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 Ģ������ƵStories      September 12, 2025

By Bill Studenc

Three new members have joined the Ģ������Ƶ Foundation Board of Directors for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, while four departing board members were recently recognized for their service and contributions.

New Ģ������ƵFoundation Board of Directors members, with initial three-year appointments effective July 1, are:

• Kyle Carter, former Ģ������Ƶprovost who served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina  at Pembroke from 2010 until 2015. A resident of Asheville and native of Atlanta, Carter was WCU’s first provost from 2004 until 2010, guiding a redesign of the university’s strategic planning process and focusing the institutional mission on regional engagement. He taught previously at Valdosta State College and the University of Northern Colorado and served as provost at Central Missouri State University until becoming a Catamount in 2004. After retiring as UNC Pembroke chancellor, Carter has been a senior partner at Academic Strategy Partners. He and his wife, Sarah, endowed a scholarship fund supporting students participating in international travel in conjunction with their Ģ������Ƶcoursework.
• Lynn Stanberry, former owner of O’Malley’s Pub and Grill in Sylva. Stanberry earned her bachelor’s degree in economics in 1999 from Ģ������Ƶand is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. In 2019, Stanberry joined the inaugural Friends of Hunter Library Advisory Council and was elected president at the council’s first meeting. She and her husband, Ģ������Ƶalumnus and Stanberry Insurance co-owner Kevin Stanberry, received the Southern Conference’s Distinguished Service Award in 2011. She was instrumental in the creation of the Purple Zone, and the Stanberrys have made significant leadership-level commitments to the current “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign. Both are members of the campaign steering committee and active members of the Friends of the Arts.
• Mike Sullivan, CEO and president of Gargiulo Farms, exclusive provider of tomatoes to many restaurants and food service suppliers including Subway and US Foods. The company owns more than 160,000 acres of farmland in Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and California. A resident of Fort Myers, Florida, Sullivan was a certified public accountant for 10 years before joining Gargiulo as chief financial officer, becoming CEO in 2008. He is a member of the Florida Tomato Committee and previously served as treasurer for the Florida Tomato Exchange Board of Directors. Sullivan and wife Marsha are members of the “Fill the Western Sky” campaign steering committee. They are major supporters of Catamount athletics and have committed to a leadership-level gift to athletics facilities renovations.

In addition to approval of new members, the board reappointed three members to second three-year terms. They are:

• Asheville resident Mike Crawford, a 1987 graduate of Ģ������Ƶwith a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance who is a recently retired chief performance officer for a national accounting firm; Sylva resident Connie Haire, retired vice president of student and institutional development at Southwestern Community College who earned her master’s degree in education at Ģ������Ƶin 1984; and Highlands resident Gayle Watkins, a former professor and associate dean at the U.S. Military Academy who co-chairs WCU’s Brinson Honors College Advisory Board.

The board also set membership on its executive committee, reappointing Crawford to a second term as Foundation Board chair.

• Hoyt Almond, a 1969 graduate of Ģ������Ƶwith a bachelor’s degree in business administration, was reappointed vice chair of the board and to a second term as chair of its finance and audit committee. A resident of Asheville, Almond is a former banking executive and is owner of a brand consulting company.

Serving a second term as second vice chair is Steve Hodge, a 1976 graduate of WCU with a bachelor's degree in finance. An Asheville resident and banking executive, Hodge was also reappointed to chair the board’s advancement committee.

• Huntersville resident Ed Holland, a 1975 graduate of Ģ������Ƶwith a bachelor's degree in finance who is a retired banking executive and former church administrator, was named to a second term as chair of the board development committee.

In other action during the board’s spring meeting, Ben Pendry, vice chancellor for advancement, announced four outgoing term-limited members as recipients of Ģ������ƵFoundation Board medallions in recognition of their contributions to the Foundation and the university. Recipients are:

• Doug Bailey, a 1993 graduate of Ģ������Ƶwith a bachelor’s degree in political science. A member of the steering committee for the “Fill the Western Sky” fundraising campaign, Bailey is vice president for governmental affairs for Green Thumb Industries.
• Larry Naylor, a 1986 graduate of Ģ������Ƶwith a bachelor’s degree in radio and television. A resident of Manassas, Virginia, Naylor served in the military for 20 years with an assignment to the U.S. Department of State, and he currently is a corporate leadership trainer.
• Robin Pate, a 1997 graduate of Ģ������Ƶwith a bachelor’s degree in marketing. A resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, Pate is vice president of marketing at Dave Cantin Group based in in New York and formerly served as chair of WCU’s Alumni Association Board of Directors.
• Brandon Robinson, a Durham attorney. Former chair of the board’s support organization oversight committee, Robinson earned his bachelor’s degree in 2005 and his master’s degree in 2010, both in history from WCU.

The role of the Ģ������ƵFoundation is to promote higher education and support the enhancement of the university. The Foundation’s goal is to aid and assist Ģ������Ƶin its mission of serving as a leading educational institution through the wise investment and stewardship of philanthropy.

The Foundation has become an increasingly important body as higher education seeks greater support through private giving and as Ģ������Ƶmoves forward with its current comprehensive fundraising campaign titled “Fill the Westen Sky.” The campaign, which kicked off its public phase earlier this year, has a goal of raising a minimum of $100 million in philanthropic support for WCU’s academic, student engagement and athletics programs.

“This group of dedicated volunteers has played a vital role in building the foundation – no pun intended – for the ‘Fill the Western Sky’ fundraising campaign,” Pendry said during the presentation of medallions. “We look forward to their continuing advocacy on behalf of the campaign now that it has entered the public phase. We cannot do the important work of increasing philanthropic support of this university without the help of the hardworking members of the university’s many boards.”

For more information about the “Fill the Western Sky” campaign or to make a contribution, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.