A Fondest Farewell

Susan Congelosi

It is with much fondness and appreciation that we bid farewell to one of the longest-running staff members at Appalachian Voices. Susan Congelosi (nickname: The Uzi) joined the organization in 2000, becoming only the second staff member in the fledgling nonprofit’s history. Over the past 15 years, as our Controller Susan was responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the organization and guided us through three different main offices and numerous satellite offices as our staff grew nearly 12 times in size. She also helped launch our employee retirement program, stayed on top of health insurance, and maintained our financial fluency in the nonprofit realm.

A passionate and active defender of the environment, Susan is also an accomplished artist, earning a B.F.A. from the California College of the Arts and running her own glassblowing studio when she first moved to Boone in 1976. She worked in accounting and real estate for many years before joining Appalachian Voices.

“Through all the growth and change Susan’s helped with at Appalachian Voices over 15 years, one constant has been her infectious love for the work we do,” says Executive Director Tom Cormons.

Susan plans to use this time to focus on personal endeavors and spend time in her peaceful home on beautiful Watauga Lake. We will definitely miss her keen wit, intelligence and skill with numbers, and most of all her warm smile. We wish her all the best!