We are a nonprofit organization established as a faith-based and charitable corporation under the laws of the State of North Carolina.

David (Dave) Ahrens Executive Director

Dave was an active-duty Army officer for 28 years followed by 11 years as a Department of the Army civilian staff officer at the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command. Significant assignments included Garrison Commander at the National Training Center, Inspector General of US Army Japan, and ROTC Brigade Commander of a 3-state area. Dave has volunteered for AOM for six years as a kitchen worker and meal deliverer. Dave is a “people person” who loves the kind-hearted people of Ashe County.

Roger Swanson

Kitchen Manager

Roger spent 47 years in the restaurant business in Houston and Austin, Texas. He’s opened several successful restaurants, introduced packaged foods to new markets, and was involved in corporate catering. For the last 16 years of his career, before retiring to the mountains of North Carolina, Roger was the Food Services Director and Executive Chef at St. Martins Episcopal Church in Houston, the largest Episcopalian church in the United States. Roger and his wife, Laura Dye, stumbled into the bliss that is Ashe County in 2008 and made it their permanent residence seven years ago.

Guy Graybeal, Jr.

Pantry Manager

“Junior” as he is affectionally called, has extensive experience with AOM that includes almost every aspect of the organization going back to the early 2000’s because of his passion to help the people of Ashe County. He is now in charge of the pantry program from ordering and picking up food from Second Harvest Food Bank to organizing, storing, and distributing this food to 400-500 individuals per month. He also builds and provides over 500 backpacks monthly to Blue Ridge Elementary School students as well as a group of local home school families.

Karen Thomas

Public Relations

Karen Thomas, Public Relations: Karen brings a caring touch to the board having worked in the medical field for 45 years as a Lab Tech, Radiology Tech, Medical Assistant and supervisor for stat labs and X-ray departments in satellite clinics. She enjoyed working with the doctors but especially the patients. She also has a passion for spirituality in all forms. She is the unofficial “Mom” of AOM.

Lynn MacDougall-Fleming Secretary

Lynn is applying her administrative skills by keeping track of board meeting records to include minutes, nonprofit documents, and by-laws. However, her passion is more closely aligned with the plant world having earned a botany degree from UNC-CH, worked in greenhouses and landscaping positions, and participated in the Cabarrus County, NC master Gardner program. She was also a founding member of a farm incubator school for new farmers in Cabarrus County. Lynn is truly multi-talented with 12 years of experience in the fine wine business and 22 years of massage and bodywork experience.

Sheila Ahrens

Treasurer

Throughout her career she focused on process improvement as exemplified by earning a national award for designing a customer servicing plan for Dun & Bradstreet. She followed this by designing and leading the development and implementation of the first standardized, Army ROTC curriculum, which is taught at over 1400 colleges and universities.

She also became a certified black belt in Lean Six Sigma, a process improvement approach, for the Army. Since retiring she has volunteered for AOM for the past six years as a kitchen worker, meal deliverer, and has recently taken on straightening out the financial and operational records of this nonprofit.

Larry Lewis

Member at Large

Larry is a native of Creston. Prior to his recent retirement a few years back, he was a skilled long distance truck driver for many years. His career culminated as a driver instructor at a major trucking company. He was a natural fit to take charge of Ashe Outreach’s box truck that is used frequently to pick up food from Second Harvest Food Bank in Winston-Salem, NC.

He also delivers mobile meals and cooks at the fish fry. Most important is his connection with the local community and ability to sense when someone needs a helping hand. Larry’s role on the board as a Member at Large is indispensable in assisting the board in making decisions that are suitable and acceptable for our local community.

Robert (Rob) McCorkle

Fish Fry Captain

Rob is employed by Appalachian State University, Technical and Trades, in Boone, NC. He has also dedicated many years of his life as a volunteer for AOM, specifically, he has been a faithful volunteer at the twice a month fish fry fundraiser for as long as anyone can remember. Rob is also the person most likely to be seen wearing tie dye garments.