Joyce McNish

Administrative Assistant/Camp Director

Executive Assistant & Future Respite Care Manager

Joyce McNish, a native of the North Georgia area, has been the Executive Assistant for this project since May 2007, and looks forward to being the Respite Care Manager at the state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind Respite Lodge we are building at Heartland. She is widowed, the mother of two daughters: Heather, and Kindra. She also has one adorable grandchild Levi. Her background is in the emergency medical field; she was one of the first females to work on an ambulance in North Georgia, she has taught CPR and First Aid, but left that field to take care of Kindra full time, who was diagnosed at 6 weeks of age with cerebral atrophy and seizure disorder, through the years they have added scoloisis, kyposis and asthma, feeding tubes, VNS stimulator and other specialized equipment to their list.

"As I have wandered through this maze called developmental disabilities, I have seen so many parents or caregivers in need of just a little time for themselves, I've seen them in crisis situations where they desperately needed someone to take care of their child, and I've seen them struggle to just keep going on day by day. My involvement in the Heartland Ranch Project came about through conversations I had with Bobbie Standefer concerning these and other situations about 5 years ago. When Bobbie and Debbie met in January 2007 to talk about the possibilities of Heartland, I believe God brought it all around for Bobbie to get a glimpse of the BIG project He had in store. I have enjoyed being involved so far, I believe that there are great and mighty things on the horizon....we have just scratched the surface. To God be the glory, great things He is doing!"