Brenda McCartney, EdD

Board Chair
Oakland, MD

“I am a retiree with over forty years in the the education field.  It was during my career as a teacher and administrator in Garrett County that I first recognized the need for affordable health care for children and families in our area.  My husband Sull and I are both patients of Mountain Laurel and are pleased with the care we receive.  I am interested in seeing that the same quality of care is accessed by others throughout the area with an emphasis on preventive care to help children and families stay healthy.”

James R (“Smokey”) Stanton, MSW

Vice-Chair
Oakland, MD

“I am the president and CEO of Insight Solutions, a consulting practice based in Oakland with nationwide clients. I have forty years executive experience in health policy, health system development, and regulation at the local and state levels in Maryland, and in health policy and emergency management at the national level.  I hold the Master of Social Work (MSW) from West Virginia University and the Professional Certificate in Environmental Management from The George Washington University.I believe Mountain Laurel Medical Center is key to maintaining accessible, affordable and high quality medical care to the residents of Garrett County and our neighbors. I am pleased and honored to serve our community as a member of the Board of MLMC.”

Nathan Walter, CPA

Treasurer
Oakland, MD

Nathan Walter was appointed to the Board of Directors in July of 2020 as a member of the Finance Committee.  He aspires to add to the existing expertise of the Board in the financial arena.

Prior to being the President and CEO of Sunrise Sanitation, he served as the COO of Sunrise Sanitation for nearly six years.  Nathan also worked for Deloitte and Plante Moran PLLC in Columbus, Ohio as a CPA specializing in international tax matters affecting foreign-held public and private corporations for nearly a decade.

He also serves as the Vice President of the WV Independent Waste Haulers and Recyclers Association as well as a grant committee member of the WV DEP rehabilitation environmental action plan.

Nathan brings over ten years of financial expertise and business consulting experience to the Board.   Nathan holds a B.A. from Cedarville University with a focus in Accounting and Management.  He is also a licensed CPA in the State of Maryland and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  Nathan lives in Oakland, Maryland with his wife and two daughters.

Cherie Johnson

Oakland, MD

“I joined the Board of Directors in May of 2016. My husband, Steve and I came to Oakland in the fall of 2015 after I retired from Providence Health and Services, a large health care organization in the Northwest, where I spent the majority of my career with responsibilities in ambulatory care, nursing supervision, quality management, safety and Diabetes Education. Becoming a patient at Mountain Laurel Medical Center, I discovered a need for my expertise to serve the community here. Though retired, I maintained status as Nurse Emeritus through 2017 and Certified Diabetes Educator through 2016. to assist Mountain Laurel in the development of our Diabetes Self- Management Education program and in the achievement of certification through the American Association of Diabetes Educators. My history also includes certification in Health Coaching and Massage Therapy, volunteer service as a Court Appointed Support Advocate for Abused and Neglected Children, and as an EMT in Emergency Medical Services. I feel honored to serve on the Board and work with the providers at MLMC to maintain the quality and integrity of medical care provided to our community.”

Pam Hageman

McHenry, MD

“I am a Washington State native whose first 15 year career was as a Cadastral (boundary) Surveyor for the US Forest Service in Oregon and Northern California. I returned to school attending the University of Washington in Seattle and then PhD. program in Sociology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The academic focus was Sociology with emphasis on life course and demography.  Second career entailed working for non-profits in rural Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri in various direct service capacities to help sustain or improve quality of life for individuals at or near poverty.I moved to rural Appalachia region to be near son, talented daughter in law and 3 remarkable grandchildren. Had the great fortune to be employed by Garrett County Community Action first as family self-sufficiency coordinator and then Director of Aging and Nutrition (Area Agency on Aging).Third career began with retirement in the summer of 2018!”

Erica Carlson

Oakland, MD

“I am new to the Board, joining the team in February 2020. I’m a lifelong resident of Western Md with a passion for mental health awareness, especially the mind-body connection. I have a special interest in the impact of trauma on individuals & communities. I’m a clinical social worker (LCSW-C) & emergency manager currently employed by the state police. I also work part-time for a psychological agency, am a former paramedic, & have been a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) provider for over 30 years. I’m committed to identifying best practices & being an advocate for rural areas.”

