Meet the Board of Directors
Mary Bickers
A native of Charlotte, Mary is owner and founder of Bickers Consulting Group, an Atlanta-based advisory firm serving beverage wholesalers and other high net-worth clients around the country. She currently splits her time between homes in Metro Atlanta and Blowing Rock. She has one daughter and is the proud grandparent of a grandson, Collin, who loves visiting the High Country. Mary has long believed in giving back to her community, serving as a sponsor of multiple health and human services organizations over the years. In her free time, she enjoys gourmet cooking, antiquing, and needlepoint.
Dr. Kathy Boyd
Dr. Kathy Boyd grew up in Salisbury, NC. She graduated from UNC Chapel with a BS ‘89, a DDS ‘91, an MS’ 94 and an endodontic certificate ’94. Kathy practiced endodontics in solo practice in Salisbury NC for 26 years. While in Salisbury she was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She served on the Salisbury Community Foundation Board for nine years including two years as chairman. Kathy moved to Blowing Rock in 2018. Since moving to Blowing Rock she has joined St Elizabeth Catholic Church and the Blowing Rock Women’s Club. She is married to Thad Throneburg. Together they have five adult children. Kathy enjoys running, hiking, gardening and family time.
Jennie Derby
Jennie Derby hails from Richmond, VA and attended WCU. She was a financial advisor (CFP®) in Charlotte, N.C. for 30 years, selling her firm, Lifeworth Financial, in 2019. Jennie resides in Boone with her husband, Leigh. Jennie was a founding member of the Women’s Impact Fund of Charlotte and on the Board of Conservation Trust for NC in Raleigh, NC , including two terms as Board President. Locally, Jennie serves on capital campaign and finance committees of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church and the development committee for Blue Ridge Conservancy. She volunteers for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation workdays. Jennie and Leigh’s daughter, Tiffany Crenshaw, and her family live in Greensboro, N.C. Their son, Quinn Derby, and his family live in Charlotte. For fun, Jennie enjoys tennis, hiking, gardening, entertaining friends and family, traveling, reading, and playing word and board games..
Carey Fissel
Born and raised in Charlotte, Carey relocated to Boone with her husband and cat, Dexter in 2017. With a passion for education and fundraising, Carey serves her alma mater, Appalachian State University, in development.
Carey champions causes that support women, especially those focused on building confidence in young women. In addition to the Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge, she serves in both local and national leadership roles for her sorority.
In her free time, Carey enjoys gardening, cooking, antiquing, and traveling.
Josette Glover
Josette Glover is a wife and mother of two children. She has lived in the high country for over 15 years, and enjoys spending time with her family, travel, reading, exercise, music, drawing, would like to paint more, and has a deep appreciation for the Arts. She has a background in Hotel Sales and Catering, and was the VP of her family-owned business, Boone Ford Lincoln. In addition to the WFBR, she serves on the Advisory board of the Appalachian Summer Festival and on the Committee for the Ashe County Children’s Trust Endowment. She is passionate about helping those in need, and believes that kindness and compassion can truly lift the lives of others.
Mary Hutchens
Mary moved from Virginia to the High Country in 2001 after teaching for 30 years in Pulaski County Schools. She attended Radford University and received a degree in Elementary Education and a masters in Early Childhood Education. She taught 2nd and 3rd grade and supervised and trained Title1 instructional aides in the school system.
Mary has served several terms on the Women’s Fund Board and during that time has taken many board minutes. She volunteers with BR Cares, and works with children’s activities at Rumple Church. Believing in the mission, she’s happy to be returning to the board. She enjoys day lilies, reading, family and friends.
Patti Jupiter
Patti has been a full-time resident of the high country for the past 24 years. Her tenure as a permanent resident and history of involvement in worthy causes has made Patti uniquely aware of the issues and challenges facing High Country non-profit organizations and more specifically, the beneficiaries of the services offered.
She spent her young adult years in the western states, graduating from Arizona State University with a marketing degree then relocating to San Francisco where she worked as a publicist for a small theater company and later for the Kellogg corporation. Her first non-profit experience was working with an AIDS awareness organization in the Tampa Bay area after migrating to central Florida.
During her years in Boone, Patti has volunteered doing outreach for Watauga Humane society, Hospitality House and Hunger Coalition. She has served on development and planning committees with Western Youth Network and WAMY. Patti believes in the important work being done by the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge where she can best serve by utilizing her creativity, fundraising experience, marketing expertise and organizational skills.
