Highland Center Welcomes New Executive Director
MONTEREY — The Highland Center Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Joanne Martin as its new executive director, effective Dec. 1.
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Martin brings more than two decades of leadership and service in the nonprofit and faith-based sectors, with a distinguished career spanning community development, counseling, volunteer management, and arts programming. She holds master’s degrees in public administration, social work, and religion, and is a licensed clinical social worker.
Her professional background includes service as interim executive director of The Lazarus Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., where she guided the organization through a major leadership transition; Canon for Prayer and Worship with the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh, overseeing regional programming and annual conferences; and deacon for operations at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Athens, Ga., where she coordinated multiple volunteer teams and community ministries.
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Most recently, Martin has been based in Virginia, serving as pastoral associate at Benediction Farm, a retreat center in Rochelle. She also leads Brendan House LLC, a creative spiritual renewal venture offering retreats and workshops for artists and makers exploring the intersection of creativity and faith.
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“I am deeply honored to join The Highland Center,” said Martin. “A few years ago, I drove through Highland County and thought, ‘I’d love to live here.’ That I now get to do so, and contribute to the community by facilitating a space for us to gather and build relationships, is a true gift.”
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“We are privileged to introduce Joanne as the new executive director of The Highland Center and to support her in the mission to welcome friends from all over Highland County,” said Windsor Betts, chair of The Highland Center board of directors. “As the board noted, Joanne’s exceptional nonprofit leadership, pastoral insight, and commitment to small-town community life make her an ideal fit for guiding The Highland Center into its next chapter.
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“Joanne’s strengths harmonize business acumen demonstrated in successfully running a solo counseling practice with strong interpersonal skills honed through her spiritual, artistic, and social work accomplishments,” Betts added. “I could not be more excited to warmly welcome Joanne to this very special community.”
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Originally from the South, Martin spent much of her career in Pittsburgh before relocating to Virginia in 2024 to fulfill a long-held dream of living in the mountains. She brings to Highland County a deep appreciation for rural culture, creativity, and collaboration — values that reflect The Highland Center’s mission and future vision.