Board of Trustees
Glenda Abbate
Mrs. Abbate and her husband Florio reside in Weston, Florida and Banner Elk, North Carolina. Glenda is originally from Texas and graduated from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, and did graduate studies at Hardin Simmons University, also in Abilene, and Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. She is a retired teacher, community volunteer and fundraiser for children’s charities.
Scott Barrett
Mr. Barrett is a former executive of JM Family Enterprises (a private distributor of Toyotas in the Southeast), Republic Industries, Blockbuster Entertainment and Accenture. Scott and his wife Kerry reside in Banner Elk, N.C. and Parkland, FL and have one son who currently serves in the U.S. Navy.
Thomas H. Brigham
Mr. Brigham is Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He and his wife Cecile reside in Birmingham, Alabama and Banner Elk, North Carolina. Mr. Brigham is the Founding Partner and Chairman of ARK Real Estate Strategies, LLC. Both Tommy and Cecile are Lees-McRae alumni.
Leslie John Broussard
Mr. Broussard is the owner of Banner Elk Café and other area restaurants. He and his wife Cindy reside in Banner Elk. He is an alumnus of Lees-McRae College, where he was Captain of the Soccer Team.
Al Dickens
Mr. Dickens is a professional engineer and real estate broker for Cottingham Chalk Company. He and his wife Dottie (Lees-McRae College alumna) reside in Charlotte and Banner Elk.
Parker Grubbs
Mr. Grubbs is Senior Vice President in the investment department of Center State Bank in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is an alumnus of Lees-McRae College and he and wife Katie reside in Winston Salem.
Dr. Edward E. Hood, Jr.
A nuclear engineer, Mr. Hood is retired executive of the General Electric Company. He and his wife Kay reside in North Palm Beach, Florida and Banner Elk.
Dr. Larry Hopkins
Dr. Hopkins is a surgeon who teaches at Bowman Gray Medical School. He is a former Bobcat football player and has served for many years on the Wake Forest University Board. Dr. Hopkins and his wife Beth reside in Winston-Salem.
Robert S. Jepson, Jr.
Mr. Jepson is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Jepson, Inc., a private investment company located in Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Jepson and his wife Alice reside in Savannah, Georgia and Cashiers, North Carolina.
Dan Joiner
Currently is the Vice President/Secretary of facilities operations for F & W Management Corporation in Roanoke, VA. He oversees 80 multi-family developments and 475,000 square footage of commercial office space with 350 employees. Dan and his wife Jennifer have one child, Nathaniel, a 2004 graduate of LMC.
Harvey Lowd
Mr. Lowd and his wife Jan are residents of High Point, North Carolina. He is the former President and CEO of Kao Specialties American (chemical supplies). He is currently a consultant with HLL Consulting.
Donna (Isley) Mason
Mrs. Mason is a 1978 graduate of Lees-McRae College. She and husband George reside in Lexington, Kentucky and Blowing Rock. They have a son, Griffin, who is in high school. She is employed as a sales/outreach manager in healthcare.
Dianne May
Mrs. May, originally from Detroit, Michigan, attended Wayne State University and Oakland University. Mrs. May and husband Dan live in Bonita Springs, Florida and Linville Ridge. The Daniel and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Lees-McRae is named in their honor.
J.T. Rieves
Mr. Rieves is the Regional Vice President of operations for the Mid-South Region of Home Depot. He and his wife Lisa reside in Mableton, Georgia.
Dr. Ed Shelton
Mr. Shelton is co-owner of Shelton Vineyards, Inc., and a partner in The Shelton Companies, a private investment company located in Dobson, North Carolina. He is an alumnus of Lees-McRae College. He and his wife Dotti reside in Dobson and Banner Elk.
Joe Stahl
Mr. Stahl is a retired Consulting Actuary, having served with New York Life, Alexander & Alexander, Towers Perrin and Aon Corporation. He resides in Bluffton, South Carolina and Banner Elk.
Paul Stephenson
A 1995 graduate of Lees-McRae College, Mr. Stephenson is Director of Dealer Operations for Cary Oil. He and his wife Kim reside in Cary, North Carolina.
Ken Sullivan
Capt. Sullivan served 28 years in the U.S. Navy. Prior to his military service, he was a 1959 LMC graduate and also attended High Point College, graduating in 1961 with a B.S. degree in Industrial Management. After his military service, Mr. Sullivan enjoyed a second career as Director of Operations for BJS International until his retirement. He lives in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife Ann.
W. McNair Tornow
Born and reared in Laurinburg, North Carolina, Mr. Tornow and his wife Debi now reside in Winston-Salem and have a retirement home on Beech Mountain. A graduate of Wake Forest University Law School, he commenced the practice of law circa in January 1972. The law firm of Tornow & Kangur, LLP with T. Thomas Kangur, Jr., Partner was established In June 1997.
Benton Trawick
Reverend Trawick graduated from Columbia Seminary and received his D.min. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is pastor of the North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church. Reverend Trawick and his wife Amy reside in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
Murray White, Jr.
Mr. White is an insurance executive and active leader in the Salem Presbyterian Council. He and his wife Carolyn reside in High Point, North Carolina.
Barbara Miller Whitton
A retired small business owner in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mrs. Whitton and husband Jim are residents of Banner Elk and Ft. Myers, Florida.
Deborah Williams
Mrs. Williams is the owner of Armscote Manor and Cobweb Designs in Warwickshire, England. A specialist in historic preservation and construction, Mrs. Williams resides with husband Roy in London, Monaco, and Savannah, Georgia.
Delbert L. Williamson
Mr. Williamson and his wife Barbara reside in Wellington, Florida and Banner Elk, North Carolina. He graduated from Finlay College with a BS in Electrical Engineering. In 1959, he joined the General Electric Company and held a variety of management positions for the several years. In 1998, he was appointed President of GE Power Systems Global Commercial Operations and held this position until retiring in 2004.