MONTREAT COLLEGE - Key Persons
Ambassador Philip S. Kosnett retired from the U.S. Department of State in 2021 following a career representing the United States in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In senior assignments including Ambassador to Kosovo and acting/deputy ambassador in Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Iceland, he developed a record of success as a strategist, negotiator, and leader. Since leaving federal service, he has taken on roles in consulting, policy analysis, higher education, and humanitarian crisis response. He has also recently re-embraced his first career, from his student days, as a board game designer.
Phil and his wife Alison, a development expert with extensive international experience, are also involved in the humanitarian effort to evacuate and resettle endangered Afghans. The Kosnetts have an adult son and daughter and share their Black Mountain home with rescue dogs from Kosovo and Uzbekistan.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Advancement
Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, Brian Guengerich graduated from Asheville Christian Academy and received a bachelor's degree in human services from Montreat College in 2006. His college internship at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Buncombe County launched his nonprofit career. He started as a unit director and ultimately worked his way up to become the CEO of the same local Boys and Girls Club. In his 5 years as a CEO, he grew the board from 0 to 20 members, doubled their budget, and doubled overall membership to the club. After nine years at the local organization, Brian went on to work for the National Boys and Girls Club office as a director of organizational development. With a portfolio of 28 organizations across the Southeast and Southwest, Brian helped other Boys and Girls Clubs create strategic plans, grow their boards, and solidify fundraising strategies. After two years in this role, Brian accepted a job at Montreat College as the senior associate of major gifts. While in this position, he helped build a major gift shop and has recently moved into his current role as the capital campaign director.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Dean of Students
- Vice President for Student Services
Daniel Bennett is Montreat College's vice president for student services and dean of students, a position he has held since 2014. From 2006 to 2014, Dr. Bennett guided many student life teams and co-curricular programming initiatives at Montreat College, including student activities, residence life, chapel and convocation, student services, student conduct, and student government. Prior to arriving at Montreat, he served for three years in career services at Wheaton College, where he focused on developing synergetic partnerships along with transition programming for seniors and young alumni. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science at Biola University, master's degrees in educational ministries and theology from Wheaton College, and his Ph.D. in educational leadership from Clemson University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Executive Vice President of the Billy Graham Archives & Research Center
Dr. David Bruce is the Executive Vice President of the Billy Graham Archives & Research Center and the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. Additionally, he serves as president of Blue Ridge Broadcasting of Asheville, North Carolina and is a member of the Boards of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. David currently resides in Black Mountain, North Carolina with his wife Kerri, and they are members of Lake Hills Church in Candler, North Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Adult and Graduate Studies
Dr. David Poole brings more than 38 years of experience in higher education and business. Throughout his career, he served as an executive leader and faculty member, providing oversight for a variety of areas including enrollment management, academic affairs, information technology, marketing, advancement, and institutional operations. He most recently served as President of the University of Mount Olive (UMO) in North Carolina. Before his appointment at UMO, Dr. Poole served as Vice President for Online and Professional Studies and Associate Professor of Leadership and Management at California Baptist University and was responsible for university-wide information technology services and all academic and administrative management of online, hybrid and education center programs for this nationally ranked division within the University that served 4,000 students in 37 states. Under his leadership, CBU increased adult enrollment from 589 students to 2,370 students - 24% of the total university enrollment - in seven years. He received both his Master of Science in Administration and Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Pepperdine University. He completed his Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at California State University Fullerton and is a graduate of the Harvard Institute for Educational Management.
Dixon Cunningham is the Emeritus Professor of Finance at Furman University. In the past, he served on the boards of Neighborhood Focus and Erskine College, and he currently serves on the boards of Miracle Hills Ministries; Palmetto Farms, Inc.; First Presbyterian Church Foundation; Palmetto Farms Foundation; and First Presbyterian Academy, Inc. Dixon earned his doctorate at the University of Virginia and lives with his wife, Eudora, in Greenville, S.C. His hobbies include farming, yard work, walking, reading, and investing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- NC ( Chair )
- President and CEO of the Mountain Area Health Education Center
Dr. Jeffery E. Heck is the president and CEO of the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, North Carolina. Dr. Heck is a professor of family medicine with UNC-Chapel Hill and associate dean for the Asheville campus of the UNC School of Medicine, which he founded in 2008. He currently serves on five regional or national boards. Dr. Heck and his wife, Cathy, have five children and 10 grandchildren. He serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Montreat College.
