OUR STAFF
“None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.”
Our executive board
wes barkley - president
Wes Barkley is from the Hickory area, and serves as a District Court Judge for the 25th District. He is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University and Campbell School of Law. He serves as a Board Member for the Salvation Army, Western District Historical Association, and is a Trustee for Gardner-Webb University. He is a member of Corinth Church in Hickory. Wes is married to Natalie Barkley and has three children, Sydney, Ella, and Liam.
chris cline - vice president
Chris Cline is from the Greensboro/High Point area, and is a commercial insurance agent with Church Mutual Ins. Co. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He serves as a Board member for T.A.W.C.M.M.(Talk And Walk Christian Mens Ministry), Chairman of the Stewardship Committee at Life Community Church in Jamestown, and on the Board for ZooKeepers Ministry Int’l. Chris is happily married to Stephanie and just celebrated 23 years of marriage in May and they have a daughter, Lilly, who is a junior at NC State. Chris loves the Lord and has a heart for serving others.
william powell- treasurer
William Powell, owner of Fitness Zone in Greensboro, commands 25 years of professional training and weight loss experience. Will loves seeing people honor God with their bodies and accomplish their goals through hard work and commitment. Will was Reebok’s 2014, 2015 and 2016 Fittest on Earth Crossfit Champion in the Master’s age division winning the world championship in Carson, California. He is also a very competitive professional drug free bodybuilder at the age of 54, placing in the top 5 on the national level consistently against guys half his age. Will approaches weight loss from a holistic point of view. He is excited to bring his passion, energy and dedication to The Oaks.
Katonya Smith
Katonya received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Wake Forest University.
Katonya is currently employed at Corning Optical Communications as the Workforce Development Leader.
Katonya serves as the Ladies Bible Class Facilitator and teaches the Ladies Bible Class, as well as the Nursery Class. She has spoken on various ladies day programs and enjoys sharing her knowledge of the Bible with others.
Renee Kennedy
Renee thanks God for family, friends, acquaintances, and once-in-a-lifetime encounters.
Her book, After the Flowers Die: Encouragement for Walking Through Life After Loss, will be released in Fall 2022 from End Game Press.
Writing and reading, working her farm, and investing, particularly with her adult kids to further their entrepreneurial spirits, blesses her heart. Gathering around the table or fire pit with loved ones is the pinnacle of her days.
Renee is active with Triad Coalition for Life, Sister Keepers, Save the Storks, and Pleasant Garden Baptist Church. She looks forward to this new season of her life, in serving The Oaks Community. The first and last word on her is that she’s a follower of Jesus Christ.
Heather Parrish
Heather received her Bachelor of Nursing degree and Master of Nursing degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has worked in a variety of patient settings as a nurse and nurse practitioner, including women’s health and public health. Heather is currently employed at a local pediatrician’s office where she spends much of her time with adolescents.
Heather is married to David and together they have three children. Heather and her family attend Westover Church. She is excited to see where Christ is leading in this next chapter with The Oaks and for the opportunity to combine her love for Christ and passion for the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness of others.
Our ADVISORY COMMITTEE
An advisory committee is a dedicated group of volunteers supporting The Oaks through prayer, networking in their local communities, volunteering for special committees, and consultation services in their individual areas of expertise.
Joy Cover- Lynchburg, VA
Rachel Hyde- Tulsa, OK
Sonya Jones - Knoxville, TN
Elgina Manuel- Greensboro, NC
Alice Pawlik- Pleasant Garden, NC
Sarah Thomas- Boiling Springs, NC
Becky Wells- Huntersville, NC