WVU FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Acting Associate Vice President, University Development
Job Titles:
- ASSISTANT DIRECTOR of DEVELOPMENT, CFR
Job Titles:
- President and CEO of Hamilton Insurance
Alan J. Zuccari is president and CEO of Hamilton Insurance, a nationally independent insurance brokerage company ranked in the top 50 nationally and top ten regionally. Prior to his acquisition of Hamilton Insurance 1982, he worked for the Royal Insurance Co. In addition, he has served on numerous committees for the American Health Care Association and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and has been a longtime advocate for the long-term healthcare industry. Zuccari is a 1973 graduate of WVU with a degree in political science. He currently resides in McLean, Virginia.
Alexis Pugh of Winter Park, Florida, graduated from WVU in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She is currently retired as owner of Lakeshore Advertising Consultants. She also has worked with agencies in Atlanta, Washington and Orlando. Pugh has more than 40 years of experience in advertising and public relations. She is active in community service and serves on a number of boards and committees, including the WVU Reed College of Media's Visiting and Campaign Committees.
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Giving
Job Titles:
- Director of Planned Giving
Bradford "Brad" Ritchie of Charleston, WV is Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking and Chief Lending Officer at Burke & Herbert Bank. He is a 1990 graduate of WVU's Chambers College of Business and Economics with a degree in accounting. Mr. Ritchie is as Board Member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh where he has served as Chair of the Board, Chair of the Governance Committee and Chair of the Audits Committee. His is a past Board of Trustee of the University of Charleston where he served as Chair of the Vitality Committee (finance and enrollment), a Past President of the West Virginia Society of CPA's, and a currently serves as Chair of the West Virginia Chapter of the Young Presidents Gold organization.
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Giving
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Planned Giving
Christy Davis earned her bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from WVU in 2007. She serves as the president of Hundred Resources Inc. in Fairmont, WV. Christy has dedicated nearly 25 years to the company. Her proficiency spans production and distribution, leasing, contracts, land management, finance, accounting, mergers and acquisitions, and state laws related to oil and natural gas. In 2022, she played a pivotal role in passing legislation that protects the rights of oil and gas mineral owners in West Virginia. She is deeply committed to charitable and volunteer efforts along with continuing and expanding upon her family's tradition of supporting WVU and state-wide initiatives.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate Vice President of University Development & Campaign Management
Cynthia L. "Cindi" Roth began work as President and CEO of the WVU Foundation January 1, 2014, after spending eight years at the University of Pittsburgh, serving as associate vice chancellor of institutional advancement. Prior to her role at Pitt, Roth served from 2002-2005 as executive director of Family House, Inc., in Pittsburgh. Before that, she served as vice president of patient care services at several hospitals across western Pennsylvania including West Penn Allegheny Health System/Forbes Regional Hospital, South Hills Health System and Sharon Regional Health System. Roth earned her master of public management degree from the Heinz School of Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University and her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dave Gruver earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from North Carolina Wesleyan University in 1987. Dave has enjoyed a distinguished career of over 30 years in the consumer products industry. Notably, he has worked with Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics and Deckers Brands, where he contributed significantly to the UGG brand over the past 15 years. Currently, Dave serves as the Director of Sales for UGG in North America. While based in New York City, he splits his time between NYC and West Virginia. Dave is an active supporter of the WVU Fashion, Design and Merchandising program, as well as helping develop internship opportunities for numerous WVU students over the last decade at UGG and other fashion brands.
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Giving, Texas & Midwest
Job Titles:
- Planned Giving Estate Administrator
Jo Ann Shaw, MD, of Summerfield, North Carolina, is a retired pathologist originally from Wheeling, West Virginia. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from West Liberty State College and her Doctor of Medicine degree from West Virginia University ‘86. She did her pathology training at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston, N.C., and did a cytopathology fellowship at the University of North Carolina Hospitals at Chapel Hill, N.C. She was fortunate to join Greensboro Pathology Associates, LLC and Aurora Diagnostics, LLC, where she worked with her clinical colleagues to develop the breast cancer and lung cancer clinical programs at the Cone Health System Regional Cancer Center and automated the cytopathology lab. In her spare time, she enjoys being a Master Gardener, traveling and fly fishing.
