New Vision
at a Glance
As a 501 c-3 organization, New Vision knows that our strength lies not only in the words we stand by, but most importantly through the actions of our initiatives. New Vision was started as a local community training center. Over the years we have developed into an international community organization that brings solar lights (with the help of local students who put the light kits together as part of their STEM education) to those in our world who do not have a clean source of light to use. We also mentor at risk youth in our community through our peer and parent mentoring, and we re-energize our community through a variety of recreation projects.
Key People
Ruston Seaman
President/CEO
Ruston is a graduate of Alderson Broaddus College and Eastern Baptist Seminary with a Master's Degree in Christian Faith and Public Policy. Ruston founded the Cornerstone Cooperation in 1986, which later became Appalachian Community Care, a 501 (c)3. Ruston served as Appalachian Director for World Servants, an international short-term mission organization, from 1994-1999. In 2000, Ruston became the Appalachian Director for World Vision International and became the National Rural Director in 2008, until taking his position leading New Vision in 2011.
Ngozi Stephen Iwunor
Mentoring Director
Ngozi Stephen Iwunor joined New Vision Renewable Energy with the vision and drive to improve upon our capacity to engage, empower, embrace, and lift up the youth of Barbour County, WV. Through Ngozi Stephen's leadership New Vision is poised to challenge the status quo and change our community legacy.
New Vision Board
Chris Dodge
Board President
Christopher A. Dodge is a graduate of the Alderson-Broaddus University Physician Assistant Program in Philippi, WV, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in 1998 and Master of Science degree in 2007. Before moving to Philippi to become a Physician Assistant, he worked in residential construction for 22 years, including 12 years as the Superintendent of a design/build company in the Rochester, NY area. This prepared the groundwork for his first involvement with the Chestnut Ridge community in 1995 as the Construction Coordinator for World Servants short-term mission trips. In 1998 he began his Physician Assistant career as Medical Director/Surgical Assistant with Mid-Atlantic Retina Consultations in Morgantown, WV (1998-2006). Following 2 years as the Clinical Coordinator for the Alderson-Broaddus University Physician Assistant Program, in 2008 he began a new career in Addiction Medicine in the medically underserved North Country of New York State. Chris is currently an Outpatient Medical Provider with St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment and Recovery Centers, based in Saranac Lake, NY, which serves the eastern St. Lawrence River Valley and the northern Adirondack Mountains.
Ken & Jenna Combs
Board Members
Rural Compassion is a national initiative dedicated
to encouraging, strengthening, & empowering
small and rural churches to work outside their
four walls to address the needs of their surrounding
communities. We provide inspiration and action to
help the pastor and congregation to be Christ's hand
extended by meeting the concerns of poverty and
restoring self-respect in the hearts and minds of
rural communities.
Ken & Jenna Combs are US Missionaries working
with Rural Compassion. They are the only Rural
Compassion Missionaries located on the East Coast
and their primary outreach area is the Appalachia
Region. They enjoy meeting and learning about rural
Appalachia communities and work to connect those
communities to resources.
Kary Kingsland
Board Member
In addition to being a treasured New Vision board member, Kary Kingsland is also a part of the Convoy of Hope team since May 1999, and has served in senior management since 2004. He is an active advocate, strategist, and networker. As an influencer and contributor, he has been an integral part of program formation throughout his career in Convoy of Hope’s ongoing growth track and development across the U.S. and parts of the world. Kary currently serves as Vice President of Rural Initiatives at Convoy in addition to being a valued board member at NVRE.
Chuck Coleman
Board Member
Anne Derby
Board Member
Anne Derby is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in development and fundraising. Currently serving as the Director of Development at Friends House Retirement Community Inc., Anne also runs their own consultancy, Derby Consulting. With a background in both business and psychology, Anne has held key development positions at various organizations including Boys Town Washington DC, Citizens for Global Solutions Education Fund, and World Vision. Anne's expertise lies in advising senior management on fundraising strategies and engaging key stakeholders in development efforts.
Kevin Hunter
Board Member
Mr. Hunter is a Puget Sound native, growing up in the suburbs of Seattle’s eastside, but always considered himself a “Seattle kid”. While attending Western WA for his undergraduate studies in business, a summer internship to Jackson Mississippi changed the trajectory of his life. Upon graduation, Kevin began what became a 40-
year career in the non-profit youth development and community development sector.
Kevin has a deep commitment to kids and families that find themselves on the margins. He has been a senior leader in organizations such as World Vision, Habitat for Humanity, Olive Crest and Construction for Change and has seen firsthand, both across the United States and globally what organizations of goodwill are able to accomplish when they come together around long term transformative outcomes. Kevin now leads his consulting firm and is currently engaged with clients such as the Leadership Foundations and Civic Commons (Black Home Initiative).
As a leader, Kevin has consistently been a voice for people on the fringe and has brought people and organizations together through strategic alliances and trusting relationships. Kevin has expanded and grown impact wherever he has served and has a wealth of experience and a deep passion for innovation, connecting people and organizations and ultimately collaborating toward sustainable and transformative trajectories for our world.
Dave Nonnemacher
Board Member
Dave is the director of New Horizons Foundation-USA, the US arm of New Horizons Foundation of Lupeni, Romania, and a long time partner organization of New Vision. He is the lead contact for the Ray of Life project that - to date - has sent over 1,500 Ray of Life solar light kits to Ukraine since the Russian invasion and occupation. Dave's professional life has always found him dancing around the edges of faith-based community development initiatives. His respect for the work of New Vision, the people involved and the legacy of John and Kathy Prusa is immense.
Various visits to the Ridge have found him immersed in good eats and good conversation.
Dave and wife Jody currently reside in Two Harbors, MN.
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"Light brings hope, hope keeps people alive".
New Vision Works in Collaboration with:
