Robert L. Kornegay, Executive Director
Carteret General Hospital Foundation, Inc.
The new Executive Director of the Carteret General Hospital Foundation is no stranger to Carteret County. Nor is he unfamiliar with raising funds for quality healthcare services in a maritime environment.
After graduating from West Carteret in 1966, Robert Kornegay attended NCSU before serving on NOAA research ships along the US East Coast and the Caribbean. He returned home in the 70’s to lead the family’s custom home building business, Nautilus Builders, Inc. In 1974 Robert married Josie Bourgeois, a former Air Force nurse and nursing instructor with the Peace Corp in West Africa. Their daughter Kristin is now married with three children in Cary.
In 1990 the Kornegay family joined the international healthcare ministry, Mercy Ships, and for over a decade helped serve the poor and needy in more than 30 nations. They lived aboard the M/V Anastasis for five years and later directed the Mercy Ships Center in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Robert subsequently served as the VP for Resource Development at the Mercy Ships headquarters in Texas to help raise $32 million to purchase and outfit a new hospital ship. Last year that goal became a reality as the M/V Africa Mercy began serving in Liberia, West Africa.
In 2002 the Kornegays returned to Carteret County for Josie to care for her elderly mother. Robert continued to travel extensively teaching in international community development training programs. He also served as Associate Pastor at Emerald Isle Chapel by the Sea, where they have been members since 1981. In 2005 they relocated to Charlotte for Robert to pursue a Masters degree while serving as the VP of Development at Southern Evangelical Seminary. In April of this year Robert successfully completed a $4.5 million campaign to construct a new 28,000 sq. ft. library and classroom addition.
Now back in their home on the White Oak River, Robert is excited about the opportunity to help serve the health care needs of his Carteret friends and neighbors. In his new role, Robert will encourage private financial support of the hospital’s innovative programs and services to meet specific healthcare needs. In the process, Robert looks forward to connecting with old and new Carteret neighbors. For more information about hospital partnering opportunities, or to just say “Hi”, please contact Robert at 252-808-6647, or by email <rkornegay@ccgh.org>