MEET OUR TEAM
With fierce dedication and hard work, our former Executive Director, Emily Houser, laid a strong foundation for the ministry of SMDC. In the fall of 2023, she felt the Lord prompting her to “pass the torch” for the next chapter of SMDC ministry after 10 years of faithful service.
In January of 2024, the Smoky Mountain Dream Center was excited to welcome our new Executive Director; Jodi Povec. Jodi and her husband, Zac, have been licensed ministers of the Gospel for over 23 years. Having served in New York and Louisiana, they moved to Tennessee in 2016 to serve the Knoxville and surrounding areas. Together they are making a difference by organizing and overseeing a food giveaway program that leverages resources from Operation Blessing to provide essential support to over 200 families every month. This initiative not only addresses a practical need but also serves as a platform for ministering and offering spiritual support to those in need.
Jodi has extensive experience as an Associate Pastor, Church Administrator, and Children’s Pastor. Since 2001, she has orchestrated and led children’s ministries for ages 5-12 offering weekly Sunday School lessons, led teacher trainings, coordinated special events, planned outreaches, executed Parent’s Day Out programs, facilitated the creation of community groups, developed and led small group meetings, managed church interns, and Co-led the Nola Belles Ministry, a program aimed at nurturing the personal and spiritual development of inner-city girls.
Food ministry and children’s ministry are not Jodi’s only passion. She also has a heart for reaching the broken, lonely, and hurting women who have been abused and overlooked. Jodi served the ministry of Unashamed Love, which ministers to women caught in sex trafficking and helps to transition them to a life of freedom. She has also worked with this ministry to get women off the street and out of strip clubs. It is Jodi’s desire to show these women the real love of Jesus, help them understand their value, and restore their dignity and identity as a child of God.
Jodi’s focus has always been to proactively identify key community needs, forge relationships with local leaders, establish trust within the community, cultivate healthy environments, and develop ways to actively demonstrate the love of Jesus to those in need and in dark places. Through these avenues, it is her goal to offer genuine relationship-building within the church and the broader community.
JODI POVEC
Shannon transitioned from volunteer to an official member of the SMDC team in December of 2019. She has over 30 years experience in office administration and business management. Shannon has served the Lord in multiple ministry positions — youth pastor, girls ministries teacher, sectional youth rep, discipleship class leader, and church office assistant. From 2001 to 2016, she worked for the Tennessee Assemblies of God Ministry Network serving as the Administrative Assistant to the DYD, and then the Administrative Assistant to the District Superintendent. In 2011, Shannon transitioned to the district campground, the Jackson Conference Center, to serve as the JCC Administrative Assistant, Kitchen Manager, and Co-staff Manager. Toward the end of her tenure with the district office, God began opening doors for Shannon to start her own catering business. This was a change in career that was an unexpected blessing. From 2014 to 2020, she owned and operated a successful catering company. Little did she know that with each new step God was leading her to combine all her learned skills and life experiences to help minister to the people of Appalachia. Shannon’s heart is to serve with excellence wherever God places her. Using everything the Lord has allowed her to learn throughout her lifetime, she now caters and serves meals to the SMDC volunteers, work teams and at special outreach events. She also serves as the Volunteer Coordinator and the Executive Assistant to the SMDC Executive Director.
