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Meet Our Staff
Resident Camp
Dave Purcell
Executive Director |
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Dave accepted the position as Executive Director of Herring Ridge/Camp Harrison in the fall of 2008. Dave, an Ohio native, graduated from Miami University with a BS & MS in Education. Dave started in full time camping in 1987 as the Director of YMCA Camp Cosby in Birmingham, AL. Then in 1993, he began his involvement with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte as the Executive Director of Operations for Camp Thunderbird. Dave has worked very close with Camp Harrison since its opening in 2004. He has been married to Margie for 22 years and has a daughter, Marlett, who is a Camp Harrison staff member and a student at Appalachian State University.
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Denise Hammond
Associate Executive Director |
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Denise started working with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte in 1993 as Director of Health Enhancement. A graduate of Appalachian State University, Denise helped develop and launch a partnership that provided staffed health centers within YMCA branches. Denise took time off to raise her two boys, Hunter and Colton, with her husband Ken, but always stayed connected to the Y through volunteer work and as a group exercise and cycle instructor. During her time off, Denise began a home-based camp which gave kids a chance to experience the joys of farm life. Denise is excited to bring her camp to the Camp Harrison Dude Ranch, along with a herd of animals, including 4 horses, 10 goats, a pony and the biggest star of all, Petunia the Pig! |
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Lisa Eller
Administrative Assistant |
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Lisa began working with Camp Harrison at Herring Ridge in June of 2004. Lisa is local to Wilkes County had the opportunity to gater local youth to participate in the production of Camp Harrison's first advertising video. She and Mark, her husband of 22 years, live on a family-owned farm where they raise their three children, Hannah, Chastin, and Holden. Lisa comes to us seeking to share God's love and make a difference in the lives of others. She enjoys sharing the Y Mission, telling families about the many wonderful Mountain Experiences camp has to offer and helping them feel comfortable leaving their children in the care of our staff and volunteers. |
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Jon Bontrager
Property Manager |
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Jon has worked in the camping industry for 10 years in a variety of summer camps and therapeutic wilderness programs. He learned his basic construction skills while working childhood summers on a dairy farm in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and then honed those skills at several contstruction and landscape companies. He graduated from Goshen College in Indiana with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, and then happily moved back to the mountains. When he's not at work, he's probably riding a bike, working in his garden, playing with honeybees, or hiking somewhere with his family. He lives at Camp with his wife Betsy, his son, Kade, and daughter Ryn. They are expecting their third child in August 2011. |
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