KAREN WALLACE-MEIGS
(she/her/hers)
Executive Director
karen@mywcms.org, Ext. 1304
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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.
ROSALIA McHATTIE
(she/her/hers/ella)
Director of Health & Equity Programs
rosalia@mywcms.org, Ext: 1307
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Rosalía is responsible for connecting participants with different language interpreters and providing access to health care through Project Access. She is also responsible for administrative duties and is certified as a Medical Interpreter for Spanish. In her spare time, she enjoys Peloton’s bike, cardio, and yoga classes, as well as cooking and streaming sitcoms.
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. 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.
MARINA STUTES
(she/her/hers)
Finance Coordinator
marina@mywcms.org, Ext. 1317
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.
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.
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
JULIE SCHNEYER
(She/They/Ella/Elle)
Health Access Outreach Coordinator
julie@mywcms.org, Ext. 1312
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Julie is delighted to be on board as the Health Access Outreach Coordinator, pounding the pavement to spread awareness of WCMS programs throughout our community, and to healthcare providers serving 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.