Patti's spare time is spent on the tennis court, hiking, entertaining, traveling and creating art.
Frances Magruder
Frances Magruder was born and raised in Durham. She has been spending her summers in the mountains since she was eight years old. She moved to the mountains full time in 2012. First and foremost she is a mother of four and stepmother of two.
She is a teacher by trade and still substitutes in the Avery County school system. She received her BA from Hollins College, now Hollins University. Frances taught for two years in Richmond, Virginia before moving to Rocky Mount North Carolina, where she taught for four years before becoming a full time mom.
Frances has always enjoyed being involved with the community she lives in. She champions causes that support women and children, cancer research, addressing childhood learning differences, and animal protection. Frances has been involved in several civic organizations and fundraising events over the years. She is passionate about Avery County and the people that live there!
Lindsay Miller
Originally from Atlanta, Lindsay and her husband moved to the High Country in 2009. She is a wife and mother of two vivacious girls with a yellow lab sidekick named Streeter.
Lindsay enjoys a career in development for Appalachian State University, with a focus in the contemporary visual arts. She volunteers her time with non-profits in the community focusing on education, land conservation and human services. She is passionate about philanthropy and helping to connect people to causes that matter to them.
When not working, Lindsay can be found on the tennis courts or seeking out the next delicious recipe to share with friends.
Caroline Poteat
Caroline Poteat was born and raised in Drexel, North Carolina. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from American University in Washington, DC, she moved to Boone in 2006 to pursue her graduate studies at Appalachian State University. She holds Master’s Degrees in Appalachian Studies and Geography, and serves as Director of Development for Blue Ridge Conservancy. Caroline is passionate about philanthropy and community service, particularly related to the environment and women’s issues. In the winter months you’ll find her curled up with a good book or cross-stitching. Through the beautiful High Country summers she spends her time hiking and fishing.
Jan Rienerth
From Cleveland, Ohio, Jan attended Ohio University as an undergrad and Southern Illinois University for her graduate degrees. She recently retired from teaching Sociology at Appalachian State after 40 years of service. She has been a Guardian ad Litem for many years working with abused, neglected and dependent children. Jan has also been an advisor for Sigma Kappa sorority and serves on the board of the Western Youth Network, an organization she helped found.
Lisa Simon
Lisa lives in Boone but spends a part of each month in Charlotte, where she and her husband Harvey maintain an apartment. She has enjoyed a successful career in fundraising and development for nonprofit organizations, including the Boston Symphony, Museum of Fine Arts, Newtown Friends School, Charlotte Symphony, and most recently, Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte. Lisa has just completed two years as President of the Board of WDAV Classical Public Radio and served on that Board for 8 years. She has also been an active volunteer and committee head for many arts, human services and educational organizations. Lisa has been on 3 archeological digs, and in her free time loves to read, garden, walk and do yoga. In addition to her husband Harvey (who teaches Marketing at App State), her family includes two sons (Dave in California and Ben in Montana), two granddaughters, and Lucy the wayward miniature poodle.
Julie Wiggins
A North Carolina native, Julie has been a resident of the High Country for the past 17 years. She holds a M.A. in Gerontology and a B.S. in Sociology, with minors in business and French, from Appalachian State University. Julie has worked for the High Country Council of Governments, an organization serving local governments in a seven-county region, for the past nine years.
She loves the mountains and enjoys trail running, rock climbing, traveling, and spending time with her family, friends, and two cats.
Anné Wright
Anné Wright is an Appstate alumna. While there she studied English and Interdisciplinary Studies and received a Master’s degree in Library Science. After law school, Anné returned to the high country that she loves. She lives in Boone and practices law with the Reeves DiVenere Wright law firm. She also practices law and owns Walker Title in Mountain City, Tennessee. Anné has served as President and Member on the Board of Directors of Watauga Habitat for Humanity. She regularly provides pro bono legal services through Legal Aid of North Carolina and, while in law school, was on the Executive Board for the NCCU Public Interest Law Organization. She has volunteered with the NC Center on Actual Innocence. In her down time, Anné can be seen walking her dog, Sampson, or reading a book at The Cardinal Food & Spirits, which is owned by her husband Scott. Anné agrees with Michelle Obama that: "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." She is enthusiastic about working with the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge to accomplish a great deal.