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Mary Vance Announces Retirement; Search for Executive Director Underway

The Board of Directors of Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic is launching a search for the organization’s next executive director to succeed outgoing Executive Director, Mary B. Vance.  Vance is retiring in December after more than 21 years with the organization.

Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic offers affordable medical and dental insurance for the medically uninsured of Sevier County and currently serves more than 23,000 patients of record.  The Clinic partners with more than a dozen colleges and universities nationwide, as well as other area nonprofits dedicated to providing essential services for the people of Sevier County, Tennessee.  Mountain Hope is funded by nominal patient fees, individual donations, grants, and private giving.

Vance, who holds a Master of Science Degree in Community Health Administration and Wellness Promotion from California College for Health Sciences, and who attended graduate school at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, formally announced her retirement date to the Board in 2016. She has served on countless local, regional, and state health organization boards.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Mary from the time that the Clinic was just a notion.  I have learned so much from her leadership and expertise and I will greatly miss her,” says Board President Robin Reagan.

Clinic founder Sue Ellen Riddle, says of Vance, “Mary has been with us from the beginning and has held firm to co-founder Dr. Alyene Reese’s belief that the Lord himself provides for and values our patients as individuals who deserve quality care and fair treatment; the Clinic is a medium through which God blesses them.”  She continues, “The Clinic has poured out mercy, grace, and goodness on so many and Mary has remained faithful to that commitment in her time at Mountain Hope.  It is a legacy her successor should absolutely understand, along with the need for loyalty to the community, all those who support us, and the Lord, to ensure that legacy will continue long after she is gone.  These are the things Mary stands for, along with the fact that she’s an exceptional administrator, and she will be a very hard act to follow.”

Mary’s dedication to the Clinic is always apparent, “It is with mixed emotions that I will be leaving my ‘life’ with Mountain Hope,” she says, “but my time has come to slow down and I plan to resume my artwork and other activities that I enjoyed so many years ago. I have loved every minute spent with this incredible organization and witnessed countless miracles while being surrounded by selfless servant employees, volunteers, and friends of the Clinic whose mission has always been to help others. I want to personally thank everyone who has invested support in Mountain Hope through the years.  I truly believe the Clinic to be Community-owned and sincerely hope that all those who have will continue to support its mission.”

The organization’s search committee is composed of several Board Members and will be facilitated by Alliance for Better Nonprofits. Those interested in the Executive Director position should contact Elle Benson at ebenson@betternonprofits.org and may review the posting at www.betternonprofits.org for more information about the job and application process.

 

Assorted meat and vegetables on barbecue grill cooked for summer family dinner

Mountain Hope Appalachian Field Festival

October 6 is a date to remember. On that date, your taste buds are in for a delight.

On Saturday, Oct. 6, in a field somewhere in Sevier County, Chef Adam Palmeno will prepare a pig roast as a very special fundraiser for Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic. Palmeno and his catering company, Private Chef, are already earning rave reviews across East Tennessee for his wonderful food.

Palmeno will prepare roast pig and all the trimmings in his own style. His specialty is New World cuisine, which takes traditional recipes and adds a twist. This will be no ordinary barbecue.

He grew up in South Florida and learned to cook in the Florida Keys. After a stint in Charleston, NC learning Low Country cuisine, he is now at home recreating traditional Appalachian dishes with a delicious difference.

Private Chef cooks for couples, parties, wedding and anniversary celebrations, creating dishes from scratch on site. Palmeno particularly likes catering big events such as field festivals, where he and his staff build an outdoor kitchen two or three days in advance, then roast pork or other meats slowly and create a delectable buffet.

So save October 6 for Mountain Hope’s own Appalachian Field Festival. Details will follow.