OUR MISSION

We assist and empower communities with persistent health disparities through family centered care and provide a compass towards self-sufficiency and stability.

We positively impact the overall health and wellness of those who have experienced barriers to quality health care and provide an advantage in overcoming substandard environmental circumstances.

The primary goal of The Katie Blessing Foundation is to provide funding and access to medical care services for uninsured and underinsured patients and reduce disparities to quality health care access.

  • Assist and empower individuals who have experienced greater obstacles in managing their health through family centered care
  • Eliminate barriers to health care access due to substandard environmental circumstances and costs
  • Ensure equitable access to communities with persistent health disparities

Guiding our Way.

BOARD MEMBERS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Amber Tracewell, a West Virginia native, has a Master’s in Public Administration with a specialization in Healthcare Administration and Nonprofit Management. Her passion for the nonprofit healthcare sector began while working with the West Virginia University School of Medicine Center on Aging.

 

Amber’s 16+ years of nonprofit leadership experience includes organizations such as Carolina Breast Friends, American Lung Association of N.C., The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Gaston County, and Matthews Free Medical Clinic.

 

Amber also sits on the advisory council of Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte, which has raised more than $6 million for local breast cancer charities.

MEET OUR bOARD

The Katie Blessing Foundation’s diverse leadership team and board members possess a tremendous amount of experience in health care and community service

REP. BEVERLY MILLER EARLE

Rep. Beverly Miller Earle is a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's 101st House district, including constituents in Mecklenburg County. She is the former First Vice Chair for the North Carolina Democratic Party and was the Democratic Whip in the House.

RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ

Rafael Rodriguez led the Interactive Media Department for Norsan Multimedia, the largest Hispanic Media conglomerate in the Southeast, offering coverage in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Named to the position in 2010, he is responsible for strategies that deliver and integrate all aspects of Online & Social Media experience for this communication platform that combine Radio, Print, and Online products.

ADAM FLETT

Board Treasurer
With over 25 years of extensive experience in finance, technology, and risk strategy, Adam Flett is a seasoned professional deeply committed to operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. His impactful leadership spans a decade, during which he has successfully steered various local non-profits from diverse board and executive roles.

LAURA MEIER

Laura Meier, District 5 County Commissioner since 2020, brings a background in education and community activism to her role. She's a former high school teacher, advocate for after-school programs, and co-president of Charlotte Women’s March. Meier focuses on addressing root causes like poverty to tackle issues such as affordable housing, education, and healthcare, aiming to ensure the prosperity of all citizens.

BRITNEY BROYHILL

Britney Broyhill graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2006 with a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience and completed her master’s in Nursing in 2008. She practiced as a hospitalist at Atrium Health before joining their trauma and surgical critical care team in 2010. Broyhill later became the NP fellowship director and held leadership roles within Atrium Health, overseeing over 2,700 APP providers across four states. Following a merger with Advocate Aurora Health in 2023, she now leads the Southeast Region for Advocate Health. She will be inducted as a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in Summer 2023, focusing on access to care through care team models.

SEN. ROB BRYAN

Board Chair
Sen. Robert P. Bryan III is an American politician and attorney serving as a former member of the North Carolina Senate for the 39th district. A Republican, he served as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from Mecklenburg County from 2013 until 2016. After leaving the House, Bryan accepted an appointment to the UNC Board of Governors and also served in the North Carolina Senate.

MARTHA WHITECOTTON

Martha is the former senior vice president of Behavioral Health Services for Atrium Health in Charlotte. Under Whitecotton’s leadership, Atrium made significant strides in care for patients with behavioral health needs, including greater integration into overall medical care. She pushed telepsychiatry capabilities to 22 acute-care emergency departments in Atrium’s network. She spearheaded the Behavioral Health Integration program—a scalable model in which a team of psychotherapists and health coaches collaborate with primary-care doctors to virtually manage the mental health needs of their patient panels.

HALI EPLIN

Hali Eplin, a native of Man, West Virginia and a coal miner’s daughter, has made a profound impact on Charlotte since her arrival. She transitioned from a cheerleader for The Thundering Herd at Marshall University to the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets to now becoming a cornerstone in the city’s luxury real estate market.

DEPUTY CHIEF DAVID ROBINSON

Deputy Chief David Robinson joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department as a member of the 122nd recruit class of 1996. He was promoted to his current rank in 2022. As the Deputy Chief for Patrol Services Group, he oversees all 13 Patrol Divisions and Airport Law Enforcement for the City of Charlotte.

MELISSA HLAVAC

Melissa Hlavac is Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Associate Dean of Innovation, Strategy & Partnerships at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School. Prior to this leadership position, she served as Associate Dean of MBA Programs at Chapel Hill including working professional, executive, and full-time programs.

SUSAN GARY

Board Secretary
Susan Gary is the Charlotte Market Director for the Psychiatric and Mental Health Institute at Novant Health. She is an experienced healthcare leader with a broad financial and operational background. Susan is an effective operations leader overseeing multiple Novant healthcare facilities in multiple states.

GET IN TOUCH.

3921 Tuckaseegee Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28208
980-867-3595
info@starmounthealthcare.com

The Katie Blessing Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization operating as a public charity (EIN 87-2775360). Click here for our 501(c)(3) Determination Letter. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.