Staff

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Staff

Maggie Leftwich, Housing Manager

Maggie Leftwich, Affordable Housing Manager, is a HUD-certified Housing Counselor with a Master’s degree in human services and over a decade of local nonprofit experience. Raised in Haywood County, she is passionate about the region and committed to helping the community and its residents thrive. Maggie firmly believes that affordable housing is the bedrock of safe, healthy communities. Her work is driven by empathy, personal experiences, and a conviction that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a stable future. When she’s off the clock, Maggie can be found reading, writing, creating art, frolicking through the woods, and spending time with family and friends.

Chris Stevens, Construction Supervisor

A proud graduate of Pisgah High School and Western Carolina University, Chris Stevens has worked in software implementation, heavy industrial maintenance, and production manufacturing. Chris started working at the Canton Mill in 1990, but with the closure, Chris saw an opportunity to get his contractor license and assist in our affordable housing division, SMHP. Chris takes the Mountain Projects mission to heart and can be found working alongside new homeowners, doing everything necessary to get them into their new homes – from managing contractors to waterproofing basements, mixing and pouring concrete, installing doors, and placing appliances. 

 
Haley Griffith, Housing Counselor

Longtime Haywood County resident and Evergreen employee Haley Griffith joined our team as a Housing Counselor after a two-decade stint at Evergreen Packaging in Canton.

Haley is married to her high school sweetheart and they have three kids. She worked with Evergreen for two decades, first on machines, then in Shipping Operations and finally in Quality Control.

Haley says the mill closure has been hard for everyone, and that leaving a 20-year job isn’t easy, but she’s looking forward to bringing the same values and work ethic to SMHP to serve and assist the mountain community.

Kerry Moffat, Self-Help Counselor

Kerry has lived in Haywood County since 2015 and says she has been inspired by the great work that Mountain Projects does for the community, which made her want to be a part of the organization.
 
“Affordable housing is a matter I greatly care about,” she said. “Working in the Smoky Mountain Housing Partnership division of MPI allows me to help those in my own backyard obtain their dream of homeownership.”
 

When she is not helping others with housing needs – or working on her own home – Kerry enjoys getting outdoors to explore beautiful Western NC with her husband of 18 years and her two adorable, silly young children.