I am drawn to hands-on work, where the rubber meets the road. This is what HARK does to help children in our community.

Bill grew up in Raleigh, N.C., and after a stint in the Army graduated from Appalachian State University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Banking, and Finance.

After graduating from Appalachian Bill accepted a position with Wachovia Bank in Asheville, starting as Personal Banker and culminating as the bank’s City Executive in Waynesville, NC.

In 1998 Bill was hired in his current position as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones and opened a new office in Weaverville for the firm. Bill resides in Weaverville and is involved with a number of local civic and non-profit groups, and enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and performing with his Mardi Gras Second Line band.

Jennifer Horton is a BUNCOMBE COUNTY native. Raised in Swannanoa by a single mother. She dropped out of school at 16 due to finances but soon acquired her GED at 18. This was just the beginning of her educational journey. Obtaining her CNA, LPN(where she was class president) and Associates in Nursing passing the board exam in 2016. She accomplished all of this while raising her son as well as other many other children in custody alongside her husband. She along with husband are licensed foster parents in Buncombe County. Seeing the circumstances that lead to the dissolvement of the family structure, her compassion led her on the path of improving life in Buncombe County. In 2020 she established Mount Moriah Assisted Living, a group of Family care homes, helping individuals with mental health. Jennifer is a mother of 3 children.

Having grown up in a challenging circumstance, I am passionate about helping young people find stability, confidence, and opportunities to thrive.

Stacy brings more than two decades of accounting and small‑business financial expertise to the role of Board Treasurer at HARK. After financing her own college education, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1995.  For the next 20 years, Stacy worked in the accounting industry with a focus on supporting small businesses. She feels honored to use those skills and experience to now help ensure HARK’s financial health, transparency, and long‑term sustainability.

Stacy joined HARK out of a deep belief in giving back and a lifelong love of children. This personal connection to HARK’s mission fuels her dedication to strengthening the organization’s impact.

A resident of Asheville since 2000, she has built a life rooted in community and service. Stacy currently works at Eaton Corporation (Arden) in plant internal project management and customer relations. She enjoys spending time with her wife Kim of 28 years, hiking the region’s trails, reading, volunteering, and spending time with their dog, Hamish.

As a guardian ad litem before joining the HARK Board, I saw how much these children in custody needed the assistance that HARK provides.  Each child's individual needs are evaluated and HARK responds in a matter of days to fulfill them.  

Cindy Donahue moved to Asheville with her husband in 2015. Their adult son lives in Asheville as well. Cindy joined the Guardian Ad Litem program in 2016 and is an enthusiastic supporter of the work that GALs do. She is a retired teacher who spends her time gardening, reading, doing fitness activities and traveling. She joined the HARK board in January of 2021 and serves on the Grant Writing Committee and the Development Committee.

Helping the most vulnerable children in our community...who can say "no" to that? It's a privilege to be part of HARK's efforts! 

Jenny moved with her family to Asheville in 1997, drawn in by the beauty of our mountains and the local culture. After growing up in southern California, she later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, subsequently working as a foster care/adoption caseworker and ongoing caseworker for social services in New Mexico and Colorado, respectively. Jenny then earned a Ph.D. in school psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, spending 16 years working as a school psychologist for Buncombe County Schools. She is currently a guardian ad litem in Buncombe County, finding good use for her education and interests. In her free time, Jenny enjoys mountain biking with her husband, portrait painting, stock market analysis, camping, gardening, skiing and entertaining friends and family.

As a former GAL, volunteering for HARK enables me to continue contributing in a meaningful way to the wellbeing of the most vulnerable youth in our community.

As a relative newcomer to Asheville, Susana is committed to being an active and meaningful participant in the community. Supporting the most vulnerable children and families is a natural extension of that commitment. Before moving to Asheville, she served as a Guardian ad Litem in Ashe County, North Carolina, where she saw firsthand how access to basic resources can make a life-changing difference for struggling families. As a journalist, she cares deeply about the stories we tell, and as a futurist, she focuses on how those stories can be reshaped to create a better path forward. HARK is doing exactly that work, and she is proud to be part of it.