Job Titles:
- Director of Development, Foundation Relations
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Managing Partner for How Women Invest LLC
Erica Cramer is a co-founder and managing partner for How Women Invest LLC, a gender lens venture firm investing in tech-enabled startups. She is a 25-year veteran investment banker in the financial services industry having focused on mergers and acquisitions within the asset management, wealth advisory and fintech solution sectors. Over the course of her career, she advised public and private financial services firms on over 52 transactions representing over $240 billion in assets under management in consolidations. Erika earned an MBA in Finance at Pace University and a bachelor's degree in Finance from WVU.
Job Titles:
- Director of Internal Audit
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Giving
George S. Weaver III of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture/resource management from WVU, graduating magna cum laude in 1979. He is chairman of the board of Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc. Weaver currently serves on the visiting committee for the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Annual Giving
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of INSTITUTIONAL GIVING ( DELAWARE, DC METRO, MARYLAND & NORTHERN VA )
Job Titles:
- Director of Development, Corporate Relations
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Planned Giving
Jane M. McNeer is currently working as a fundraising consultant. Late in 2010, McNeer stepped down as vice president of the Medical Foundation of North Carolina, Inc. and assistant dean for Advancement of the University of North Carolina's School of Medicine. McNeer has more than 31 years of experience in higher education public relations and fundraising, including service at Duke University Medical Center, Roanoke College and Virginia Tech. McNeer earned her bachelor's degree from the WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism in 1975 and is the third generation in her family to matriculate to WVU. McNeer served on the Advisory Committee for the WVU Reed College of Media for 13 years. She currently volunteers for North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and serves on the SECU Family House (benefitting UNC Health) Development and Planned Giving Committees.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive Director of Principal Gifts
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Institutional Giving
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Leadership Annual Giving
Job Titles:
- Director of Board Relations
Job Titles:
- Director of CFR Operations and Support
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive Director of Principal Gifts
Kevin J. Given earned his bachelor's degree in hotel management from Concord University. With more than 30 years of experience in premier resort management, he is currently chief operating officer and general manager of the Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach.
Kim Craig of Morgantown, WV, graduated from WVU in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting and holds numerous profession designations including being a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA). He is the Retired Former President and CEO, FNB Wealth Management Group in Pittsburgh, Pa which maintains assets of approximately $13B and serves clients in six states. Craig also serves on the Board of Directors of the 1889 Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies, is a member of the Visiting Committee for the Chambers College of Business and Economics and serves as an instructor for the PA Bankers Association, Banking and Advanced Banking Schools.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Annual Giving
Job Titles:
- Annual Giving Operations Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Giving, Florida
Michael "Mike" John of Charleston, WV founded Northeast Natural Energy in 2009 and continues to serve as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. John previously served as Vice President of Operations of the Eastern Division for Chesapeake Energy from 2005-2009. Prior to joining Chesapeake Energy, Mr. John held various senior executive roles at Triana Energy/Columbia Natural Resources, where he also served on the company's Board of Directors until Columbia Natural Resources was sold to Chesapeake in 2005. During this time with Chesapeake, Mr. John was instrumental in the drilling, completion, and operation of Chesapeake's initial 100 horizontal Marcellus wells in Appalachia. Mr. John is a West Virginia native and a 1981 graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in petroleum engineering. He served on the Board of Directors for the WVU Alumni Association.
Michael "Mike" T. Escue of New York, NY, earned two degrees from WVU, his bachelor's in business administration in 1992 and his Juris Doctorate from the College of Law in 1998. Michael is a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell's Financial Services Group where his practice focuses primarily in the areas of banking regulation and supervision. Escue advises numerous U.S. and non-U.S. banks and other financial institutions regarding U.S. banking laws and regulations. He has been with the firm since 1998.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive Associate of Development
Natalie Ferrise Bush of McLean, Virginia, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing and Master of Science in nursing from the WVU School of Nursing. Her working career focused on adolescent mental health issues and women's health. Currently, she serves on several boards. She is the chair of the WVU School of Nursing Advisory Board and the co-chair of the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing Advisory Board. Natalie is also a member of the Inova Health Foundation Board and a trustee of The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. Natalie volunteers at Arlington Free Clinic as a registered nurse.
