Leadership Asheville Class 44 Begins
September 17, 2025
Leadership Asheville Class 44 begins. The 2025-2026 cohort has 43 members, representing a diverse group of leaders from the private sector, non-profit, higher education and local government. As part of their experience, class members will attend a two night retreat and participate in monthly sessions covering topics impacting the City of Asheville and the surrounding community.
Visit Leadership Asheville Class 44 Members to see who in the cohort.
Press Release
Mercy Urgent Care becomes presenting sponsor of Leadership Asheville’s nonprofit-focused program
August 28, 2025
Mercy Urgent Care is proud to announce its new partnership with Leadership Asheville as the presenting sponsor of its Executive Directors Roundtable, a program that
connects local organizations, fosters collaboration and develops leadership capacity in the nonprofit sector. For over 44 years, Leadership Asheville has engaged citizens from cross-sectors of the
community — including business, nonprofit, education and government — through its flagship program, strengthening participants’ knowledge of, commitment to and involvement in collaborative community leadership. Executive Directors Roundtable, Leadership Asheville’s auxiliary program specifically for nonprofit executives, provides a space for leaders of this sector to learn and grow, while providing a conduit to peers for support, guidance and collaboration. “As a participating member of the Executive Directors Roundtable, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable and transformative these sessions are for our region’s nonprofit CEOs,” said Rachel Sossoman, president and CEO of Mercy Urgent Care. “It is a genuine community of trust, support and encouragement —a perfect extension of the growth inherent in Leadership Asheville’s flagship program —and it aligns with Mercy’s core values of Excellence and Service. I’ve seen incredible displays of support, new ideas, collaborations, and a multitude of other blessings come from that space. Supporting this work was an easy decision, and I believe it is exactly what the Sisters of Mercy would do.”
The Executive Directors Roundtable group is intentionally kept small so that conversations can remain focused and productive. The program runs annually from October through May, and
meetings fall on the second Friday of every month. Meetings are dedicated to personal leadership development, peer support and community orientation, led by a variety of facilitators and
community leaders and members of the group. Specific topics vary and are often set by the group as timely responses to current trends and events.
Leadership Asheville Names New Executive Director
May 15, 2025
Leadership Asheville is proud to welcome Sarah M. Goldman as its new Executive Director. A dynamic and mission-driven professional with over two decades of experience, Sarah brings a unique blend of strategic vision, community engagement, and leadership development expertise to the role.
Sarah is proud to have called Asheville home for over ten years. She most recently served as Director of Community Programs at the North Carolina Outward Bound School, where she led multi-site operations, strategic initiatives, and innovative programming to expand access to outdoor leadership education. She is also the founder of Action First Coaching, an executive coaching practice that has supported entrepreneurs, community leaders, and elite athletes in achieving personal and professional growth.
Before stepping into nonprofit leadership and coaching, Sarah spent 15 years in public safety as both a firefighter and police officer. She was a member of an elite international urban search and rescue team and served as a civilian firefighter in Iraq with the Department of Defense—experiences that shaped her signature brand of gritty, grounded teamwork.
Sarah’s career reflects a deep commitment to service, resilience, and community. She holds a B.A. from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Appalachian State University. She is passionate about inspiring civic engagement and cultivating leaders who make a lasting impact.