Meet our team!
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Mary KigerExecutive Director
Mary Kiger has served as TCCN’s Executive Director since April of 2016. With a Masters of Public Policy from Duke University, Mary brings over 30 years of strategic program development experience to her work with TCCN. While she has had the pleasure of working in that capacity for Ochsner Medical Center, Duke Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, she never actually worked in a free and charitable clinic. However, being of service to TCCN members and their patients is the honor of a career and Mary is continually inspired by the work of free and charitable clinics across Tennessee and across the country. Mary and her husband of 40 years have survived parenting five sons together and now enjoy their empty nest time by hiking in nature and ballroom dancing together.
Annabelle Cruz-Orengo
Senior Director of OperationsAnnabelle Cruz-Orengo holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a Major in Management and Marketing from the University of Puerto Rico. Before joining TCCN in June, she worked for 10 years as Chief Financial & Administrative Officer for Family & Children’s Service. In addition, Annabelle provided financial and administrative services to CASA of Davidson County and Renewal House. Prior to relocating to Nashville, Annabelle worked at the Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education for 14 years. Annabelle has almost 30 years of experience in budget, human resources, finance, project management, facilities management and emergency preparedness. Annabelle believes in the right of all individuals to access adequate health services and is very enthusiastic in working with TCCN as a way of making a difference.
Alisa LaPoltDirector of Engagement
Alisa LaPolt comes to us with 30 years of media, political, and advocacy experience. She was a reporter for the Nashville Banner, Gannett News Service (now USA Today Network) and other outlets. As a lobbyist and advocate in Florida, Alisa’s clients included the Florida Nurses Association and the Florida Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (FAFCC). Through her efforts, the Florida Legislature created a first-ever $4.5 million grant program administered by FAFCC. Alisa was executive director of NAMI Florida (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and until recently was the Advocacy and Policy Director for NAMI Tennessee. Alisa believes that access to quality health and mental health services is critical to overall wellbeing and she has focused her entire advocacy career on that. Alisa grew up in East Tennessee and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She remains an avid Vols fan. Mary Hunt MooreGrants Manager
Mary is a native of Tennessee and holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Public Financial Management from the University of Kentucky. During her undergraduate education, she first became aware of the social determinants of health and their impact on health equity. Through working with the uninsured and underserved as a Medicaid case manager for the State after graduation, she saw their effects firsthand and the gaps in health policy that exacerbated them. Since then, Mary has worked on the rollout of the Affordable Care Act with Family & Children's Service, for the Tennessee Justice Center as Casework Supervisor, and, most recently, as Grants Manager for the Tennessee Primary Care Association. She admires the work of TCCN members and is eager to assist in strengthening the compassionate healthcare safety net in Tennessee. René Dillard
Manager, Support ServicesRené Dillard most recently served as Manager, Early Literacy at United Way of Greater Nashville where she facilitated collective impact work for the Blueprint for Early Childhood Success. Ms. Dillard currently holds the following: MPP, Education Policy (Vanderbilt); and B.A. Anthropology (University of Chicago). Her interests are in education research, policy development, access to early childhood education opportunities, teacher development, multi-generational educational opportunities, and empowering parents as partners in schools. She is a proud former public-school teacher. René is excited to be working with TCCN because she believes health outcomes for parents and families are vital to youth success.
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