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Education Foundation announces new officers

Jim Wiley

Henderson County Education Foundation Inc. elected 2012-2013 officers and Board members during the foundation's annual meeting on June 19.

James D. "Jim" Wiley will serve as the foundation's 2012-2103 president. Jim previously served on the Board of Directors for 6 years (2004- 2010), including serving as President of the Foundation 2008-2009 and also as Vice President 2009-2010.
A certified financial planner, he has been a financial adviser with Wells Fargo Advisors (previously Wachovia Securities) in Hendersonville since 1999. Prior to relocating to Henderson County in 1999, Jim worked for 14 years with the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche as an auditor and ultimately as a Senior Tax Manager. Jim resides in Henderson County with his wife, Cyndy, and their two children, Curtis and Erin. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Hendersonville and a volunteer at the Crosswalk.
Dr. Donald C. Jones as executive director for the HCEF Foundation. Jones served on the Board of Directors since 2000, as president of the Foundation 2004-2006 and vice president 2002-2004. A Wofford College graduate, with an Ed.D. from the University of Tennessee, Don is a motivational speaker and corporate coach. He is married to retired Henderson County school teacher Patsy Farmer Jones. They have two sons, Kyle and Bradley, and two grandchildren, Anne Jones and Catherine Jones.
Allen Combs, with Horizon Heating and Air Conditioning LLC, will serve as the Foundation's vice president again this year. He has served on the HCEF Board for five years and was President 2009-2011. Allen served on the Henderson County School Board (1996-2000). He is also on the Board of Directors of Vocational Solutions. He and his wife, Pamela, and their two children, Zachary and Patricia, live in Mills River.

Serving as board secretary this year is Tracy Williams Stevens, Health Education - Teen Tobacco Prevention for Henderson County Public Schools. She has a B.A. in Communications from UNC-Greensboro. She also serves as board secretary for the Hendersonville Elementary School PTO . Tracy is very active in her community, including the Rotary Club and Meals on Wheels, among others.
Stephen Gwaltney, a business banker with First Citizens Bank, will serve as Treasurer. He attended Appalachian State University and received degrees in both Marketing and Management. Stephen is a member and treasurer of the Hendersonville Rotary Club and a Children and Family Resource Center Board Member. He currently resides in Fletcher with his wife Truly and their children, Harrison, Westley, and Ted.
B. J. Greer, a real estate broker with Keller Williams Mountain Partners in Hendersonville, will serve as assistant treasurer. He attended Gardner-Webb College and has a B.S. in Business Management. He and wife Cindy live in Horse Shoe with their two sons, Nathan and Adam.

The HCEF elected nine new members to help lead the organization in its effort to enhance the quality of life in Henderson County by enriching the education of students, teachers, and the community: Suzanna Best, Barbara Case Blaine, Brittany Jones Brady, Joellen Johnson, Carolina Knox, Dr. Chad Merrill, Daniel Poeta, Tracy Townsend, and James Wiley (new 3 year term).

 

  • Suzanne Best, retired from AT&T Government Services, resides in Hendersonville and is the secretary of the Hendersonville Kiwanis Club. Suzanne's post secondary higher education institutions in both Germany and the United Kingdom. She has one son, Christopher.
  • Barbara Case Blaine, who recently retired as Executive Administrative Assistant to Superintendent of Henderson County Public School, worked for the six superintendents during her 29 year tenure with the school system. She is a 2009 graduate of Vision Henderson County with an Associate in Applied Science - Business Administration from Blue Ridge Community College. She and her husband reside in Hendersonville. They have one child and a grandchild.
  • Brittany Jones Brady, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, resides in Fletcher with her husband, Zachary. She received a Masters of Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of South Carolina and a B.S. from East Tennessee State University.
  • Active gardener and retiree Joellen Johnson has been an actively involved with the Bullington Center for several years and currently serves as the Volunteer Coordinator. She resides in Hendersonville with your husband, Roger. They have two children, Meghan and Michael. Joellen attended Macomb Community College and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
  • Caroline Knox is an attorney with the Van Winkle Law Firm in Hendersonville. Shortly after graduating from the Wake Forest University School of Law, Caroline joined Van Winkle as a member of the firm's Trust and Estate Practice Group. She and her husband, Ashby, and their three children, Eleanor, Turner, and Henry, live in Hendersonville.
  • Dr. Chad Merrill, chief institutional advancement officer and assistant to the president of Blue Ridge Community College, lives in Hendersonville. Chad has been at Blue Ridge since early 1996 and previously served as Dean for Transylvania Programs. He received his Ed.D. and Masters from Western Carolina University and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina - Asheville.
  • Daniel Poeta, owner of Horizon Heating & Air Conditioning, resides in Hendersonville with his wife, Katrina, and their children, Gabrielle and Brendan. He has lived in Hendersonville since 1997.
  • Tracy Townsend, a retired flight attendant and bank teller, is an outstanding volunteer at Hendersonville High School. She lives in Hendersonville with her husband Skip and their children, Natasha, and Julia. Tracy is actively involved with the Flat Rock Playhouse and Bares It All.

Seven board members retired from the board and received HCEF Meritorious Service Awards: Tom Legg (6 years), Tom Jones (7 years), Dr. Sandy Marx (6 years), Linda Rogers (6 years), Jenni Bagwell Tweed (6 years), Christa Waddell (6 years), and Nancy Gilchrist (3 years).

Continuing as HCEF Board Members are Nicola Barksdale, Allen Combs (Vice President), Jeffrey L. Cooper, Allen Credle, Dr. Wendy Edney, Graham Fields, Debbie Reemes Ford, B.J. Greer (Assistant Treasurer), Stephen Gwaltney (Treasurer), Dr. William C. Hiatt, Charles Holland, Arthur Redden II, Tracy Williams Stevens (Secretary), and Thomas C. Thompson.

For more than 25 years the Foundation has been helping to enrich educational programs and initiatives that promote and recognize excellence, encourage innovation, and help meet educational needs in the community.

During the last five years a total of more than $900,000 has been given to Henderson County Public Schools. HCEF also provided 74 scholarships in the academic year 2012-2013 totally $100,550 to support Henderson County students.

HCEF partners with Henderson County Public Schools, NC Cooperative Extension Service, the Flat Rock Playhouse YouTheatre, and the Bullington Center. The Foundation is the fiscal agent for the Historic Johnson Farm, a Heritage Museum and Education Center. HCEF supports other special programs and projects, like The Berrian Fund which benefits about 300 high school and middle school students enrolled in the "Strings" program each year. In addition, HCEF supports the Henderson County Early College High School.
Other HCEF programs include the Hall of Fame, The Special Fund for Children, School Assistance Fund, Mini-Grants, Balfour Education Center Project, the Henderson County Public Schools Projects, and numerous scholarship programs, including the Marker Science Scholarships, Red & White Scholarships, Sparks Family Memorial Scholarship, the Hunter Automotive Group Scholarships, and the Selee Corporation Scholarships.
To learn more about HCEF and it programs and events, or how to become a member or contribute your money or time, please contact by phone at 696-6688, email: HCEFInfo@HCEF.info visit www.HCEF.info.