Hope in the Hills is a 501(c)3 organization run by an all-volunteer board of industry professionals.
Contact us at hopeinthehillswv@gmail.com to get involved or for more information about giving to support this project.
Healing Appalachia Board of Directors
DAVE LAVENDER, PRESIDENT & TREASURER
Huntingtonian Dave Lavender is a Southern Ohio native and University of Kentucky grad. He has served on more than a dozen community and non-profit boards, and has worked in five states for newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and social media. In his day job, Dave Lavender runs the West Virginia Film Office, for the West Virginia Department of Economic Development.
QUINCY GRAY MCMICHAEL, VERNAL VIBE RISE
Quincy Gray McMichael holds a degree in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic and is an entrepreneur, permaculture designer, organic farmer, and artist with over a decade of experience working with recovering addicts across the nation. She has both directed and collaborated with numerous statewide and community not-for-profit organizations.
IAN THORNTON, VICE PRESIDENT
Ian Thornton was born and raised in Huntington, WV and graduated from Marshall University in 2008 with a degree in Music Performance. In 2010, he founded the Huntington Music & Arts Festival, He founded WhizzbangBAM in 2015, which represents multiple acts including; Tyler Childers, Ona, William Matheny, and Arlo McKinley & the Lonesome Sound.
TRACY LEVINE, HEALING HOUSE
As Executive Director at Healing Housing, Williamson County’s first and only nonprofit sober living community for women, Tracey Levine embraces her role with compassion and commitment. Whether guiding program development, getting to know new residents, engaging the board of directors or driving the mission in any number of other ways, Tracey keeps her eyes on the end goal: helping women heal from addiction in a safe, affordable and supportive environment.
CHARLES “KEEBIE” GILKERSON, SECRETARY
Charles "Keebie" Gilkerson holds a Master of Public Administration (Non-Profit Management) degree from Marshall University, and is a proven community organizer. He has served on many Boards and is the former President of Create Huntington. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer of WhizzbangBAM.
THOM BOGGS
Thom Boggs is a Huntington native and a graduate of Marshall University and the West Virginia University College of Law. Thom is a trial lawyer who primarily represents people in WV and KY against corporations and insurance companies. Over the years, he has played in several local bands, and is a co-founder of Hooligans Homecoming, an annual reunion for local 80s metal players that benefits Facing Hunger Food Bank and Little Victories Animal Rescue. As a veteran of many local non-profit boards, Thom has primarily focused his energies on issues related to housing and food insecurity. He joined the Hope in the Hills Board out of a realization that addiction lies at the heart of many of the challenges faced by Appalachia, and that recovery is the only way out.