HC*EXCELL Board of Directors

Ashli Bunch

Ms. Bunch has served more than 10 years as an HC*EXCELL Board Member, most recently as President of the Board of Directors. She is currently serving as chair of the Grants Committee and chair of the Events Committee.

Born and raised in Hamblen County, and a semi-retired professional golfer, Ms. Bunch now spends much of her time supporting her kids in their school and sports activities.

HC*EXCELL’s mission really hits close to home for Ashli--with two kids in the Hamblen County School system--as she knows first-hand the foundation, and its supportive board, are making a difference. As Chair of the Grant Committee, she is able to work with other committee members to provide several teachers grant monies each year, to help with additional programs and projects. She knows the foundation’s success will trickle down, creating great jobs and opportunities for today’s graduates.

Ms. Bunch has high hopes that her own kids will have one of those opportunities, landing a job in Hamblen County and calling it home--like she did.

As the daughter of retired Hamblen County educators, Ms. Bunch realizes the importance of education, and the groundwork it lays for success. She is proud to call Hamblen County home, as it embodies the "small town" feel, and she is inspired by a community full of givers!

Giving to the kids of Hamblen County to support their hopes and dreams … it doesn't get much better!

Tim Coley

Mr. Coley, an HC*EXCELL board member, is the President of First Horizon Bank in Morristown. He is responsible for First Horizon’s five-county community bank footprint in the East Tennessee Market, with a focus on commercial loan and deposit growth. With over 30 years of experience in finance and banking, Mr. Coley has held multiple leadership roles in the banking sector. He has also served as CFO in private industry and finance-related roles in county government.

A native of east Tennessee, Mr. Coley obtained his BS in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Mr. Coley also attended the Cannon Financial Institute’s Trust School at the University of North Carolina, and the Tennessee School of Banking conducted by the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. In addition to serving on the HC*EXCELL Board, Mr. Coley serves on the following community boards or committees in support of various community initiatives: United Way of Hamblen County, Kingswood Home for Children Finance Committee, Industrial Development Board of the City of Morristown, Secretary Carson-Newman University Eagle Foundation, and Renovatus Recovery Community.

Mr. Coley truly believes that any sustained quality of life we enjoy in our communities is largely dependent on the human condition in which we live. He believes that poverty and ignorance can be eliminated through education. All of our children deserve unfettered access to education, to equip themselves to develop into productive, successful, and giving citizens in our communities. He is honored to serve on the board of HC*EXCELL, where the very essence of the focus is the support of the Hamblen County School System’s quest for delivering excellence in P-12 education and programs. He is amazed at and very thankful for the high level of commitment that Hamblen County teachers, business leaders and community at large bring in training our children for success in the workplace.

Laura Dickerson

Ms. Dickerson has been an HC*EXCELL board member since 2000, but she’s supported Hamblen County Schools for even longer. As a product of Morristown City Schools and parent of children who are a product of Hamblen County Schools, Ms. Dickerson understands that a child’s education is a top priority. 

Ms. Dickerson has served in many roles with HC*EXCELL, including past chair of the Education Banquet for 20 years, and past chair of the Wine Pairing event for 10 years. 

Ms. Dickerson, along with previous HC*EXCELL Director Tish Jones, has participated in many key activities, including: 

• Attending Public Education Network conferences. 

• Conducting community outreach with teachers, parents, church groups, government officials, residents of the housing authority and more, to formulate a report that evolved into the community profile for Hamblen County. This work was made possible by a PEN grant. 

• Establishing the P-16 Council for Hamblen County. 

• Working on the MACC High School Leadership program, and transitioning it into the school system through the financial assistance of HC*EXCELL and the Tuff Torq Corporation.

When she is not working with HC*EXCELL, Ms. Dickerson is a Realtor with ReMax Real Estate Ten. Additionally, she sits on the board of The Country Club, Inc., Keep Morristown-Hamblen Beautiful and Covenant Health Foundation. She previously served with the HealthStar Foundation, United Way and Girls, Inc.

The HC*EXCELL mission is very important to her, because it’s her belief that the role of a parent is to be their child’s advocate. Anything she can do to support the school system to produce an educated citizenry has long been a focus for her, which is why she works with HC*EXCELL. 