Supporting HARK is meaningful to me because every child deserves stability, encouragement, and the chance to thrive.

Born and raised in a small town in Michigan, Jessica developed an early appreciation for the importance of community and mentorship through her involvement in programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters. She later spent six years in South Florida pursuing graduate studies, where she earned her PhD in Chemical Biology. In January 2025, Jessica moved to Asheville for her role at Sciteck Diagnostics Inc. and quickly felt drawn to the strong sense of community in the area. She is passionate about giving back and is grateful for the opportunity to support HARK’s mission of providing stability, care, and opportunity for at-risk children and families in the region.  

I chose to join HARK because the children of Buncombe county deserve dignity and enrichment in their youth. Healthier and happier kids will grow to contribute meaningfully towards building resilience and compassion in our mountain community.

Trev Comstock grew up in Lexington, SC and earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering at Clemson University. With a passion for addressing the climate crisis, he spent his education and first seven years of his career developing large scale renewable energy projects while living in South Florida. 

After moving to Asheville to put down roots in mid-2025, he has turned his focus towards connecting with the Asheville area community and leveraging his project management and community engagement skills to support HARK's mission to help kids have safer and happier childhoods.

I have seen the impact organizations like HARK can have by providing prompt assistance and want to participate in that vital work.

Linda is  married to Tom Kennedy and has lived in Buncombe County for over 60 years. During her 32-year career in public education, she worked as a teacher, school counselor and principal. Following retirement, she worked part-time for Buncombe County Schools as a behavioral consultant for elementary children. Those experiences gave her insight into the many challenges that children and their families face. Linda has seen the effects of economic hardship, addiction and trauma on students who struggle to keep up with their peers. Previously, she has served as a Board member of the Junior League of Asheville, the Nature Center, Blue Ridge Mental Health and the Children's Welfare League. Linda enjoys reading, hiking, gardening and spending time with friends.

I feel so honored to be able to serve on the Hark board, as it gives me an opportunity to do what I am most passionate about: Helping others. 

Originally from New Jersey, Kari Holloway moved to Asheville in 2010 to be in the gorgeous mountains. For the past 25 years, Kari has dedicated her time to helping children in the community. In 2020, Kari became a guardian ad litem and continues to advocate for children within the DSS system. In her spare time, Kari loves to make her two sons (and husband) endlessly play board games with her. 

There are kids living with constant uncertainty: where they’ll sleep, if they’ll be reunited with their families, or why they’re missing out on what other children take for granted. That’s why I keep showing up.

Carole has a varied background including corporate training and sales, food magazine recipe testing/editing, and real estate sales. Later in her career, she became focused on the needs of neighborhoods, affordable housing, mental health needs, and food insecurity so went back to school for a master's degree in social work and worked briefly with individuals with severe mental health diagnoses. Carole served on the board of the Durham Community Land Trust, her neighborhood association, and is a volunteer for the American Red Cross and has volunteered for several programs that address food insecurity. After moving to Asheville in 2019, Carole became a Guardian ad Litem, and joined HARK as a board member in 2021.

Growing up in a home with foster siblings, I saw how timely, compassionate support can change a child’s future. Being part of HARK’s board—and supporting our amazing Grant Committee—lets me make a difference, just like my parents did. Every grant we receive is a reminder to at-risk kids that they matter and their needs are seen.

Jane, the youngest of seven, grew up on a rural Oklahoma farm and moved to North Carolina in 1994 after college in Virginia. A lifelong volunteer, she’s passionate about social equity, sustainability, and human and animal rights. She currently volunteers with Cat Angels Rescue, NC Food Bank, Covenant House SleepOut, and Cisco’s charitable grant review team.

After working as a paralegal for 17 years, Jane transitioned to program and project management at Cisco. Now that her four children are grown, she’s excited to focus more energy on nonprofit work—including helping HARK bring hope and resources to at-risk youth in Buncombe County.

