Our Team
Bland Ministry Center is blessed to have many people sharing its vision. Apart from the paid staff introduced below, there are many volunteers who help work towards the Ministry Center's mission. A nine-member board helps to govern and guide the center, approximately 60 local volunteers share their time and talents to make sure programs run smoothly each week, and many mission groups and dentists visit Bland County for a few days each year ready to work on special projects. The success of the Center is dependent upon the generosity and willingness of others to serve.
Dee Dee Hoosier
Director
Dee Dee began working part-time at the Center in 1993 and officially assumed the position of Director in March 2007. Throughout the years, she has served in the capacity of receptionist, mission coordinator, and interim director.
Send Dee Dee a message at dhoosier@blandministrycenter.org
Amanda Lafferty
Office Manager
Amanda joined the Center in 2024 after feeling a calling while on missions with her church. While we already knew her through her volunteer efforts with Parkview Baptist, we're glad she's officially part of our team!
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Send Amanda a message at alafferty@blandministrycenter.org
Steven Beasley
Food Programs Manager
Steven began serving at BMC with his church family in 2012. Every summer that he worked on missions and home repair projects, he felt a calling and personnel connection to Bland Ministry Center. After retiring from the Navy. he moved to Kingsport with his wife Ashley. He now commutes everyday to Bland because he is committed to this mission. Ready to serve.
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Send Steven a message at sbeasley@blandministrycenter.org
Susan Keene
Special Projects Coordinator
Susan's family got involved with Bland several years ago through their church in North Georgia. She asked for an opportunity to intern during the summer of 2010, and she would not stop coming back until we hired her full-time in 2013.
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Send Susan a message at skeene@blandministrycenter.org
Priscilla Johnson, DDS
Lead Dentist
Bland Dental Clinic
Laura Settles, DDS
Lead Dentist
Big Walker Dentistry
Dr. Johnson is a proud Midwest Southerner who was born in Detroit and spent her formative years in the countryside of Northwest SC. She earned her dental degree from the University of Michigan, School of Dentistry, and further honed her skills through a General Practice Residency at BronxCare Health Systems. This experience deepened her commitment to providing exceptional patient care. Driven by passion and a dedication to continuous growth, her goal is simple: to offer the highest standard of dental care, always with a gentle touch, compassion, and a keen eye for detail. Every patient deserves care rooted in excellence, and that’s what she strives to deliver.
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Reach Dr. Johnson, temporarily at Big Walker Dentistry during Bland construction, at 276-228-4711
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Dr. Settles believes everyone has a reason to smile. A smile can open doors of opportunity, display a person’s confidence and joy, and create a moment of unity between any two people. As a dentist, her mission is to alleviate her patients’ dental anxiety, educate and empower them to take care of themselves, and create and implement treatment plans that address her patients’ goals. Dr. Settles is a native Southwest Virginian who earned her dental degree at West Virginia University.
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Reach Dr. Settles at the Wytheville clinic at 276-228-4711
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