 “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

R. Michael Fishman

Mr. Fishman is a current board member and past president of HC*EXCELL. He is the publisher and editor of the Citizen Tribune. He grew up in Hamblen County and feels that there is no better place to live in the world. He believes strongly in the mission of HC*EXCELL, because although the citizens of Hamblen County have a wonderful quality of life, they should continue to challenge themselves to be the best in education. He believes that doing this will not only continue to improve quality of life for the community, it is the key component to continuing our heritage of economic growth. 

Mr. Fishman and others who call Hamblen County home have spent a lifetime building the community, and he says we must not stop now! Mr. Fishman is proud to live here, because the entire community continually works together to improve our area. He believes this spirit of togetherness and working together for common goals is a true blessing.

Gordon Lintz

Mr. Lintz leads HC*EXCELL’s Governance Committee, which reviews the organization’s charter and bylaws annually to ensure they are current, and ensures the board is following them. As part of this committee, Mr. Lintz also recommends new board members. He also serves as the President of the Morristown Hamblen Healthcare System. Mr. Lintz’s role as a community business leader and large employer in our area helps him bring a unique perspective to his work with HC*EXCELL. 

Mr. Lintz is dedicated to his work with HC*EXCELL, because children educated in Hamblen County are our future work force and leaders. Therefore, he believes education of our youth is one of the best investments we can make in our community.  

Mr. Lintz especially enjoys Hamblen County’s sense of community pride, and the community’s willingness to contribute and give back.

Dr. Jeff Perry

Dr. Perry serves as the Educational Representative for HC*EXCELL. He keeps the foundation informed on all educational programming and initiatives. He’s uniquely qualified for the task, as he has had a long career in public education in multiple states, including serving as Superintendent of Schools for Hamblen County. His past professional experience includes:

• 34 years as a public educator at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

• Superintendent of Schools for the Byers and West Grand School Districts in Colorado.

• Superintendent of Schools in Wise County and Wythe County, Virginia.

• Superintendent of Schools for Hamblen County.

Dr. Perry believes strongly in the HC*EXCELL mission, because he comes from an extremely economically depressed area in southwest Virginia, where his mother raised four children alone. She worked three different jobs to keep the family alive, and Dr. Perry says they had very little chance of success. However, he was fortunate to have a number of quality educators who helped him overcome many of the at-risk factors connected with his life. It’s Dr. Perry’s belief that public school education has always been the great equalizer, and can help any child enjoy a significant degree of success. HC*EXCELL is involved in a number of initiatives to provide quality educational experiences for Hamblen County students, and it helps to provide children with that chance. Dr. Perry and his wife, Amy, love living in Hamblen County, because it’s a community that balances major industry and businesses with outdoor activities. Most importantly, the Perrys appreciate that people in Hamblen County have been extremely welcoming and kind to them. They are currently building a log home and are doing the vast majority of work by themselves. They have created a small farm and are raising watusi cattle. They enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, woodworking and biking.

Marshall Ramsey

Marshall Ramsey, Board Member with HC*EXCELL, has spent his professional career in studying and advancing economic development in Morristown and surrounding areas of Southern Appalachia. He’s worked in a number of capacities for the Morristown Chamber of Commerce since May 2012, including:

• Small business development.

• Industrial recruitment/retention programs.

• Tourism and serving as the community’s liaison between multiple state, regional and federal agencies.

Prior to his role with the Morristown Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Ramsey was employed by the State of Tennessee, in the Department of Economic and Community Development, where he served as a Business Development Consultant and Regional Economic Development Specialist, focusing on industrial retention and recruitment for a 24-county region. He was also involved in:

• Tennessee Three Star.

• Retire Tennessee.

• Tennessee Main Street Program.

• Tennessee Energy Program.

• Tennessee Leadership Center.

With the Roane Alliance and the Newport/Cocke County Economic Development division of the Cocke County Partnership, Mr. Ramsey assisted industry and other businesses for the robust growth of economy in those regions.

Mr. Ramsey received his bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Business Administration, from Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina, where he also played football and lacrosse. After graduation, Mr. Ramsey continued his football career in the professional ranks with many arena and indoor professional teams. He has also completed the Economic Development Institute Program through the University of Oklahoma.

Because Mr. Ramsey knows what it takes to grow and maintain a healthy, local economy, he believes deeply in the work he does with HC*EXCELL. Tomorrow’s business leaders start today, with a good education.

