New Vision
at a Glance
Our History
1998
The Beginning
Ruston Seaman and local community leaders founded Appalachian Community Care, a West Virginia nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth mentoring, workforce development, and community-based solutions. That same year, New Vision was established as a ministry of the Vision Appalachia Partnership, providing job training and full-time employment opportunities for unemployed residents across the Appalachian region.
2012
Official Incorporation
New Vision formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, creating a foundation for youth mentoring, community development, workforce training, and innovative solutions that strengthen and reenergize communities.
2009
New Vision Takes Shape
With the support of John Prusa, community leaders and volunteers launched New Vision Renewable Energy, exploring how renewable energy, workforce development, and community innovation could create opportunities in rural Appalachia.
2018
Prevention/Community Health
After local data revealed growing concerns around substance use and family instability, New Vision helped launch the Bright Futures Barbour County Prevention Coalition and expanded its focus on youth prevention and mentoring.
2021
Reimagining the Epicenter
What was once a working barn in the Chestnut Ridge Community began its transformation into The Epicenter—a vibrant community hub where fitness, creativity, food, and fellowship come together. Today, The Epicenter serves as a center for community revitalization, workforce development, mentoring, recreation, events, and lifelong learning.
2023
Workforce Development
The Epicenter underwent a major expansion while New Vision grew its youth employment, mentoring, and workforce readiness programs, creating new opportunities for young people across the region.
2026
Growing the Vision
With the Boys Village welcoming new residents and the Girls Village breaking ground, New Vision continues expanding opportunities for vulnerable youth while strengthening communities throughout Appalachia.
2024
The Village Comes to Life
Construction accelerated on New Vision Village, a first-of-its-kind tiny home community designed to provide housing, employment, mentorship, and belonging for young adults aging out of foster care.
2020
Prevention Works Launches
When COVID-19 disrupted mission teams and traditional ministry programs, New Vision adapted by launching Prevention Works. What began as a summer employment program for 15 youth ages 14–18 quickly evolved into a year-round workforce development and mentoring initiative, providing young people with meaningful work experience, life skills, and opportunities for personal growth.
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"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
-1 Peter 4:10
It Started With a Dream...
New Vision Renewable Energy began in 1998 as a mentoring and job-training initiative serving youth and families in Barbour County. As our work grew, we discovered that lasting change requires more than programs—it requires stable housing, meaningful opportunities, and strong relationships. That realization led us to focus on creating communities where young people can thrive, especially those transitioning into adulthood without traditional support systems.
New Vision Village was created to provide housing, employment, mentorship, and community for young adults aging out of foster care. Rooted in the belief that every person has God-given gifts worth nurturing, the Village helps residents build life skills, discover their potential, and create stable, independent futures. Through this work, New Vision is not only transforming individual lives but helping build stronger communities for generations to come.
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Students Supported
Through workforce development training, mentorship and job opportunities, educational support, and access to safe community.
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Annual Volunteers
Working in direct collaboration with our staff, students, and families to better the lives of Appalachians.
Countries Served
Through community production, over 6,500 Ray of Life solar powered lights and cell phone chargers have reached 40+ countries world wide.
Million Dollars
Invested in the building of the Boys and Girls Tiny House Villages for young people in transition between childhood and adulthood
New Vision Staff
New Vision Board
Kevin Hunter
Board President
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.
Anne Derby
Secretary
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.
Rex
Chief Financial Advisor
Rex Merchant has served as CFO for non-profit enterprises for more than 25 years. His experience includes managing financial, accounting and investment activities; developing budgets; supervising audit, tax and legal service providers; and overseeing government grant compliance and reporting. Rex is a hands-on accounting professional with a CPA license and related financial certifications.
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.
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.
"Light brings hope, hope keeps people alive".
Ngozi Stephen Iwunor
Board Member
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.
Paul Bertelson
Board Member
Paul Bertelson began his service to Christ with 16 years of youth and missions ministry in Minneapolis, where his focus on short-term missions inspired the founding of YouthWorks, Inc. Over the next two decades, YouthWorks guided more than 500,000 teens from 9,500 churches into meaningful service across 122 communities throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. During this same season, he also founded Urban Homeworks, a nonprofit committed to developing affordable housing in the Twin Cities.
His commitment to service deepened further when he and his wife, Nan, welcomed a child with Down Syndrome and entered the vibrant world of disability advocacy. Recognizing the profound needs of families, Paul helped bring YoungLife’s Capernaum disability ministry to the Twin Cities and later co-created Beyond Limits, a follow-up program offering a college-style experience for young adults with disabilities. Through every chapter of his life—from entrepreneurship to ministry to community development—Paul Bertelson has remained devoted to creating opportunities, fostering belonging, and serving others with joy.
Chris Sandberg
Board Member
Chris Sandberg serves as Vice President of Internal Audit at Danaher Corporation, a Fortune 500 diversified science and technology company, a role he has held since 2010. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Chris has built deep expertise in financial oversight, risk management, and corporate governance at some of the most respected companies in their industries.
Prior to joining Danaher, Chris served as Vice President of Internal Audit at Whirlpool Corporation from 2006 to 2010, and as Director of Internal Audit at Sara Lee Corporation from 1996 to 2006. He began his career at Ernst & Young, where he spent nearly eight years in public accounting and rose to the position of Manager.
Chris holds a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University and is a Certified Public Accountant. His combination of Big Four public accounting experience and senior audit leadership at three Fortune 500 corporations brings to the board a rigorous perspective on financial stewardship, internal controls, and organizational accountability.
New Vision Works in Collaboration with:
