Our Team
Meet the dedicated individuals driving our mission forward. Committed to empowering families experiencing homelessness, our team brings passion, expertise, and a shared vision for positive change.
Staff
April Bolton Smith
Executive Director
Since joining Family Promise of Blount County in 2016, April Smith has been instrumental in providing support and guidance to families in need. As a Case Manager for various programs, she has helped families develop essential life skills such as budgeting, building relationships, and maintaining good tenancy. In 2022, April was hired as the Executive Director for Family Promise of Blount County.
April is deeply rooted in the community, having lived in Blount County her entire life. She graduated from William Blount High School in 1998 and went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
April’s commitment to serving the families in Blount County is her passion and priority. Her experience, knowledge, and dedication are valuable assets to Family Promise and the community as a whole.
Ciara Humphrey
Case Manager
Ciara started with Family Promise originally as an intern in 2018, and as of 2021 has been a Case Manager. She graduated from Heritage High School in 2016, and attended Maryville College, where she was introduced to Family Promise via the Bonner Scholarship. Ciara has served as a passionate volunteer for many local non-profits since she was young and welcomes the opportunity to help families facing homelessness directly.
Shelby Isbill
Case Manager
Shelby grew up in a big family surrounded by kids. Shelby has always known that she wanted to work with children in some aspect since she was little and would volunteer her time in high school at the primary school for dances and field days. Shelby graduated from Sequoyah High School in 2019. She attended Maryville College where she discovered Family Promise at the beginning of her junior year. She fell in love with the drive that Family Promise had to better the lives of families in the community. Shelby wrote her senior study about the effects of homelessness on mothers and their children and interned at Family Promise in the fall of 2022. Shelby graduated from Maryville in 2023 with a degree in Developmental Psychology on the Child Trauma and Resilient track with a minor in Relationship and Sexual Health. Shelby started as a Case Manager at Family Promise right after Graduation. Shelby looks forward to growing within Family Promise and serving the families in the community.
Allen Helton
Thrift Store Manager
Board
Brooke Givens
Board Chair
Ted Rutland
Vice Chair
Ted has been involved with the Family Promise mission since 2018. Children deserve a safe and stable environment to grow; Family Promise of Blount County empowers families to stay in stable housing and allows children a chance at a bright future.
Chuck McGuff
Treasurer
Brenda Clark
Secretary
As a single mom of three children, we were “almost” homeless. But a family stepped up and provided a place to stay. Since then, I have felt a call to reach out to families and have supported Family Promise in a variety of ways. Now that I am retired, I volunteer at the Family Promise Thrift Store two days a week.
Nathan Irwin
Judy Wyrick
Judy has been a resident of Rockford since 1987. She has served the community as a teacher, corporate travel agent, and as a legal assistant. She has enjoyed being associated with Family Promise of Blount County as a volunteer in the Second Chance Thrift store and as a board member.
Mavis Ziegler
Mavis Ziegler is a retiree from teaching/coaching Physical Education, Wellness, and teacher preparation, spanning grades from the elementary through the university level. In addition to serving on the Board of Family Promise, she is the Co-Coordinator of Family Promise at First United Methodist Church. She serves in Compassion Counseling, Rotary, and Welcome Table among other things and loves spending time with her family.
David Anderson
Tyler Parks
