Barbara Knott - UNC Health Care (Chair)
Barbara Knott has worked in the Post-Acute industry for more than 35 years, gaining experience in Home Health, Hospice, Palliative Care, Home Infusion
Pharmacy and HME. A seasoned post acute executive, prior to taking her current role as Vice President of Continuing Care Services for UNC Health Carein
Chapel Hill, NC, Barbara gained experience working in an Integrated Delivery Network as Regional Executive Director for Home Care at KaiserPermanente in
Southern California.Previous experience includes Health System Office VP of Home Care services for Bon Secours Health System in Maryland and Executive
Director of Home Care at Barnabas Health in NJ. |
Michael Lalor, MD, MBA - Trellis Supportive Care (Immediate Past Chair)
Michael Lalor, MD, MBA, is the Chief Medical Officer for Trellis Supportive Care (formerly known as Hospice and Palliative CareCenter) in Winston-Salem,
NC., and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Wake Forest University. Currently he serves as the Co-Director of Palliative Care for Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical Center, having previously served as the director of the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Lalor earned his
medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and his MBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Management from West
Texas A&M University. With over 18 years’ experience, Dr. Lalor has an extensive background in hospice regulatory affairs and has lectured widely on
regulatory topics affecting physicians. He serves on the Palliative Care Advisory Committee for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Dr. Lalor
is a member of the American Association for Physician Leadership, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and is an alumnus of the Leadership
College of the North Carolina Medical Society. |
Kristen Yntema - AuthoraCare Collective (Vice Chair)
Kristen Wither Yntema is the President and CEO of AuthoraCare Collective one of the largest nonprofit hospice and palliative care organizations
in North Carolina. Yntema is a proven leader in the health care field. Previously, she has held roles as Vice President of Regional Development
and Innovation at Advanced Home Care and as Executive Director of the Health Services division at Cone Health. Kristen started her career
in Greensboro as an Administrative Fellow with Cone Health. In 2011, Kristen was named one of Triad Business Journal’s 40 Leaders Under
40 and in 2016 Outstanding Women in Business. In 2019, she was recognized and honored by the Triad Business Journal as being named one
of the Most Admired CEOs of the Triad area for her outstanding performance in her role as a community leader. Kristen served on the National Hospice
and Palliative Care Board, serves as the Chair of Cone Health Foundation Board, and is a member of the Youth Council Committee for
Westminster Presbyterian Church. Yntema earned her Master of Health Services Administration and her Master of Business Administration from
Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She attained her bachelor’s degree from Elon University.
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Chris Paterson - Carolina Complete Health (Centene) (Treasurer)
Chris Paterson is the CEO of Carolina Complete Health. In his 15 years at Centene, he also served as CEO of its Florida subsidiary, Sunshine Health,
overseeing its operations from inception until it reached over one million members. He also served as Centene’s Community Affairs Officer.
Prior to Centene, Chris was CEO of CareGuide, Regional President of UnitedHealth Group’s AmeriChoice Corporation, CEO of AmeriChoice’s health
plan in Pennsylvania, EVP of Merit Behavioral Care Corporation and President of Tennessee Behavioral Health. Throughout his career in both public and
private companies, Chris has been responsible for all aspects of operations, strategic planning, community relations and the introduction of innovative care
management models and programs. He is a trustee for Central Piedmont Community College, a board and executive committee member of the
NC Association of Home and Hospice Care, a board member for NC Child, a board member and Medicaid Committee chair of the NC Association of
Health Plans, and is the past chair of the boards of the Urban League of Broward County and the Florida Association of Health Plans and a past member of
the Orange Bowl Committee. After receiving undergraduate, M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Ohio State University, Chris interned at the University of Florida
and served on the faculty of the University of Miami early in his career. He and his spouse Nicole have four children.
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Ken Helmuth - Right at Home (Secretary)
Ken Helmuth is an experienced professional in the healthcare industry with over 30 years of diverse experience. Throughout his career, he has witnessed
the physical and emotional toll that caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease, cancer, or permanent disabilities can have on families and friends.
Motivated by his passion for serving others, including clients, their families, caregivers, and the community, Ken decided to establish the Right at Home office
in Durham servicing Durham, Orange, Person & Chatham counties in February 2014.Prior to acquiring the Right at Home of Durham & Chapel Hill business,
Ken demonstrated innovative leadership by successfully directing various sales and marketing teams within the healthcare industry for over 22 years.