Jeff Sich is associate professor emeritus of microbiology, immunology, and tropical medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He served as a faculty member or in administrative positions at several institutions of higher education and as chair of the undergraduate microbiology committee on the Board of Education and Training at the American Society for Microbiology. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in microbiology and molecular biology from the University of Cincinnati. He lives in Davidson, N.C., and has served the Evangelical Presbyterian Church as a ruling elder, college ministry committee member, choir member, and Sunday school teacher.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Mark Hijleh is Montreat's Vice President for Academic Affairs, a role he has held since July 2021. In this role, Dr. Hijleh acts as the chief academic officer for the School of Arts and Sciences, overseeing the execution of academic policy and curriculum, program development, accreditation matters, and faculty hiring and development. Prior to coming to Montreat College, Dr. Hijleh served as Provost at The King's College in New York City. His depth of experience also includes serving at The King's College as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty and on the President's Cabinet and President's Council. Under Dr. Hijleh's direction, The King's College's retention rate rose from 62 percent to 79 percent, and up to 90 percent of students are able to complete at least one internship during their time. Furthermore, online summer revenue doubled during his time at the college. Dr. Hijleh previously served for 21 years at Houghton College where he first served as chair for the Integrative Studies Collegium, which became the campus-wide unit overseeing all of general education, from 2009-2011. Later, he served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and was able to develop a new Lilly grant-funded faculty peer mentoring program, as well as initiate a new career exploration and support program for students. Dr. Hijleh holds degrees from the University of Sheffield in the UK, Johns Hopkins University, Ithaca College, and William Jewell College. Dr. Hijleh and his wife Kelley have two children.
Job Titles:
- Senior Pastor of Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Mark Toone serves as the senior pastor of Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church (EPC) in Gig Harbor, Washington. Dr. Toone is a leader within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) and served for 23 years as a trustee at Whitworth University, a fellow institution in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Mark is deeply committed to Christ-centered education and its strategic role for the Church. He has been married to his wife, Cyndi for 33 years. They have two adult children, including their daughter, Rev. Rachel Toone, who serves as Montreat College's Dean of Spiritual Formation.
Job Titles:
- Head of School at Asheville Christian Academy
Bill George has served as head of school at Asheville Christian Academy since 1992. A native of Ohio, Dr. George received his BA in history from Cleveland State University, his MA in educational leadership from The Ohio State University, and his Ed.D. from the Graduate Theological Foundation. Bill and his wife, Lynn, live in Asheville, N.C. They have six children and twelve grandchildren. When he isn't busy working as an educator, he is a volunteer guardian ad litem. He likes to hike, backpack, garden, research, and spend quality time with his family.
Pastor George K. Logan is a pastor at New Day Christian Church in Morganton, NC. He serves on the board of the Strategic Alliance for Burke Youth and is a hospice, youth coach, and school volunteer. His other interests include swimming, biking, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Finance
- Vice President for Finance and Administration
John Beaghan is Montreat College's Vice President for Finance and Administration, serving as the college's Chief Financial Officer beginning in April 2022. He is an accomplished CFO with nearly four decades of experience in higher education. Prior to arriving at Montreat, John served 16 years at Oakland University as the Vice President for Finance and Administration, where he managed all aspects of the accounting and financial reporting functions, facilities, public safety, and human resources. He earned his B.A. in Business Administration from The University of Michigan, Dearborn, graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Master of Business Administration, and is a Certified Management Accountant.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Enrollment Management
- Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics
Jose Larios is Montreat College's Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics, a position he has held since 2020. His career includes more than 22 years of coaching, recruiting, and administrative experience at three different CCCU institutions. He served as both a head cross country and track and field coach (2007-2010) and athletics director (2014-2020) at Montreat College. Under his leadership, the athletics department achieved remarkable improvements in academic and athletic success, recruiting and retention, as well as the most student-athlete participation in the history of the college. He also led the construction of the Athletic Complex and Pulliam Stadium, the renovation of the McAlister Fitness Center, and the Newell Baseball Field turf project. He was named Appalachian Athletic Conference Athletics Director of the Year for 2018-19. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and secondary education from Warner University. He serves the Black Mountain and Montreat communities alongside his wife, Heather, and their four children: Hanna, Emma, Sara, and Gabriel.