Job Titles:
- Director of Annual Giving
Roderick "Rod" C. Young of Richmond, Virginia, serves as a United States District Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond and Norfolk Divisions. Judge Young received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from George Mason University. Hereafter, Judge Young obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the West Virginia University College of Law. He worked as an assistant public defender in Portsmouth, Virginia, and as an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Richmond, Virginia. Judge Young also worked as a special assistant United States attorney, in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia. In that role he prosecuted cases in that office's Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit. From 2002 until October 2014, he worked as an assistant United States attorney in the United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. During that time, he prosecuted a number of cases involving international narcotics organizations, racketeering crime, bank robbery, tax fraud, money laundering and other violations of federal law. From February 2012 until October 2014, Judge Young served as the deputy criminal supervisor in the United States Attorney's Office, Richmond Division. From October 2014 until September 2020, Judge Young served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. On September 29, 2020, Judge Young received his judicial commission and began service as a United States District Judge.
Spencer Cavalier, of Laurel, Maryland, is co-head of the Downstream Energy & Convenience Retail Group for Matrix Capital Markets Group. Since he joined the company in 1998, he has advised many of the leading companies in the downstream energy industry. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and an Accredited Senior Appraiser who holds several securities licenses and belongs to many industry organizations related to his work. Cavalier previously worked as a senior business valuation consultant with Ellin & Tucker, Chartered, and a commercial lender with NationsBank (now Bank of America). He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from WVU in 1991 and also has an Master of Business Administration degree from Baylor University.
Susan Brewer of Morgantown, West Virginia, is an attorney with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. She has been with the firm for 42 years and served as its CEO/managing partner from 2009 to 2020. She focuses her practice on litigation, with a particular concentration on professional liability. She has tried more than 100 jury and non-jury cases in state and federal courts and has been involved in appellate proceedings before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals. Brewer received her legal education at George Mason University School of Law and her undergraduate education at Duke University. She is also a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers having served as West Virginia state chair and as a member of the Board of Regents. She has been recognized in Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business and The Best Lawyers in America. She also chairs the West Virginia Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission, having been appointed over the years by numerous governors.
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Giving
Job Titles:
- Founder of TLC Adcentives, LLC
Terri L. C. Hornsby is the founder of TLC Adcentives, LLC, a full-service promotional branding company repeatedly honored for its keen understanding of branding, customer service and commitment to excellence since 1995. A West Virginia native, Hornsby became a Mountaineer for life after participating in an introductory engineering program held at West Virginia University while she was in high school. After earning her bachelor's degree in broadcast news, Hornsby worked for West Virginia Public Radio and WVU's marketing and recruiting team before moving to Washington, D.C., and later settling in Houston. Also a graduate of the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, Hornsby is a lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the National Association of Women Business Owners. She has received individual honors for her work and serves on numerous boards focused on women and business.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate Vice President of Leadership Philanthropy
Travis Rosiek of Leesburg, Virginia, is a highly accomplished cybersecurity executive with over 20 years of experience, having built and grown cybersecurity companies as well as led large cybersecurity programs in the U.S. Department of Defense. He graduated from West Virginia University with honors while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering with focus on information assurance and biometrics. WVU being one of the select few universities designated by the National Security Agency as a Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance enabled Travis to be eligible and earn one of the first scholarships to recruit young talent to the DoD. His pioneering mindset has helped him secure our nation and commercial critical infrastructure. Travis' experience spans driving innovation as a cybersecurity leader for organizations and chief information security officer, as well as corporate executive building products and services. As a cyber leader in the DoD, he was awarded the DoD Chief Information Officer's Individual Award for Defending the DoD's Networks. Travis currently serves as the chief technology officer for the public sector at Rubrik and has held other senior roles to include: chief technology and strategy officer at BluVector, CTO at Tychon, CTO for Federal at FireEye, a principal consultant at Intel Security/McAfee, and leader at the Defense Information Systems Agency. He is an invited speaker, author (blogs, journals, books) and has also served on the NSTAC, ICIT Fellow, and multiple advisory boards.
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
- Senior Vice President
William "Bill" Sheedy, of San Mateo, California, has been with Visa since 1993, holding many roles to help shape one of the world's largest companies and the largest global payment network. Prior to his current role as senior advisor to Visa's CEO and chair, Sheedy was CEO of Visa's European region. Previously, as Americas group president, he oversaw Visa's business in North America and Latin America, across nearly 50 countries. Further, beginning in 2007, he played a central role in Visa's corporate restructuring that merged seven different Visa organizations into a single global company (Visa, Inc.), culminating in what was, in 2008, the largest initial public offering in U.S. history. Sheedy earned his bachelor's degree in finance from WVU's College of Business and Economics in 1988.