Board of Directors
The HCCA Board of Directors is elected at the annual meeting held every March. The board consists of 12 seats with candidates elected using a staggered term system (either one- or two-year terms) to maintain organizational continuity.
Board Officers
President: Chris Pelly
Vice President: Christina Maggi
Secretary: Sarah Hess
Treasurer: Phil Trunnell
Board Members
Bruce Black*
I moved to Asheville from the South Carolina coast. I have worked in the retail petroleum sector, the land development industry, served as an elected official on the Hilton Head Island town council and worked for the City of Asheville. I have lived in Michigan, Illinois, Switzerland, Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina and now in Asheville. My wife Helen is an Asheville native. We moved into Haw Creek about 22 years ago and we are enjoying it as our permanent home. My education is in urban planning from the University of Tennessee and it is my hope that Haw Creek can remain a sub-urban area with a country feel.
Debbie Francis**
I moved to Haw Creek in 2009 where I rented an apartment. I discovered I really liked the area and purchased a home in Albemarle Reserve off Waters Road in 2010. I love having a country feel with a creek and farm behind my home but am only about 4 miles to downtown. Creating community is important to me as "no man is an island." My professional past is quite diverse as I worked in various industries for 20 years, taught college for 14 years, and have worked in real estate since 2008. I am a member of the Asheville Downtown Association (harass beer drinkers at festivals as a volunteer), the Women for Women Giving Group, and Rotary. I have 3 cats and I love to travel and explore various cultures.
Sarah Hess**
I have been a Haw Creek resident for over 12 years and love the mix of larger-size lots with the convenience of being downtown in 10 minutes. While I have followed the activities of the Association for the last few years, I was so impressed with their efforts to bring us together during COVID with the food trucks and the work at Masters Park that I decided to offer some of my time. I work for the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and manage our national veterinary training programs.
Christina Maggi*
My husband and I moved to Asheville from New York City in 2018, after I retired from a career in the non-profit sector. I spent 30 years working for organizations committed to creating positive change for people—like Planned Parenthood, Amnesty International, ACLU, WaterAid and United Hospital Fund. I also served on the board of our 72-unit co-op for 9 years, most of that time as president. Frank and I love living in our beautiful Haw Creek neighborhood, just steps from Masters Park and minutes to downtown. I’m especially grateful that I can continue to contribute by volunteering for the Haw Creek Community Association.
Shelley McKechnie**
I sure love almost everything about Haw Creek—I just wish it were safer and more pleasant to get around our neighborhood on foot and by bicycle. I’m eager to help fix that, contributing my time and professional experience managing projects with lots of moving parts.
Barber Melton*
I am one of the original founding members of the Haw Creek Community Association and of the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods, which is an umbrella group for many neighborhood associations throughout the city. After 40 years I continue to be an activist. I have served on the Neighborhood Advisory Committee, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Affordable Housing Committee, and many other diverse committees through the years. I am a native and go back many generations in Haw Creek. I and my adult children are very active at St John’s Episcopal Church, which my great grandfather started. My roots go very deep and I love Haw Creek. I continue to try to be sure we honor this valley and all who have contributed so much.
Leslie Morris**
My husband and I moved to Haw Creek in 2004. We own Stuart Nye Jewelry on Tunnel Road and will be going into our 90th year in 2023. I am a member of Four Seasons Garden Club, The Vetust Study Club, Childrens Welfare League and Daughters of the American Revolution. We have two sons. I enjoy gardening, baking and walking our dogs. Helping make Haw Creek a welcoming neighborhood is very important to me.
Chris Pelly*
As residents of Haw Creek for 33-years, my wife, Juanita Igo, and I raised three children on Cisco Road. Professionally, I served as a real estate broker for 25-years as well as served on Asheville City Council from 2011 to 2015. My personal involvement with the community association began in 1995 when, working with neighbors and the City, we succeeded in creating Haw Creek Park on Avon Rd. Since then, again working with broad community support, we created Masters Park on Maple Drive. In addition, numerous sidewalk additions plus other improvements. While much remains to be done, my experience is that an effective neighborhood association can be a catalyst for a range of community improvements.
Liz Polfus**
I have lived in Haw Creek for over 10 years. I've gotten to know my neighbors through dog-walks and yard work. Since the 2020 shutdown I have been working out of my home as well, which means my evening "commute" has become a hike through Masters Park when the day is done. Professionally I work at an Asheville-based IT firm doing process engineering and operations. I have a background in project management, web design & development, and a deeper background in fine art, thanks UNCA! Haw Creek has been such a good home full of incredible people, I'm excited to get to know more of our community and continue to foster connections within it.
Storms Reback**
My wife, son, and I moved to Haw Creek from Austin, Texas in July 2022. I have spent most of my career writing nonfiction books, but our move to Asheville has reignited one of my greatest passions: protecting and enjoying our natural environment. When I’m not educating people about the benefits of solar energy, I can be found tending to my small orchard of heritage apple trees, searching the woods for edible mushrooms, or hiking from Masters Park up to and along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. I feel extremely fortunate to have settled in such a beautiful place surrounded by such wonderful neighbors, and I hope to do whatever I can to protect it.
Renate Rikkers*
I was raised and educated in Germany before coming to the US as a young adventurer in the early 60s. Over the decades, I have been fortunate to have lived and traveled in all five regions of this country, always finding my place in my new community by getting involved and contributing my time and energy to important issues. Haw Creek has been home for 25 years, and my connection to our Community Association has been a consistent part of my life in an ever-changing Asheville.
Phil Trunnell*
My wife and I moved to Haw Creek in 2004, and we have two sons who are now in high school. My professional experience includes working for several healthcare technology businesses in various roles, and most recently starting up Scriptcycle LLC in 2012, which we sold in 2020. We enjoy our community, and I am excited to have the opportunity to serve the HCCA during my tenure.
*One-year term ending March 2024
**Two-year term ending March 2025