Hand Brings Her Experience and Passion to MERF Leadership Role

Katie Hand has always believed in the magic of Mentone. Now, as the new executive director of MERF, she’s bringing that sense of wonder full circle, giving back to the community that shaped her and nurturing new opportunities for others.

After years spent building a life and career in Virginia, Hand’s path back home was a blend of purpose and serendipity. She and her husband decided to return to Mentone to raise their son in the same nurturing environment that marked her upbringing. At the Groundhog Day Community Celebration in February, she picked up the lone remaining copy of The Groundhog newspaper from a table in the back of the gym. Flipping through its pages, she found the job posting for MERF’s executive director.

“It jumped out at me, and I couldn’t ignore it,” she says. That same night, she updated her resume and submitted it. MERF’s board of directors agreed she was a perfect fit.

Hand’s roots in Mentone run deep. She attended Moon Lake School in the 1990s and remembers the small-town charm vividly. Her parents were deeply involved in the community, helping with projects at the school and fostering a spirit of engagement that left a lasting impression. Hand’s childhood memories, marked by imagination and a true sense of community, fuel her desire to give her son a similar upbringing.

Hand’s professional background is equally inspiring. She interned at the Smithsonian Institution, where her research contributed to a 2017 exhibit. She worked at the Manassas Museum, specializing in Civil War history and community outreach, and later transitioned into public education. At Fairfax County Schools, one of the top districts in the country, she honed her skills as a teacher and mentor.

Those years taught her the value of connection and the power of community support. “I really feel like Mentone, along with everything I’ve done, has been like a centripetal force,” she says. “All these experiences … they’ve all been orbiting around coming home.”

Hand’s return wasn’t just a relocation — it was a deliberate commitment to invest in her family and community. “I made a big decision to let go of a lot of things that I’d worked for to give my son all the things I had growing up,” she says. Her husband, originally from Chattanooga, has embraced the quiet pace of life in Mentone, finding joy in its smallness after years in larger cities.

As executive director, Hand has big dreams for MERF. She hopes to expand the art program at Valley Head School and foster growth in the MERF Moms group. “I’m excited to see what can grow from that,” she says, envisioning stronger community ties and more opportunities for parents and children to connect. She’s also learning about grants and scholarships, eager to ensure that MERF continues to enrich lives.

Reflecting on her journey, Hand says of life in Mentone, “It’s this magnet. It draws you back because there’s more work to do. There are more good things to be seen and had and felt. I think this community gives a lot of that energy away to people. And MERF does a wonderful job at giving experiences to kids so they can take energy and put it out into the world.”