He is dedicated to making a positive impact in the Raleigh/Durham and Greater Charlotte communities by hiring and developing highly skilled caregivers who
can provide exceptional care to individuals who prefer to age in place. Ken continuously seeks to expand his knowledge and expertise to enhance the quality
of life for his clients and their families.In August 2020, KAH Care, LLC, the parent company of Right at Home of Durham & Chapel Hill, acquired Right at
Home of Raleigh, extending its services to Wake, Johnston, Chatham, Lee, and Moore counties. In 2022, KAH Care, LLC further expanded its services to the
Greater Charlotte, NC area, including Mecklenburg, Iredell, Cabarrus, Union, and Rowan counties.Ken and his wife Julie relocated to the Triangle in 2010 when
Ken was offered a promotion and a new position with a Durham-based medical device company.
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Tim Rogers - AHHC of NC
Tim has 30 years of experience working in the home care, home health & hospice industry and/or AHHC of NC. He received his B.A. in Political Science
and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Prior to home care & hospice, Tim worked for 9 years with the State Employees Association
of NC and NC Bankers Association in member relations and as a lobbyist. His home care, home health & hospice experience is extensive, having worked as the
first Director of Government Relations and Chief Lobbyist for the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina, Vice President of Government Relations
for Comprehensive Home Health Care and Hospice (now Liberty), Director of Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Planning for Tar Heel Home Health and
Hospice of Tar Heel (now Kindred at Home/Gentiva), and finally as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Association for Home & Hospice Care of
North Carolina (since 2001). He holds numerous leadership roles and/or sits on numerous boards/commissions: State Health Coordinating Council
(Home Health & Hospice Representative - appointed by Governor Roy Cooper); Past Chairman/Exec. Comm. - The Council of State Home
Care & Hospice Associations; Member, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and NHPCO’s Council of States; Member, NHPCO’s
Legislative Affairs Committee; Member-NAHC’s Forum of State Associations (Past Chair) and current Board member; Sole State Association
Executive on the NAHC Home Health and Hospice Financial Managers (HHFMA) Workgroup; Governor-Appointed Home Care, Home Health
and Hospice Representative South Carolina CON Task Force; South Carolina DSS Advisory Board Member; Past Board Member of NAHC.
Tim is also a past Public Member of the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. Tim is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
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Mike Bolewitz, PharmD, MBA, CHPCA - VIA Health Partners
Currently, Mike is the VP and COO of VIA Health Partners, an independent, non-profit healthcare provider with more than $110M in revenue.
He is responsible for the delivery of compassionate end-of-life care to more than 3,000 palliative medicine and hospice patients daily across
North Carolina and South Carolina. Named COO in 2013, Mike has led sustained operational profitability year-over-year, resulting in VIA
consistently outperforming state and national industry benchmarks and solidifying its rank among the top hospices nationally.A Certified Hospice
and Palliative Care Administrator, Mike supervises the leadership teams across NC responsible for providing exceptional customer care with patient
satisfaction scores that have exceeded all national benchmarksfor nearly a decade. Additionally, Mike’s responsibilities include the operations of the
premier pediatric hospice program in the region, Kids Path, as well as the “We Honor Veterans” program, which recently earned Level 5 status—
the highest possible—with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the Department of Veteran Affairs.Before joining
VIA in 2008 as its first in-house pharmacist, Mike was the Clinical Pharmacist for CarolinasSpecialty Hospital, a long-term acute-care provider
now part of Atrium Health. He began his career as the Pharmacist-In-Charge of a regional retail pharmacy in North Carolina, where he was
responsible for overall operations of thetop-performing pharmacy in the greater Charlotte area.Mike implemented and currently serves on
NHPCO’s Pharmacy Steering Committee for industry experts to analyze therapies and discuss compatibility with hospice benefits.
He is a director on the board of the Association of Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHC of NC) and a member of its government
affairs subcommittee. Mike also is the Board Chair of North Carolina MedAssist, a statewide pharmacy program providing life-saving medication
to under and uninsured North Carolinians. Additionally, Mike served as a preceptor for University of North Carolina pharmacy students.
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Candace Bowman,RN, MSN/MHA -AuthoraCare
I have been a nurse for 21 years practicing in multiple healthcare settings. I have been in post-acute for 15 years serving in various roles from the bedside
to operational and clinical leadership. I pride myself on my innovative approach to healthcare and my endless pursuits of patient excellence, minimizing
the healthcare spend, and reduction of operational inefficiencies. I have the pleasure of working for a large comprehensive care organization that provides
high-quality care for 900,000+ patients across the post-acute environment. I strive to integrate patient care providing the best experience and clinical
outcomes for all stakeholders. I work with large hospital systems, ACOs, local and national healthcare partnerships, and technology-based companies to
develop best practices. I have developed and implemented national value-based initiatives both clinical and operational. My work allows me to
collaborate with industry leaders in Home Health, Homecare, Hospice, primary care, private duty, pharmacy, and outpatient therapy. My experiences
provide me with a unique perspective on the healthcare continuum and I would like to help expand integrated care for all patients of NC.
