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 as well as an appointee to a NC state legislative task force on sentencing reforms for drug convictions. Julie is a former president of the Hendersonville Rotary Club, is the 2023 Athena Leadership Award recipient and serves on the board of Pavillon International.

Laura Sklba has worked in Human Services for more than seventeen years, running residential programs focused on domestic violence, mental illness, human trafficking, homelessness, and developmentally disabled persons. She holds a master's degree in both Education and Psychology. 

She and her dog Mr. Pickle have recently relocated from the Finger Lakes in New York State to the mountains of North Carolina. In her free time, she is an avid reader and an adjunct professor at Blue Ridge Community College.

Kletia is fairly new to the nonprofit world with 25 years of management and finance experience. She has a BS in Business Administration from Florida South College. Living in today’s culture, she has witnessed first hand the devastation of substance misuse through family and close friends. With Hope Coalition, she is excited to help bring hope and effective resources to her community. 

Kletia enjoys spending time with her daughters, her grandson and her Airedoodle (Truly Scrumptious). Free time for her includes knitting, cross-stitch, reading, and a Hallmark movie. 

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.

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.

Patrick is a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist who joined Hope Coalition in early 2025. After attending numerous recovery meetings at Hope Coalition and experiencing firsthand the impact of peer support, he is grateful for the chance to give back to an organization that played a vital role in his own recovery from substance use. Patrick believes in a holistic approach to healing—one that nurtures mind, body, and spirit—to help others move closer to their goals of living healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Marie Coker is the Youth Services Coordinator for Hope Coalition's Youth Connection Center. She has worked with the youth population for 15 years. She received her Bachelor's degree from Strayer University in Criminal Justice and her Master's degree from Capella University in Child and Adolescent Development Psychology.  She currently holds her AADC (Alcohol and Drug Counselor) certification and is in the process of obtaining her Clinical Supervision License. Marie spent the last 3 years counseling adults in MAT (Medical Assisted Treatment) for addiction. Marie has years of experience working with youth involved in the foster care and DJJ system.

Marie has a passion for serving families that are facing challenges. Marie has two children of her own and has just welcomed her first granddaughter into the world. She enjoys spending time in nature with her pit bull, Olive. 

Mark Palinski is a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist, Recovery Coach, and Harm Reduction Specialist who brings over a decade of experience walking alongside people on their wellness journeys. As a person in long term recovery from Opiod Use Disorder he is guided by compassion, connection, and lived experience, Mark works to create spaces where everyone feels seen, supported, and empowered to heal.

He’s passionate about building community resilience, breaking down stigma specifically around people who use drugs and Medication Assisted Treatment, and helping others find pathways to wellness that best suit their needs across Western North Carolina. Other passions include having too many dogs and outdoor activities.  

Mia connected with Hope Coalition through her fellowship with the Blue Ridge Service Corps. This program has allowed her to pursue her passion for community health and social equity. Originally from Wisconsin, but most recently Mia lived in Boone, where she graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. She is deeply committed to social justice and is motivated by the belief that everyone deserves access to the resources they need to succeed. When she’s not working, Mia enjoys hiking, traveling, making and listening to music, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.