BUCKHORN - Key Persons


Billy Smith - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
Billy Smith has over 20 years experience with Buckhorn Children & Family Services. Mr. Smith has a degree in Social Work from Morehead State University. He is responsible for the overall administration and operation of the Agency. He and the Executive Team ensure that the Agency remains focused on its mission, vision and values through monitoring and adjusting as needed agency programs, finances, and operations and communicating with donors, volunteers, partners, stakeholders and communities regarding the transition and Agency initiatives.

BRIAN T. WAGNER

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Darlene Herald

Job Titles:
  • Director of Compliance
Emma Darlene Herald (Darlene), a Breathitt County native, is a 1975 graduate of Morehead State University, with a Bachelor of Science with Area of Concentration in Business. Darlene had a 40+ year career in Long Term Health Care Fiance and Administration, primarily private not-for profit facilities. She retired in the late Spring of 2017, to quickly realize she didn't like retirement, so she returned to work, writing grants for a Housing Development Non-Profit prior to joining the Buckhorn Children & Family Services team. Darlene says "I am proud to be a part of this long-standing service to Kentucky's at risk children and families."

DAVID TROXEL

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

FREDDIE LOCKETT

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

IVAN SCHELL

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

JACK KLEIER

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

LAUREL SMITH

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

LESLIE COMBS

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

MARGUERITE T. ROWLAND

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Mitch Smith - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
A native Breathitt Countian, Mitch Smith brings over ten years of experience in governmental and not-for-profit finance to Buckhorn Children and Family Services' executive team. After graduating from the University of Kentucky in 2011, Mitch returned to eastern Kentucky where he has devoted the majority of his professional life. As a member of the executive team, he helps to ensure that the Agency's finances are consistently aligned in a manner conducive to both its short and long-term strategic goals. He and the executive team ensure a safe and nurturing environment through monitoring, managing and providing leadership among campus and program operations. By combining an innovative and fiscally responsible approach, Mitch hopes to help the Agency make a lasting and positive impact on its most important stakeholders - the clients!

NELLIE WILKINSON

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Patty Wilder

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources Generalist
Patty Wilder has over 28 years experience with Buckhorn Children & Family Services. Ms. Wilder has a degree in Human Resource Management. She is responsible for the overall administration of the various human resource functions including policy and benefit administration, personnel records management, employee development, and employee issue resolution. She and the Executive Team ensure that quality services are provided in support of employment, training, employee relations, benefits, and the retention of a highly diverse workforce to ensure productivity and customer satisfaction, adding overall value to the Agency's mission.

Phillip Spencer

Job Titles:
  • Campus Operations Manager

REV. JEFFREY WEENINK

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Reverend Harvey S. Murdoch

Job Titles:
  • Reverend
A visionary, Murdoch focused on the immediate needs of the people and worked with them to build a church, a school, and an orphanage. Although they had little money, local people gave what they could, contributing logs and lumber from the surrounding forests, shingles, plentiful amounts of coal to heat the structures, nine acres of land, $140, and 125 days of work on the project.

ROBERT DECKER

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

ROBIN SANDLIN GABBARD

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Chairman / Hazard, KY

Roger Coleman

Job Titles:
  • Chief Clinical Officer
Roger Coleman has a Master's Degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. he has over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. He has been with Buckhorn for the last five years and is currently the Chief Clinical Officer. He has worked with the youth in the RTF, PRTF, Foster Care and the DDID program since his employment here at Buckhorn Children & Family Services.

RUTH WEBB KELLY

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Sue McIntosh

Job Titles:
  • Development Specialist
Sue has worked at Buckhorn Children & Family Services for 36years. Sue is a lifelong resident of Buckhorn, graduate of Buckhorn High School and Lees Junior College. She has talked to many of you over the years and loves spreading the word about Buckhorn's mission.

TOM WAGNER

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors