Meet our Board of Directors
The Hospitality House Board of Directors works to ensure the agency is meeting the needs of the community in a responsible fashion. If you are interested in serving on the board please email Board Development Committee Chair Lory Whitehead
Steve Murphree, Co-Chair - Ashe County
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Representing Ashe County, Steve has served on the Hospitality House board since 2015. He is a real estate broker by profession and holds an MBA from Auburn University. Steve is a Vietnam-era veteran and has a long-standing record of service, commitment, and community involvement, having volunteered for the Ashe County Sharing Center, Greenville Community Shelters, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, and the Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina.
Lory Whitehead, Vice Chair - Watauga County
A retired U.S. Army Officer, Lory holds a BA in math and a MS in criminology. She lives in Boone and has been active in the community through High Country Lifelong Learners, the Watauga Amateur Radio Club, High Country Writers, and the Boone Unitarian Universalists Fellowship. Lory also has experience working with the Bread of Life Kitchen and Unitarian Universalists of Transylvania County and as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. Lory joined the Hospitality House board in 2018.
Gary Newman, Treasurer - Wilkes County
Finance Committee Chair
Gary lives in Wilkesboro and has served on the Hospitality House board since 2015. He is retired from Lowes Companies. Gary’s past nonprofit involvement includes board membership with Samaritan Kitchen and Wilkes Habitat for Humanity. He has been active in the North Wilkesboro First Baptist Church, Wilkes Circles of Care, Communities in Schools, and Wilkes Master Gardeners. Gary earned a BS/BA from Appalachian State University and is a licensed NC Residential Building Contractor.
Pan McCaslin, Secretary - Watauga County
Hearts of Hospitality House President
Resource Development Committee Chair
Pan lives in Valle Crucis and works as a psychiatric nurse and licensed counselor. She holds a MA in theology and a M.Ed. in counseling. She has served on the board for two years and is also chair of Hearts of Hospitality House. As well, Pan is the chair of the national Board of Archives for the Episcopal Church and is very involved at Holy Cross Episcopal Church. She formerly served as director of the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network in Northwest Arkansas, as a member of the Watauga County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, and worked as a drug and alcohol counselor.
Dr. Christina May - Co-Chair Watauga County
Board Development Committee Chair
After retiring from a 25-year career as a Naval Officer, Chris took up residence in the High Country and has been very active with nonprofit organizations, serving as founding vice president of F.A.R.M. Café and on the Hospitality House board since 2013. She also served as moderator of High Country United Church and on the national board of One World Everybody Eats. Chris holds a Ph.D. in human services/nonprofit management, a MPA, and a M.Div. in Interfaith theology. She works as an internship coordinator and adjunct professor at Appalachian State University.
Neil Hartley - Watauga County
Facilities Committee Chair
A resident of Boone, Neil is a semi-retired home and building inspector and electrician. He formerly worked as a building code official for Watauga County, the Town of Boone, and the City of Hickory. Neil has served on the Hospitality House board since 2016 and says he has a heart for people who struggle. He has been active in Boone United Methodist Church and as a member of the Watauga County Planning Board.
Tom Trueman - Watauga County
Personnel Committee Chair
Tom is a retired Federal contracting executive and engineering program manager who worked in the field of air traffic management and space exploration. He holds a BS in business administration. Tom lives in Boone and has served on the Hospitality House board since 2016. He is also a member of the Life Villages board of directors and president of the Kiwanis Club of Boone.
Diandra Lynn Patterson - Watauga County
Lynn joined the board in 2016. Having worked for Appalachian State University for the past 26 years, currently as the university program specialist in the office of the Dean of Libraries, Lynn oversees 120 student workers and helps students on academic probation find community service placements in the community. She is a member of the university’s Early Intervention Team, secretary for the Black Faculty and Staff Association, works with the Black Student Association and advises the National Pan Hellenic Council. Residing in the historic Lake Junaluska area, Lynn is an active member of the Boone Mennonite Brethren Church.
Mary Anne Caplinger - Wilkes County
Mary Ann joined the board in 2018. She resides in North Wilkesboro and is an artist, teacher, and author, specializing in fiber art and textiles. An alumna of Appalachian State University, she earned a MA in art education. Mary Ann has supported Hospitality House for several years in various roles. She has also been active in St. Paul’s Assistance Ministry, St. Paul’s Vestry, Wilkes Art Gallery, Wilkes County Quilters, and the Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership.
