Our Leadership

Steering Committee

WNC Nonprofit Pathways is led by a Steering Committee with the following members:

• Elizabeth Brazas, President, Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
• Lance Edwards, CHAIR, Community Fund Director, United Way Asheville/Buncombe
• Susan Jenkins, Executive Director, Cherokee Preservation Foundation
• Stephanie Kiser, Admin. Dir., Community Health and Corporate Wellness, Mission Hospitals
• Charlie Myers, Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives, Cherokee Preservation Foundation
• Bruce Thorsen, President, Mission Healthcare Foundation
• Ann Von Brock, VP for Planning and Community Investment, United Way Asheville/Buncombe

WNC Nonprofit Pathways Staff

Director --  Kim McGuire
mcguire@nonprofitpathways.org

McGuire supervised grantmaking at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina from 1991-2002 and has over 25 years of experience in both staff and volunteer leadership roles within the nonprofit sector.

Program Manager -- Cindy McMahon
cindy@nonprofitpathways.org

McMahon was previously Operations Director for the YWCA of Asheville and most recently has worked as a consultant to nonprofits and small businesses.  She has extensive experience in administration and programming.

Program Assistant -- Valerie Padley
valerie@nonprofitpathways.org

Padley brings extensive administrative experience to Pathways, as well as years working with human service and health nonprofits as well as public schools.

Advisory Committee

WNC Nonprofit Pathways utilizes an Advisory Committee and ongoing contact with nonprofit leaders for input and feedback to ensure that their programs and content are relevant and useful to staff and volunteers working in mountain communities.

Advisory Committee members include:

• Brian Alexander, Homeward Bound (Buncombe)
• Celeste Collins, OnTrack Financial Education and Counseling (WNC)
• Jennie Eblen, Board member and volunteer with multiple nonprofits

• John Ellis, Diana Wortham Theatre (WNC)
• Althea Gonzalez, Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP)
• Roger Hartley, Western Carolina University (WNC)
• Susan Larson, MainPRO (Mitchell County)
• Julie Mayfield, WNC Alliance (WNC)
• Lynn Shields, Stecoah Valley Center (Graham County)

• Juanita Wilson, Cherokee Central/Swain County Schools