Le Erwin is the former president of Morris Investment Company and is the retired owner of a boutique in Morganton, N.C., after thirty years in retail and forty years in real estate. She graduated from Salem College and worked at Montreat College from 1974 to 1976. She and her husband, Clark, live in Morganton, close to their four grown children and grandchildren; and they attend Faith Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Bill Shipley is a former businessman who was involved with the founding of several companies such as Shipley Enterprises, Inc., Incon-Therapy, American Direct Response Corporation, Cordura Marketing Inc., National Liberty Marketing, and Baker, Rakich, Shipley and Politzer, Inc. He also served as the president for many of these companies. Mr. Shipley began his career in 1954 and rose from salesman to become the youngest national sales/marketing manager in Procter & Gamble's history. He has served on boards of various organizations which include Fuller Theological Seminary, Youth for Christ USA, Montreat-Anderson College, Stony Brook School, and the Board of Visitors at Davidson College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. Mr. Shipley and his late wife Peggy were married for 61 years and together had four children. He now also has eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and currently lives in Charlotte where he is a Ruling Elder at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner of CICIV Holdings
Carl Carlson serves as a managing partner of CICIV Holdings, LLC. Residing on the board of Piedmont Financial Trust Company, Richardson Corporation, and the Charleston School of Law Foundation, Carl also serves on the audit committee for three additional companies: Piedmont Associates, Piedmont Southeastern, and Piedmont Harbor. In addition, he is licensed to practice law after having graduated with his doctorate, magma cum laude, from the Charleston School of Law. Carl's interests include traveling, collecting, historic preservation, golden retrievers, southern antiques, and boating.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of J.a. Jones Construction Company
Charlie Davidson has served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of J.A. Jones Construction Company in Charlotte, NC. He also served as an office engineer at the Charles H. Tompkins Company in Washington, D.C., the vice president and manager at Metric Constructors in Charlotte, and the president at Tiber Construction Company, Fairfax, Virginia. In addition, Davidson has served on several boards and is formerly a member of the Construction Industry Roundtable. Currently, Charlie Davidson and his wife, Joanne, reside in Charlotte. They have three grown children.
Job Titles:
- Consultant With USI Insurance Services
David Simas has been an employee benefit consultant with USI Insurance Services since 2003. He and his team assist Montreat College with its employee benefits program. Prior to USI, He worked for Marsh USA and CIGNA Healthcare. David and his wife, Caroline, have four children and reside in Charlotte, NC.
Doug Hillman's career was in the Aerospace and Industrial Motion Control industries as a manufacturing business leader. He was the VP / GM of Kearfott Motion Systems in Black Mountain before moving to Florida to become the CEO of Aerosonic Corporation. Doug served on the Pinellas County Economic Development Advisory Board and the Dean's Advisory Council for the University at Buffalo School of Engineering. He is now CEO of WindRose Ventures and is developing a new Vistage practice in the Asheville area. Doug and his wife Andrea are happy to be back in the mountains, closer to family, friends, and scenic golf. They are members of Sulphur Springs Freewill Baptist Church in Waynesville.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Edward Graham graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served 16 years in the U.S. Army. While in service he spent time overseas in combat deployment with special operations and held various leadership positions. After experiencing a call to return home in the winter of 2019, Edward began working for Samaritan's Purse, where he serves as the Vice President of Operations. Graham is the son of Franklin and Jane Graham and the grandson of Billy Graham. He and his family reside in the mountains of North Carolina.
