Full Steam Ahead
In a year of transition, one must be adaptable to change. We, at United Way, have not been immune to this. While we said goodbye to one beloved employee, we decided to make the most of this time by reassessing our needs and how this would allow us to better serve our community.
We are very pleased to welcome two new faces to our United Way team! Our new members have allowed us to look at the strengths of each individual on our staff and we have restructured our duties to allow each employee to truly shine.
This has given a new boost of energy and we have hit the ground running now that the world is reopening. Our new staff have been busy meeting with local agencies to assess their needs and to see how we can create a new partnership to ensure everyone’s needs are being met to the very best of our ability.
We have also said goodbye to some of our cherished board members. Please join us in thanking Mike Vermeulen, Lorri Myers, Mark McClure and Dustin Millaway for the years of dedicated service to United Way of Anderson County. Thank you for the impact you had on our agency!
We do hope that you will help us welcome our new employees and new board members!
Welcome to our new employees
Amanda is a long-time East Tennessee resident from Madisonville. She graduated with a BA in Child Development from Maryville College in 2016. During her time at Maryville College she found her passion for nonprofit as an intern for Family Promise of Blount Co. It was then she also found her passion for community connection and serving vulnerable populations. After graduation, she taught at the Goddard School and later decided to return back to the nonprofit world, when she returned back to Family Promise as the Community Engagement Coordinator. Then in 2018, Amanda accepted the Program Coordinator position at CASA of the Tennessee Heartland in Anderson Co where she remained for almost 3 years. Amanda fell in love with Anderson Co and quickly became an active member of the community. She is now an ambassador for the Anderson Co Chamber of Commerce, the chair for Young Professionals of Anderson Co, along with the chair for ASAP, a member of Clinton Rotary Club, she sits on multiple committees: Community Action Board, Government Relations, and Policy and Procedure of the Anderson Co Preschool. As the Outreach Coordinator, Amanda hopes to continue to serve the underserved by providing support, connecting families to resources, and helping to educate, not only the families, but the community on what it means to be underserved. At the end of each day Amanda hopes to leave the agencies and community members she serves feeling empowered.
Rachel is a career educator who taught most recently at Oak Ridge High School (Go Wildcats!). She is thrilled to move into work that will systemically change lives in Anderson County after years in the classroom. She is pursuing her MPA and excited to intern with an organization that works with the community she holds dear.
Welcome to our new 2021 Board Members
Garfield Adams
Principal at Oak Ridge High School
Dr. Garfield Adams is a native of Oak Ridge TN. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Science from the University of TN Knoxville. He then went on to receive his Ed.S. in Educational Administration and Supervision and his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Lincoln Memorial University. Dr. Adams taught for a total of 11 years; three years at Central High School as a special education teacher and eight years with Oak Ridge Schools as a special education teacher and behavioral specialist. He is entering his tenth year in administration. He was an assistant principal at South Doyle High School for three years and returned to his native hometown of Oak Ridge, TN for the 2014-2015 school year as an assistant principal at Robertsville Middle School. Dr. Adams served as the Executive Principal at Robertsville Middle School from 2015- January 2018. Dr. Adams served as the Exceptional Education Director for Hamilton County Schools from January 2018 – November 2020. Dr. Adams is currently the Executive Principal of Oak Ridge High School.
I am excited to serve on the United Way Board where we can assist all communities in our surrounding areas. Oak Ridge and the State of Tennessee will always be home to me. Working with a group of talented individuals for one common goal is truly an honor and a blessing.
Maria Catron
Executive Director at Oak Ridge Housing Authority
Over the past 18 years Maria Catron has served in a variety of roles in the public housing/affordable housing industry. Her experience ranges from multi-family and commercial redevelopment to community programs and services involving self-sufficiency and homeownership programs. Catron joined the Oak Ridge Housing Authority in the fall of 2019 as the Executive Director and despite a global pandemic is leading the implementation of ORHA’s vision to create vibrant, stable communities. She is also a graduate of Leadership Oak Ridge 2020; the most unique class ever!
Catron has served on several local, regional, and state boards focused on affordable housing and community service. Currently, she is serving as Treasurer for the Tennessee Affordable Housing Coalition (TNAHC) and Senior Vice-President for the Tennessee Association for Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (THARA). Locally, Ms. Catron has become involved with the Oak Ridge community through board service with The Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, Altrusa, and the United Way of Anderson County.
Even though her birthplace is Brooklyn, New York, Maria has spent most of her childhood and adult life in Upper East Tennessee; primarily Rogersville and Kingsport. Ms. Catron currently resides in Oak Ridge with her husband, Darryl, and Nevaeh and Braden; two of her six children.
“Being part of the United Way Board is an opportunity to provide thoughtful, innovative impact and serve our community in a meaningful way. I am grateful to join the UW board and serve alongside exceptional leaders in our community.”
Michael Foster
City Manager at City of Rocky Top
Michael Foster is the Rocky Top City Manager where he has served in this role for the past 5 years. Michael is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, a TN Certified Municipal Finance Officer and a Certified Public Manager. Michael is a native of Anderson County and lives in Clinton with his wife Katie and their three children. They have a 7-year-old boy named Tate and 2.5-year-old twin girls named Graylin and Denton. Michael is extremely active in his community serving on multiple boards including the Anderson County and Rocky Top Chamber Board of Directors, North Anderson County Boys and Girls Club, Anderson County Tourism Board of Directors and Anderson County Economic Development Association Board of Directors. Michael is the chair of the Anderson County Chamber Government and Community relations committee, a member of the Clinton Rotary Club, Tennessee City Manager Association. He attends Faith Promise Church in Clinton with his family, a passionate Vols sports fan and a CrossFitter at Clinch Valley CrossFit.
I decided to join the United Way Board to support a great organization that is doing outstanding work in our community.
Gary Johnson
President at CG Services Corporation
My name is Gary Johnson. I am a product of the Oak Ridge school System as well as graduate from Tennessee Wesleyan College (University). I currently serve as President of CG Services Corporation. I am married to Cindy R. Johnson. We have three daughters Alaina, Savanna and Monica. I am a member of the Oak Valley Baptist Church. I serve as a mentor for the Career Pathways program. I have served on the Board of Directors for the ORBC of the Clinch Valley. I have worked with numerous programs that serve and provide outreach to others.
“My reasons for joining the United Way Board are to continue to be of service to others. When you look at what the United Way does and the number of people that are reached through its programs this is where I need to be. Helping guide and serve others is a true passion of mine. I am looking forward to jumping in and serving the community.”
Laura Stewart
Director, Finance at Y-12 Federal Credit Union
Laura Stewart is the Director of Finance at Y-12 Federal Credit Union. She has been with the Credit Union for 3 years. Laura is a graduate of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and is married with 2 kids. They enjoy spending time on the lake and camping.
I joined the United Way Finance Committee and then had the opportunity to sit on this past year’s Funding Panel. Being on the Funding Panel, I saw firsthand the direct impact that the United Way of Anderson County has on our community. I am thrilled to be one of your new board members.
JD Readle
Electrical Engineering Manager at Centrus Energy
I am a multidisciplinary, enthusiastic individual with over ten years experience solving technical problems in various academic and industrial settings. By combining my scientific background with excellent communication skills, I have consistently achieved success in research projects, product development, and product management.
