Our Team

Amy Williams
Project Analyst

Amy Williams
Project Analyst
[she, her]
Amy joined the Mountain Association’s staff in 2016. A member of the lending team, she works to support small businesses by connecting them to the Mountain Association capital and development services. Amy also works with community organizations to find ways to help communities thrive. She is a former small business owner and has a Master of Science degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University. Amy served in the Peace Corps as a Community and Business Development Volunteer in Armenia and served as a Kiva Fellow assisting microfinance institutions. She enjoys hiking, dancing and exploring. Amy's favorite spot in Eastern Kentucky is the view from the top of Lily Mountain near Irvine.
Ariel Fugate
Communications Manager

Ariel Fugate
Communications Manager
[She, her]
Ariel joined the Mountain Association in 2018. She manages the Mountain Association’s communications including our online presence, printed and e-publications, media coverage, outreach, and story-telling. A certified Project Management Professional, Ariel previously served as a communications specialist supporting two Marine Corps bases with strategic communications, public affairs, and outreach to build strong community partnerships and grow environmental conservation projects around the installations. After graduating from NC State University, she started and managed a local produce program for a major chain of 100+ grocery stores, including marketing, event planning, and farmer outreach and education. Ariel's favorite spot in Eastern Kentucky is the mighty waterfall at Bad Branch Falls in Harlan County.
Betsy Whaley
Chief Strategy Officer

Betsy Whaley
Chief Strategy Officer

Cameron Mott
Energy Associate

Cameron Mott
Energy Associate

Carrie Ray
Energy Program Coordinator

Carrie Ray
Energy Program Coordinator
[she, her]
Carrie has worked with the Mountain Association’s Energy Program since 2017, coordinating with businesses, governments and non-profits across the region to help connect them to both knowledge and opportunities regarding energy efficiency, renewable energy and utility bills. In addition to coordinating the work of the energy team, Carrie frequently performs utility bill reviews that can save thousands for businesses and organizations struggling with high energy bills. Carrie has worked for non-profits in energy, policy and social justice work, including over three years at the Mountain Association as a Research and Policy Associate. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Public Affairs from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She lives in Lexington with her husband and two boys, and enjoys baking, hiking, reading, and talking too much about energy policy and utility reform. Carrie's favorite spot in Eastern Kentucky is the Rock Bridge Trail in Red River Gorge, which she always follows with a pizza at Miguel's.
Chris Woolery
Residential Energy Coordinator

Chris Woolery
Residential Energy Coordinator
[he, him]
Chris Woolery joined the Mountain Association’s Energy Team in 2011 after two decades as an ENERGY STAR® builder and energy services contractor. Over his career, Chris is proud to have helped deliver residential energy efficiency upgrades to more than 800 households. As the Residential Energy Coordinator, Chris manages the How$martKY™ program, which partners with rural electric cooperatives to implement residential energy improvements paid directly from their energy savings. His work also focuses on equitable energy policy and clean energy workforce development. When he is not being an "energy nerd," Chris enjoys spending time with family and in Kentucky’s beautiful natural spaces. Chris's favorite hiking spots include the Lily Mountain and Pilot Knob State Nature Preserves.
Christa Stiner
Accounting Manager

Christa Stiner
Accounting Manager

Debbie Reardon
Loan Fund Administrator

Debbie Reardon
Loan Fund Administrator

Elizabeth Almanza
Staff Accountant

Elizabeth Almanza
Staff Accountant
[she, her]
Elizabeth Almanza joined the Mountain Association in October 2021. She grew up in Richmond, Kentucky, and graduated from Berea College in 2018. She holds a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. While at Berea College, she participated in the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs which offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. Elizabeth has worked as Financial Advisor for White House Clinics, and most recently worked for Eastern Kentucky University as a Student Accounting Services Supervisor. Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her partner and daughter.
Emily LaDouceur
Business Support Specialist