Marcus D. Laws, originally from Laurinburg, North Carolina. My professional background is in Psychology, Criminal Justice and Healthcare Management with focuses on Counseling, Housing/Vocational Rehabilitation, Mental Health/Substance Use and Developmental Disabilities in Community Based Settings.

Volunteering with great colleagues at HARK makes it possible for me to use what I've learned to help a lot of kids who need a little help the most. Getting it done - Big smiles - Just right!

M Peter has been an economic development and humanitarian assistance project designer and implementation professional in the USA and overseas for more than 30 years. He has worked for the US Foreign Service (USAID), Non-Governmental Organizations, the World Bank, UN family agencies and private sector firms for the benefit of internally displaced people, refugees and underserved citizens in over 40 countries, including conflict and post-conflict zones in struggling and developing nations.

His work has included preparation of successful grant and contract proposals enabling implementation of equity and quality of life enhancing projects.

Candy joined the HARK board in July 2022. Candy is an estate administration attorney with the law firm of McGuire, Wood & Bissette, P.A. Candy is a former Guardian Ad Litem, former foster parent and an adoptive mom. She currently serves on the Estes Elementary Advisory Committee and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Professional Advisory Committee. Candy lives in South Asheville with her two children, 2 cats, 2 hermit crabs and 1 hamster. In her spare time, Candy enjoys volunteering in the local community and planning adventures with her kids.

I joined HARK because of its impressive and impactful work in our community, done with very little overhead, primarily through the efforts of dedicated volunteers.

MaryLynn Manns moved to the Asheville area in 1977. She had a 38-year career as a university professor at UNC Asheville and is now a Professor Emerita. MaryLynn is the co-author of two popular books, Fearless Change: Patterns for Introducing New Ideas and More Fearless Change: Strategies for Making Your Ideas Happen, which document successful strategies used by leaders of change. She has led numerous presentations on the topic of change at worldwide conferences and for organizations including Microsoft, Avon, Dannon Yogurt, Amazon, Apple, and Procter & Gamble.

The opportunity to be a member of the Hark board has enriched my life in retirement. It's  been an honor to be part of a team dedicated to raising funds for vulnerable children.

Jackie Miller is originally from England. She earned a bachelor's degree and a masters in nursing administration at George Mason University and a  Doctorate in Nursing Practice at the Medical College of Georgia. Her DNP dissertation focused on a community collaboration with a vulnerable community. Jackie ended  her career as an assistant professor at the Medical College of Georgia and the University of South Carolina.

She was Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in South Carolina for 14 years, and now in Buncombe County.

After serving as HARK’s Vice President and the chair of the grant committee for several years, she resigned in 2023. She rejoined HARK in December 2024.

Her family includes her husband, George, They have a son and daughter and four grandchildren. Her brother lives in Provence, France. Leisure activities include yoga, gardening and training her adopted dog.

Being part of HARK is incredibly fulfilling. There’s nothing more meaningful than helping kids who, through no fault of their own, need support to restore a sense of normalcy in their lives.

Originally from Charlotte, Elizabeth moved to Asheville three years ago and quickly embraced the local culture and close-knit community. She recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a degree in Business Management. With a natural nurturing spirit, she has always been drawn to giving back through volunteer work with public libraries, animal shelters, and youth programs.

In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her cat, exploring Asheville’s food scene, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Elizabeth is passionate about creating positive change and is proud to be part of the HARK team, where she’s committed to supporting Buncombe County’s most vulnerable children and youth.

Amber Cook moved to Buncombe County in 2014. Amber has her undergraduate degree (Bachelors in Social Work) from Appalachian State University and her graduate degree (Masters in Social Work) from East Tennessee State University. Amber has worked in the field of Child Welfare for 20 years in counties across North Carolina. She has been working in Buncombe County for 10 years and is currently the Program Manager in Permanency Planning. Amber is passionate about serving children and families! In her spare time, Amber enjoys spending her time with family, reading, gardening, hiking, Dollywood adventures, and traveling.