Skip Allcorn is the retired president and present co-owner of Coastal Construction Products and the former vice president of the Barnett Winston Company. After graduating from UGA, he went into the Navy, served a missile officer on a destroyer in Norfolk, and became an executive officer and navigator on an ocean-going salvage ship in Pearl Harbor. He has also served as president of San Marco Preservation Society, president of Sealant Engineering and Associated Lines, chairman of Jacksonville Young Life, chairman and co-founder of Echo-Cuba, chairman of Elevate Jacksonville, and a member on many other boards. Skip enjoys competitive sailing, hiking, serving as an elder at Westside Chapel, his grandchildren, and spending time in the North Carolina mountains. He and his wife, Peggy, live in Jacksonville, F.L.
Glenn Wilcox, Sr., is president and chairman of the commercial real estate company Tower Associates, chairman of Wilcox Travel Agency, and co-owner of the Blue Ridge Printing Company. He resides in Asheville and is a member and life deacon at Asheville's First Baptist Church. He is the former chair of the Board of Trustees for Appalachian State University and has served on many other boards, including Gerald Mann Ministries, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Foundation, Meredith College, Mars Hill College, Wingate College, and Western Carolina University Foundation. He enjoys golf and travel, and he has five children, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Lead Counsel to Nuveen 's Energy & Infrastructure Group
Parrish McCormack serves as lead counsel to Nuveen's Energy & Infrastructure Group. He is Vice President, Associate General Counsel - Asset Management Law at Nuveen, a subsidiary of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA). He earned his Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and his undergraduate degree cum laude from Duke University. Parrish served as a member of the board of advisors of the Duke Law Global Financial Markets Center for several years and is a former director of the Charlotte Chapter of American Corporate Counsel. An Eagle Scout and a classically trained singer and pianist, Parrish has served for many years on the boards of non-profit classical music organizations and other charitable organizations. He currently resides in Charlotte, NC.
Javier Garcia is an alumnus of Montreat's MBA program. He has over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, customer support and global business. He has worked for Eaton Corporation for over 22 years and currently serves as the manager of the project management organization. Prior to Eaton, he worked for IBM and the Coca-Cola Company. Javier serves as the United Way Chairperson at Eaton and as founding officer and Vice Preesident of Prospanica North Carolina. He and his wife, Maria, have been married for over 28 years; they have a daughter; and they attend St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Arden, N.C.
Job Titles:
- Senior Project Engineer With Civil Design Concepts
Jesse Gardner is a senior project engineer with Civil Design Concepts. After completing his bachelor's in mathematics from Montreat College, he earned his master's in engineering at North Carolina State University. He is skilled in road design, utility infrastructure design, grading, storm water management, flood modeling/permitting, and water and sewer pumping stations. Jesse and his wife, Jessica, live in Black Mountain, N.C.
Jim Moore was a turnaround executive in the soft drink bottling business. Throughout his time as president and COO, spanning from 1987 to his retirement in 2000, Moore led a remarkable resurrection of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (CCBCC). He brings seasoned executive leadership experience, particularly as a turnaround CEO/COO, as well as a strong expertise in finance and an analytical mind regarding risk management and strategic planning. Moore has also served on the Museum of the Bible Board and adds to the growing number of strong trustees in the Charlotte metro area, where he retired with his wife, Sue.
Job Titles:
- Chairman and CEO of the Budd Group
Joe Budd is the Chairman and CEO of the Budd Group, a company that provides janitorial, maintenance, and landscaping to a range of industries across the Southeast and Mid Atlantic. Joe is one of the three trustees overseeing the Glade Valley Scholarship at Montreat College. He attends First Presbyterian Church in Winston Salem and serves on the boards of Corporate Aircraft Association, Piedmont Triad Partnership, Whitaker Park Development Authority, and the advisory board of The Cannon Foundation. Joe served as a Montreat College trustee from 1999-2009, 2010-2013.
Joshua Boos is an entrepreneur based in Dallas, Texas. He is the founding partner of Steel Stone Holdings, an e-commerce and logistics company. Joshua earned his bachelor's in business administration from Sterling College, where he was awarded the Young Alumni Award in 2015. He is involved in student ministries at his home church in Plano, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Givens Highland Farms
Ken Kramer is the executive director of Givens Highland Farms in Black Mountain, N.C. He has served as executive director since 2015 and has over 25 years of experience working in the retirement community industry. He also serves on the board of the YMCA and as a coach for the NC Leading Age Leadership Academy. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Old Fort, N.C., and have six children. They attend St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Swannanoa, N.C.
