About us
Community Companion Home Care, LLC. was started in 2010. It started out as a Cap/Da and PC service provider with just a handful of clients and employees. Through positive word of mouth and diligent work it has now grown to serve over 100 clients and 140 employees. We strive at being a small family owned business with a personal touch to everything we do and distinguish ourselves as the best Innovations provider around. Please get to know a few of our employees and check out our services tab for more of what we offer.
Our Founder, Tamora Clontz
Tamora graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a degree in Business Administration. She worked in the finance side of several businesses, but became unemployed in the early 1990’s. While looking for full-time work, Tamora was a substitute teacher from McDowell County Schools. She spent many days in the class rooms for Exceptional Children. It was here that she discovered her love for working with individuals with special needs. Based on this love and a need to do more for this population, Tamora returned to school and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services. This led to a case management position with Foothills Area Program. Tamora worked for both Foothills Area Program and Smoky Mountain LME as a case manager, case management supervisor and Provider Relations Specialist. During this time, she obtained her Master’s Degree in Health Science Management. Then, out of the blue, there came the opportunity to work for a private provider. A couple years later and again out of the blue, Tamora had the opportunity to buy her own company and so Community Companion Home Care was born. Tamora is the mother of two children and the grandmother of 6 wonderful kids. She hopes that more grandchildren are in her future. She has a love for horses which she shares with others through Magical Moments Therapeutic Riding Center. Tamora has retired and enjoys her family and farm everyday.
Donna Thomas
Qualified Professional/Intake Specialist
Donna graduated from UNC-Asheville with a Degree in Psychology. She started her career working for McDowell Tech as a Comp ED Teacher, and there her love for special needs individuals was born. This led to jobs with Foothills Area Program working in the Day Program, Group Home and finally as Case Manager and Case Manager Supervisor. Donna had the opportunity to work for a private provider and gain more experience as Director of Habilitation Services. Her experience was further heightened by working for a provider that specialized in Crisis Services, providing assessments and crisis plans. Donna is the mother of four children and grandmother of a wonderful young boy and girl.
Susan Thompson
Qualified Professional
Susan is a seasoned QP who has been working with clients for years. She is extremely skilled and knowledgeable at what she does and she adds lots of spunk to our office every day!
Kelly Hatfield
Qualified Professional
Kelly is a seasoned QP with many years of experience. She is a wonderful asset to CCHC and handles most of our members living outside the Marion area.
Yvonne Carson
Qualified Professional
Yvonne graduated from Freedom High School and in 1999 she started working at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center as a direct care worker trainer. She later worked as a classroom-based trainer in the Dogwood Resource Center on the campus. She then moved up to a Trainer 2 Supervisor in Poplar Cottage, and returned to the classroom to work in Rosewood Resource Center where she completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology and human Services. She went to work at Foothills Correctional Facility as a Behavior Specialist in a facilitated program with Youthful Offenders under 18-year-olds conducting CBT group therapy as well as individual sessions. She recently received her Master’s degree in Mental Health and Wellness. She enjoys spending her spare time with her husband, 2 children, and 4 grandchildren.
Zach Gellman
Qualified Professional
Zach grew up in Nebo, NC and graduated from McDowell High School in 2009. Shortly after graduation, he began working at the Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center with the Alzheimer’s and Dementia population. Over the course of his professional career, he garnered a passion for taking care of others. Zach graduated from UNC-Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2018. He is on track to finish his Master of Arts in Sociology from UNC-Fayetteville by the end of 2020. He has experience in direct care and has spent the past five years working with CCHC developing relationships and gaining valuable experience. He is the father of a bright young boy and has a four-legged friend that he holds dear to his heart. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, working outside, and enjoying popular culture.
Roy Rodriguez
Qualified Professional
Roy Rodriguez is a Qualified Professional (QP) with nearly two decades of experience as an educator at the junior high and high school levels, where he developed a strong foundation in mentorship, behavioral support, and individualized instruction. His background has equipped him with the ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and tailor support strategies to meet unique needs.
In addition to his professional work, Roy also leads a large-scale community outreach program, where he oversees a team of 40 adults and ensures the safety and coordination of weekly activities for 80 to 100 children. This role reflects his strengths in leadership, organization, and crisis management, all of which translate seamlessly into his work in human services. As a part-time QP at CCHC in Marion, NC, Roy is passionate about fostering growth, safety, and positive outcomes for those he serves.
Meredith Elliott
Qualified Professional
I’ve spent 23 years in education and earned two master’s degrees from Bob Jones University in Teaching and Learning (2022) and Educational Leadership (2020). Before that, I completed my bachelor’s in Elementary Education at Lees-McRae College. I also worked 12 years in the healthcare field, which helped to shape the way I connect with and support developmentally disabled individuals, as well as the students and families I work with each day.I’ve been married for 18 years, and we have one son who’s almost 13. He loves basketball, so most of our evenings and weekends are spent at the gym.
