The Vaya Health Board of Directors is responsible for the comprehensive, collaborative planning and budgeting of publicly-funded, community-based mental health, intellectual/developmental disabilities and substance use disorder services for our members. The board appoints our CEO, oversees compliance, approves the annual budget and establishes policy guidelines for management to administer services in a way that meets the diverse needs of the community.

Board membership includes representatives from county government, health plan members and community leaders, as well as professionals in healthcare administration, insurance and human services-related fields. Board composition is governed by N.C.G.S. § 122C-118.1, which requires certain qualifications and allows for no more than 21 voting members.

2019 Board of Directors membership

Nancy Baker, Consumer and Family Advisory Committee Representative
Ronnie Beale, Macon County Commissioner
Patrick Betancourt, Macon County Social Services Director
Gary D. Blevins, Wilkes County Commissioner
Jack Cahn, MD, Retired Physician
Ira Dove, Esquire
Jeanne Duncan, President, Vaya Health Provider Advisory Council
Rick French, Alexander County Manager
Jeff Heck, MD, President & Chief Executive Officer MAHEC
Billy Kennedy, Watauga County Commissioner
Kevin King, Swain County Manager
Page Lemel, Transylvania County Commissioner
Pat McGinnis, Consumer and Family Advisory Committee Representative
Mike Norris, Insurance Representative
Connie Orr, Graham County Commissioner
Marche Pittman, Polk County Manager
Steve Smith, Henderson County Health Director
Will Wakefield, Caldwell County Social Services Director
Dakisha Wesley, Buncombe County Assistant County Manager
Ashley Wooten, McDowell County Manager
Ashley Wurth-Bare, Consumer and Family Advisory Committee Representative

2019 Board of Directors meeting information

The Board meeting agenda and any handouts, including prior meeting minutes, are available at the Board meeting. Agendas are posted in advance of each meeting. We welcome public comment at the beginning of each meeting. To request notices of special or emergency meetings or any changes to the regular meeting schedule, please contact board.clerk@vayahealth.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Board meetings are held at the Vaya Health administrative offices, located at 200 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, NC 28806, and the meeting schedule is as follows:

Executive Committee 1:30 p.m.
Regulatory Compliance and Quality Committee 2:30 p.m.
Finance Committee 3:00 p.m.
Full Board 4:30 p.m.

Click on the following dates to access more information.