Job Titles:
- Director of Sales for North American for the Pressure Management
Mark Jordan is the Director of Sales for North American for the Pressure Management group. Previously, Mark also served both as the President of the ABYSA soccer association board, and as a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Buncombe County for two years. He is currently the President of the Homeowners Association of Sovereign Oaks. Mark and his wife, Cheryl, live in Asheville, N.C., where they are involved with their church, the Basilica of St. Lawrence. He also enjoys fly fishing, woodworking, and photography.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Founder and Former President of BrickStreet Management
Matthew Burril is the founder and former President of BrickStreet Management and has over three decades of experience in managing assets for others. Matthew serves as chairman of the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority and is a board member of the Economic Development Coalition of Buncombe County. In his free time, Matthew enjoys playing brass instruments in his church orchestra, flying airplanes, volunteering with nonprofits, and watching NASCAR. Matthew and his wife Barbara are both graduates of the University of Georgia and currently reside in Asheville, NC.
Mike Collie established Collie Financial Planning, Inc., located in Asheville and Black Mountain, N.C., in 2005. He is passionate about combining competent and diligent investment management with purposeful life planning, giving families a path to achieving their goals and financial freedom. Mike and his wife, Randi, live in Montreat and are the proud parents of three young men. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends and being outdoors. He and Randi attend Christ Community Church (EPC) in Montreat.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Principal of Ned J. Kiser Consulting, Inc
Mr. Ned Kiser is principal of Ned J. Kiser Consulting, Inc., through which he is coordinating Montreat College's facilities master planning process. He previously served as vice president for advancement at Huntington University in Indiana, where he led the University's first major capital campaign-achieving commitments of more than $50 million. Mr. Kiser worked for 21 years in the electronics industry as an engineer and in various management roles. He and his wife, Robin, live in Lake Lure, N.C.
Mr. Richard B. "Beau" Moffatt III '02 is a web design and digital marketing consultant for Open Sky Web Studio and co-owner of Daisy Moffatt Photography. He and his family reside in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and are members at Calvary Chapel, Chattanooga. His other interests include distance running and stand up paddle-boarding. Mr. Moffatt is the Secretary of the Board of Trustees and also serves on the college's Foundation Board.
Richard Milam had a varied career, ranging from working with classified material in the Navy, to working for the inventor of the ATM as an implementer of ATM networks around the world. Over time, Richard's specialty became Artificial Intelligence in the banking sector, helping to improve automation efficiency. Richard served as founder and CEO of EnableSoft, an Inc. 5000 company and developer of Robotic Process Automation "robot" software known as Foxtrot. Over 500 organizations use Foxtrot by EnableSoft technology to automate tasks inside of almost any software application. Milam and his wife, Katharine, share their time between Orlando, FL, and Burnsville, NC.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending at First National Bank of Pennsylvania
Robby Russell is a senior vice president of commercial lending at First National Bank of Pennsylvania in Biltmore Park, South Asheville. He serves on the boards of UNC-Asheville, the YMCA of Western North Carolina, and the Western Carolina Rescue Mission. He has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from UNC-Charlotte and a CFP from Queens University. He attends The Lord's Church of Asheville (non-denominational), and he enjoys gardening, reading, and golf. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Arden, N.C.
Job Titles:
- Chief Underwriting Officer
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Mr. Robert P. Klepper is the global chief underwriting officer for property, energy and construction risks at AXA XL Insurance, with his office based in New York City. Bob holds an engineering degree from Clemson University and resides in Fletcher, NC with his wife Lisa and their four children. He is a member of Central United Methodist Church in Asheville, where he and his family remain active in various global missions projects. His interests include fishing, skiing and adventure travel.
Job Titles:
- President Emeritus of Brown - Wynne Funeral Homes
Bob Wynne is president emeritus of Brown-Wynne Funeral Homes based out of Raleigh, N.C. He has served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Montreat College and as a member of the Board of Visitors. He is also a former member of the N.C. House of Representatives and N.C. Senate, a former chairman of the Board of Visitors and trustee of Peace College in Raleigh, former chairman of Enterprise Bank in Raleigh, and former president of Building Together Ministries and the Raleigh Jaycees. Bob is a graduate of Davidson College and lives in Montreat, N.C.
