Fahe Announces New Leadership Structure under Jim King, CEO

Fahe Announces New Leadership Structure under Jim King, CEO
Names Sara Morgan as President, Fahe;
Jose Quinonez as President, Partners for Rural Transformation

Fahe has further strengthened its leadership team as it continues to pursue a bold vision for the future of Appalachia.

BEREA, KY, March 6, 2023 – Fahe today announced two promotions. Sara Morgan, formerly Fahe’s EVP & Chief Investment Officer, has been promoted to President of Fahe. In her new role, Sara assumes overall responsibility for the corporation. Jose Quinonez, formerly Director of Partners for Rural Transformation (the Partners), has been promoted to President of the Partners. Jose will coordinate the work of the Partners and pursue significant fundraising efforts. Both leaders report to Jim King.

Jim King, Fahe’s CEO & President since 2000, remains at Fahe’s helm as CEO to focus on accelerating and bringing more resources to the network by raising awareness of how Fahe transforms lives in Appalachia and other persistent poverty regions.

“The Fahe board deeply values the contributions of both Sara and Jose. This new leadership structure builds on the commitments Jim has made to the Fahe network over the past twenty years and sets us up for continued growth and expansion,” said Jackie Mayo, Fahe Board Chair and President and CEO of HomeSource east tennessee.

Morgan has more than two decades of experience at Fahe and during her tenure she led Fahe’s staff and network through significant growth and expansion.

“I’m honored to step into the President role. Fahe has doubled in size every five years, the network has doubled in its production as well, and we are at a point in time where there are new opportunities emerging–such as the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and other funding opportunities–that we are well positioned to capitalize on thanks to the expertise of our Members,” said Morgan. “I am excited to lead Fahe to go farther, deeper, and create more impact in our region.”

Quinonez said, “It has been my privilege at the Partners to work with thought leaders who represent three-quarters of the country’s persistent poverty counties. We’re bringing our diverse perspectives and working together toward a reimagined future for rural America and the people who call it home.”

 King said, “These two promotions will help us better coordinate the strategies of Fahe and the Partners. Sara is empowered to pursue the opportunities she sees for Fahe and Jose is supported in his leadership of the growth of the Partners. Under their strong guidance I am confident we will also see more ways for our next generation of leaders on staff and in the Membership to contribute to our continued growth.”

King continued, “The Fahe network as a whole is at an inflection point. By taking on the multi-faceted challenges of homeownership, employment, education, and health we’ve significantly improved outcomes in the region. We work differently together to tackle the problems that the most vulnerable people in our country are facing. We do not have to accept a widening gap between those that are succeeding and those that are being left behind. I am determined to shed light on the untapped potential of rural communities in Appalachia and to continue the transformative power of alliances with other groups facing similar challenges, such as Native and Black communities. We have come far, and we will go even farther in good company.”

Morgan is a 2012 alumnus of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Achieving Excellence program, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Berea College. She is a certified CDBG grant administrator. She serves on the Boards of Invest Appalachia, Homeownership Council of America, as well as the Freddie Mac Affordable Housing Advisory Council, the Fannie Mae Rural Duty To Serve Advisory Council, and the Steering Committee of Homeownership Alliance.

Quinonez holds a Master’s Degree in International Administration from the School for International Training. He joined Fahe as the Project Director of the Partners for Rural Transformation in April 2020. He has over 35 years of international program management experience. Prior to Fahe he held senior positions at Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, Appalachia Service Project, and Habitat for Humanity.

Contact Jim King at  jim@fahe.org or Sara Morgan at sara@fahe.org for additional information. 

About Fahe

Fahe brings people, organizations, and resources together to build homes, communities and a thriving Appalachia through expanding economic opportunity and security for all. We envision Appalachia as a place where growth, opportunity and hope are balanced so that all people fulfill their potential with regard to housing, employment, educational opportunity, and quality of life.

Fahe Members are community development organizations rooted in the communities they serve. Fahe has 50+ Members serving in six states.

During FY2022, Fahe made total direct investments of $136.1M. Total capital under management topped $302 M. Since 1980 Fahe has invested over $1.63B generating $1.73B in finance. This investment was channeled through our Members and community partners, directly changing the lives of 858,000 people. Learn more at fahe.org.