ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The American Red Cross of North Carolina is pleased to announce Adrian Mines as the new Executive Director of the Western North Carolina Chapter.

A dedicated humanitarian leader with a passion for community resilience and service, Mines brings extensive experience in disaster preparedness, volunteer engagement and community partnerships. Having served in several key roles across the Red Cross North Carolina Region, he is uniquely positioned to lead the chapter's mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.

Mines most recently served as Senior Disaster Program Manager for the American Red Cross, supporting the Western North Carolina, Blue Ridge Piedmont, Charlotte Metro, Piedmont Triad and Southern Piedmont Chapters. In that role, he helped strengthen disaster readiness, response capabilities and community partnerships across the region.

Prior to joining the Red Cross, Mines served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji, leading initiatives focused on family planning, sanitation, hygiene, youth development, education and agricultural sustainability. He later worked internationally with Rustic Pathways in Fiji and Thailand, where he managed community service projects and educational programs for students.

During his Red Cross career, Mines began as a Volunteer Recruitment Specialist serving 16 counties across Western North Carolina before advancing to Regional Preparedness and Partnership Manager. He helped establish and strengthen statewide government and nonprofit partnerships, increasing disaster response capacity throughout North Carolina. He has also deployed to multiple national disaster operations and was field promoted to Community Engagement and Partnership Manager during the response to Hurricane Helene.

"Adrian's leadership journey reflects the very best of the Red Cross mission,” said Allison Taylor, Regional Executive of Humanitarian Services, American Red Cross North Carolina Region. “He understands Western North Carolina, values strong community partnerships and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping people during their most vulnerable moments. We are excited to have him lead our Western North Carolina Chapter as communities continue to recover, rebuild and strengthen their resilience for the future."

As Executive Director, Mines will focus on:

• Supporting ongoing long-term recovery efforts across Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene
• Strengthening relationships with community organizations, government partners and local leaders
• Expanding volunteer recruitment and engagement opportunities
• Increasing community preparedness and disaster resilience initiatives
• Building awareness and support for Red Cross services throughout the region

Western North Carolina remains a priority area for the Red Cross as families and communities continue their long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene. The organization continues to provide recovery support while helping communities prepare for future disasters and emergencies.

"The response to Hurricane Helene demonstrated both the challenges our communities face and the extraordinary strength they possess,” said Adrian Mines, Executive Director of the Western North Carolina Chapter, American Red Cross North Carolina Region. “Recovery is a long journey, and the Red Cross remains committed to standing alongside our neighbors every step of the way. I'm excited to continue that work and help connect more people to opportunities to make a difference through the Red Cross mission."

In addition to his Red Cross leadership experience, Mines is a graduate of Leadership SECAR and has completed advanced training in community engagement and mobilization. He remains actively involved in efforts that strengthen partnerships and community resilience across the region.

As Mines begins this new leadership role, he encourages community members to get involved in the Red Cross mission by volunteering, donating blood or supporting disaster relief efforts.

"The ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene reminds us that the need for volunteers and community support doesn't end when the headlines fade,” said Mines. “There are countless opportunities to help strengthen our communities, and I invite everyone who wants to make a difference to join us."

For more information about the Western North Carolina Chapter, volunteer opportunities or disaster recovery efforts, visit redcross.org/nc.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. Learn more at redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.