Board of Directors
Bill Rhyne, President
Bill is currently the Senior Director of Operations Support for Harris Teeter LLC. He holds a BS degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College, a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech, and is a graduate of The Executive Program (TEP) at the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia. Bill has lived in the Matthews area since 1998, and has served on the following Board of Directors: Matthews Chamber of Commerce (Past President), Lenoir-Rhyne College Alumni (Past President), Matthews Help Center, Hospice of Union County, and the Matthews Rotary Club. He has served on the MFMC Board since 2012 and also currently serves on the Board for the Mecklenburg County Council, Boy Scouts. Bill is an active member at Cross and Crown Lutheran Church. Bill and his wife Heidi have three college aged children.
Katie Benston, Secretary
A consultant for nonprofits and community volunteer, Katie has more than 20 years of experience with nonprofits, including more than 8 years in healthcare. She was previously the Chief Program Officer of Care Ring, providing strategic direction and oversight for the agency’s programs, including the Low-Cost Clinic, Physicians Reach Out, ACA enrollment, and Nurse-Family Partnership. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a former President (2012) of the Charlotte Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and a graduate of Leadership Charlotte, Class 35. Katie grew up in England and South Carolina, graduated from Furman University, and has lived in Charlotte for 12 years with her husband, Tommy, and their two middle-school aged children. In addition to Matthews Free Medical Clinic, Katie volunteers with many charities serving children, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the Bruce Irons Camp Fund, and Reach Out and Read Carolinas.
Lou Ann McAdams, MD, Board Member & MFMC Medical Director
Russ Panetta, Treasurer
Russ retired from Clariant Corporation in 2014 after 33 years of service in finance, the last 25 years serving as the Assistant Treasurer for Clariant’s US and Canadian entities. Prior to Clariant, his work experience included audit and international accounting reporting responsibilities with Pricewaterhouse and Company and Morgan Guaranty Bank respectively. His educational background includes a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting from Villanova University and an MBA from Pace University. Originally from New York, he moved to Charlotte in 1983 with his wife Kae. They have three grown children and are active volunteers with Saint Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte.
Dr. Lou Ann McAdams graduated from the University of Notre Dame and subsequently from Indiana University School of Medicine. She completed a family medicine residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Indianapolis and she is board certified in Family Medicine. She is a co-founder of the clinic and oversees the clinical operations. She and her husband Steve have twin daughters, Molly and Ellie. Lou enjoys exercise, cooking, reading and dogs Sydney and Lexi.
Taryn Mecia, Board Member
Taryn Mecia is the Vice President of Legal Compliance at Harris Teeter, with responsibility for Harris Teeter’s transactional legal matters, including real estate and corporate contracts. She is a Board Member of the Association of Corporate Counsel in Charlotte, and heads the Sponsorship and Programming Committee. She is also involved with the hearing impaired community, and is the Co-Chair of Spring Camp Cheerio, an annual weekend program for families with hearing impaired children. Taryn is active in her son’s elementary school PTA, where she is the Past President, former chair of the School Leadership Team and currently serves on the PTA Board. Taryn is a graduate of Duke University and The University of North Carolina School of Law. Taryn lives in Charlotte with her husband Tony and their 3 children. When not working, Taryn enjoys cooking, traveling and reading.
Jim Tobalski, Board Member
Jim Tobalski has worked 40 years in marketing and communications. He most recently served as Senior Vice President for Novant Health, retiring in 2013. Now, Jim writes for the travel website WanderingRoseTravels.com and contributes photography to the online resource.
Jim also volunteers his time with St. Matthew Parish and the USO North Carolina Charlotte Center. He’s a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Jim and his family love hiking and exploring our state and national parks.
John Urban, Board Member
John Urban is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science in Arts, Bachelor of Architecture and a Masters of Architecture.
John is a licensed Architect and the Principal of Urban Architectural Group PA.
John is very active in the Matthews community. He is currently serving his fourth term as Commissioner of the Town of Matthews as well as a Board Member for the Matthews Historic Foundation, The QUAD Alliance of South Charlotte, The Matthews Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of the Red Brick Partnership for Downtown Matthews. John also serves at Forest Hill Church.
John resides in Matthews with his wife Terry, they have four daughters and two grandchildren.