Jacque Dunbar - Watauga County
Jacque is a retired educator and school administrator who lives in Boone. She has over 30 years of experience in various NC school systems. She holds an MPH and has also worked as a health education coordinator. Having served as a volunteer in Hospitality House programs for five years, Jacque joined the board in 2018. She has supported several other High Country nonprofits including F.A.R.M. Café, Habitat for Humanity, and the Humane Society, and she is active in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Sgt. Casey Miller - Watauga County
A member of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, Casey became very familiar with Hospitality House through many hours spent patrolling and working to improve and strengthen relationships in the community surrounding our facility. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Appalachian, as well as various law enforcement certifications, such as drug recognition expert and standardized field sobriety testing instructor. Casey has also been involved with Middle Fork Baptist Church, the Masonic Lodge, and RISE of the High Country.
Adele Dunbar - Watauga County
Adele joined our board in 2018. She and her husband Charles have lived in Watauga County since 1982, raising two daughters that graduated from Watauga High School. Adele retired from a thirty year career in elementary teaching career in Mitchell and Caldwell counties. A member of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian, Adele has served as church elder, mission’s committee member, Women’s Circle member and moderator of the local Presbyterian Women’s group. In addition to Hospitality House, Adele stays active in the Blowing Rock community, having been a Girl Scout leader, Blowing Rock Women’s Club member, officer of the Blowing Rock School PTO and Blowing Rock Cares Food Pantry volunteer.
Kenneth Brown - Watauga County
Ken has been a Boone resident for 12 years. He is semi-retired, and he and his wife have four children and eight grandchildren. During his career, he has owned and operated private golf clubs, country clubs, golf courses and restaurants in Indiana, Illinois, and Florida. He and his sons continue to operate a private golf club in Carmel, Indiana. Ken has also developed a 178-acre single home development in Indianapolis and a 30-unit beachfront condo complex in Florida.
Jasmine Wofford - Appalachian State
Jasmine is a political science major and nonprofit management minor at Appalachian State University. She joined the board in 2019. Her experience with nonprofits include five years at Seth’s Wish in Fayetteville, where she assisted with community center operations, planning events, and the food pantry. She has also volunteered with Unchain Cumberland County, an animal rights organization. She served as an intern with the Deviere Campaign, during which time she participated in canvassing and donor stewardship and solicitation, and she completed an AppState alternative learning experience working with sex trafficking victims in Charlotte.
Kenneth Mourning - Appalachian State
A business administration major and nonprofit management minor at Appalachian State University, Kenny joined the board in 2019. He is active in several campus organizations, such as the AppState Economics Club, for which he serves as secretary and board member, and Campus Crusade for Christ, for which he serves as a leader and emcee of events. He has held sales associate positions in local businesses. He recently participated in a mission trip to New York City, where he gathered data on diversity efforts at New York University, Queens College, Brooklyn College, and Columbia University.
Kristin Hyle - Watauga County
Kristin is Assistant Director of General Education at Appalachian State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro. She also worked with Appalachian’s Freshman Seminar Program. Kristin joined the board in 2019, after having volunteered with Hospitality House for a few years as a dinner server and baker. Other experience includes working as a volunteer coordinator for the Watauga County Democratic Party and with Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.
Peter Finne - Avery County
Pete and his wife Yvonne moved to the area in 2016. Shortly thereafter he began volunteering in our Community Kitchen. Born and raised in a small town just north of New York City, Pete joined the Navy in 1969 and continued to work for the Navy as either a contractor or as a civilian Navy employee until retirement. In 2015, Pete began volunteering with Low Country Food Bank in Charleston, SC, cooking Meals on Wheels for 250 recipients and assembling an average of 500-700 after-school meals per day. Additionally, he has been co-lead in six Cooking Matters classes and assisted the Asheville YMCA in getting their Cooking Matters classes started.He and Yvonne are members of St. Luke’s Episcopal and consider everyone at Hospitality House part of their extended High Country family.
Russell Headrick - Watauga County
Wayne Harris Sr. - Wilkes County
Suzannah Higby - Watauga County
Kay Borkowski - Advisory Council
Founder, Hearts of Hospitality House
Board Chair Emeritus
Dr. David Kline - Advisory Council
Allen C. Moseley, Esq - Advisory Council