Wytheville, VA – Andy Kegley, Executive Director of Open Door Community (formerly Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence, Inc.) is stepping down after nearly 30 years leading the organization. Andy first came to this work in 1991 as the founding board chair, then became a staff member managing home repair and weatherization programs for predecessor Mountain Shelter, Inc. He became Executive Director three years later. In 2007 Andy guided the organization through a nonprofit merger with HOPE Ministry Center. The merged organization became Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence, Inc. In 2018 Andy led the transformation of a community soup kitchen into Open Door Café, Southwest Virginia’s first nonprofit community café. More recently, Andy’s innovative leadership resulted in both the installation of a 50 kw solar array and a strategic re-branding to power the organization’s next 30 years. Andy is well respected throughout the southern Appalachian region as a transformational leader in the community development field. Thanks to his steady leadership, the organization is in a strong position to continue addressing critical needs of housing affordability and food security. Andy’s final day at Open Door Community will be November 17, 2023. Read Andy's farewell message. “Andy’s impact on our organization and this community is far-reaching and enduring. Andy is a humble servant-leader. He has been the inspiring face of this organization for most of its proud history,” said Shane Hiatt, Board President. “We can’t thank Andy enough for his years of tireless service, solid leadership, and dedication to our mission.” Open Door Community’s Board of Directors has named Jordan Stidham, Director of Housing Finance and Development, as Andy’s successor. Jordan joined the organization in late 2021 after a four and a half year stint with Community Housing Partners, where he managed finances and operations for an affordable housing portfolio of twenty-seven multi-family properties. Since arriving, Jordan has streamlined housing operations, launched a new real estate management subsidiary, deployed modern property management software, overhauled the accounting and financial management system, and spurred new development projects that will double Open Door’s housing portfolio over the next three years. The Board of Directors and Andy have been working on an executive succession plan since 2019. Over the last two years, Andy and Jordan have collaborated closely to prepare the organization for an orderly, seamless leadership transition. We hope to communicate more about our strategy and vision going forward over the coming months. The Board of Directors encourages anyone served by the organization or working with it to reach out with questions to: nopoverty@wythehope.org. # # # Open Door Community, formerly HOPE, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization breaking generational poverty through enhanced food access and housing stability. It serves a five-county area of Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, and Wythe, as well as the city of Galax. Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence, Inc. (HOPE) was established 30 years ago to fulfill the challenge of its name - to reduce the conditions contributing to poverty in Southwest Virginia. |
