Sonja McLendon, FACHE, joined the Cape Fear Valley Health leadership team as President of Hoke Hospital in July of 2024. For the past eleven years, Sonja served as the Chief of Operational Excellence at Northeast Georgia Health System in Gainesville, GA. In addition, she served as the Interim President of the Barrow and Lumpkin campuses, leading operations at these facilities. She is also an adjunct professor at Brenau University, teaching in the College of Business and Communication. A native North Carolinian, Sonja grew up in Wake Forest, NC. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina, a Master’s in Education & Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. Sonja is also a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Sonja and her husband, Scott, are parents to their daughter, Molly, who is a student at the University of Georgia, and to a golden retriever named Tullis. They live in Raeford, NC. Sonja enjoys yoga, hiking, travel, gourmet cooking, and collecting funny stories for the book she keeps threatening to write. In her new role, Sonja is committed to enhancing patient care and operational excellence at Hoke Healthcare, leveraging her extensive experience and passion for safe, high-quality healthcare.