The High Sierras Family Resource Center has welcomed Michael McMillan as its new Executive Director following the retirement of longtime leader Vickie Clark, who stepped down from the position in November.
McMillan brings more than 40 years of experience in pastoral ministry, having served congregations throughout Southern California. Most recently, he was Senior Pastor at Palm Springs Adventist for three and a half years. His previous pastoral roles include 11 years in Big Bear and 26 years in San Bernardino.
In addition to his ministry background, McMillan has extensive experience in financial oversight which includes serving on the financial committee at Loma Linda Academy for 25 years. One of his primary goals at the Resource Center will be streamlining internal processes to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
His wife Sheryll Prinz-McMillan is the Behavioral Health Director in Sierra County and when the Executive Director opportunity opened, he felt the non-profit agency work was adjacent to what he has done in community building and connecting with people.
While Sierra County is smaller than most of the communities he has served, McMillan noted in Big Bear, they have similarities with a mountain community, dependent on tourism, logging that came and went, and an aging population. Comparing life in
Southern California to Sierra County, McMillan joked that while Southern California has crime, Sierra County has wolves — “and I’ll take the wolves.”
High Sierras Family Resource Center is chartered to provide first-order prevention services, focusing on creating environments where healthy families thrive and child abuse is prevented. The organization works to reduce stressors by helping individuals and families access adequate resources where they live.
The Resource Center collaborates with schools, faith communities, service clubs, and local businesses, as well as agencies including First 5, Behavioral Health, Public Health, Northern Nevada Food Bank, and Musica Sierra. It also partners with the U.S. Forest Service to provide conservation education.
McMillan has already begun meeting community members and looks forward to finding ways to enhance quality of life for residents, describing Loyalton as “a vibrant community of caring people.”
He is especially eager to connect with local youth, planning to participate in Sierra Valley Little League’s Opening Day this spring. McMillan hopes to create opportunities that encourage children to visit the Resource Center, build friendships, and help them feel supported. “School is important,” he said, “but kids also need other places where they know they belong and can receive encouragement.” He hopes to provide opportunities for young people to return to the community after graduation.
Michael and Sheryll live in Sierra City and have three adult children: Sierra, who holds a master’s degree in English, lives in Southern California; Isabel, teaches fourth through sixth grade at Downieville School; and Noah, is a junior at La Sierra University.
McMillan brings more than 40 years of experience in pastoral ministry, having served congregations throughout Southern California. Most recently, he was Senior Pastor at Palm Springs Adventist for three and a half years. His previous pastoral roles include 11 years in Big Bear and 26 years in San Bernardino.
In addition to his ministry background, McMillan has extensive experience in financial oversight which includes serving on the financial committee at Loma Linda Academy for 25 years. One of his primary goals at the Resource Center will be streamlining internal processes to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
His wife Sheryll Prinz-McMillan is the Behavioral Health Director in Sierra County and when the Executive Director opportunity opened, he felt the non-profit agency work was adjacent to what he has done in community building and connecting with people.
While Sierra County is smaller than most of the communities he has served, McMillan noted in Big Bear, they have similarities with a mountain community, dependent on tourism, logging that came and went, and an aging population. Comparing life in
Southern California to Sierra County, McMillan joked that while Southern California has crime, Sierra County has wolves — “and I’ll take the wolves.”
High Sierras Family Resource Center is chartered to provide first-order prevention services, focusing on creating environments where healthy families thrive and child abuse is prevented. The organization works to reduce stressors by helping individuals and families access adequate resources where they live.
The Resource Center collaborates with schools, faith communities, service clubs, and local businesses, as well as agencies including First 5, Behavioral Health, Public Health, Northern Nevada Food Bank, and Musica Sierra. It also partners with the U.S. Forest Service to provide conservation education.
McMillan has already begun meeting community members and looks forward to finding ways to enhance quality of life for residents, describing Loyalton as “a vibrant community of caring people.”
He is especially eager to connect with local youth, planning to participate in Sierra Valley Little League’s Opening Day this spring. McMillan hopes to create opportunities that encourage children to visit the Resource Center, build friendships, and help them feel supported. “School is important,” he said, “but kids also need other places where they know they belong and can receive encouragement.” He hopes to provide opportunities for young people to return to the community after graduation.
Michael and Sheryll live in Sierra City and have three adult children: Sierra, who holds a master’s degree in English, lives in Southern California; Isabel, teaches fourth through sixth grade at Downieville School; and Noah, is a junior at La Sierra University.