I have attended many AHHC conferences but have never had the pleasure of serving as a committee member or board member. I look forward to the
opportunity to continue to increase my knowledge of the healthcare world and take my new learnings back to the patient. I want to make a difference in
tomorrow’s healthcare.
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Ken Fleming - FirstLight Home Care of Greater Charlotte
Five years ago my wife, Mary Ellen, and I took over an agency that was in literally a storage shed, with just one client and one caregiver, and have
turned it into a home care practice that has served hundreds of clients in the Greater Charlotte area, including York and Lancaster Counties in
South Carolina. While my wife has spent over twenty years in the healthcare industry, this was all new to me. My career started in the military and
then I spent over 20 years as an executive in two Fortune 100 companies leading service teams of over 300 people in each. In one organization I was
responsible for client retention of over $250 million in annual revenues. In another I led the turnaround of client satisfaction scores (NPS) from - 40 to
+ 60 within a two-year period. Our home care practice stands for quality care and exceptional value. Our employees are treated with respect, have a
good compensation package, and have support for progression in their careers. In a short period of time, we have achieved the following: 95% Client
Satisfaction Rating over the past 41/2 years; A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau; Best Places to Work in 2019 and 2021 through the Charlotte
Business Journal; Fast Fifty from the Charlotte Business Journal; and Best Home Care Agency from the readers of the Charlotte Observer. We will always
work hard for our clients and always do more for our employees. It is who we are, and it is our mission. As a Veteran I enjoy supporting Veteran events,
and I enjoy getting outside and hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, and anything else I am blessed to be able to do.
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Dean Forman, MBA - VIA Health Partners
Currently Dean serve as the Chief Strategy Officer of VIA Health Partners, formerly Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region. Before joining VIA Health
Partners in 2023, he served as the Chief Operating Officer at Chapters Health System in Tampa, Florida, where he played a pivotal role in driving growth,
operational oversight, and spearheading key organizational initiatives. Prior to his time in Florida, Dean held the position of Vice President of Operations
for the Maryland and Mid-Atlantic region at Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care where he made significant contributions to the organization's mission of
growth by addressing aging, complex chronic illness, and end-of-life concerns. Dean has served on the boards of the state hospice and palliative care
associations in Maryland and Florida, both Certificate of Need states. In Maryland, he was Treasurer and served on the board’s executive committee.
His experience with traditional hospice, palliative and home health services as well as his experience with risk-based payment models will allow him, as a
board member, to provide insights and direction to AHHC. Having worked for both for-profit and non-profit organizations has also given him a unique
perspective regarding organizations and tax status along with the benefits and burdens of both structures.
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Tina Glenn - FirstLight HomeCare of Guilford, Jacksonville & Crystal Coast
Tina has been a home care agency provider owner since 1998. She was previously an AHHC Board member for two terms that ended in 2020. Tina has
served on the Public Relations Committee and co-chair for the past 10 years. Tina is very involved with AHHC and other community partners such as the
Alzheimer's Association fundraiser. Tina has contributed to CAREPAC as well as the Advocacy Fund. She has taken both an elected representative as well
as a member of the media on home visits. She has attended AHHC Legislative Days.
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Teresa Harbour,RN, MBA, MHA- CHAP
I am a Registered Nurse with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Wytheville Community College, a Bachelor Degree in Nursing from Winston-Salem
State University, and a Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Administration from Pfeiffer University. I began my home care career in
1990 as a hospice case manager and quickly realized care in the home was my passion. I have been involved in the home care industry for the past
33 years. During my career, I have held positions ranging from hospice/home health case manager to hospice/home health director before venturing
into accreditation with my current position as Chief Operating Officer at CHAP. I serve on the American College of Education Healthcare Department
Advisory Board, board member and treasurer of IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Alliance in Leadership for Healthcare), and I am a member of the
American College of Healthcare Executives. I have previously served on the Association of Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina’s Board of Directors,
Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care Board of Directors, and was appointed to the Surry County Aging Planning Committee. I support legislative
advocacy at the state and national level. Based on my industry knowledge, passion for advancing quality care in the home setting, along with my
vested interest as a resident of NC, I feel that I am uniquely qualified as a board candidate. When I’m not traveling for work, you will find me and my
husband tending to the family farm.
