Our Board of Directors

President, North Carolina Community Health Worker Association

The daughter of Hmong refugees who escaped to the U.S., Honey understands the struggles and barriers faced by certain communities within our service area and provides valuable insight to reaching all of our neighbors. Honey has worked in healthcare and public health for more than 20 years, including working at Catawba Valley Medical Center. She has a master’s degree in Public Heath, spends her free time with her husband and two teens in Newton, and dances her stress away as a Zumba instructor.

Retired

Phil brings a solid knowledge of finance and business to the CMF board of directors. He graduated with a B.S.B.A. in business administration from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1983 and became a highly-valued executive with one of the Catawba Valley’s leading corporations before he retired. He and his wife Leigh have also been strong supporters of the Casino Royale Catawba, CMF’s annual fundraiser. Besides being a wine enthusiast, Phil enjoys rugby, surfing and hiking.

Financial Professional
Thrivent Financial

After Colby graduated the Appalachian State University’s Walker college of Business in 2009, he received a certificate of Financial Planning Education from Kaplan University. A graduate of Bunker Hill High School, Colby and his wife Jenna settled in Claremont to raise their two children, Oliver & Tillie. A huge supporter of App State’s football program and a member of the university’s Yosef Club, Colby also enjoys outdoor activities such running, cycling, hunting, fishing and cooking and grilling for his family. Colby is actively involved in leadership in the local YMCAs, and he is also a member of the Church Council for Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Claremont. Colby’s roots to our hospital go way back-he was born here!

Vice President
Wesley Hall

Marshall is our first “next” generation board member, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Ron Deal. After graduating from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and working for Under Armour in Baltimore, Marshall and his wife Alex returned to Hickory so Marshall could join his family’s furniture manufacturing company. Marshall feels a deep sense of community that he brings to his other civic responsibilities as a director for the Catawba County United Way and an advisory board member of the Luke Garrison Foundation. In his spare time, Marshall enjoys basketball and golf.

Financial Professional
Thrivent Financial

Because of her work in the financial profession, Kelly clearly understands the need for excellent healthcare in our community, so she joined the Catawba Medical Foundation board to help make a practical difference. Kelly loves to travel the world where she gains fresh perspectives and then brings those new ideas to our community using her degree in Business Management and lots of energy and excitement. When she’s not traveling or fishing, she loves to spoil her nieces and spend time with her friends.

Business Banker, Sr. VP
First Citizens Bank

Although she is always on the go with visits to her daughter and son, Stephanie still finds the time to actively serve the community. She served Hickory Public Schools in a variety of service roles including PTA, Boosters and more. As a business school graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University, Stephanie is actively involved in improving the local community-both in the business sector and the personal sector. If she’s not working or at a sporting event, she loves to relax on the beach.

Market President, SVP
BB&T

Johann is our most international board member! Born in Brussels and earning a Spanish minor at UNC-CH, he is well aware of the importance of serving a diverse population. After receiving a B.S. in Business at UNC, he completed the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He is an active community and church member and enjoys spending time with his family. He first became intimately acquainted with CVHS when his oldest child was born here, and has been a big fan ever since.

Retired Educator

As a past president of Catawba County Medical Alliance, Nancy is very aware of how important good healthcare is to a community. Nancy has had strong ties to Catawba Valley Medical Center through her involvement in many of her community endeavors, including serving as board chairman of the Parenting Network. Nancy is a graduate of the University of South Florida, but she is a dedicated supporter of Wake Forest University. Besides spending time with her husband, Dr. Joel Miller, Nancy enjoys travel, literature and sports

Attorney, Jennifer Eaker Eckard, PLLC

A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, Jennifer married a lifelong resident of Catawba County, David Eckard, and practices law in this community. With both a high school student and a preschooler, Jennifer has little free time but she accepted the appointment to the CMF Board because of her personal experience delivering her daughter at CVMC. Living and working in the community allows Jennifer to know the importance of excellent healthcare and she feels that serving on the board is a worthwhile endeavor. When she’s not busy with her girl, Jennifer enjoys reading and spending time with friends.

