Founding Board member of the Fletcher Arts and Heritage Association, a member of United Way Peaks Society, Hope for Horses, March of Dimes, and A-B Education Coalition.

David Meyer
Certified Financial Planner
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.

Mr. Meyer is a financing consultant, with A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. where he helps individuals and businesses reach their financial goals.  Mr. Meyer is a founding member of the Asheville Tourists Children’s Fund and is on the Board of Directors for Emmanuel Lutheran Church & School and oversees operations and mission. 

Grant Millin
President
Public Fuel Cell, Inc.

Mr. Millin founded Public Fuel Cell in order to work in the areas of energy and ethics, two fundamental leverage points in a civil society.  He is on the Leadership Council of the Restorative Justice Resource Center and is an Honorary Board Member of The Asheville Kindness Campaign. 

Rebecca Polhamus
Branch Manager
RBC Centura Bank

Ms. Polhamus has been with RBC Centura for 6 years.  She has worked her way up through Personal Banker, Account Manager, and then promoted to Branch Manager in February of 2006.  Mrs. Polhamus invests some of her spare time with the Eblen Foundation, Mountain Sports Festival, Red Cross Champion, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Jean Riederer
Executive Director
Asheville YMCA

Ms. Riederer volunteered at her hometown YMCA for a short time and then got involved in it as a career.  She has worked her way “up the ranks” in programs and membership and is now an Executive Director. 

Melody Rigdon
Attractions Marketing Manager
Biltmore Estate

Ms. Rigdon began her marketing career at The Alpha Group as an Account Coordinator.  She currently is the Attractions Marketing Manager for the Biltmore Estate.  Ms. Rigdon has spent her spare time on the Children First Marketing Committee and Pack Square Park Marketing Committee.

Brady Robinson
Director of Operations
North Carolina Outward Bound

Mr. Robinson oversees the safety, quality, and efficiency of all program operations at North Carolina Outward Bound.  He formerly ran the Outward Bound mountaineering program in Chile and Argentina. 

Maria Roloff
Vice President, Human Resources
Mission Hospitals

Ms. Roloff has served as Mission Hospitals’ VP of Human Resources since July of 2005.  Her areas of responsibilities in addition to Human Resources included Staff Health Services/Occupational Medicine, Volunteer Services, the Child Development Center, and Diversity Management.  She is currently serving on United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and Asheville Symphony Boards.

Rocko Smucker
Teacher
Asheville City Schools

Mr. Smucker is presently teaching first grade at Hall Fletcher School of Math, Science, and Technologies.  He is also the Technologies Chair.  Mr. Smucker has recently served on the Asheville Citizen-Times Presidents Circle and in 2005 served on the AC-T Editorial Board. 

Tim Splain
Division Commander
Police Department, City of Asheville

Mr. Splain has spent the last 15 years of his police career with the Asheville Police Department.  His career has progressed from Police Officer Trainee up to Police Captain (Division Commander).  Mr. Splain is involved in North Buncombe school activities and sports, member of Pisgah View Taskforce, Executive Board-West Riverside Weed and Seed Project and with the NAACP-Community Relations Council Public Safety Subcommittee. 

Porter Taylor
Bishop
Episcopal Diocese of WNC

Mr. Taylor has been ordained as an Episcopal Priest and has served churches in Nashville, Tennessee, and Athens, Georgia.  In Asheville, he serves on various boards such as, Kanuga, Deerfield, and Christ School. 

Jennifer Waite
Community Relations and Development Manger for 2-1-1
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County

Ms. Waite has had 6 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.  She has worked with the Food Bank of NC in Raleigh, Children First of Buncombe County, Meals on Wheels in Asheville, and currently 2-1-1 of WNC.  Ms. Waite is currently serving on the Buncombe County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee in her spare time. 

Mark Whitney
President/Owner
Cooper House Fine Cabinetry

Mr. Whitney is the President/Owner of Cooper House Fine Cabinetry, a kitchen and bath design firm here in Asheville.  He has been heavily involved with Christ School since graduating in 1980.  Mr. Whitney has also served on the Alumni Council, Steering Committee, and Hall of Fame Committee. 

Ann Young
VP and General Counsel
Mission Hospitals

Ms. Young is the General Counsel for Mission Health.  In her available time, she has board involvement with Pisgah Legal Services, United Way, YMCA, Asheville City Schools Foundation, and the Salvation Army.

Evelyn Zebro
Self-Employed
Wellness Specialist

Ms. Zebro has had a varied and diverse career, including Public Relations/Copywriting, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, Fitness Instructor, and Realtor.  She has spent 10 years as a Recreation Specialist with YMCA, soccer coach, HS Football Booster Club Chair, and as an annual fundraising auction event planner.