Meet the 2018 Annual Conference Speakers!
Keynote Speakers:
Gladys Washington is Deputy Director for the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With a mission of helping to move people and places out of poverty, the Foundation supports organizations and networks that work across racial, ethnic and political differences to foster greater social and economic justice. MORE…
Nick Deychakiwsky is a Program Officer at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, working in the Civil Society Program’s Civic Space and Community Philanthropy program areas. He holds an MBA from Columbia University (1983) and worked for Mobil Oil as a supply analyst (1983-1986) before returning to school to study music and obtain a Masters of Music in choral conducting (1990). MORE…
Michelle Greanias, Executive Director of PEAK Grantmaking, is a passionate advocate for efficient and effective grantmaking and is deeply committed to elevating the value of grantmaking practices in philanthropy. Since 2008, Michelle has led the explosive growth of PEAK Grantmaking, making it one of the largest networks in the field. MORE…
Plenary Panel Speakers:
Janine Breyel is the Director of the Substance Use in Pregnancy Initiatives for the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership. In this role she coordinates the work of several statewide advisory boards and committees focused on improving the health of mothers and babies affected by substance use, including tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. MORE…
Matt Boggs, Executive Director of Recovery Point WV (formerly known as The Healing Place of Huntington), manages four separate, long-term residential substance use recovery facilities across West Virginia, as well as being certified as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PR) through the state of West Virginia. MORE…
Kim Barber Tieman is the Health and Human Services Program Director for the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. Kim has a Masters Degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Social Worker in West Virginia. She has a background in community development, program development and management, grant writing, grants management, and training. MORE…
Dr. Robert “Bob” Hansen is the Director of Addiction Services with Marshall University Joan C. School of Medicine and Marshall Health.
Pre-Session Speakers:
Walter Tucker is a graduate of WVSU with a BA in Music Education. He has taught for Kanawha County Schools for 15 years. He is currently the director of the Kanawha County Magnet Music Program which is a gifted program for talented elementary music students from all of the elementary schools in Kanawha County. In addition to teaching, Walter is also Lead Elementary Music Teacher, Faculty Senate President, All County Chorus Co-Chair, and Technologist for the Kanawha County Majorette Festival. He also teaches private piano and guitar lessons and has been an instructor for the After School Music Program at Mary C. Snow Elementary for 5 years.
Sue Sergi retired as President of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV, Inc. in 2007. Sergi served the Clay Center for over ten years. During her tenure as President, over $120 Million was raised to design, build, equip and endow the Clay Center. Sergi was responsible for overseeing the design and construction of the facility. She also was responsible for hiring and training staff to open the Center. Sergi managed the Clay Center for three years after it opened. She led negotiations to implement strategic alliances between the three resident organizations located at the Clay Center. After she announced her retirement, Sergi participated in negotiations that led to the merger of the Clay Center and the Avampato Discovery Museum. MORE…
Jeffrey Carpenter founded Bricolage Production Company in 2001. In 2017, he produced and cocreated the large-scale immersive experience DODO, set inside and produced in collaboration with the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. In 2015, he spearheaded the immersive project SAINTS TOUR, a bus tour in the town of Braddock, PA. In 2014, he received a Visionary Artist award from The Pittsburgh Foundation to create OjO: The Next Generation in Travel, featured in La Jolla Playhouse’s 2015 Without Walls Festival. MORE…
Carmelle Nickens is the Founder and Manager of Rural Arts Collaborative (RAC), an initiative of the Fayette County Cultural Trust. RAC was founded to provide Teaching Artist residencies in rural schools in PA and WV. Teaching Artists are placed in schools to work with students and teachers to enhance the existing arts curriculum and make it more robust through project-based learning. Teaching Artist residencies are a generally a full academic year, and at minimum, one full academic semester, during school time. Funded by the Benedum Foundation with additional funding from Chevron, Community Foundation of Fayette County and EQT.
Jim Denova is Vice President of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, and has primary responsibility for the Foundation’s Education agenda in West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania. In addition, he directs several economic development projects in Southwestern Pennsylvania. MORE…
Breakout Session Speakers:
Don Wilson is the Managing Member at Capital Insurance Group LLC a full-service insurance agency located in downtown Charleston, WV. Don has nearly 10 years of experience in the insurance industry and has specialized in home, auto and business insurance for the past 6 years. Don received the award as the Best Insurance Agent in the Valley in 2013 from Charleston Newspapers and in 2018 was selected as on one of the State Journal’s 40 under 40.