Job Titles:
- Retired President and CEO of the Covenant Ministries of Benevolence
Roger Oxendale is the recently retired president and CEO of the Covenant Ministries of Benevolence in Chicago, IL. He has also served as the founding president of Nemours Children's Hospital, senior vice president for Nemours Foundation, CEO of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, president of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, and senior consultant for strategic partnerships at MAHEC. Roger currently serves on the Covenant Trust Company board and as the chair of the Blood Science Foundation board, a research fund raising subsidiary of Vitalant. He has served on several other boards in the past. He and his wife, Diane, reside in Nebo, NC.
Job Titles:
- President and CEO of Capstone Health Alliance
Tim Bugg is the president and CEO of Capstone Health Alliance. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the supply chain field, with more than 25 years in healthcare. He graduated from Montreat College in 2007 and is a member of the Council of Supply Chain Executives, the HSCA Board of Directors, and the IDN Summit Advisory Board. Mr. Bugg also serves with the local chapter of the United Way, Vistage CEO Group, and is the founder and president of the girls' fastpitch organization, WNC Extreme. He and his wife, Linda, have two children and currently live in Fletcher, N.C., and attend Biltmore Church.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Tyler Johnson, a native of NC, works for Hendrick Motors in Charlotte, the largest privately held automotive retail organization in the United States. There, he serves as general manager of the Hendrick Mercedes-Benz dealership and has successfully led the turnaround of that dealership. He also has a keen interest in Christian education and Christian apologetics and lives in Charlotte with his wife Emily and their five children.
Bill Scheu is a commercial real estate lawyer at Rogers Towers, P. A. in Jacksonville, Fla. He has served on many governmental boards, task forces, and many non-profit boards. Bill was the chair of the Board of Trustees of Columbia Theological Seminary (2007-2014) and was elected interim president in 2014. He and his wife, Peggy, moved to Montreat in January 2018 after being Montreat cottagers for many years. They have previously served on the Board of Visitors at Montreat College.
Ann Ashley is the founder of Laurel Branch bringing perspective in learning and leadership for her clients. After a 35-year career with Biltmore in Asheville, NC, this semi-retired executive is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations achieve their potential with excellence and balance through coaching, consulting, speaking, and training. She serves on several not-for-profit boards and is the chairman of the board for the North Carolina Business Committee on Education. She enjoys entertaining and outdoor activities with her husband, Matt, and her family in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant for the Aceto Law Office
Fran Aceto is a legal assistant for the Aceto Law Office, her husband Steve's law firm. She has worked in Montreat College's Admissions Office and Alumni Office, and she has served on the college's Board of Trustees and the Alumni Leadership Council. Fran and her husband live in Montreat. She has served on the July 4th Montreat Parade Committee for more than 20 years and served on the board of the Buncombe County Schools Foundation. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Mrs. Suzanne Sloan resides in Montreat, North Carolina. She is a member of Christ Community Church (EPC) in Montreat and is a retired elder of the PCUSA church. She is also a past president of the Women of the Church (PCUSA) and served on the Missions Committee of the PCUSA. She serves on the board of directors for Bible Study Fellowship International. Her other interests include her two children and four grandchildren, bridge, walking, and the Montreat community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Ms. H. Claire Efird is the former owner of the Salt Shaker Bookstore & Café, a current resident of Wilmington, NC, and a homeowner in Montreat, NC. She is on the Missions Committee at Christ Community Church in Wilmington and volunteers at the Lifeline Pregnancy Center. Her other interests include reading, traveling, and Montreat. Ms. Efird also serves on the Montreat College's Foundation Board.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Ms. Katherine "Anne" Gant is a former administrator and instructor at Montreat College. Her mother, Rose Ann Gant, served on the Montreat College Board of Trustees for over a decade. Ms. Gant lives in Burlington, North Carolina, and also owns a home in Montreat. She attends Church of the Redeemer in Greensboro, and serves on the board of the Alamance County Historical Museum. Ms. Gant's other interests include crafting stained glass and wild flowering with her mother.
