Meet Our Board

Christa Atchley serves as the System Director of Environmental Services for Community Health System (CHS). She is also the Director of Terry’s House, a home-away-from-home for out of town families with critically ill and injured loved ones being cared for at Community Health System’s flagship hospital, Community Regional Medical Center. Christa has been with CHS since 2009.

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In her past endeavors, Atchley was the Director of Patient Experience at Community Regional Medical Center and Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital. Prior to her time with CHS, she worked as the Director of Marketing and Communication for OK Produce. She was also part of the fundraising team for Ashley Swearengin’s successful mayoral campaign in 2008. Christa loves to foster new relationships and programs in the areas she works.   

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Atchley is a Hoover High School Valedictorian and Summa Cum Laude graduate from Fresno Pacific University. She is a Leadership Fresno Class 27 graduate and served as class President. Since her time going through the program in 2010, Christa has served as the Healthcare Day Coordinator and Chair of the Leadership Fresno Steering Committee. Atchley is also a Board member of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Executive Committee. She is a member of the local non-profit, PINC Fresno (Philanthropy Inspired By the Needs of our Community).

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At the age of 25, Christa was recognized as a “40 Under 40” Honoree and she has also been recognized by the Marjaree Mason Center as a Top 10 Professional Woman of the Year.

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Christa and her husband Ryan have two beautiful children – son, Bennett, age 2 and daughter, Aniston, age 1. They enjoy traveling as a family and entertaining at home.

Nathan Smith is the owner and operator at Rocking S Ranch, he has been professionally training horses with emphasis in gaited horse breeds since 2005. Nathan’s ranch is breeding and raising Rocky Mountain Horses, Draft Horses, Draft Mules and other animals. He is a passionate horseman and is always interested in sharing that passion with the next generation.

Nathan looks forward to helping Hearts of Freedom become a cornerstone in our community, connecting people and equine as a therapeutic and educational resource to our region.

Mary is a Madera County Grand Jury member for 2022-2023 and volunteers with numerous prominent non-profit organizations. As Co-Captain of Open Fresno/Code for Sacramento, Mary fully supports bringing technology to the forefront of our communities. As a critical team member of Get Your Refund, in conjunction with the White House, Mary is now in her third year as a VITA Volunteer assisting individuals with the tax filing process. She has also been a Code for America Revisioning Spokes Council Member and a key team member of the National Action Team of Reimaging 911. She recently earned a Certificate in the Ma’awe Pono Indigenous Research Methodologies, bringing her goal closer to helping the Central Valley as a Community Action Researcher. Being a first-generation Mexican American on her father's side, she’s made it her mission to elevate our underserved communities.  

At 18 Norris owned a corporate cleaning business till the age of 21. She was then hired as an Account Executive for a local collection agency, J M Hollister. As an Inventory Manager with Washington Inventory Services, and as an Assistant to the District Manager for AVON, a Fortune 500 Company, Norris has a strong work ethic and promotes diversity in her endeavors. Norris graduated in 1999 with Honors earning a Sales and Communications degree with Don Reid and Associates Sales Institute.

Mary is also a Council member at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, her place of worship for over 30 years. She served as the former Secretary-Treasurer from 2019 - 2022 and was recently nominated as Council President. Through her lived experience, Norris also assists individuals with the application process for Social Services and Social Security. Due to her health and life circumstances, she has been a recipient of these Safety Net Services off and on for over thirty years. Mary believes that Hearts of Freedom Wellness Ranch can be beneficial for anyone in need of mental and physical health care. Our beautiful horses teach us that our actions and reactions as individuals can affect us mentally, emotionally, and physically. Mary feels that the genuine care of our staff through this unique hands-on learning approach, and the fostering of this knowledge along with coping skills is essential to everyone! Especially our young who are our future leaders and our aging who will look towards their leadership in years to come. 

Mary and her husband Patrick are a blended family. They share her three wonderful children - Two sons, Alex 28, Isaac 22, and a daughter, Michelle 12. She and her family love fishing and the outdoors.