After a nationwide search spanning two years, The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center found its new executive director, Steph Anderson.
Anderson said she has moved all over the nation, mostly specializing in property management, hospitality and general contracting jobs, which was a plus when she was interviewing for the executive director position.
“I call Portland, Oregon home,” Anderson said. “But four years ago, I worked for Girl Scouts in Charlotte. I knew about Western North Carolina and the beauty of it. So, when this opportunity came up, I was happy to move to this part of the state. I have a varied background, being in hospitality for many years. I was a general contractor in Portland. So, property management with resorts was my passion. The Mountain’s job opportunity was kind of everything all combined into one job.”
With The Mountain being founded by Unitarian Universalists, Anderson said she got involved with the religion 15 years ago.
“I was exposed to UU and thought, ‘Wow, that’s an interesting group,’” Anderson said. “I started working for a retreat center like this in California. So, when The Mountain said they were looking for somebody who had been in property management, summer camps for kids, managing a nonprofit, those were all of the things that I have done for a lot of my life. All of those combined in Western North Carolina was something that really intrigued me. It’s my first executive director job, though I have always been close to the top. I have always wanted to see the entire big picture of something like this.”
Since taking the position in February, Anderson said the people have been the best part of her job.
“I live on the top of The Mountain, so that is pretty cool too,” Anderson said. “I wake up every day in this beautiful place, but the people here are amazing. This place, for 45 years, has been a place where people continue to come. Grandkids of people who have come for 45 years are now coming. The specialness of this place is so cool. People come back here and get out of their car and say, ‘I am home.’ It really is a pleasure to keep building this place.”
Now, full force in her new job, Anderson said she is working hard at trying to better The Mountain.
“I am knee deep in construction that has to happen out here,” Anderson said. “Especially the last two years with COVID, we haven’t had the money to do stuff. I now can oversee these construction projects because I have property management experience. I don’t have to hire project managers, because I can do it. I can quickly figure out what needs to happen and get it done. I’m also excited to build up our programs. They have done an awesome job the past four years, but the world is always changing and growing, and I can bring a lot of outside programs and ideas, for kids and adults.”
With the retreat and learning center tucked away in Scaly Mountain, Anderson said a lot of people have come up saying they always pass the sign, but never know what is up there.
“We are a retreat center that is open to everybody,” Anderson said. “Some people think we are a religious organization, but no, not really. It was just established by a good group of people. We have a variety of groups that can come here, family reunions, business retreats. We run the gambit of who can come for a retreat. So, it’s a special place to have that yoga retreat, we’ve hosted AA groups here. Really, the sky is the limit to what this place could offer a group that just wants to get away. There are many special uses for this place and that is what I would want the community to see.
Being a Girl Scout her entire life, Anderson said she was excited to come on board and manage the Mountain Retreat and Learning Center’s summer camps, which start in three weeks.
“We are deep in programming for the kids,” Anderson said. “We haven’t had a true summer camp here for the last two years because of COVID. So, I want it to be big and great, so that people know that we are back in business. That was one of the reasons why this place was founded, so they could have a place for the kids to go during the summer. Since it is my background, I am very excited to get things going.”
Along with everybody on the Plateau, Anderson said they are short staffed and are looking to hire hard workers.
“It is hard in this community to find workers,” Anderson said. “We are in that same boat. We need staff so bad; we have some staff housing here to help supplement.”
KC Boyce, The Mountain Learning and Retreat Board Chair, said she is excited to have Anderson as the new executive director.
“Steph has an extensive background in youth programming, camps, hospitality, and non-profits,” Boyce said. “The Board is confident that she’ll be able to immediately put her skills and experience into good use to help us continue to grow our mission-related programming, renew our physical plant, and elevate the impact The Mountain has on peoples’ lives and the broader world. I’d like to thank Beverly Cree for serving as Acting Executive Director over the last 16 months. Beverly has shepherded The Mountain through a particularly difficult time with grace and a clear vision of what The Mountain can be and has helped position us for success under Steph’s leadership. I’d also like to thank Lee Reading, Chris Breivogel, Connie Goodbread, Peter Kandis, and Rev. David Messner, who served as our Search Committee, for their hard work and dedication to finding the right Executive Director candidate in Steph. I’d also like to extend my thanks to you, Mountain members and supporters, for engaging in the crucial work of The Mountain. I know you’ll join me in welcoming Steph to our community and in supporting her - and all of our staff and volunteers - in a successful next chapter for The Mountain.”
- By Christopher Lugo