BMCC welcomes new Executive Director
Black Mountain Counseling Center is proud to welcome Elaine Looney, LMSW as its next Executive Director, joining the organization on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Elaine is relocating to Black Mountain from New Orleans, Louisiana. She recently served as Executive Director of Kinship Senior Center, a haven of opportunity for seniors seeking to live independent, healthy, and meaningful lives. Over her seven years of leadership there, she strengthened programs that addressed wellness and social connection for older adults across the New Orleans community.
Pat Tuttle, Chair of the Board of Directors, says, “The Board and staff of the Black Mountain Counseling Center are delighted to welcome Elaine Looney as our new Executive Director. Her strong leadership experience, deep commitment to mental health access, and proven ability to build collaborative community partnerships make her the ideal person to guide our organization into its next chapter. She is the perfect leader to build on the past 18 years of work of Ellen Begley, and we are confident she will lead with heart and excellence.”
Elaine steps into leadership at a time of growth and transformation for the Counseling Center and the community it serves. She brings nearly two decades of nonprofit leadership and social work experience, with a proven track record of building collaborative partnerships, securing sustainable funding, and expanding access to care.
Before leading Kinship, Elaine directed community-based initiatives at the Broadmoor Improvement Association (BIA), where she developed a wide range of supportive social services, educational programs, and mental health resources to meet the needs of residents across generations. Earlier in her career, she worked with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in New Orleans. Elaine’s commitment to community recovery and resilience began in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when she served as Program Director at Camp Coast Care with Episcopal Relief and Development on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In that role, she worked alongside local partners to help communities rebuild and restore hope after the storm — an experience that continues to shape her leadership philosophy today.
A graduate of Tulane University, Elaine earned her Master of Social Work degree with a Certificate in Disaster Mental Health, and she was recognized with the Tulane 34 Award and the Dean’s Leadership and Academic Excellence Award.
“I am honored to join the Black Mountain Counseling Center and to be part of such a warm and welcoming community,” said Elaine Looney. “BMCC’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality mental health care for everyone—regardless of ability to pay—is deeply inspiring. I’m excited to build on the strong foundation that Ellen Begley, the staff, and the board have created and to work alongside this dedicated team.”
Founded 18 years ago by three local couples, Black Mountain Counseling Center has been a cornerstone of compassionate, affordable mental health care in the region. Its founding Executive Director, Ellen Begley, led the organization until her retirement this summer. Beth Russo has served as Interim Executive Director and will work with Elaine to ensure a smooth transition.
For more information about Black Mountain Counseling Center or to learn about its programs and services, please visit blackmountaincounseling.org.