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Christina Harwood, MBA, DNP, RN, NE-BC - CarePartners Health Services
Christina has beena nurse for over 23 years, serving for most of those years in the home health setting to include case management, marketing,
education, and administrative roles. She has also had the opportunity to work in an acute care hospital as a director of clinical services for med-surg and
ICU. Christina currently serves as the Chief Nursing Office for CarePartners in Asheville, NC and leads their home care and hospice agencies, but also their
Inpatient Rehab Facility, Long Term Acute Care Hospital, PACE program, CAP-DA and Private Duty services.
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Susan Jackson, MA - Wellcare Health
Susan Jackson is the Chief People Officer at Well Care Health and a member of the organization's Senior Leadership Team. She’s a valued advisor for
the Home Health, Home Care, and Hospice divisions. Susan has experience spanning operations, strategy development, and HR leadership.
An accomplished healthcare executive, Susan has expertise in building teams and fostering employee development. Serving as Well Care’s interim Chief
Operating Officer and Chief People Officer (a dual role she held for 3 years), Susan led both Operations and Human Capital, and Well Care didn’t
suffer any reduction in force during the pandemic. Susan’s background includes serving as Chief Experience Officer and COO at C3 HealthcareRx,
Vice President, Health Delivery Redesign at BCBSNC, and Executive Director, Network Development for WakeMed. She led the WakeMed Physician
Practices, consisting of 56 practices with more than 300 providers and over 550 employees. Susan served on AHHC’s Professional Development
Committee. Her service to other relevant associations include: Medical Group Management Association ; NC Advanced Learning Technologies Association;
HealthCare Works! Coalition; and American Society for Training and Development for Health. Susan has been an active participant in the planning and
day-of activities for Well Care Health and the AHHC Legislative Day since 2019. Susan is a CAREPAC donor. Special Commissions and Relevant
Affiliations include: NC Works Commission on Workforce Development, 2008 to 2019; Capital Area Workforce Development Board, Chair 2008 to 2017,
Board Member 2017 to 2019; NC Community College System Foundation Board, Member 2014 – 2019; Society for Simulation in Healthcare North Carolina
Board of Nursing and Foundation for Nursing Excellence.
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Shannon McCarson - Bayada Home Health Care
Shannon McCarson serves as Regional Director of the South East and Mid West for BAYADA Home Health Care. He has been working in the home care
industry with Bayada Home Health Care for more than 25 years. He has experience across multiple service lines including in home aide care, private duty
nursing and intellectual disability services. Throughout his career Shannon has been involved with AHHC serving on multiple committees such as the
Government Affairs, DHHS and DMA/Medicaid Liaison committees. Additionally, Shannon has served on AHHC’s Board of Director’s for multiple terms
and well as being a member of the Executive Committee. He has been a long-time member of Care Pac and is very active in legislative advocacy.
He serves on the Board of Director’s for the Hearts for Home Care advocacy organization which is an advocacy arm of BAYADA Home Health Care.
Shannon helped lead BAYADA’s international expansion establishing a Home Health Care location in Dublin, Ireland in 2016. Shannon earned his
bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. |
Tina Pell - Cardinal Hospice Care
Tina Pell has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and almost thirty years of health care experience. Over half of her nursing career has been in Hospice and
Palliative care. Tina is the Regional Vice President of Cardinal Hospice Care which currently serves twenty counties between Central and Eastern North
Carolina. Her previous experience includes working as a Registered Nurse Case Manager, Clinical Manager, Director of Admissions, Director of Nursing
and Hospice Administrator. Tina has a passion for providing quality care. Her personal, professional goal is to ensure every eligible Hospice patient
receives the care and compassion he/she deserves. She has been recognized as a compassionate and dedicated leader who has successfully achieved
and exceeded both quality and financial goals. Tina is thrilled to be part of AHHC having a more global impact on Hospice and Palliative care services.
Tina and Jeff, her husband of thirty years, have lived in six states throughout their marriage. They are the proud parents of three grown children and are
living happily ever after in Wendell, NC.”
