Jessica Maness

I’m Jessi Maness, but who I am has never been the point. What we can accomplish together has always been the priority.

I come from a long line of fighters. My grandparents were immigrants who came to this country with nothing but their determination. They taught me that survival means more than just getting by—it means pulling others up with you, protecting the vulnerable, and doing what’s right, even when it’s hard.

Poverty and hardship are no strangers to me. I’ve lived them. They’ve shaped how I lead and how I show up in crisis. When Hurricane Helene hit, R4 didn’t start with funding or a formal plan. It began with a car in a parking lot, a hand-painted sign, a Google Doc, and a network of people who refused to wait for permission. We believed we could build something better together.

As Executive Director and President of the Board, I bring lived experience to every decision we make. I’ve stood in food lines. I’ve fought for housing, healthcare, and safety—sometimes all at once. That no-nonsense grit fuels everything we do at R4. We don’t just respond to disasters; we build infrastructure that communities can rely on long after the headlines fade. We create tools, platforms, and mutual aid networks that center the people too often written off.

I’m a mother. I live with a chronic illness. I show up anyway—because I know what it means when someone else does. So when this team shows up, we stay. We build. We listen. And we help communities recover with dignity and prepare for whatever comes next, together.

Alex Mengel

Alex Mengel is a creative technologist and former EMT with over a decade of experience in emergency response. Having spent much of his life in Asheville, NC, he also has training in emergency management and as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) instructor. His background includes managing large-scale festival operations nationwide, where he honed his skills in logistics and coordination.

Alex developed the R4D2 and R8 platforms, which power R4’s logistics, coordination, and impact tracking. As Vice President of the board, he’s proud to work alongside a humble and dedicated team. He believes in community-led resilience and regeneration and builds tools that support frontline mutual aid, enabling local efforts to thrive in times of crisis, recovery, and beyond.

Nathan Wright

I’m Nathan Wright, founding Vice President of R4 and now serving as Treasurer. I’m an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I bring that same sense of duty, structure, and service to the work we do at R4. I hold a master’s degree in psychology and am currently pursuing a second in philosophy, because understanding people and our shared values matter just as much as strategy and logistics.

By day, I work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. By calling, I work to ensure that no one in our communities is left behind. My Christian faith calls me to care for the most vulnerable among us: to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, and show up for those in crisis. R4 may not be a religious organization, but in everything we do, I see the words of Matthew 25 lived out.

Since the earliest days of R4, I’ve believed in building something better; something rooted in compassion, accountability, and community care. Whether we’re responding to disasters or creating systems that outlast them, I’m here to make sure we protect what matters most: each other

Corryn Goldschmidt

Board Member

“More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, all would be violent and lost.”

Corryn Goldschmidt brings a rare mix of precision, creativity, and quiet determination to grassroots disaster response. As a longtime volunteer and key strategist with R4’s Western North Carolina relief efforts, Corryn has played a central role in managing and vetting critical data across social media, supply networks, and field communications.

A former professional photographer with over 15 years of experience—including work with the U.S. House of Representatives—Corryn now channels that same attention to detail into organizing real-time, actionable information during crisis. Her data vetting work ensures that frontline volunteers and affected communities receive updates they can trust, when they need them most.

Behind the scenes, Corryn’s impact is felt in nearly every layer of coordination: from structuring complex data flows to uplifting community needs through accessible, digital storytelling. She’s known by the team as “unstoppable”—and for good reason.

Corryn leads with humility, sharp thinking, and an unwavering belief in collective care. Her commitment extends beyond disaster response into practicing and promoting permaculture principles and alternative building methods. She integrates sustainable Lo-TEK, ecological design into everyday life, advocating for resilient community solutions rooted in environmental harmony.

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Micah Spain

In the immediate aftermath, Micah, who has strong ties to Henderson County through the Burning Man community, quickly gathered, organized, and verified essential resources for Western North Carolina.

Micah’s strategic oversight and behind-the-scenes coordination continue to be pivotal in the ongoing effort to house displaced individuals and families, as they work to link local relief initiatives and broader community networks. They are a dedicated advocate for social justice and community empowerment, with expertise in conflict management, organizational structure, and facilitation. Drawing on their experience organizing regional Burning Man events, Micah brings invaluable crisis management skills and a unique perspective on creating temporary infrastructure in high-pressure situations.

Micah envisions a future with stronger, more connected communities that can withstand the growing challenges of climate-related disasters. In their work with Appalachia Relief, Micah focuses on long-term solutions that drive healing and create lasting change.