KINGSPORT — The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross is pleased to announce that Heather Carbajal has been named the Executive Director with the Northeast Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross in Kingsport. The American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee serves Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties in Tennessee.

Carbajal most recently served as the Disaster Program Manager of the Mid-West Tennessee Chapter in Jackson. “Heather has a very strong background in team development, volunteer recruitment, and relationship management,” said Joel Sullivan, Regional Executive Director for the American Red Cross of Tennessee. “Her experience with the Red Cross in Tennessee these last three years will prove her well with her new chapter. In addition to managing the Disaster Cycle Services Program for the counties in the Mid-West area, she also served as a Regional Subject Matter Expert for Information and Planning.”

Prior to joining the Red Cross, Carbajal served as a Team Leader for AmeriCorps NCCC, where she managed a group of young adults as they traveled around the country completing service projects with FEMA and non-profit agencies. It was during this time that she developed a passion for the Red Cross mission after being assigned to a community outreach project in Texas.

Carbajal graduated from Austin Peay State University, where she earned her degree in Public Relations. In her spare time, Carbajal is an avid reader, volunteers with a local animal rescue, and is on her church’s children’s ministry team.

“I have no doubt that she will be a great asset to the people she will serve in those 13 counties in Northeast Tennessee and we look forward to her leadership in the area,” Sullivan said. Carbajal assumed her new position as Chapter Executive on Oct. 7.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.