While researching jobs on indeed.com, Megan Cherry saw where Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry in Seymour was looking for an executive director.

At first, she said she thought the title sounded way too important to her.

Then something drew her back and she reconsidered.

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“I thought, ‘You know? What’s the worst they can say, no?’” she said. “It seemed like something I could really get into and use all of my skills but also be more involved with people.”

The 32-year-old applied for the job and went through two interviews before receiving an offer. She accepted it March 29.

The board of directors narrowed the applicants down to six, and Cherry’s first interview was with board President Bob Tabeling, Vice President Amy Hiester and Karen Battin.

“I felt like a million bucks when I left that interview,” Cherry said. “I felt like we had good conversation and we were on the same page about everything we were talking about. I tried to be prepared in what they would ask, so I mentally made this list of questions and how I was going to answer them.”

Cherry and another applicant were then brought in for a second interview with three different board members.

“It was not as easy,” Cherry said. “I left that interview feeling like, ‘Oh, I’m not sure how that went,’ so I was kind of nervous because they had three totally different personalities, and their questions were honestly a little tougher, I think.”

About two and a half hours later, though, she received a call offering her the job. The non-for-profit organization allows seven homeless families with children to live in apartments for up to 60 days until employment is gained, money is saved and housing is in place. The facility at 250 S. Vine St. also serves people through a food pantry twice a week.

“First and foremost, I was humbled because it is a big responsibility, it’s a lot,” Cherry said. “This person is very active in the community, and I feel like for them to trust me with that was very humbling.”

She was excited to get in and put her own spin on things, but she knew she had big shoes to fill from Deb Bedwell, who retired July 16, 2018, after serving as executive director for 17 years.

Stephanie Masters-Wheeler was hired to replace Bedwell, but she left in March, and Bedwell returned for four weeks until Cherry was hired.

Bedwell now is officially retired from Anchor House but has helped Cherry transition into her new role, which started April 15.

“I definitely think it’s a lifesaver, for sure,” Cherry said. “Not many people start in a position and have a resource like Deb that’s still available to them after they’ve left that position, and I think that’s so important.”

She’s also fortunate to have staff members who have been in place for a while and know the way things are run.

“They can help me and even work with me on new ideas on things that we can adjust or whatever,” Cherry said. “I think without people like that, it would definitely be a lot tougher for me to get comfortable and to know where to go with things. It’s definitely imperative.”

Tabeling said the board appreciates Bedwell returning to lead Anchor House until a new executive director was hired.

“She works part time in another position (at Automotive Equipment Specialist Inc.), and they were very generous to give her the time,” he said. “She has been able to come back in and get everything back into place and continue the things that we need to be doing.”

With Bedwell managing the day-to-day duties of the organization, Hiester said that allowed the board to focus on the interviewing and hiring process.

Tabeling said it also was great for Bedwell to offer to help Cherry with the transition.

“We can’t say enough,” he said. “Deb having the ability to come back and the time to be able to do that has left us in a very good position with everything that has been going on.”

Cherry was born and raised in Scottsburg. She graduated from Scottsburg High School in 2005 and then University of Louisville in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance with a concentration in exercise science.

After that, she worked in the social work and staffing sectors, medical field, marketing, management and sales.

“I’ve done a variety of things, so kind of like a jack of all trades, I guess,” she said. “I feel like that maybe helped me jump into this role knowing that all of those things were going to come into play at some point.”

Before Anchor House, she was the practice manager for a physician in Scottsburg.

“I basically did everything for the practice,” she said. “I came in at a very trying time in the practice and was able to financially get it turned around and make it profitable.”

Tabeling said Cherry stood out among the applicants for being detail-oriented and organized and proving she could follow policies and procedures.

“We thought those would be a good fit as we transitioned into that from an organized side,” he said. “Then if you look at some of the other things, just personality, outgoing. Maybe not in the not-for-profit world from that standpoint, but that was going to transition into this environment, so we felt very comfortable with that.”

Hiester said her résumé showed a variety of work experience.

“Her résumé really transitioned well from private sector into the nonprofit sector, and she was at a similar position after we interviewed her where she was kind of that point person,” Hiester said.

“She had some people above, some people below that she was kind of that pivot point, and that’s really what this position is,” she said. “You have the board of directors, and then you have your staff, and you’re kind of that point person in between the two. That’s definitely what was most appealing from that standpoint. And personality is just genuine, lots of energy, ready to go.”

Cherry said it will be beneficial to put systems in place to track progress so the community can be more aware of what’s going on at Anchor House.

“I can just kind of put my spin on it and be a part of it and show who I am,” she said. “In the position I previously had, I began to be more of a hiding in the office kind of hermit and just doing my thing. Just to be out and talking to people, I’m excited about that.”

Cherry said she wants to continue Anchor House’s good reputation so people will want to contribute to the cause and help it grow.

With Cherry on board, Hiester said she is excited and optimistic moving forward.

“I think she’s got that total package skill set to take what Anchor House has been and stabilize and grow onto the next level,” Hiester said.

“We’ve come so far in the last 17 years under Deb, and I’m excited to add Megan’s skill set to that,” she said. “I think we’ve expanded so much already what we’ve done and what we’ve been able to provide in the community, and I’m excited for some new ideas but also that respect for honoring the things that we do well, as well.”

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Name: Megan Cherry

Age: 32

Hometown: Scottsburg

Residence: Scottsburg

Education: Scottsburg High School (2005); University of Louisville (bachelor’s degree in health and human performance with a concentration in exercise science, 2009)

Occupation: New executive director of Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry in Seymour

Family: Husband and three children

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Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry is at 250 S. Vine St., Seymour.

Staffed shelter hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

The food pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and from noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays. Clients must provide identification, and they can visit twice in a 30-day time period.

For information, call 812-522-9308 or visit anchorhouseshelter.org or facebook.com/ahfamilyassistancecenter.

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