Leadership

Learn more about the current Board of Directors and Professional Staff behind our organization who keep it running.

2026 Officers

Dr. Joshua Yelverton
2026 Board Chair
Physician - Carolina ENT

Emily Epley
2026 Vice-Chair
Civic Leader-Shelby

Tiffany Hansen
2026 Secretary
Cleveland County Human Services

Shane Smith
2026 Treasurer
Gragg Financial

2026 Board of Directors

Alex Bell
Board Member
Atrium Health Cleveland & Atrium Health Kings Mountain

Christina Hill, Ed.D
Board Member
Cleveland Community College - Allied Health

Ashley Kernicky, MPAS, PA-C
Board Member
Gardner-Webb University -Physician Assistant Program

Scott Neisler
Board Member
Former Mayor-Kings Mountain

Brandon Rayle
Board Member
Atrium Health Cleveland

Lauren Massey-Williams, DMD
Board Member
Cornerstone Dental Associates

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Richard F. (Dick) Baker, Jr
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO

Mr. Baker became the first full-time Executive Director/CEO for the Healthcare Foundation of Cleveland County in May of 2015. Prior to coming to Cleveland County, he served as Executive Director for the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital Foundation within the Asheville, NC based former Mission Health System. Dick brings to his position over 40 years of experience in non-profit organization management, marketing and community relations on the local, regional, and national levels.

Nationally, his experience included serving as the first Executive Director for the Dale Earnhardt Foundation and Executive Director of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Foundation, both having a mission focused on youth and education.

Prior to his foundation leadership, Dick spent a dozen years with the PGA TOUR as a tournament director overseeing several professional golf tournaments in the Carolinas for both the PGA Tour and the Nike Tour (now Korn-Ferry Tour). He was also a former chamber of commerce CEO, leading business and economic development efforts for two counties in South Carolina.

Mr. Baker is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management at the University of Georgia and holds professional certifications in fund raising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and non-profit management from Duke University.

He and his wife (Katie) live in Shelby and in their spare time enjoy travel and spending time with family and two grandchildren. He is also a veteran of the US Air Force and the Georgia Air National Guard.

Ramona Philbeck
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Ramona brings with her 40+ years of administrative experience and has held positions within Carolinas HealthCare System since 1999, formerly as a Practice Manager in Neurology Services. She additionally has administrative experience in the areas of Mental Health and Women’s Care Services. She is a graduate of Burns High School, with additional education from Cleveland Community College and Gateway Leadership Academy. With the Foundation, she oversees all administrative duties including maintaining the donor database, board and financial records plus assisting with all fundraising and special events. She has two children and two grandchildren and, in her spare time, enjoys family time, reading, and gardening.

Help Us Make A Difference

Your gift will help us make Cleveland County a happier and healthier place.

100% of every gift to the Foundation remains in Cleveland County to further the Foundation’s mission of addressing and improving the healthcare needs of our citizens.

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