Kelly L. Castleberry of MS Graystone. With nearly 30 years of experience, Kelly takes a holistic approach in consulting to high net worth families. He understands that more than a strictly investment-focused approach is required to meet the multi-generational needs of wealthy families and he brings to the table advanced competencies in addressing wealth transference, gifting and philanthropic objectives and the challenges posed by closely help businesses. Kelly is a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA℠) as well as an Accredit Investment Fiduciary®. He has also attained the title of Family Wealth Director focusing on wealth transference, asset protection strategies, philanthropic services, family governance and dynamics, and trust services. MORE...
Professor Elaine Waterhouse Wilson joined the faculty of the WVU College of Law in 2012 and began serving as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in June 2018. Wilson heads the College’s tax law curriculum, teaching federal income tax, taxation of business entities, estate and gift taxation, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, she has taught the first-year course in contracts and wealth trusts. MORE….
Yvonne Cook is president of the Highmark Foundation and responsible for management and direction of the 
Foster PDF Foundation. For more than 30 years, Ms. Cook has volunteered her time and expertise by serving on many boards and committees. Ms. Cook has received numerous awards for service to the community including the leadership award in the area of Business & Industry by the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh. She serves on the Board of Directors of Women for a Healthy Environment.
Timothy Gibson has worked in the financial industry since 2010 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2011. He works with individuals and small business owners on developing financial strategies. Timothy’s approach to financial management is to cultivate a one to one relationship by earning the trust of clients, Timothy’s area of focus is custom strategies to meet clients individual needs. He has worked in the field of business management since 1999, bringing years of both educational and practical experience. MORE…
Lawrence “Larry” Mangan is the CFO with the Benedum Foundation.
Kiley M. Wagner received her undergraduate degree from West Virginia University. Kiley is currently licensed as a CPA in West Virginia. She has over 15 years of experience in public accounting, primarily focused on the areas of audit and compliance for nonprofit entities. Kiley is a member of the West Virginia Society of CPAs (WVSCPA), and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is also the past treasurer of Stars and Strides, Inc. and the Harrison County YMCA. Kiley is actively involved in the Bridgeport Indians Youth Football and Cheerleading league and is an active member of her local church.
Michael Hill joined Graystone and its predecessor firms in 2006. Along with John, he specializes in consulting to qualified and nonqualified retirement plans and is particularly adept at identifying actionable inefficiencies in plan design and developing alternative solutions. Michael takes the lead at Graystone Charleston in conducting asset and liability funding studies, leading plan provider due-diligence, developing investment and spending policy statements and conducting manager research and monitoring results. MORE…
Dr. Michelle Foster has been the President and CEO of The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation since February 2016. During her first year at TGKVF, Dr. Foster has focused significant efforts on developing an impact measurement framework to help the Foundation and its donors fully understand the social return on their community investments. MORE…
As a way to find balance and alleviate the stress of graduate school, Stephanie Hyre began practicing yoga more than ten years ago when she lived in Athens, Georgia. Now you will find her sharing this coping skill at Recovery Point of Charleston and WV Health Right, teaching yoga and relaxation techniques to patients.
Erin Brewster has finally lived in West Virginia longer than she lived in Virginia (where she grew up, attended college at Virginia Tech and law school at William and Mary), which doesn’t make her a native, but since her parents are both McDowell County natives, she hopes to take credit for some of their time. She is a retired lawyer and also served as Deputy Commission of the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration under Governor Tomblin. Even while practicing law Erin spent much of her spare time volunteering and when she stopped working following the onset of a medical condition, her life, and her volunteer efforts changed dramatically, which led to two of her most important volunteer efforts – she hosts a weekly talk radio show on WTSQ-LP, 88.1, Charleston, an all-volunteer, not-for-profit, independent station and part of her show each week focuses on non-profits and their upcoming activities. MORE…
Heather Foster loves West Virginia, public policy, volunteers and national service. Prior to 2014, she coordinated disaster volunteer grant programs and served as statewide Volunteer Services Officer at the American Red Cross. Heather directed community volunteer response initiatives during major disasters including the Derecho, Superstorm Sandy and the 2016 Floods. In 2018, under her leadership, West Virginia launched a Volunteer Center initiative designed to improve local coordination of volunteers and increase support for volunteer managers. She also led the state’s four year rise in AmeriCorps resources (WV currently ranks #1 in the nation for producing AmeriCorps). MORE…