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CLEMMONS — The Clemmons Community Foundation has announced the election of its board of director officers beginning July 2020:

Maria P. Vernon, chair

Maria Vernon is a resident of Lewisville. She is a part-time speech-language pathologist with WSFCS and works at Southwest Elementary in Clemmons. Vernon is a volunteer coach with WCCC basketball, serves on the Appalachian State University Beaver College of Health Sciences Advisory Council, and is a member emeritus and former board chair of the Appalachian State University Reich College of Education Advancement Board. Vernon also serves on the board of H.O.P.E. (Help Our People Eat) Winston-Salem, volunteers on various committees at River Oaks Community Church, where she is the volunteer coordinator for the ROCC 5K race, and coordinates the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Fundraiser for pediatric cancer research at her school each year.

Tim Bell, vice chair

Bell is a part of the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center team where he has served for more than 17 years. He is currently the director of property management and operations and oversees a $23 million operational budget. He is a veteran of more than 20 years of military service in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a headquarters financial analyst. Bell is also an ordained minister and motivational speaker. He is married to Donyea (Dee) Dockery of Raeford and has two sons, Brandon and Jared, and two grandchildren, Brandon and Malia.

Holly Groce, secretary

Groce is an attorney and partner with Clemmons Family Law firm practicing primarily juvenile and family law. Groce has lived in Clemmons for the majority of her life. She earned her undergraduate degree from UNC and graduated from the Campbell Law School. Groce is an active member of Center Grove Baptist Church and served on the board at the Jerry Long YMCA. Groce is married and has three children.

Donald Kinney, treasurer

Donald Kinney is a certified public accountant with his own practice, Donald S. Kinney, CPA, P.C. in Winston-Salem and has been resident of Clemmons for more than 20 years. Kinney graduated with a bachelor’s degree from UNC Charlotte and a bachelor’s degree from High Point University. He is active in his church and serves on its board of directors. Kinney also serves the boards of Winston-Salem First and Triad Family Network. Donald and his wife, Carolyn, have two grown daughters and four grandchildren.

Michael Combest, immediate past chair

A graduate of West Point and the School of Advanced Military Studies, Combest spent most of his career in the U.S. Army in every rank from second lieutenant to brigadier general. Combest is also an independent consultant and co-founder of Strackhammer LLC, an agricultural firm. Former council member of the village of Clemmons, Combest has also volunteered with the Jerry Long YMCA, the Rotary Club of Clemmons, the Village of Clemmons Planning Board, Friends of the Clemmons Library, and Twin City Track Club. Mike and his wife, Janice, live in Clemmons and have three sons.    

In addition to the election of its officers, new directors will join the board for a three-year term beginning July 1, namely:     

• Kim Henson

• Robert Hinshaw (Robin)

• Robin Paul

• Bob Sipprell

• Ronnie L. Willard

Continuing directors include John Crouch, Jr.; Brett Hoge; and William Lawler.

The board of directors also named Ken Burkel board member emeritus, an enduring special recognition for his long support and continued advocacy of the Clemmons Community Foundation. Burkel has been a champion for the foundation since its birth from the Clemmons Rotary Foundation. A graduate of St. Norbert College, Burkel moved to Clemmons from Green Bay, Wisconsin, as VP of sales and marketing for a large printing company and later co-founded a cost management consulting company from which he retired in 2015. Burkel was a 17-year member of the Rotary Club of Clemmons. His community service has included a N.C. Commission advocating for organ donations, a Big Brother, Jerry Long YMCA Board, Cancer Services Board, Novant Clemmons Foundation Board, moderates a Divorce Care group at his church, Clemmons UMC, was past founding member and chair of the board for the Clemmons Community Foundation and, most recently, has been instrumental in initiating the Salem Glen College Assistance Program of the foundation. Ken and his wife, Linda, live in Clemmons and have two sons, Nick and Grant, and three grandchildren.

About the Clemmons Community Foundation

The Clemmons Community Foundation exists to unlock the full philanthropic potential of Clemmons, Lewisville, and surrounding communities by connecting people and resources in ways that thoughtfully and meaningfully transform our communities with access, opportunity, and an enriched quality of life. The foundation in an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, first formed in 2004 by the Rotary Club of Clemmons and converted to a community foundation in 2012. For more information, call 336-663-6794.