Leadership Team

Executive Director

Travis Smith, MDiv. founded Blue Ridge Hope in 2014. Four years later BRH officially became a non-profit. Travis is a grief counselor who served with Hospices in western North Carolina and in Charlotte, NC for 10 years. After his time with Hospice, Travis served as Director of an adult day health facility.

His experience in helping individuals cope with death and loss is second to none. Travis has overseen many grief groups as well as grief camps for children. Travis prides himself on his ability to work with people of all religious and faith backgrounds. His approach to coaching is client driven.

Travis Smith

Travis earned his bachelors degree in religious studies as well as his Master's of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC. He is married to Allyson and together they have 4 children.

Travis is passionate about removing barriers to access quality health services, promoting holistic integrated care for the community, and driving the vision and mission of Blue Ridge Hope is to connect individuals with resources that will help them be successful in attaining their emotional goals, reconciling personal loss and developing health and wholeness to those who so desperately need it.

Assistant Executive Director

Allyson co-founded Blue Ridge Hope along with her husband, Travis. Before she began working full-time at BRH, she worked in ophthalmology for over 15 years in Charlotte, NC.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Gardner-Webb University.

Allyson is the glue that holds Blue Ridge Hope together. From answering the phone, to communicating with insurance companies, recruiting counselors, helping train all of our staff, and so much more! Allyson does a plethora of other things behind the scenes that keeps Blue Ridge Hope up and running.

Allyson Smith

In her free time, Allyson enjoys reading and traveling. She loves being a wife, friend, and mother to 4 adult children and 1 fur-baby.

Director of Community Engagement

John Miller (M.Div) joined Blue Ridge Hope in August of 2022. He has a true passion to serve the community and to make a positive impact in the lives of everyone he meets, especially students and their families. John has served in ministry for over 20 years, including serving at First Baptist Church of Rutherfordton since 2016. John leads Hopeworks, our afterschool program that provides a safe and positive environment for students to build community, in addition to getting help with their homework.

John loves Starbucks coffee, playing guitar, listening to rock music, and spending time with his family (Mindy, Abby, Hayden, and Mackenzie).

John Miller

John earned his Bachelors Degree in Religious Education (with a minor in Business Administration), as well as a Master’s of Divinity in Pastoral Care & Counseling from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC.

Grant Development Consultation

Renee is a highly accomplished development professional with a consistent record of growth and revenue goal achievement across various prestigious organizations. Her expertise spans closing high-value gifts, strategic planning, data-driven analysis, and board management, with a keen ability to build and nurture alliances and collaborations.

Renee's career is marked by notable achievements, including her role as the Director of Development at the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) from 2016 to 2020. As the inaugural director, she secured $200M in matching funds to unlock Congressional funding and built strategic partnerships to support innovative scientific research in food and agriculture. Her efforts led to significant six, seven, and eight-figure contributions, demonstrating her exceptional fundraising capabilities.

Renee Bullion

At the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) from 2013 to 2016, Renee raised over $30M through strategic donor engagement with a diverse portfolio of funders. She worked closely with industry leaders and public sector executives to support biomedical research projects, negotiating funding and sponsorship agreements, and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.

Donor Development Consultation

Chelsey lives in Asheville, NC and brings with her a wealth of development experience. She has worked for over 17 years in the non profit sector and 16 of those years has been in development and marketing. We are excited to have Chelsey on board!

Chelsey graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wingate University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. She has been recognized for her academic excellence with awards such as Outstanding Senior in Sociology, President’s and Dean’s List honors, and memberships in Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Kappa Delta Honors Societies.

Chelsey Wilson

Clinical Team

Amy Cochran McCraw

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

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Miranda Queen

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate

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Stephanie Lattimore

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

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Lynette Dover

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

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Bekah Hunt Fleetwood

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate

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Michael Taub

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

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David Hislop

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate

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Joey Revis

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

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Jerry Wease

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

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Joann Woods

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate

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Faith Hislop

Psychiatric Physician Assistant

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Karin White

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate

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Kaitlyn Canipe

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate

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Heather Banfield

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate

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Gardenia Rabadan

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate

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Kathy Brok

License Clinical Social Worker Associate

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Katherine Mace

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

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