Jamie Neely, Board Member
Jamie is the CEO of RP Signs in Charlotte, a full service design, fabrication and installation company. He started RP Signs in 1988 after spending four years in Rock Hill, SC as a Police Officer and now employs over twenty people. Jamie and his wife, Leigh Ann have two children and four grandchildren. Jamie and Leigh Ann attend Calvary Church.
Darragh Bailey, DDS, Board Member
Darragh Bailey is co-owner and practicing dentist at Cotswold Family Dentistry, where she has worked for 16 years.Darragh graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry in 1989. Through subsequent moves as part of her husband Russ’s medical training, she has practiced as an associate dentist in Charlottesville and Winston-Salem, before moving to Charlotte to stay in 1996. She is a member of the American Dental Association, North Carolina Dental Society, and Charlotte Dental Society.
She has been a supporter and dental volunteer at the Matthews Free Medical Clinic for several years, participating in many dental screening programs. As an active member of Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, Darragh enjoys serving in many roles, including teaching and music programs.
Tim Cheuvront, DC, Board Member
Dr. Cheuvront provides modern and traditional chiropractic services and other alternative medicine treatments through his local practice. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and later went on to earn his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National University of Health Sciences. Dr. Cheuvront and his wife Lori have three grown children and one grandchild.
Sharon Portwood, JD, PhD, Board Member
serves as Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr. Portwood received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, and after more than ten years as a practicing trial attorney, received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Virginia. Her research reflects an integration of her training and practice in law, developmental psychology, community psychology, and public health applied to a broad spectrum of issues involving health and human services policy and practice, particularly as they impact children, youth, and families.
David Dufresne, Board Member
Captain David Dufresne – David started his law enforcement career with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office in 1994. Since joining the Matthews Police Department in 1997, he has served as a Patrol Officer, Sergeant in both the Patrol & Criminal Investigations Divisions, and Division Commander in the Criminal Investigations, Patrol Division, and Support Services Division. He has attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science Degree in Leadership and Organizational Change, and is a graduate of Session 251 FBI National Academy.
Staff
Amy Carr, MBA, Executive Director
Amy has a Masters of Business Administration degree and has worked with non-profits for over 14 years. Over the past few years, Amy has served as the Matthews Chamber of Commerce President, Chair of the Matthews Human Services Council and MedLink of Mecklenburg Chair. Amy currently sits on the Smile 4 Life Board and the Community Health Alliance. Originally from Pennsylvania, she moved to Charlotte 1999. She and her husband Ken have three children and attend Elevation Church.
Melody Hibbard, Office Manager
Melody graduated from Kings College in Charlotte, NC as CMA. Melody grew up on a Navajo reservation in Arizona until her family later moved to Brazil. Melody and her husband, Keith, worked 29 years with a Christian non-profit in Indonesia and the Philippines. Their three, now grown and married children were born and grew up in Asia. She is now also enjoying her two grandchildren. Melody and Keith have been part of Elevation Church since 2006.
Sandy Farrelly, NP, Nurse Manager
Sandy graduated from UNCC with a BS in Nursing and MS in Nursing. She is originally from Minnesota and has lived in the Charlotte area for over thirty years. She and her husband, Joe, have two children and attend St. Matthews Church.
Jennifer Smith, CMA AMAA, Certified Medical Assistant
Jennifer graduated from South Piedmont Community College as a Certified Medical Assistant in 2014. A North Carolina native, Jennifer and her husband, Jonathan, have two beautiful children. When Jennifer isn’t spending time with her family or baking, she loves spending time with their two kitties.
Megan Ducker, PharmD, Pharmacist
Megan is originally from Asheville, NC. She graduated from Wingate University School of Pharmacy in 2011. Following graduation, she completed one year of post-graduate residency training at the VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC. She is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at Wingate University School of Pharmacy, and her practice site is at the clinic. Megan and the pharmacy students provide medication therapy management services, along with group and individual education on lifestyle and medication-related topics.
Errica Redmond-Klaus – Project Manager
Errica has organized and executed events in the Charlotte area and beyond, for over a decade. Errica and her husband Justin love spending time with family and friends when they are not managing their design and art businesses.
Heleka Solomon – Front Desk Coordinator
Heleka is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt. Heleka lives and loves to encourage others and fosters an environment of peace, joy and happiness. Heleka and her husband Kirk moved to Charlotte from Louisiana in 2005 and are raising two wonderful children, Ethan and Abigail.