Emily LaDouceur
Business Support Specialist

Hope Broecker
Energy Associate

Hope Broecker
Energy Associate

Jason Coomes
Chief Operating Officer

Jason Coomes
Chief Operating Officer

Jeni Meyer
Lending Specialist

Jeni Meyer
Lending Specialist

Jennifer Martin
Lending Specialist

Jennifer Martin
Lending Specialist
[she, her]
Jennifer joined the Lending Team in August 2022 with nearly 10 years of experience in mortgage lending and title work. She previously worked at a small title company and at local community banks. Since graduating from Morehead State University in 2007, she has always hoped to work for a nonprofit like Mountain Association. Jennifer is passionate about chronic health issues, mental health advocacy, and women’s issues. She loves Thai/Indian/Cajun dining, all things coffee, but most of all mom’s home cooking. A lifelong resident of Winchester, Kentucky, Jennifer enjoys a comfy life at home with her 13 year old cat, Max, spending time with her amazing partner, relaxing, and meeting up with friends. Jennifer's favorite spot in Eastern Kentucky is sitting with her parents on their front porch at their home in London.
Jimmy Owsley
Business Support Specialist

Jimmy Owsley
Business Support Specialist

Joe Sheehan
Data & Technology Manager

Joe Sheehan
Data & Technology Manager

José Socarras Ramos
Development Associate

José Socarras Ramos
Development Associate
[he, him]
José Socarras Ramos joined the Mountain Association in September of 2021 as a Development Associate. In his role he works to research grants, contribute to proposals, and support overall fundraising efforts for the organization. José is a change-maker with experience in socially driven work as the Communications Associate and Program Manager for Entrepreneurship for the Public Good at Berea College. He is a graduate of Berea College and holds a degree in Studio Art. José is an Entrepreneurship for the Public Good Fellow, as well. He enjoys hiking Berea's Pinnacles, eating at local food spots, and going to farmers markets. José’s favorite place to visit in Eastern Kentucky is Natural Bridge State Park for its breathtaking views.
Josh Bills
Commercial Energy Specialist

Josh Bills
Commercial Energy Specialist

Kacie Zechman
Chief Financial Officer

Kacie Zechman
Chief Financial Officer
[she, her]
Kacie joined the Mountain Association in 2019, having recently moved to Kentucky from Pennsylvania. She is a Certified Public Accountant with 10 years of experience in governmental and nonprofit accounting. Kacie is responsible for the Mountain Association’s financial planning, risk management and financial accountability, while also overseeing the administrative and collection sides of our lending program. At home Kacie enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons and growing their goat ranch. Kacie's favorite thing to do in Eastern Kentucky is grabbing a bite at the Back Porch Smokehouse while overlooking or boating on Lake Linville.
Ketaki Bhattacharyya
Consulting Services Manager

Ketaki Bhattacharyya
Consulting Services Manager
[she, her]
Ketaki joined the Mountain Association in 2015 and manages the Business Support Program, which works to connect small businesses and non-profits with experts to help them grow their impact. The expert services can range from QuickBooks training to strategic planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Warren Wilson College focusing on Social Ecology and a Master of Health Sciences degree focusing on Behavior and Community Intervention from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Ketaki has centered her career on supporting low-income people and directly-impacted communities around the world. She has worked on international projects with Save the Children, John Snow, Inc., and Johns Hopkins University in the areas of finance, operations, and communications. Ketaki's favorite spot in Eastern Kentucky is Creech Overlook in Kingdom Come State Park.
Kortney Hendrix
Lending Specialist