A Newport, Tennessee native, Mr. Ramsey lived in Sweetwater, Tennessee, before moving to Morristown.

Alex Rom-Roginski

Mr. Rom-Roginski serves as a board member for HC*EXCELL. He is originally from Toronto, Canada. He graduated from the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in mechanical engineering. He has worked in various engineering positions throughout his career, before taking his current position as President of Colortech, Inc. This lifetime of experience in the business world has provided him with a great appreciation of the value of education, as well as the importance of fiscal responsibility and measuring progress.

HC*EXCELL’s mission is especially important to Mr. Rom-Roginski because the education he received provided him with the foundation to have the career that he’s had. He believes strongly that education provides opportunities for people to improve their quality of life. His hope is that through HC*EXCELL’s efforts, the group can help positively impact the lives of others, by providing them with the opportunity to build their own successful careers.

Jim Sexton

As the Senior Director of Operations and Plant Manager for MAHLE’s locations in Morristown and MAHLE Motorsports in Fletcher, NC, Mr. Sexton understands how important a quality education is for the Hamblen County community. His professional experience ranges from the electronic industry in Silicon Valley to positions at both the ZYCON Corporation and ELEXSYS International, to Manufacturing Operations, into Quality as Corporate Quality Director, until he relocated to East Tennessee in 1996. 

Mr. Sexton is a prior United States Marine, where he served as an Aviation Electrician with VMGR-352, a C-130 F/R Squadron at 3rd Marine Air Wing – El Toro, CA.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology, with emphasis in Manufacturing Automation, from California State University, Fresno. Mr. Sexton also carries his certifications through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (CMfgT).

Because of his belief that we all must be good community stewards, Mr. Sexton devotes time to numerous community organizations. He serves with:

• HC*EXCELL

• WSCC Board of Trustees

• TCAT’s Industrial Advisory Committee

Raising three children with his wife of 17 years, Jennifer, Mr. Sexton understands the importance of community, and is proud to call Hamblen County his home.

Amy Steisslinger

Ms. Steisslinger has called Morristown home for twenty-three years. She is married to Greg and has two teenage sons that attend Morristown-Hamblen High School West. Ms. Steisslinger has been on the HC*EXCELL Board for four years, serving on the Grant Committee. She is honored to be a part of an organization that facilitates and supports programs in the community that promote healthy educational development of children from birth through career. 

Ms. Steisslinger worked as a Physical Therapist before taking time off to raise her boys and become involved in the community. She has served on various boards and committees in the community, schools, and St. Patrick Catholic Church, including: 

• Junior Reading Circle.

• Women’s Clubhouse Board.

• Encore Theatrical Company.

• All Saints’ Episcopal School.

• West View Middle School.

• The Heart Gala Committee. 

Currently, she is a Core Group Leader with the Middle School Youth Ministry at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Tn Food on Foot Foundation Board member, and volunteer at The Daily Bread. Ms. Steisslinger believes that Morristown and the surrounding Lakeway area is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Ms. Steisslinger is proud of this community and the leadership of the school system, area business and industry, and non-profit agencies that work together to promote excellent educational opportunities and programs that benefit all in the Lakeway region. Ms. Steisslinger and her husband support HC*EXCELL and its mission because they feel that a strong educational system and community relationships improve the quality of life and economic prosperity for the entire area.

Jana Terry

Ms. Terry serves as the secretary for HC*EXCELL. She describes her duties outside of HC*EXCELL as: domestic engineer, household CEO and director of child development, kid taxi driver and her kids’ loudest fan. As an attorney at the Terry Law Firm, before going on maternity leave 17 years ago, Ms. Terry worked closely with members of the Hamblen County community. She also volunteers as the children’s director for her church, Trinity United Methodist Church. 

Because Ms. Terry has two children in the public school system, she believes strongly in the role HC*EXCELL plays in the community. She wants to see her kids and their peers challenged in the best learning environments. Her family also owns a small business, so she knows first-hand how important it is for us to see our community prosper with a strong, reliable workforce. She believes this kind of success starts in school. 

In addition to the natural beauty of the Hamblen County area, Ms. Terry most appreciates that the people here are kind and helpful to their neighbors.