Our Team

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Julie Huneycutt has worked in the non-profit world for over 20 years. She has been the Director of Hope Coalition since 2014. In 2010, after losing her 20 year-old daughter to an opioid overdose, she and her husband founded Anna’s Hope, a fund dedicated to raising awareness about prescription drug misuse. Since then, she has been active both locally and regionally, appearing on multiple news shows, speaking at addiction conferences, civic, political, and social clubs sharing a story of hope while emphasizing the dangers of substance misuse. Julie has a BS in Psychology from NC State University, a certificate of Non-profit management from Duke University and a certificate in Fundraising Management from Indiana University. She is a graduate of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Coalition Academy and has been an appointee to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. Julie is a former president of the Hendersonville Rotary Club and serves on the board of Pavillon International.

Michelle Geiser, EdD, is a trauma specialized mental health professional who serves as the Program Director for Hope Coalition. Michelle works with children, adolescents and families to regain their personal power through education, prevention, advocacy and recovery. Michelle believes that empowered people build strong communities. She works to provide and sustain services to the community as a whole in order to build resilience. Michelle has helped to secure nearly 2 million dollars in federal funding for Henderson County to support those in need. She has supported the Henderson County Youth Council for five years acting as the lead advisor to 22 students representing all area public high schools. Michelle serves as an appointed member to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. She is a National Board-Certified Counselor, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Associate, a Licensed School Counselor and Certified Trauma Professional. Michelle is a graduate of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Coalition Academy. She is also a certified Nurturing Parenting Provider, Catch My Breath Provider, You Quit Two Quit provider, In-depth provider, and SBIRT certified. Michelle holds a Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling, Traumatology from Liberty University. 

 Henry Greenberg served in the United States Army for ten years before working for local governments in the state of Florida. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in business administration. 

Henry recently moved to North Carolina and wants to continue to make a positive impact in the community. In his free time, Henry also enjoys board games and sports. 

Ashley Polk has worked in the field of law for six years and is a native of Henderson County. She is a certificated paralegal through the South College ABA approved paralegal program, and a member of Lambda Epsilon Chi. 

Ashley seeks to empower youth and adults to prevent them from becoming justice involved. She advocates for diversion alternatives and pathways to success.

 Katie is a DWI services coordinator at Hope Coalition and has worked in DWI services since 2021. She earned her CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) from  NCASPPB in 2023. She has been in recovery since 2016. She believes that people deserve respect, kindness, and honest guidance as they work through the challenges alcohol and drug misuse can bring. She is a member of NAADAC and  APNC. She also works with teens in the Hope Rising diversion program, helping them learn life skills and empowering them to make healthy informed choices as they transition to adulthood.

Sonya Smith has worked as a Certified Peer Support Specialist since 2016 and now works for Hope Coalition as a Peer Support Coordinator. She has her CADC Certification (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) and is continuing education courses. She has a long history of substance misuse and justice involvement. She now celebrates 15 years of maintaining recovery and has a deep passion for supporting others in their journey to finding their own path to recovery. She knows from her own life experience that recovery is possible but is not meant to do alone. We do recover together. 

Beth’s story is one of great loss, that of her son in 2017 to a drug deal gone awry, and her struggle to numb the pain. Battling addictions since the age of 15, in and out of recovery her entire adult life, Beth knew there had to be a better way. In 2018 she began her recovery process. 

She now vows to help others find what has been restored to her: faith, family, sanity, and recovery. She is grateful to share that recovery IS possible.