Kortney Hendrix
Lending Specialist

Les Roll
Special Projects Manager

Les Roll
Special Projects Manager
[he, him]
Les opened the Mountain Association’s Hazard office in 2011. He manages special projects for the Mountain Association and leads teams in developing new strategies for place-based investment of organizational resources. Les helped shepherd the pilot of our solar loan product in Letcher County, Kentucky and has led the Mountain Association’s energy financing to grocery stores. Since 2011, he has been responsible for more than $10.3 million in loans to businesses and nonprofits in Eastern Kentucky. Les has led Mountain Association’s community development work in Hazard and Perry County, including the creation of an ongoing community event series focused on artist-entrepreneurship and the creation of InVision Hazard, a people-led community action group focused on downtown revitalization and local government advocacy. Currently, he is leading Mountain Association’s first foray into real estate re-development, The 479 Main Project. A two-term AmeriCorps alum, Les is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law and a member of the Kentucky Bar Association. He was certified as an Economic Development Financial Professional in 2012. Les' favorite thing about Eastern Kentucky is all the wonderful local food options, including Francis’ Diner in Hazard, Jumbo House in Whitesburg, and the Wrigley Taproom in Corbin.
Leslie Ferguson-Oles
Development Director

Leslie Ferguson-Oles
Development Director
[she, her]
Leslie serves as the Development Director for the Mountain Association, working across the organization to ensure funding aligns with and advances the organization’s strategic goals. She started at the Mountain Association in 2016 as a Research Associate, tasked with studying economic trends and opportunities in Eastern Kentucky in order to develop and implement strategic projects for the organization. Talk to her anytime about community wealth building strategies or sustainable tourism. Leslie holds a Master's in English Composition and Rhetoric from Western Carolina University and a Bachelor's in English-Writing from Berea College with a minor in Sustainability and Environmental Studies. Originally from Western North Carolina, Leslie is happy to call Berea home. Leslie's favorite activities in Eastern Kentucky are waterfall hikes in the Big South Fork, visits to the Pine Mountain Settlement school, and book browsing at the Fuzzy Duck in Morehead.
Peter Hille
President

Peter Hille
President
[he, him]
Peter Hille has been President of the Mountain Association since 2015. He joined the Mountain Association's board in 2003 and served as board treasurer and board chair before joining the Mountain Association's staff in 2012 as Executive Vice President, overseeing our programs in energy, forestry, lending and business support, as well as finance and operations. During his tenure, Peter has helped expand the Mountain Association’s work in many ways, including in the clean energy sector through our New Energy Intern program and our solar financing that makes solar more accessible to businesses and organizations serving low-income communities. Previously, Peter was Director of the Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College, working in leadership and community development throughout Central Appalachia for 22 years. He also served as a consultant to regional and national organizations and implemented community development projects internationally in Russia and Slovakia. Peter currently chairs the board of the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation and serves on the Berea Human Rights Commission. A graduate of Swarthmore College, his background includes experience in grassroots organizing and small business management. He lives with his wife in a passive solar home they designed and built in the midst of fifty acres of forest near Berea, Kentucky. He enjoys fishing, hiking, music, ongoing home improvement projects and family gatherings, particularly in his role as a grandfather. Peter's favorite activity in Eastern Kentucky is floating the Cumberland River.
Robert Allen
Lending Director

Robert Allen
Lending Director

Toni Wells
Human Resources Manager

Toni Wells
Human Resources Manager
[she/her]
Toni joined the Mountain Association’s staff in 2022. She has worked in a variety of Human Resources roles at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) for the last 18 years. Toni brings a wealth of experience to the Mountain Association and its affiliate organizations, particularly in the areas of employee relations, training and development, compensation, compliance, employee supervision, organizational design, recruitment and retention, performance management, and conflict resolution. Toni has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Geography from EKU; she also holds certificates in Civil Mediation and Online Course Development & Instruction. Toni lives in Berea with her husband, son and two dogs. Together they enjoy traveling, camping, live music, farmers markets and the local, natural splendor that makes Kentucky special!
Yvonne Burchett
Lending Associate

Yvonne Burchett
Lending Associate

Zuojay Johnson
Operations Manager

Zuojay Johnson
Operations Manager