KAREN WALLACE-MEIGS
(she/her/hers)
Executive Director
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Karen Wallace-Meigs previously served as executive director of Communities in Schools of Orange County (NC) and Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina, as well as transitional executive director of the Council on Aging of Buncombe County. At Communities in Schools, she worked to bring health and nutrition services onto campuses to immediately address critical social determinants of health for youth. A former Durham Public Schools Teacher of the Year, Wallace-Meigs has held advancement positions at UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Asheville, and Pisgah Legal Services, and was coordinator of public information, volunteers, and grants for the Orange County (NC) Schools. A lifelong resident of North Carolina, she moved to western North Carolina with her family in 2003. Wallace-Meigs is a graduate of UNC Charlotte and holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University, a DEI certificate from Cornell University, and was a Fellow of the nonpartisan North Carolina Institute for Political Leadership. This fall, she will begin a specialized healthcare leadership certificate program. Among myriad volunteer activities, Karen Wallace-Meigs formerly served on the N. C. Council for Women, representing that body on the N. C. Domestic Violence Commission.
MARINA STUTES
(she/her/hers)
Finance Coordinator
marina@mywcms.org, Ext. 1317
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Born and raised in Moldova, Marina moved to the United States in 2009, embracing the opportunities and challenges of a new country. She is happily married, with two wonderful sons who inspire her every day. She speaks three languages, a testament to her deep appreciation for cultural diversity and lifelong learning. Her strong work ethic and relentless curiosity fuels her drive to continuously grow, both personally and professionally. She is always ready to take on new challenges, eager to push boundaries, and committed to achieving excellence in everything she does.
ROSALIA McHATTIE
(she/her/hers/ella)
Director of WIN and Agency Operations
rosalia@mywcms.org, Ext: 1307
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Rosalia directs the agency’s interpreter program and operations. Originally from Lima, Peru, Rosalía has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Lima. She has worked in important companies in the pharmaceutical and financial field in Peru, where she stood out for her work ethic and excellence in customer service. Bilingual in Spanish and English, Rosalía moved to the United States in 2013. Years later she decided to embark on a new direction in her professional career and graduated from the Medical Office Administration program at Haywood Community College, with Cum Laude honors. She obtained the Medical Interpreter Certification from the National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters-NBCMI and is also certified as an Interpreter Trainer by Cross-Cultural Communications. Married and with a son at NC State, Rosalía enjoys her free time cooking with her husband, listening to music, playing sports, and watching series.
JULIE SCHNEYER
(She/They/Ella/Elle)
Manager of Project Access
julie@mywcms.org, Ext: 1312
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Julie is delighted to be on board as the Manager of Project Access, working alongside communities and healthcare providers to broaden access to quality healthcare in our region. Julie holds a B.A. in Urban Studies from Barnard College and an M.Ed. in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education from Indiana University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, working on community projects, studying Spanish, and doing yoga.
NIKI DUFF
(she/her/hers)
Director of Development & Communications
niki@mywcms.org, Ext: 1310
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Niki serves as the organization’s Director of Development & Communications. She focuses on fundraising for WCMS programs, sourcing grant funding, and managing WCMS marketing strategies and special projects. As a native of WNC, Niki has a strong connection and commitment to this community. She is a graduate of UNC Asheville and holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and a digital marketing and graphic design certificate from Blue Ridge Community College. She was nominated for a Trailblazer award for outstanding leadership through PROpel AVL. Niki enjoys traveling, thrifting, and getting outside with her husband.
HOLLY TOLISANO
(she/her/hers)
Manager of Membership & Marketing
holly@mywcms.org, Ext: 1302
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Holly serves as the organization’s Manager of Membership Programs. She focuses on nurturing and growing our membership base, coordinates WCMS member events, and assists with organizational marketing efforts. Holly is new to WNC, but has already built a strong foundation in the area by making connections within the small business community and through participation in local pop up events. Holly enjoys going to see live music, digging through thrift store racks, and spending time with her husband and pets.
VIVIAN RODRIGUEZ
(she/her/hers)
WIN Program Lead
vivian@mywcms.org, Ext. 1306
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Vivian works closely with interpreters, as well as the facilities we partner with, to ensure patients receive the assistance they need. Vivian graduated from WCU with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Spanish. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being creative, gardening, and live music.
VANESSA ORIHUELA
(she/her/hers)
Bilingual Project Access Program Lead
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As a dedicated Bilingual Health Access Navigator, Vanessa plays a crucial role in facilitating access to essential health services for diverse communities. With expertise in both English and Spanish, Vanessa provides effective communication and support for individuals enrolled in Project Access or seeking enrollment.
Vanessa is deeply passionate about her work and takes great pride in guiding patients through their healthcare journeys. In her spare time, she finds joy in walking through nature with her beloved dog, Miss Ma’am
TAMARA RICH
(she/her/hers)
Health Access Navigator
tamara.rich@mywcms.org, Ext. 1309
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Tamara ‘s role in Project Access is to process referrals and applications from our participating providers in a timely matter. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son, traveling and music.
MARIA MUNILLA
WIN Program Bilingual Specialist
mmunilla@mywcms.org, Ext. 1305
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Maria is a Bilingual Specialist Team member in the WIN program. She enjoys partnering with our clients to assist them with finding coverage for their interpreting and translation needs.
Outside of her work with WIN, Maria enjoys painting while listening to instrumental and classical music. She also loves bear-watching/photographing from her back porch, and taking long walks with her husband and their two chihuahua pups.
