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* Sleepy Hollow Drive – bruceb909@icloud.com
Debbie Francis** Trafalgar Circle – dhfrancis2@gmail.com
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** Old Haw Creek Road – shess716@gmail.com
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* New Haw Creek Road – cmaggi51@gmail.com
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** Silverstone Drive – shelleymckech@gmail.com
Barber Melton* Melton Drive – barhes@bellsouth.net
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** Old Haw Creek Road – lesliermorris@gmail.com
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* Cisco Road – chrispelly4asheville@gmail.com – 828-231-3704
As 32-year residents of Haw Creek my wife, Juanita Igo, and I raised our three children on Cisco Road. Professionally, I have served as a real estate broker since 1997 as well as served on Asheville City Council from 2011 to 2015. My personal involvement with the community association began in 1995 when a large apartment complex was proposed on the site of what is today Haw Creek Park. That success proved a united community can make positive change. Although our beautiful valley is Asheville's best kept secret, it's our friendly neighbors who inspire me to serve.
Liz Polfus** W. Maple Drive
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** Bethesda Road – stormsreback@gmail.com
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* S. Leslie Lane – rerikkers@gmail.com
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* Parkview Drive Ext. – philtrunnell@gmail.com
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