Carla Jones, Executive Director cjones@mtncac.org
As Executive Director, Carla brings a rich background and deep passion to Mountain CAC, which she joined in 2018. A 2000 graduate of the College of Charleston, SC, Carla's early career spanned corporate operations, brand development, management, and even acting in dynamic environments from Hawaii to Los Angeles and New York City. It was in the non-profit world, however, that she truly found her calling. For nearly two decades, she has found immense joy and fulfillment in advocating for communities, raising critical awareness, and driving essential funding. Her impactful roles before joining Mountain CAC include Development Director for Children in Crisis in Northwest Florida and 103.3 Asheville FM, Managing Director for Coyote Rep in New York City, and Special Events Coordinator for the Asheville Humane Society. When not championing the mission of Mountain CAC, Carla enjoys pursuing her passions for cooking, the arts, live music, volunteering, and embarking on nature adventures with her partner, Gabriel, and their dog, Diesel.

Kristin Ledford, Operations Manager kledford@mtncac.org  
As Mountain CAC's Operations Manager, Kristin brings a wealth of experience and a deep-seated passion for child and family advocacy. She joined the team in 2016 as the inaugural Family Advocate, building on her years of experience in crisis intervention and advocacy work from her time at the University of South Carolina. With over ten years of direct experience working with children and families, Kristin seamlessly transitioned into her leadership role in 2024, where she continues to drive the organization's mission forward. In her free time, Kristin finds joy in cooking, reading, biking, and spending quality moments with her husband, dog, and loved ones.

Kiki O'Connor, Development and Outreach Coordinator koconnor@mtncac.org
Kiki joined Mountain CAC in 2024, bringing a deep-rooted passion for preventing child abuse and trauma that was cultivated through her years as a dedicated fundraising and event volunteer for the organization. Kiki's diverse background includes studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design and a degree from UNF Jacksonville. Before officially joining Mountain CAC, she gained valuable experience in marketing and sales. Kiki is a talented artist who uses painting as her primary medium and has showcased her talent in large-scale productions, set design for festivals, theaters, and musicians. Family is paramount to Kiki, and in her free time, she enjoys teaching art classes to kids, cooking, and adventuring with her partner. She always finds ways to embrace creativity and cherish precious family moments.

Advocacy Program Team

Miranda Bingham, MSSW, Clinical Family Advocate mbingham@mtncac.org 
Miranda graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Human Development in 2015. After spending five years working with children and adolescents in different settings, she returned to school after becoming frustrated with the limits of the systems meant to serve children. She received her Master of Science in Social Work and a Trauma Treatment Certificate from the University of Tennessee in 2022. Miranda brings a passion for wraparound care to the families served by our organization. She is stubborn in her pursuit of resources and services for children, teens, and families who have been impacted by abuse, neglect, and other injustices. Outside of work, Miranda enjoys outdoor gardening in the summer and hydroponic gardening in the colder months, hiking with her husband and dog, Moxie, and watching comedies.

Clinical Program Team 

Betsy Hurd, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Lead and Full-Time Therapist bhurd@mtncac.org
Betsy, a bilingual (Spanish) LCSW, has over twenty years of experience working with adults, children, adolescents, and families. She began to specialize in treating people who have experienced traumatic events in 2011 and has maintained that focus ever since. Betsy specializes in TF-CBT, ART, CFTSI, CoSP, and Triple P. In addition, she works closely with parents who want to learn new parenting skills so they can improve their relationships with their children.

Heidi B. Kixmiller, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Lead and Full-Time Therapist hkixmiller@mtncac.org
Heidi brings over 18 years of experience working with adults, children, adolescents, and families. Since 2010, she has focused her practice on supporting children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and those who have engaged in problematic sexual behavior. Heidi is trained and experienced in providing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Alternatives for Families Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT), as well as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for adults impacted by traumatic experiences. She is especially passionate about working alongside caregivers of children with complex trauma histories, helping families build resilience, strengthen relationships, and reduce the risk of future abuse and neglect.

Xia Bell M.S., LCMHC, LCAS-A, NCC, Part-Time Therapist xbell@mtncac.org
Xia has provided therapy to children, adolescents, and their families for eight years. Trained in TFCBT, EMDR, SMART, BAT, Ecopsychology, and Triple P. Xia is inspired by seeing her clients grow over the course of their therapy and by seeing changes in family systems. Xia is also trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Alternatives For Families, a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AFCBT).

Flor de Maria Sanchez, MA, NCC, LCMHC-A, Full-Time Therapist, fsanchez@mtncac.org

Geoff Sidoli, LCSW, Contract Therapist
Geoff is the current National Training Fellow and past Coordinator for the National Children’s Alliance Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes.  He assists CACs around the country developing, implementing, and sustaining mental health services including ones for children and youth exhibiting problematic sexual behavior (PSB).  Geoff co-developed and trains an enhancement of TF-CBT for PSB for young children.  He is a clinical member of the Association for the Prevention and Treatment Sexual Abuse (ATSA) as well as a Fellow.  He sits on ATSA’s child and adolescent committee as well as the ethic’s committee.  Geoff is also NCA’s Training and Technical Advisor for PSB and facilitates NCA’s youth with problematic sexual behaviors national work group.  He provides treatment for trauma and PSB to children and families at the Mountain CAC in Asheville, NC. 

Sara Taylor, MA, LPC, Contract Therapist, staylor@mtncac.org

Prevention Education and Outreach Team

Colleen Burnet, BSW, Community Prevention Educator educator@mtncac.org
Colleen Burnet has dedicated her career to supporting parents and young children facing a variety of challenges. With a background as an Infant Toddler Family Specialist and Early Interventionist, she brings years of experience in strengthening caregiver–child relationships. Endorsed as an Infant Family Specialist through the NC Infant Mental Health Association, Colleen is passionate about empowering caregivers to provide children with safe, healthy, and nurturing childhoods. She is a strong advocate for upstream prevention and emphasizes the vital role adults play in protecting children from sexual abuse. Colleen is a trained facilitator and instructor of Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children, a program focused on preventing child sexual abuse. She also facilitates Circle of Security, a parenting model that helps caregivers build secure attachments with their children, fostering resilience and healthy development.  A mother of two young adult daughters, Colleen is deeply committed to both her personal and professional mission of nurturing strong, supportive environments where children can thrive.

Claudia Burke, Community Prevention Educator, cburke@mtncac.org
Claudia Burke has been a prevention educator with Mountain Child Advocacy Center since 2022. Claudia graduated from UNC-Asheville with a degree in psychology and an elementary education teaching license. She also holds a gifted education certificate from WCU. She has since worked in many fields and has truly found her career home in child abuse prevention. With over fifteen years of experience in educational roles, Claudia brings a wealth of knowledge around best pedagogical practices for children and adults. Claudia's approach to education and child safety focuses on active listening, empathy, and actionable steps that we can all take to keep children safe and healthy- leading to better outcomes for families and communities.

Meredith Schmidt, School Prevention Educator, k5educator@mtncac.org
Meredith earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary Education from the University of Florida, specializing in interdisciplinary studies. She spent fourteen years teaching in both Florida and Buncombe County, where she developed a deep passion for helping children learn, grow, and feel safe. In 2017, Meredith began expanding her work beyond the classroom, pursuing training in Human Trafficking Awareness and learning how to support survivors of trafficking, domestic violence, and abuse. As a Prevention Educator, she is dedicated to empowering children with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for themselves and make healthy, safe choices. When she’s not teaching, Meredith enjoys painting, reading, and spending time with her husband, Christopher, their two cats, Derek and William, and her family.