Board of Directors

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Jillian Adams is the Founder and Executive Director of Hoot and Holler.  She brings her 20+ years of experience in HR, Strategy, Theater and Consulting experience including scaling start-ups as well as transforming large businesses globally to her role along with her incredible passion to ensure artists and hospitality workers are not just cared for but celebrated.  An artist and former hospitality worker herself, the needs of this community are incredibly personal.

 Carolyn Moore brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience, successfully guiding organizations through growth and challenges, including a $6.5 billion company sale. 

Passionate about helping others, she has served on the boards of HIP Housing and the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School, leveraging her expertise to support nonprofit initiatives. 

Dr. Robert Bednarczyk of Emory University's  School of Global Public Health is a public health researcher and educator with nearly two decades of experience studying how to address health disparities in rural, underserved, and marginalized communities, which he will contribute to supporting the health and well-being of WNC artists, service and hospitality workers.

 Eric Martinez, Head of the ServiceNow Practice at V-Soft Consulting, has over 18 years of experience in IT, including roles at IBM, Ahold Delhaize, and ServiceNow, and began his career as a database engineer in high school. Alongside his distinguished IT career, Eric is a classically trained singer who has performed professionally in the U.S. and Europe, has a long film and commercial resume, and has been on stage in plays and musicals since the age of four. 

  As a native of WNC, Emily is deeply connected to the region, actively contributing to the community through her extensive involvement in local theater, serving as president of the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre's Board of Directors, and chairing the women in business programming for The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, all while building a successful career in the financial industry and earning the designation of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. 

Mike Adams Jr, is a dynamic and energetic global IT leader in both the private and public sectors, serving in roles ranging from programmer to CTO to entrepreneur.  Over his 25 year career he has mentored those in the IT field as well as in his musical passions of playing harmonica as a touring musician.  The mission of Hoot and Holler is near and dear to Mike's heart based on his own personal experience facing challenges with a lack of access to basic needs and has deep gratitude to those who helped along the way. 

 Rebecca Smail brings 15+ years of leadership experience within city, county, and federal government systems such as St. Louis County government, City of St. Louis and the USDA.  In those roles she is known for her expertise in project management, process improvement, and strategic planning. Outside of work, she is an active volunteer in the community and an advocate for those lacking access to the most basic of human needs.