AWF Announces Hurricane Michael Recovery Leaders

 
The Alabama-West Florida Conference is pleased to announce two new leaders for the Hurricane Michael long-term recovery efforts.
 
Rev. Chris Ackerman will serve as the Hurricane Michael Recovery Director and Tammy Tisher will serve as the Assistant Director. Ackerman is a licensed local pastor who was previously serving as an associate pastor at Lynn Haven UMC when Hurricane Michael came ashore. His responsibilities will include managing and overseeing all active disaster recovery activities on behalf of the Alabama-West Florida Conference and directing, assigning and coordinating the work of the regional team coordinators funded by UMCOR grants. He will also work with the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and the Director of Connectional Ministries to create and implement a strategic plan for recovery and work in consultation on all staffing, funding and other issues related to the success of the recovery. Chris has spent many years of his life working in various kinds of construction. Most recently he owned his own custom furniture business where he built anything from farm tables to kitchen cabinets. Rev. Ackerman’s previous appointments include pastor at Shady Grove UMC and Grand Ridge UMC and associate pastor at Good News UMC.
 
Tammy Tisher is a resident of Panama City, FL, and a member of Woodlawn UMC. Tammy worked in inventory control and supply chain for General Motors for 22 years and started her own businesses in 2012 in ladies fashion. Moving from Tennessee to Florida in 2016, she was affected by Hurricane Michael, losing businesses and suffering damage in her neighborhood and home. After extensive volunteering immediately following the disaster, she felt a need to continue providing assistance to others using her skill set and will be helping lead the teams in our relief efforts. 
 
“We are so thankful that God sent two qualified and capable people to us during this time of need,” said Bishop David Graves. “As we have been saying for months, this will be a long-term effort to which our conference is committed to for years to come. Both of these leaders are residents of Panama City and were in the heart of disaster area in the aftermath of the storm. They know, more than anyone, the needs of the residents in the Panama City, Marianna and Port St. Joe areas. We are grateful that both of them were open to new leadership opportunities. I would be remiss if I did not thank Rev. Shawn York for his outstanding leadership the past three months. Rev. York gave 110% to the recovery efforts in the immediate aftermath of the storm. I am grateful to Gulf Breeze UMC, the Pensacola District and his family for allowing him to serve as the director in the interim.”
 
Rev. Rob Haynes continues to serve as the AWF Conference Disaster Response Coordinator. He will implement disaster preparedness initiatives with the districts who were not affected by the hurricane so that they are prepared for future disasters. 
 
Volunteer coordinators, construction coordinators and case managers at the three sites–Marianna, Port St. Joe and Panama City–will be announced at a later date.