糖心Vlog

 糖心Vlog Stories      September 12, 2025

By Bill Studenc

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

New 糖心Vlog Foundation Board of Directors members, with initial three-year appointments effective July 1, are:

• Kyle Carter, former 糖心Vlog provost 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 糖心Vlog鈥檚 first provost from 2004 until 2010, guiding a redesign of the university鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog coursework.
• Lynn Stanberry, former owner of O鈥橫alley鈥檚 Pub and Grill in Sylva. Stanberry earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics in 1999 from 糖心Vlog and 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鈥檚 first meeting. She and her husband, 糖心Vlog alumnus and Stanberry Insurance co-owner Kevin Stanberry, received the Southern Conference鈥檚 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 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� 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 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� 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 糖心Vlog with a bachelor鈥檚 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鈥檚 degree in education at 糖心Vlog in 1984; and Highlands resident Gayle Watkins, a former professor and associate dean at the U.S. Military Academy who co-chairs 糖心Vlog鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog with a bachelor鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog with a bachelor's degree in finance. An Asheville resident and banking executive, Hodge was also reappointed to chair the board鈥檚 advancement committee.

• Huntersville resident Ed Holland, a 1975 graduate of 糖心Vlog with 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鈥檚 spring meeting, Ben Pendry, vice chancellor for advancement, announced four outgoing term-limited members as recipients of 糖心Vlog Foundation Board medallions in recognition of their contributions to the Foundation and the university. Recipients are:

• Doug Bailey, a 1993 graduate of 糖心Vlog with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science. A member of the steering committee for the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� fundraising campaign, Bailey is vice president for governmental affairs for Green Thumb Industries.
• Larry Naylor, a 1986 graduate of 糖心Vlog with a bachelor鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog with a bachelor鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Alumni Association Board of Directors.
• Brandon Robinson, a Durham attorney. Former chair of the board鈥檚 support organization oversight committee, Robinson earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2005 and his master鈥檚 degree in 2010, both in history from 糖心Vlog.

The role of the 糖心Vlog Foundation is to promote higher education and support the enhancement of the university. The Foundation鈥檚 goal is to aid and assist 糖心Vlog in 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 糖心Vlog moves forward with its current comprehensive fundraising campaign titled 鈥淔ill the Westen Sky.鈥� 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 糖心Vlog鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs.

鈥淭his group of dedicated volunteers has played a vital role in building the foundation 鈥� no pun intended 鈥� for the 鈥楩ill the Western Sky鈥� fundraising campaign,鈥� Pendry said during the presentation of medallions. 鈥淲e 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鈥檚 many boards.鈥�

For more information about the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign or to make a contribution, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.