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Nick Seabrook -SimiTree
Nick Seabrook helps SimiTree promote excellence to home health and hospice organizations. As the Managing Principal at SimiTree responsible for the
oversight of the Consulting division, he helps over 250 employees serve 500 active clients to make SimiTree the largest consulting company in home
health and hospice with consultative outsourcing and talent solutions. Nick is also a Member of Homecare & Hospice Association of New Jersey’s
Board of Directors where he serves as the Treasurer. He has presented at numerous state and national conferences and his participation in these and
many other industry forums and events over the past 20 plus years has garnered recognition as a leading authority on solutions to the latest operational,
clinical and regulatory challenges. Nick’s operations expertise has helped agencies improve profitability and reimbursement through revenue cycle consulting
focused on improving daily operations. He graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. |
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Jamie M. Simmons, RN - 3HC
Jamie has worked in the home health and hospice industry for almost 20 years, serving in all service lines at 3HC. She began her journey as an intake
nurse before becoming a visiting nurse. As a visiting nurse, she worked as a Home Health Case manager as well as a Baylor nurse treating both home
health and hospice patients. Jamie has held many leadership positions at 3HC serving as assistant clinical director, clinical director, regional director, intake
director and now Senior Director of Home Health services. Currently 3HC serve over 1300 home health patients in eight clinical offices. Over the years at
3HC, she has served on numerous committees internally and have been involved in many community projects. She was a part of Sampson County’s
Chamber Leadership in 2020 and was a panelist at Wayne County’s first Rural Health Summit in 2023. She helped lead the team through the COVID
pandemic and through two CON applications speaking at our most recent hearing in 2023. Jamie has also served on AHHC’s Clinical/Regulatory
Committee in 2022 where the focus was on home health and hospice waivers, and is active in the association meetings yearly. She hasalso participated
in advocacy at both the state and the national levels with plans to do so again this year. Jamie have a passion for our industry and continues to serve the
residents in North Carolina. She has been fortunate to work with professionals from other agencies through partnerships including Bayada, Wellsky, Medline,
Simitree, Matrixcare, and Home Free Pharmacy. Her goal is to work to ensure that the home health industry continues to thrive and overcome obstacles we
are facing through education, innovation, partnerships, compassion and advocacy.
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Mike Smith, MBA, LSSBB - Hospice Palliative Care of Iredell County
Mike Smith serves as the President/CEO of Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, as well as Vice Chair of the Southern Care Collaborative.
Previously, he held the role of Chief Financial Officer at Hospice of the Piedmont in Charlottesville, Virginia where he was responsible for Finance,
IT, and Business Intelligence and CFO/COO for Four Seasons Compassion for Life in Flat Rock. NC. Mike is a North Carolina native, originally from
Polk County, and received his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Appalachian State University, his MBA from Charleston Southern University
in Charleston, South Carolina, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Strategic Leadership at Liberty University. He is a certified healthcare financial
professional and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Mike is actively involved with the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation regarding
the hospice benefit and policy and is committed to his community where serves on several boards, including The Dove House Child Advocacy Center,
Iredell Adult Day Services, and Rotary of Statesville serving as Treasurer.
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Steven Smith, OTR/L, MBA
Steven Smith has over 15 years of experience in Home Health Care. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy and a Masters Degree
in Health Science from the University of Florida. He started in Home Health as an OT servicing multiple counties across South Carolina. He then became
Rehab Director with specific oversight of vestibular balance programs for multiple offices. He continued to grow within that company to eventually
becoming a Branch Director and later an Area Director over multiple offices. Steven is currently the Director of Home Health Services for WakeMed in
Raleigh. He has overseen significant changes including reducing the turnover rate to under 20%, bringing the hospital based agency back to profitability,
and launching a Personal Care Service program. During Covid Steven was also part of the team that launched Hospital at Your Home that did acute care
at the patients own home in order to help meet patient needs during the COVID emergency. Steven has served on the Insurance and Manage Care
Committee for the Association of Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina. Recently he has worked closely with the Association to help navigate the
recent Electronic Visit Verification issues that have plagued providers since hard launch in Oct 2023. The association along with a group of providers
helped move the state back to a soft launch status for managed Medicaid plans in Feb of 2024. |
Joan Williams - 3HC
Joan Murphy Williams, BS/MBA, is currently serving as the Senior Director of Information Systems and Technology for 3HC in Goldsboro, NC. With nearly
30 years of experience in the industry, Joan has led teams in technology, human resources, operations, finance, quality/compliance, billing, and medical
records. When starting in post-acute, Joan did not anticipate the passion that she would develop for home health, hospice, home care, and palliative.
This passion has pushed her to become an advocate for our services through active roles in both state and national associations as well as various
CMS taskforces/interoperability projects. Joan has served on numerous AHHC of NC committees as well as BOD. She has been honored with several
awards, but most coveted was Administrator of the year with AHHC. She loves spending time with her growing family, especially at her favorite place on
Earth, Topsail Island.
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