Mary A. Schenk

Grantsville, MD

“Garrett County is my home, I was born and raised two children here. My son and daughter make their homes here as well raising my six grandchildren, one of whom is a teacher at Southern Middle School and who with her husband is raising my great grandson!
Following a rewarding 22 year career serving the citizens of Maryland both the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and the District Court of Maryland. While at MVA I accepted a promotion to Assistant Branch Manager and as a result I commuted for 8 years to the MVA Hagerstown branch. Wishing to reduce my commute I transferred to the District Court of Maryland and finished my career first at Cumberland, and lastly at District Court in Oakland. Since 2011 I’ve been enjoying retirement.
Active in in the Bittinger Emmanuel Lutheran Church, I am serving my second term as the Church Counsel President. Giving back and staying busy is important to me, I love volunteering two days a week at Garrett Regional Medical Center, something that I truly love.
A patient of Mountain Laurel Medical Center since its inception I am also a member of the ‘Friends of MLMC’ group. It is truly an honor to have been considered and selected to serve as a board member for MLMC.”

Fred Callis

Mtn Lake Park, MD

I was born and raised in Garrett County, MD and have been in healthcare most of my adult life. I was an EMT and nationally certified fire fighter for both Southern Rescue Squad and the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department, where I served as president for 12 of my 28-year career. I became a Respiratory Therapist where I earned my degree from California College for Health Sciences. I was employed at Garrett Regional for 29 years, then Transferred to Western Maryland Medical Supply. When they closed, I then went to work for Lincare Home Respiratory. I live in Mountain Lake Park with my wife Joni. I also have a married son and four grandchildren which I adore. This is a great community to live and raise a family, and we should, above all, provide good quality healthcare to everyone, insured or uninsured.

Gregan Crawford

Oakland, MD

Over the span of my career, I have worked in government, in the non-profit and private sectors.  In my current role at Garrett County Community Action, I serve as the VP of Family Economic Security which is comprised of 4 core departments that directly serve county residents. Prior to working at the agency, I served as a County Commissioner from 2010 to 2014 and was self-employed for 22 years creating custom woodwork.  My personal and professional experiences have made me understand that access to quality healthcare services, such as those offered by Mountain Laurel, is a critical component of thriving communities.  Mountain Laurel has been my primary healthcare provider for over twenty years.

TJ Coleman

Keyser, WV

TJ Coleman is the President of Pride In My Appearance LLC and the President & Founder of The Aubrey Stewart Project.  He is a retired member of the Air Force and the Department of Labor.  TJ is an author, historian, and motivational speaker for students, inmates, and the community.  He is proud to be a new board member of Mountain Laurel Medical Center, where he plans on making a difference in the health care lives of many.

Rebecca Aiken

Garrett County, MD

Rebecca joins the board with thirty years of experience in public health. A nationally certified schools nurse, she is the School Health Services Manager for the Garrett County Public Schools. A Masters in Nursing Education, MBA in Healthcare Management, Bachelor of Education in Elementary/Middle School, Masters of Education in Instructional Design and her work with the Center for Mind-Body Medicine have helped her to look at the quality of healthcare, delivery of healthcare, and the needs of the community through a variety of lenses. She strongly believes that there is a link between student health and academic success and that a community thrives when all residents have access to preventative care that ensures favorable health outcomes.  Rebecca supports the mission of Mountain Laurel Medical Center to provide the highest quality primary health care to the community regardless of ability to pay.

Leah Gregg

Garrett County, MD

Leah Gregg is a Garrett County native. She is the Treasury Management Relationship Officer at First United Bank and Trust serving in Garrett and Allegany counties in MD and Mineral, Monongalia, and Harrison counties in WV. During her 14 years at the bank, she has worked with businesses and non-profits to help them manage and create efficiencies to their cash flow through technology. Leah was also the President of the Greater Grantsville Business Association for years and now serves as a board member, is a Diplomat for the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, and is in the Maryland Banking Association’s Emerging Leaders program. Living in northern Garrett County with her husband and daughter, they attend Crossroads Christian Church and enjoy managing their orchard. Leah is, “Excited to have the honor to serve on Mountain Laurel’s Board of Directors and hopes that her professional and volunteer experiences will help continue to bring quality health care to Garrett County and the surrounding areas.”