Board of Directors
Board Member Election Process
Potential board members are put into a pipeline and in August of each year the governance committee reviews the candidates in the pipeline. After prayer for discernment selected candidates meet with a board member to begin a conversation about serving. At that time if they seem to be a good fit, they are asked to complete an application after reading our Statement of Faith, Bylaws and Covenant.
After applications are received the Governance Committee will make recommendations to the board for a vote in October.
Robert Broome
Robert has lived in Hickory since the summer before his 3rd grade year at Viewmont Elementary School. Other than living two years in Houghton, NY where he played college basketball he has always lived in the South. Robert graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in business management in 1987, has been married to his lovely wife Mimi for 34 years and has 4 adult children, two of whom work in the family business with him. He is also a proud grandfather of his first grandson. Robert is President and a partner in Broome Insurance, a Legacy Insurance Partner where he has worked for 34 years. Robert enjoys biking and kayaking in the NC mountains with his wife as well as lake sports at the lake Hickory property his grandfather first purchased and built in the late 60’s. Roberts first love is Jesus and seeing his kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven. He is an elder at New Life Church in Taylorsville where he oversees the young adults and facilitates Alpha classes. Robert is currently a board member of the Salvation Army.
Carrie DeLeary
Carrie DeLeary graduated with a BS in Nursing from the University of Florida and has recently retired from management with ABS Entertainment, as a booking and road manager. She and her husband, Dr. Geoffrey DeLeary, have four adult children. Carrie is passionate about God’s Word, her faith, family, wellness, and justice. She is an essential oil educator with DoTerra and a certified Revelation Wellness personal and group fitness trainer. In the past 10 years, Carrie has been traveling for work and is looking forward to this season of plugging herself back into the community, especially Safe Harbor.
Cassia Dowdy
Cassia is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and is the oldest of five children. She moved to Hickory with her husband Richard in 2009. They have been blessed with three amazing boys who they get to do life with. She is a member of Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church where she has worked with the youth ministry, Christian Education ministry and enjoys serving in any capacity she is called. Cassia is currently the Director of Human Resources at Design Foundry where she gets to “enhance lives and build community every day”. In her spare time, she enjoys time with her family and friends, most things DIY/craft related and reading. Cassia’s goal is to always see the best in people, learn something new every day and serve.
Jean Gay
Co-Chair
Jean Gay is a native of Hickory who is married to David Gay. They have three children; Carmen Pope Brown, Katherine Gay, and Larry E. Pope (deceased)- as well as six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Jean got her BA in Business at Gardner-Webb University and her MBA at Pfeiffer University. She was a founding employee of CommScope. As a senior executive, she was responsible for global customer financial services and direct leadership of teams in ten countries. After 43 years of service, Jean recently retired and remains an active member of the board of directors for the CS Credit Union and the national organization, Cable TV Pioneers. She is passionate about mentoring and serves as the Finance & Stewardship Chairperson, a certified Lay Servant, Sunday School teacher, and actively involved as a youth leader for her church, Highland United Methodist. Jean enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, and spending time with family.
Debbie Haynes
Founder and Board Member Emeritus
Debbie Haynes is the founder of Safe Harbor and served as Executive Director for seven years, followed by seven years as the Program Director until December of 2019, when she retired from the organization. She received her certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University and is a trained Spiritual Director through the Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction. She is the founder and president of Grace for Days, LLC. Debbie is a past president of the board of the NWNC Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, as well as serving on several community councils. She was awarded the 2019 Leadership Impact Award by the Catawba Valley Leadership Foundation. Outside of her love for God, she lists her children and grandchildren as her greatest joys in life.
Matt Ingram
Matt is a husband to his lovely wife Carla and a father to their 3 kids: Meredith, James, and Emma. He is passionate about serving and teaching. As a Social Studies teacher at South Caldwell High, he is eager to get students to think about their own journey through time and to challenge them to be more informed and active citizens. Matt is the sponsor of the Interact Club at South where he strives to impress upon his students to be part of something bigger than themselves. Their work always includes Safe Harbor. He enjoys running, hiking, reading, and traveling; this includes having been to all 50 states and running in 40 of them. Matt loves being in nature, especially the national parks. He also has a ton of random ‘80s trivia in his head. Matt attended FBC of Hickory.
David Parham
Treasurer
David Parham has been the President/CEO of Conwareco Logistics for the past 26 years. He has previously been the President of North Carolina Warehouse Association, Finance and PPR chairman for Church Church, and was on the Board of Directors for Catawba Chamber of Commerce. David and his wife Tracy have been married for 24 years and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with family, traveling, hunting, fishing and the outdoors.
Angel Starnes
Secretary
Angel Starnes is a CPA working in public accounting for 21 years. She is the director of her own firm, where her focus is on individual tax consulting, small business coaching, and outsourced CFO services. She enjoys helping her clients define and reach their goals. She attends Grace Church and is passionate about spreading God’s love through serving others. Angel and her husband, Jason, have two sons and a 115 pound Bernese Mountain dog. They enjoy travel, hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, and gardening.
Jennifer Whipple
Jennifer is an Appalachian State University grad with a B.S. in Family and Consumer Services. She is currently a Continuous Improvement Trainer/Kaizen Facilitator at Vanguard Furniture. Jennifer enjoys thrifting and traveling. She has been married for 17 years and has 2 children. She is passionate about God, family, people, and financial peace. Jennifer attends Mtn. View Baptist Church. She is a member of Catawba County Street Team and is a Catawba Chamber Ambassador. Jennifer comes from a Military family and was born in Hawaii.
John “Patrick” Wiggs
Patrick Wiggs grew up in Hickory, and now lives in Newton, NC. Graduated from Appalachian State University in 2002 with a BSBA in Information Systems and Technologies. Since college, Patrick has spent 20 years in the finance and banking field, and now works for PNC Bank for the past 15 years, as Treasury Management Officer for Western NC and Upstate SC. Patrick and wife Kristy have been married for 13 years. Patrick and his wife are currently attending SOMA Church here in Hickory, NC. Patrick enjoys spending time with wife, traveling, and playing golf.
Thank you to our former Board Members
CYNTHIA CLONTZ
RICHARD SOLOMON
SANDY DUNBAR
LAUREN VAUGHN
JOYCE STEELMAN
KEN TROYER
EDDIE BROUSSARD
NILA LANE
LAURIE MODLIN
KIRK HOBART
KATIE TAYLOR
JENNIFER JONES
Mike Richey
JUDY SMITH
DON WIMBISH
PATRICIA (PAT) RICE
PATRICIA COOPER
SABINA HARDY
CLIFTON SMITH
CHRISTINA BOLICH
CHARLES DURRETT
JON DAVID (JD) ROSS
PAT ANDERSON
FRANK PLOTTS
DAVID WASHCO
SUSAN GUEST
ABBY VADEN
FRANK COLETTO
DAN CASTILLEJA
SCARLET DAVIS
DRU SCHNEEBERGER
IRENE AUSTIN
JUSTIN DAVIS
ANGI HOUSTON
SANDY SCHRONCE