Ms. Lynne P. Veerman is a retired office manager and bookkeeper and manages their family trusts. She is a current resident of Orlando, Florida. She has been an elder and mentor for young moms at First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, and is currently a welcome team member. She is also a member of the Homeowners Association Board in both Florida and Colorado and a tutor at Legends Academy and Frontline Outreach in Orlando. She previously served on the Montreat College Board of Trustees from 1995-2005 and 2006-2015 before re-joining the board in 2016. Her interests include gardening, golf, hiking, and biking. Lynne and her husband, Ralph, have four children and 10 grandchildren, including one married granddaughter, who are located in Florida, Virginia and Washington. Mrs. Veerman is currently the vice chair of the Board of Trustees.
Paul J. Maurer became the eighth president of Montreat College in July 2014. He is a visionary and results-driven leader who believes deeply in the value of Christ-centered higher education. President Maurer has more than 30 years of leadership experience in nonprofit and higher education administration. Prior to Montreat College, Dr. Maurer served as president of Sterling College, a sister institution within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
Dr. Maurer's tenure at Montreat College has been marked by multiple years of record enrollment, a host of new academic programs, and dozens of physical campus upgrades. He led the college to clarify its identity as a Christ-centered institution, which resulted in a mission-centric culture focused on intellectual inquiry, spiritual formation, and preparation for calling and career. It also means the college intentionally teaches character and ethics in all degree programs.
Under Dr. Maurer's guidance, the college has recommitted to teaching the liberal arts competencies, believing that the development of character, reading, writing, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills are the core of a good education and what is most desired by employers. At the heart of the college's liberal arts commitment is a rapidly growing Great Books, Big Questions honors program that combines graduate-style seminar courses with any major.
President Maurer speaks on a wide range of topics including leadership, culture, parenting, and higher education. He travels frequently, speaking at leadership conferences, high school commencements, homeschool conventions, church retreats, chapel services, and other events in the Southeast and beyond. If you are interested in having Dr. Maurer speak at your event, contact Sara Baughman at sara.baughman@montreat.edu, or call 828.669.8012 x3778.
Paul J. Maurer brings a wealth of experience as the eighth president of Montreat College. As a visionary and results-driven Christian leader, he believes deeply in the value of Christ-centered higher education. Drawing from more than 25 years of leadership in nonprofit and higher education administration, Dr. Maurer has led efforts in governance, organizational development, marketing and communications, adult and graduate studies, and government relations.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Sara Baughman is Montreat College's Vice President for Marketing and Communications, a position that she has held since December 2020. Sara previously served as the College's Executive Director for Marketing and Communications from 2017-2020 directing communication, advertising, marketing and media relations needs across all campus departments. Sara earned her B.A. in Communications, Public Relations and Journalism from Dordt University in 2007. Prior to serving at Montreat, Sara worked as the Communications Coordinator for the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
John Beaghan | Vice President for Finance & Administration | john.beaghan@montreat.edu
Larry Harris is a CPA and CFP at Parsec Financial in Asheville, N.C. He serves as mayor for the Town of Black Mountain and on several nonprofit boards in Buncombe County, including The North Carolina Arboretum, CarePartners (HCA) (Board Chair), Mission Hospital (HCA), Mountaincare Inc., Buncombe County Audit Committee (Chair), and Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community (Treasurer). Larry is a native of Black Mountain, N.C., where he lives with his wife of over 41 years, Susan. Susan and Larry have two married sons, one of which is a Montreat College alumnus, and six grandsons.
Job Titles:
- Commissioner for the Town of Montreat
Tom Widmer is a commissioner for the Town of Montreat. He retired as director of development for The Outreach Foundation, a global Presbyterian mission ministry, and he now serves on the Board. He also spent many years in the health care industry. He is co-chair of the United Way Allocations Committee and formed the woodworking ministry for underprivileged youth, called Nehemiah's Workshop. He and his wife, Katie, live in Montreat and attend Christ Community Church (EPC).