Mountain Association President Peter Hille recently announced his plans to retire as of May 1, 2025. With that, he also announced the organization’s plans to launch a search for the next president in late Fall 2023.
“The Mountain Association has a rich history of community economic development in Eastern Kentucky that dates back to 1976, and I’ve been honored to be a part of its legacy in building a bright future,” Peter said. “We have an amazing staff and serve incredible people doing awesome work to bring about real change. I feel really good about where we are as an organization today and where we are headed.”
Peter has served our organization in various capacities for more than two decades. President since 2015, he initially joined Mountain Association’s board in 2003 and served as board treasurer and board chair before joining Mountain Association’s staff in 2012 as Executive Vice President. During his tenure, he has helped grow Mountain Association’s work in many ways, including new lending products, expanded clean energy work, more support for small businesses and nonprofits, and programs that allow for deeper community engagement. He also led the organization through planning and restructuring processes that ensure Mountain Association’s programs and policies align with the organization’s values of equity and inclusion.
“Peter’s leadership over the last 30+ years has left an indelible mark on the region,” said Board Chair Robin Gabbard. “He has dedicated his life to building a just transition to a new economy in Appalachia. To ensure a smooth transition, our succession plan allows for the new president to have a full year of overlap with Peter ahead of his retirement.”
Please stay tuned for further details in the coming weeks.
If you would like to learn more about the Mountain Association in the meantime, please check out our 2021-2025 strategic plan and our 2022 impact report available here.