Foundation Board Adds New Members, Officers

The Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., Board of Directors added three new members along with new officers its annual board meeting on June 15.

Officers are Brent Skidmore, President, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Senior Commercial Lender at First Exchange Bank; Gina Fantasia, Vice President, Vice President and General Counsel at Vandalia Heritage Foundation; Gary Bennett, Treasurer, certified public accountant; and Delbert "Butch" Phillips, Senior Vice President of MVB Bank, Inc. As officers they will guide the board in creating and cultivating lasting relationships with alumni of Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College. They also work, along with the other board members, to meet financial donors' needs while securing funds and supporters for priority issues determined by the Fairmont State Board of Governors.

Lois Laughlin was awarded the Fairmont State Foundation V.I.P. award for embodying the vision, innovation and passion of the Foundation. Over the past two years, Laughlin led the Foundation through a period of growth and success.

Shirley Stanton, Marvin Stewart and Melissa Watkins join the Fairmont State Foundation Board of Directors for their first terms of service.

Stanton graduated from Fairmont State in 1954 with a degree in political science. In 1972, she graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law. She returned to Fairmont a few years later with her husband to open Stanton and Stanton, Attorneys at Law. She was appointed to the West Virginia Human Rights Commission by Governor Joe Manchin. She serves on the Board of Governors of the Fairmont Field Club and is President of the Political Action Committee of West Virginians for Life.

Stewart is a 1976 graduate of Fairmont State with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He attained a master's degree in business and economics from West Virginia University and a Master of Science from Eastern University in non-profit management. Stewart is currently the Community Relations Manager for UPS in Philadelphia and serves on the boards of the West Chester Police Athletic League, United Way of Chester County and Cigna Health Care.

Watkins graduated from Fairmont State in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She received her Master of Professional Accountancy from WVU and a law degree from WVU College of Law. Watkins is a member of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC where she specializes in taxation and business and commercial planning law. She is also a member of the West Virginia State Bar, American Bar Association, Monongalia County Bar Association and the West Virginia Society of CPAs.

Aaron Hawkins, Dr. Michele Plutro and Mary Jo Thomas have been re-elected to a second term. Other board members include K. Jean Ahwesh, Dr. Daniel Bradley, Gary Cox, Donald Downs, Joseph "Bud" Ford III, James Hamilton, M.H. Hudnall, James Hunt, James Kettering Jr., Robert Kidwell, Lois Laughlin, Patrick Martin, Blair Montgomery, Dr. Ronald Pearse, Kim Pellillo, Enrico Porto, Marie Prezioso, Nathan Schoetz, Leah Stern, Diane Urchak, Dixie Yann and John Zacharias. Emeritus members include Jacqueline Constable, Dr. Wendell Hardway, Nancy Koppel, Frank Pulice, Laura Viglianco-Boyce and John Windsor Jr.

The Fairmont State Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization formed to assist Fairmont State by accepting and encouraging gifts and by using them to advance the missions of Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College. The Foundation helps to secure resources for scholarships, faculty development, cultural programming and other needs.

If you would like to be part of the success and growth of the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., through a charitable gift or endowment, contact Kim Riggi at (304) 367-4014.