Wendy Gellman
LCMHC/Qualified Professional
Wendy is a double hitter with CCHC not only carrying a reduced caseload but is also our on staff licensed therapist. She is able to provide our members with individual therapy sessions as well as be support for immediate needs for any of our members or staff that might be going through a rough time. She adds so much to our team both with her magnetic personality and her clinical/therapeutic wisdom.
Wanda Kee
Possibilities Day Program Director
Wanda grew up around people with multiple disabilities. Her grandparents and two of her brothers struggled with visual impairments. Wanda spent alot of time with these individuals and learned how to help them navigate their situations. With all the love and compassion she has for others there was no doubt she would love working and careing for individuals with disabilities. Wanda graduated from McDowell High School in 2004 and decided to move forward with her associate degree in applied science and human service technology. She graduated from Isothermal Community College with honors in 2023. Wanda has been an employee at Possibilities Day Program for 10 years, where she recently has been promoted to Director of Operations. In the fall Wanda is going to continue her education to obtain her bachelor’s degree in psychology. The more education Wanda gains, she feels will help her serve her members with the best care possible. Wanda enjoys spending time with her two children Christian and Alexis and her special friend Paul. She enjoys reading, hiking and anything outdoors.
Ray Hollifield
Quality Assurance/Licensure Specialist
Ray graduated from McDowell High School in 1999. After High School Ray went on to pursue multiple emergency service and medical trainings and certifications through McDowell Tech, Western Piedmont CC, Southwestern CC, & New Mexico Tech university.
Ray has been involved in Emergency services in McDowell County for the past 29 years. Ray began his service with McDowell County Rescue as a cadet at the age of 14. During his service with the Rescue Squad Ray served multiple roles within the department including Chief of the department on 3 separate occasions. Ray earned multiple exemplary service awards during his years of service to the citizens of McDowell County. Ray is currently the Chief Engineer with the Hankins-North Fork VFD where he has been serving since 2019.
In the years following High School Ray worked managing his family owned Towing and Recovery business continuing to assist those in need. After closing the business due to the declining health and death of his father, Ray began his career with CCHC in 2019. Ray started working for CCHC as a direct support paraprofessional. Since beginning his career with CCHC, Ray has taken on many roles within the company including serving as the Crisis prevention training instructor, AHA CPR instructor, and Day Program Director.
In his free time, Ray enjoys hunting, fishing, being outdoors, and spending time with his family. Ray married his loving wife Stephanie in 2002 and they have two children together.
Aimee Merrill
Aimee spent a lot of time with individuals with special needs as a young girl. She often helped her mom, Tamora, with the Special Angels class at First Baptist Church. Aimee has worked in direct care in the community. She also worked in the Emergency Department in Burlington, NC and her medical knowledge is an asset to CCHC. Aimee graduated from McDowell High School where she was a Lady Titan basketball and Volleyball player. She attended UNC-Greensboro and Alamance Community College. When she is not working, she loves spending time with Daniel, Brody, Charlee, and Dakota.
Daniel Merrill
CFO
Daniel has served as our CFO for years now and got his start working with members directly.
Chris Kiser
COO
Chris graduated from McDowell High School in 2002. After high school he went on to pursue a Business Finance degree at UNCG. He has then spent 10 years working with Outback Steakhouse. The last 4 years he has been a Managing Partner, and preformed exceedingly well in 2 different Outback locations in North Carolina. He had both Outback locations qualified as Manager Training Stores and has worked with area supervisors to help the company develop and implement changes nation wide.
In 2020, he decided to leave the restaurant industry and move back to Marion to help his family with CCHC. His years with Outback have taught him to successfully run a business, to adapt, and to pay attention to detail. Chris loves to spend his free time on the golf course or with his family.
Ginger Kiser
Qualified Professional/CEO
After graduating high school near Greensboro, NC, I attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. While there I completed my bachelor’s in Psychology and additionally my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2011. I spent time during graduate school interning at a therapy center called Family Services of the Piedmont as well as being the Internal Operations Manager for Freedom House, a non-profit organization that houses mothers and their children as they recover from addiction. In these settings I conducted therapy group sessions, individual therapy sessions, facilitated and/or taught life skills classes, managed hiring, and scheduling volunteers, and at FH managed the scheduling of the house and intake of new clients. After getting married and relocating with my husband, I spend several years working at Carolina Custom Promotions as office manager and account specialist. In 2020, our family relocated to Marion, NC and I started working in the office at CCHC. Since then, I have enjoyed taking on more responsibility in the Quality Assurance role and in 2025 taking on the role of CEO. When not at work I love spending time outside with our family and friends.