NC State Highway Patrol 1st Sergeant

As a graduate of Bunker Hill High School, Bobby is a local who has chosen to give back to his community through civic involvement both on the job and in his spare time. Serving first in the Catawba County’s Sheriff’s office, next at the Hickory Police Department, he joined the State Trooper’s in 2007 and was promoted to 1st Sergeant in February of 2022. The criminal justice degree he earned at Livingstone College has been put to excellent use in Catawba County. Bobby and his wife Brittany are parents to three children, but he still finds time to officiate Division 1 college basketball, golf, and fish whenever possible.

A resident of Balls Creek, Barbara is a Catawba County Commissioner who has served since 1996. As a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Barbara is a proud Tarheel who has been the recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award-the highest civilian award in North Carolina. After serving for many years as a Trustee for the health system, Barbara graciously agreed to bring her knowledge to the Foundation board.

VP Kemp Sigmon Custom Homes & Remodeling

This grandmother of three and mother of two is one busy lady. With a degree in accounting and business, Christy retired from one job just to become an executive of her family’s growing construction company. Married to local Kemp Sigmon, Christy loves traveling, spending time in the mountains and family time with her children and grandchildren. Fun fact: Her mother delivered the first baby at Catawba (then known as Catawba Memorial Hospital.)

Financial Planner
Renaissance

A native of Hickory and graduate of Appalachian State University, Beth is happy to be back in the foothills of North Carolina after a career stint in Chicago. With two active children, Watts and Ivey, and a husband Matt to navigate, Beth still finds time to serve her community as the co-chair for the Downtown Hickory Farmers Market, board member for the Catawba Valley Community Foundation and SALT Block Foundation and involved member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. She even finds time to walk and hike with her family and get away when possible to Lake James.

Retired

A former teacher, Taffy was born and raised in Catawba County and has long considered Catawba Valley Health System to be the hidden gem of the community. Taffy has been actively involved in many philanthropic endeavors of the health system, working to make sure that we never lose sight of our commitment to our community to serve every person with excellence. Taffy lives in Sherrills Ford and has shared her gifts and talents with many over the years.

Retired, VP Business Development/Co-Owner
Breen Color Concentrates

Originally from Ohio, Tom has wasted little time becoming involved in the Catawba County community. Big supporters of both the March of Dimes and the American Heart Association, Tom and his wife Diane recognize the importance of a strong community hospital, and Tom joined the CMF board ready to work. He enjoys spending time with his 10 children, traveling, hiking, tennis, racquetball and swimming. He looks forward to his impending retirement so that he might have more time to spend making our community a better place!

Retired

As a former flight attendant, Gaye knows that good customer service goes a long way to calming fears and apprehension both in the air and in a medical setting. Gaye and her husband of more than 45 years, Richard, are actively involved with CMF’s Good Samaritan’s Closet-a place where durable medical goods, like walkers and wheelchairs, and everyday necessities, like clothing and personal items, are stored for use for indigent patients. While Gaye loves to read and watch the NY Yankees, she spends most of her free time with her growing family of three children, six grand-children and two great-grandchildren.

Counsel to the Board
Attorney/Partner
Patrick, Harper & Dixon, LLP

Kim is not only a well-respected attorney in our community, but she is also known for her acting roles in local theater. After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar, Kim stayed in Chapel Hill for law school and graduated with high honors. Kim was appointed by the Catawba County Commissioners to serve on the Aging Leadership Planning Team which works to enhance Catawba County as a liveable senior friendly community. Kim and her husband, David, live in Hickory with their son, Colson.

Physician with Catawba Valley Pulmonology
Specializing in sleep medicine and pulmonology

Kathy serves as a physician specialist in several areas of our health system: our Sleep Center, Catawba Valley Pulmonology outpatient clinic and inpatient intensivist at our medical center. Kathy enjoyed a successful career as a registered medical technologist before pursuing a medical degree at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where she stayed for her residency and fellowships. Board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, sleep medicine, and critical care medicine, Kathy amazingly still finds time for travel, entertaining, reading and church activities.

Owner and Broker-in-Charge
Commercial First Real Estate

Ryan is a lifelong resident of Hickory who attended Appalachian State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Public Relations. Ryan and her husband Chris has two sons, Griffin and Banks who were both born at the medical center. She believes that having an independent hospital system is an important economic driver for the area and is happy to serve on the board to help. When she has time, she travels to Blowing Rock and Charleston, spends time with her family and loves to enjoy the local restaurants.