2026 service awards celebrate decades of dedication at Harris Regional, Swain Community
September 21, 2026
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital recently recognized 78 employees who celebrated milestone service anniversaries in 2026, honoring team members with service ranging from five to 40 years.
This year marked a new tradition for the hospitals with the first annual Service Awards dinner, bringing employees together for an evening dedicated to celebrating their commitment and contributions. The event was held in Western Carolina University’s new Phillips Football Center on the “Chancellor’s Porch” overlooking E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Hosting the event at WCU was especially meaningful given the hospitals’ longstanding partnership with the university and their shared commitment to serving the region.
Employees celebrating service milestones who were able to attend the dinner were recognized in person, with each milestone group invited forward for special recognition. The full group of 2026 service award recipients includes employees celebrating five-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30- and 40-year anniversaries.
“Each of these milestones represents so much more than a number of years,” said Ashley Hindman, CEO of Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital. “They represent countless patients cared for, families supported, colleagues encouraged, and moments of service to our communities. We are incredibly fortunate to have people who have chosen to invest so much of their careers here. It was important to us to create an evening where we could pause, come together, and truly celebrate them.”
The annual dinner represents a new approach to service anniversary recognition for the hospitals. Historically, employees reaching milestone anniversaries were recognized during bimonthly lunches held throughout the year. The new format brings honorees together for one annual celebration recognizing everyone who reaches a service milestone during the calendar year.
The 2026 service award recipients are:
5 years: Harriet Harris, Kaitlyn Putnam, Tracie Reynosa, Katherine Burns, Brenda Brown, Michelle Brown, Blair Els, Amelia Spears, Kristina Duncan, Rebecca Cochran, Rebecca Williamson, Ariana Dyer, Ashley Reed, Kenneth Mowery, Kelsey Wells, Lori Waldroup, Susan Brooks, Kenneth Toole, Mary Parra-Asgari, Amanda Hall, George Whisnant, Nicholas Kerschus, Mary Martin, Mary Tuck, Alicia Cochran, Ashlynn Boone, Leah Seiger, Dooler Campbell, Lisa Hotovy, Kathy Moses, Jennifer Blattner, Jessica Williamson, Rachel Picher, Alanna Dillard, Alisha Long, Gilberto Robles, Sarah Owens, Lane Campbell, Madison Burch, Tammy Brooks, Joseph Taylor, Paul Curtice, Gregory Austiff, and Leanne West.
10 years: Jessica Small, Dolores Walsh, Elizabeth Brooks, Jake Mchan, Natasha Key, Jessica Cochran, Neda Coble, Julie Huelsman, Karen Bueck, Samantha Campbell, Brittany Rogers, Jenny May, Brian Wood, Haley Allen, Lucretia Balkwill, Kenneth Smith Jr., and Amy Cook.
15 years: Hannah Coggins, Emily Meduri, Kyle Dowling, Anne Smallwood, and Joseph Morris.
20 years: David Crook, Tiffany Brackett, Amy Morgan, and Matthew Burrell.
25 years: Tina Young and Leigh O’Malley.
30 years: Laura Jenkins, Judy Cochran, David Moore, Angelia Anders, and Pamela Melton.
40 years: Susan Shannon.
The evening included dinner and live music, offering employees and leaders an opportunity to celebrate the honorees and reflect on the years of service and contributions that have helped shape the hospitals’ impact within the region.
Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospitals are proud to serve the people of western North Carolina and remain committed to providing high-quality care close to home. That commitment is made possible by a dedicated and experienced workforce, including employees who have chosen to build decades-long careers serving patients, families, and neighbors across the region. The hospitals are proud to recognize the commitment these team members bring to their work and to the communities they call home.