Meet the Staff

Our Hardworking Team


Everyone has a position but there is really only one role, TEAM RMHC of SWVA, because that's what it takes to run this amazing organization. From greeting weary guests with a warm smile to unclogging a sink, the professional staff believe in one thing - providing a loving and caring atmosphere for families.

Shannon Boothe is the current Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Virginia.

Shannon has lived in Roanoke, Virginia her entire life. She graduated from Roanoke College with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a concentration in healthcare delivery. Working part-time all the way through college, she came to learn about the Ronald McDonald House through an internship at a local hospital. Upon graduation, Shannon applied to work at the house and started out as a house manager. April 2021, marked Shannon's 23rd anniversary with the House.

Shannon lives in Roanoke with her husband of 23 years, she has a daughter who is currently attending Virginia Tech and a son who is in high school.

Growing up, Shannon didn't really know what she wanted to be, she just knew she wanted to help people.

"The Ronald McDonald House makes a huge difference in the lives of families going through one of the hardest times in their lives and I feel lucky to be a part of it. " - Shannon

Shannon Boothe

Executive Director

Jeanne returns to RMHC-SWVA, after taking a break to stay home with her children when they were babies. She is returning to her original role as Development Director as well as offering her assistance in many different aspects of the organization.

Jeanne and her husband, Allen, are proud parents of 2 handsome boys. When not working she can be found cheering on her boys at one of their many sporting events, enjoying a bonfire and family movie night in her backyard or doing house projects.

Jeanne is excited to be back at RMHC. The best part about working at RMHC is "the guests and knowing that we are able to help families during some of the most difficult times of their lives."

Jeanne Lawrence

Development Director

Stefanie began working with various non-profit organizations as a team member at 19 years old. She developed a passion for working with people and has been able to serve those in all walks of life.

Stefanie grew up in the Franklin County area and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, all types of music, and reading a good book.

Stefanie is excited about being a part of the RMHC family, due to a sibling who was diagnosed with childhood cancer, Stefanie understands the importance of the mission of RMHC and the services which are offered.

Stefanie Hall

House Program Director

Donna has been the RMHC Family Room Volunteer Coordinator since 2015 and one year as a Family Room Volunteer prior to that. The Family Room is located outside the NICU at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Prior to joining the RMHC Team, she was with Muscular Dystrophy Association for 22 years in Patient Services, operated an in-home daycare and worked at NASA for 7 years in Greenbelt, MD.

Donna has a husband who is retired/disabled from VWCC, a son and daughter-in-law who live in Allentown, PA and have two children as well as a daughter and son-in-law who live outside Charlotte, NC whom have one son in college. She has one brother and sister-in-law in Albuquerque, NM and one niece.

She is very active in her church in local missions. She loves the outdoors and misses her 30 years of camping in West Virginia and riding as a passenger on their Harley. My mission in life is helping people.

She is honored to have a great group of volunteers in the Family Room who provide a snack, a listening ear, and a quiet place for our families to step away for some nourishment yet still be close to their ill child. We serve families who have a child 21 or under who are hospitalized at RMH. Seeing the “smiles” and receiving the many “thank yous” from our guests lets us know we are helping to relieve some of their stress.

Donna Kester

Family Room Coordinator

Montana has always had a passion for helping others and her community any chance she gets. She has been working for non-profits since she moved to Roanoke in 2021 and loves that this community has welcomed her with open arms. Montana grew up the Concord, North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

In her spare time, she is a world-traveler and loves to meet new people and listen to their stories. Her favorite place in the world to visit is Nagoya, Japan, where she lived for about a year. When she is at home she can be found snuggled up on the couch with her dog and cat, reading a good book or playing games on her computer.

She is super excited to be a part of the Ronald McDonald House Charities family and serving her community. She is committed to bringing a home-away-from-home to current and future families of the RMH. She hopes to give back all the happiness and blessings this community has given to her, ten-fold.

If you see her out and about, please do not hesitate to say hello and ask how you can get involved!

Montana Kimrey

Donor & Community Relations Coordinator

Teri comes to RMHC with a heart of community service and over 12 years of non-profit experience - most of those years have involved developing and organizing major fundraising events.

Proud of living in the "Noke", Teri has lived and served in the Roanoke community her entire life. She has been married to her husband, Jay, for 35 years and has two adult children and one granddaughter. When she is not working, she might be singing at church or visiting her granddaughter at the beach!

Teri is excited to learn all about RMHC and to help the team fulfill the mission of providing an environment of love, community, and hope to families of seriously ill children.

Teri Nance

Special Events Coordinator

Katie moved to Roanoke from Connecticut in August of 2012 to attend Roanoke College. She graduated with a BA in Psychology and a concentration in Gender and Women Studies. Recently, Katie got married in Virginia Beach and moved into a home in Vinton. She and her husband have one daughter named Genevieve and they are fur parents to four cats and a dog. Katie loves to paint, color, scrapbook and read. She is passionate about animals and enjoys watching ridiculous reality TV.

Katie is extremely grateful to be working for an organization that holds a special place in her heart; she utilized the Ronald McDonald room in the hospital when her daughter was in the NICU. Using both her professional background and personal experience, Katie strives to inspire others to become involved to achieve Ronald McDonald House Charities goals.

Katie Mason

Volunteer Manager

De'Aushanae Blake

House Manager

Roma Brothers

House Manager

Robert Ellis

House Manager

Debbie recently relocated to Roanoke from South Florida and is excited to bring over 20 years of non-profit and corporate management experience to the Ronald McDonald House team. She is focused on providing the best possible guest services to our families and also helps with technical projects.

In her free time, Debbie is an avid pickleball and tennis player, loves to ski, is a licensed Foster Child parent, and a substitute teacher. These are just a few of the ways she tries to be a positive impact in our great Roanoke valley area.

Debbie Garland

House Manager

Joe Kirk

House Manager
Jill, our House Manager

Jill has served RMHC as a House Manager for nearly 2 years.

Jill has 2 grown sons, one of which is about to get married. Jill also has a step-daughter who is getting ready to go to college next year.

Jill loves spending time with her sister, who she describes as her BFF. She also embraces any opportunity to travel, especially to warm, sunny beaches. Jill also loves hiking, kayaking, and being involved in her church.

Jill explains that the best part about working at RMHC is "being able to support the families staying here... seeing how grateful they are for having this home away from home."

Jill Lucas

House Manager

Ebony is the mother of 3 beautiful girls, whom all received treatment from the local NICU. Ebony used the Ronald McDonald House Family Room during times she would visit them.
"It’s an honor to be a part of a great team," states Ebony.

She is a sociology major, because she likes to study different groups of people who are affected by different social issues. On her spare time, she coordinates a yoga class for individuals who have been affected by gun violence. When she is not trying to save the world; Ebony and her children enjoy family dinners, shopping, and studying.

Ebony Meyers

House Manager

Katrina Vermillion

House Manager