Leadership Team
Heidi Wingo, MBA
Executive Director
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Heidi Wingo brings a unique combination of nonprofit leadership, healthcare education, business operations, and community engagement to her role as Executive Director of Foothills Compassionate Care, Nevada County’s community-based nonprofit hospice care organization.
A western Nevada County resident, Heidi has built her career around strengthening organizations, developing people, and creating meaningful connections within the community. Before joining Foothills Compassionate Care, she spent 14 years in healthcare education, gaining extensive experience in organizational operations, leadership, project management, relationship building, team development, and strategic problem-solving.
Heidi holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Anthropology and a Master of Business Administration. Her multidisciplinary education and professional experience give her a thoughtful perspective on the intersection of organizational excellence, healthcare, education, and human connection.
As Executive Director, Heidi is committed to ensuring Foothills Compassionate Care continues to provide exceptional hospice and palliative care, bereavement support, and compassionate end-of-life services to patients and families throughout Nevada County and the surrounding foothills communities. She works to strengthen the organization’s operations, support its dedicated team, build meaningful community partnerships, and ensure that its mission remains at the center of every decision.
Heidi believes strong nonprofit organizations are built through collaboration, clear communication, and a shared commitment to purpose. Her leadership approach emphasizes empowering employees and volunteers, cultivating trust, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
She is passionate about the vital role community-based nonprofits play in improving the lives of individuals and families. Through her leadership, Heidi is dedicated to helping Foothills Compassionate Care remain a trusted local resource for hospice care, palliative support, grief services, and education—while inspiring continued community involvement through volunteering, partnerships, and charitable giving.
A longtime resident of western Nevada County, Heidi is actively involved in the community through her family and numerous local activities. She brings that same spirit of connection, compassion, and service to her work every day.
Her goal is simple: to support the Foothills Compassionate Care team in every way possible so they feel as valued and cared for as the patients, families, caregivers, volunteers, donors, and community members they serve.
Heidi is very involved in our community through her children and many other activities. Her goal is to support the Foothills Compassionate Care team in any way she can, to make them feel as loved as they make their patients, families, and retail customers feel.
Meranda Orenchuk
Director of Social Services
530.274.5192
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Meranda Orenchuk, LCSW, serves as the Director of Social Services for Foothills Compassionate Care. She brings more than a decade of experience in behavioral health and social services, with a career spanning direct clinical practice, program leadership, clinical quality, staff development, and organizational leadership.
Prior to joining Foothills Compassionate Care, Meranda served in clinical leadership roles within community-based behavioral health, most recently as Associate Director of Clinical Practices at Stanford Sierra Youth & Families. In that role, she supported clinical practice and program development across a variety of behavioral health and social service programs, provided consultation and leadership to multidisciplinary teams, and developed training and systems designed to strengthen the quality of care provided to children, adults, and families.
Meranda is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and also teaches graduate Marriage and Family Therapy students, an opportunity that reflects her passion for developing and supporting the next generation of helping professionals. Earlier in her career, she worked as an in-home caregiver, where she had some of her first experiences supporting individuals and families through end-of-life transitions. Those experiences continue to influence her belief that compassionate care means understanding not only the needs of the person receiving care, but also the family and support system surrounding them.
At Foothills Compassionate Care, Meranda leads Social Services with a focus on strengthening psychosocial care, supporting caregivers and families, developing staff, and helping ensure that patients and their loved ones feel seen and supported throughout the hospice journey. She is especially passionate about creating systems that allow social workers and other members of the interdisciplinary team to use their clinical skills, judgment, and relationships to provide individualized, meaningful care.
Hilary Hodge
Director of Development & Marketing
530.272.5180
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Hilary Hodge is an accomplished nonprofit executive, fundraising strategist, and community leader with more than two decades of experience advancing mission-driven organizations through strategic philanthropy, brand development, stakeholder engagement, and impactful storytelling. Hilary brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, guiding organizations through strategic planning, community outreach, brand positioning, fundraising growth, and organizational development.
As Director of Development and Marketing for Foothills Compassionate Care, Hilary specializes in story building to highlight meaningful community connections. She builds relationships between donors, volunteers, community partners, and the causes they care about most. Her expertise spans fundraising strategy, donor stewardship, communications, public relations, organizational leadership, and creating compelling narratives that inspire generosity and deepen community investment.
A recognized advocate for community engagement and the arts, Hilary was elected to the Grass Valley City Council in 2018 and currently serves as Mayor. Throughout her public service and nonprofit career, she has championed initiatives that strengthen communities, foster collaboration, and build lasting partnerships across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Hilary has served on the Board of Directors for the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce and Music in the Mountains. She currently serves on board of KVMR Community Radio and as the City Liaison to the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Association. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of California, Davis in 2005 and was an honored graduate of the prestigious Emerge California leadership program in 2017.
When she is not advocating for her community or advancing nonprofit missions, Hilary enjoys performing in local theater productions, singing with he friends, tending her garden, and spending time with her dogs.
Dr. Dopf, MD
Medical Director
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Dr. Dopf is a distinguished board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Dopf completed his medical training at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, has spent 14 years serving as a clinician, educator, administrator, and business owner across California and Northern Nevada. Dr. Dopf was the Associate Medical Director for Hospice of the Foothills for 13 years.
Emily Turcios, RN
Director of Patient Care Services
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Emily is a dynamic and forward-thinking registered nurse who excels at improving processes and embracing challenges with enthusiasm. Upon receiving her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Samuel Merritt University, she worked briefly in long-term care, where she was introduced to hospice care. She is a certified Hospice and Palliative nurse and has worked for non-profit hospice organizations for over 7 years. With a proven track record as a collaborative team player, she brings exceptional leadership skills and a talent for clear, effective communication to every project. Emily is committed to driving positive change and fostering a productive work environment, continually striving for excellence and innovation.