Board of Directors
Retail Division
Emily Causey
Emily Causey is co-owner of Mica Town Brewing Company, McDowell County's first brewery. She is also the Vice President of Hospitality at Montreat Conference Center. She is currently enrolled in the LINC leadership program and serves on the board of the Marion Business Association. Emily resides in Marion with her business partner and brewer husband Jason Snyder.
Service Division
Mackenzie Holland
Mackenzie is a native of McDowell County who brings a passion and energy to the board. A graduate of Appalachian State University, she holds a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management and an MBA. As a regional post-acute transition care manager for CarePartners Hospice & Palliative Care of McDowell, Mackenzie works to ensure those in the community have access to the best healthcare possible. She is very involved in her church and is also on the Marion Business Association Board. She works to contribute her time and talents to give a voice to those in the community and support the rich array of businesses.
Arthur Parks
Vice Chair
Arthur was born and raised in Marion, NC. His first job was at the Jumbo Grill where he developed his communication skills dealing with the public. He purchased his first mode of transportation (A Schwinn bicycle) from Western Auto working a paper route for the McDowell News. Arthur earned a degree from The University of Hawaii at Leeward Community College and Savannah Vocational Technical School in Computer Science and Supervisory Management. He joined the Army as a medical corpsman in 1969, when he was 17 and that afforded him the opportunity to travel the world and learn from a variety of cultures. He returned to Marion in 2006 and continues to be very active in the business community. He is an expert in the accounts receivables management (ARM) industry and represents Transworld Systems Inc. with over 34 years of experience. He is a certified ASA and USSSA umpire as well as a fellow Rotarian and serves on the advisory board for the YM
Stacy Buff
Board Chair
Stacy Buff is a resident of the Glenwood Community in McDowell County. He attends Glenwood Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He is married to Amberlie Morgan Buff and they have two children Zayden and Brylie.
Stacy is the dean of continuing education and workforce development at McDowell Technical Community College. He works in conjunction with the Small Business Center director, Human Resource director, and Customized Industry Training director at McDowell Tech to ensure that the training needs of McDowell County business and industry are met.
Dawna Ledbetter
Past Chair
Dawna is a dedicated community advocate and leader. A native of Marion, she graduated from McDowell Technical Community College as well as Johnson Institute of Senior Center Management, and the Rural Economic Development Institute (REDI). Dawna currently works as the community outreach coordinator for the McDowell Senior Center and heads the local public transportation initiative. Along with her chamber board duties, she is the board chair for the West Marion Community Forum, Inc. among others. She is an asset to her community through her leadership and mentoring abilities. Dawna brings diversity, passion, and advocacy to making changes for a better and healthier McDowell County.
April Westmoreland
April Westmoreland is also a Marion native and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1999. She went on to earn a Master of Accountancy from Western Carolina University in 2003 and became licensed in NC as a certified public accountant that same year. With her education and 19 years plus in public accounting, she provides accounting and financial skills to the Chamber board while serving the community. An accountant with Johnson Price Sprinkle, PA., April often serves on panels and presents at educational workshop for our members.
Manufacturing Division
Ken Koesters
Ken Koesters is a multi-site Human Resources Manager for Crane Co. based out of the Marion, NC facility. He is a graduate of Ball State University with a double major in Human Resources Management and Marketing. As someone who enjoys giving back, Ken volunteers with multiple organizations in the area while helping people find creative solutions that add value for themselves and their community.
Tommy Greer
Bio Coming
Outdoor Industry
Jason McDougald
Jason has been involved in the outdoor industry professionally for almost 40 years and recreationally his entire life. He has a deep appreciation for wild places and a strong connection to the natural world. Jason has a Master’s degree in elementary education and has been a fourth grade teacher, climbing guide, wilderness therapy instructor, and camp director. He has been at Camp Grier since 2013 and enjoys spending time outside with his family and generally moving around in the mountains any way possible. His greatest joy is sharing summits, rivers, and trails with friends.
Members At Large
Nic Gritta
Adrienne Jones
Bio Coming
Margarita Ramirez
Margarita comes to the Chamber Board as a community representative of Centro Unido Latino Americano (CULA). As the executive director of the nonprofit she helps the Latinx community with language barriers, employment, education, health, and advocacy.
Under her leadership, she has been able to build capacity at CULA and is "happy to assist our community in the best ways possible."
Margarita is a mother of two that is driven to grow her team and advance her community forward socially, economically, and environmentally.
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McDowell Linc
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