Advisory Members

Rachel Covington is a Consultant and Facilitator for Epstein Clark Consulting. In addition, she consults with the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce to lead and facilitate Leadership Southside, the region’s longest-running professional leadership development program. 

A native of Danville, Rachel graduated magna cum laude from the University of Mary Washington with a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish and a minor in Arabic. She holds a M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership Studies from the University of Lynchburg and has earned the Duke University Certificate of Nonprofit Management.

Previously, Rachel served as an intern and Fellow for DRF. From there, she served as the Director of Community Engagement at Averett University and the Senior Director of Member Services at the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce. 

In the community, Rachel proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the River District Association. She is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Southside and a 2017 recipient of the Young Professionals PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) Award.

Mary Hammock was raised on her family’s commercial dairy operation and developed a passion for agriculture and rural communities at a young age. After graduating from Gretna High School and the Piedmont Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology in 2013, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Science from Ferrum College in 2016.

Mary is currently a Commercial Agriculture Loan Officer with Farm Credit of the Virginias (‘FCV’). She covers six counties in the southern region of Virginia and works alongside agricultural producers and rural landowners. During her tenure with FCV, Mary has been named to the Circle of Excellence - representing the top producing loan officers in the company.

Outside of work, Mary has participated in several civic organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce. Mary is a 2024 graduate of Leadership Southside and is an active member of Hollywood Baptist Church

Kameka Totten is a dedicated and accomplished doctorally prepared Nurse Executive with over 25 years of healthcare experience. A North Carolina Great 100 Nurse Award Recipient, Kameka’s nursing journey began as a bedside nurse at Cone Health System, where she eventually progressed to a position as a Nursing Director. Currently, she serves as a Vice President of Nursing at AuthoraCare Collective. Her healthcare expertise includes specialties such as Intensive Care, Telemetry, General Surgery, Gynecological and Bariatric Surgery, Flexible Resources, Pulmonary/COVID, and Hospice care. In addition to her professional achievements, Kameka is a part-time adjunct faculty member and nursing clinical instructor at Elon University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and has received the Sigma Theta Tau Gamma Zeta BSN Graduate Excellence Award. She achieved a Dual Master’s degree in Business and Health Administration from Pfeiffer University, Charlotte, NC, and attained national board certification as a Nurse Executive through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Kameka completed her Doctoral Nursing Practice degree at Old Dominion University in May 2018, specializing in Nurse Executive leadership. In addition to her professional achievements, Kameka actively engages in various board and committee roles, contributing to organizations such as Compassion Health Care, Carolina Medical Home Network, State Employees Credit Union, and Danville Regional Foundation. On a personal note, Kameka is a loving wife to her husband, Donielle, and mother to five amazingly talented children.