Our Leadership Operations
Top L to R: Steve Ferguson, Robert Shafer, Kelly Blake, Mike Perilli, John Walkup, Rich Kiser, Bruce Tallamy, Jay Borrell
Bottom L to R: Tamara Mullins (ED), Mary Igo, Angela Williams, Anita Groves
Not pictured: Jim Davis and Barbara LeRose
The Nicholas County Community Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The board’s efforts are supported more than 30 dedicated volunteers who serve on various committees. Directors may serve three-year terms, renewable to up to nine years. This process assures continuity of input and the presence of strong civic leaders guiding our foundation. The day-to-day management of the Foundation is handled by our Executive Director.
Board of Directors


Kelly Blake, Vice President, grew up in Nicholas County. She is a Health Scientist and Program Director at the National Cancer Institute* and received her doctorate from the Harvard School of Public Health. She and her husband Michael Young are active community members. They reside in Mount Nebo with their daughter.
*Kelly Blake is serving in her personal capacity as a member of the Nicholas County Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Steve Ferguson, Treasurer, is a CPA who owns and operates Ferguson Services, Inc. He is a very active community member, bringing many jobs and businesses to Nicholas County. He is involved in the Summersville Rotary Club and has served on Summersville Chamber of Commerce, as well as many other boards and community building services. He and his wife Joy reside in Summersville.

Jim Davis, Secretary, is an executive at Bright Enterprises. He and his wife Jane have served on numerous NCCF committees and given back to our community in many ways.

Tamara Mullins, Executive Director, and the only employee of the Nicholas County Community Foundation. She serves a 12 member volunteer Board of Directors and coordinates around 20 volunteers for the Committees. Born and raised in Charleston, WV, Tamara was a graduate of Capital High School. She went on to receive a BS in Dietetics/Nutrition from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and then an Associate Degree for Registered Nursing from Carolinas College of Health Sciences in Charlotte, NC.She now resides in Summersville, WV with husband Bandy and their four children, Serena, Kensey, William and Paxton. Tamara is also involved in the school PTA, Summersville Rotary Club, Board Member of the Summersville Public Library and many other civic minded projects.

Anita Groves grew up in Nicholas County and recently returned after living in the Northwest, Anita serves as a Vice President at United Bank. Her vast experience in financial and estate planning is a great asset to NCCF. She chairs the Investment Committee as well as serving as a Board member and Audit and Finance Chair for Nicholas Community Action Partnership, Board Member and Treasurer for Friends R Fun School, Summersville Chamber of Commerce member and Summersville Rotary Club member. Anita was also former Secretary and Board member of the Veterans Memorial Park and Former Board member of Shelter Workshop.

Mary M. Igo is the Regional Director of Operations for the Nicholas County Campus of New River Community and Technical College has been employed by New River since 2002. Igo has an R.B.A. from Glenville State College and an M.B.A. from Salem International University. Igo is currently the President of the Summersville Rotary Club, Secretary of the Summersville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Vice President of both the 4-H Leader’s Association and the Nicholas County Community Action Partnership Board.

Delegate Heather Tully, MSN, APRN, NP-C, FNP-BC
Greetings! My name is Heather Tully. I am a Family Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Delegate, wife, & Nana. I reside in beautiful Summersville, WV with my husband, Lawrence; our cat, Lucy; and two Jerusalem donkeys—Mistletoe & Holly. My husband has two grown children. We have five beautiful grandchildren: Avery Elizabeth Tully (10), Mason Ryan Granus (8), Emily Claire Tully (8), Eli Taylor Tully (5), & Samuel Chase Tully (4). We are blessed that they all reside close to us in Nicholas County & we are afforded the opportunity to spend as much time with them as possible.
I am a 1998 graduate of St. Albans High School. I attended the University of Charleston, graduating cum laude with my Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing in 2002. I have been a Registered Nurse in the State of West Virginia for over 18 years. Prior to pursuing advanced nursing education, I was a practicing critical care Registered Nurse with 13+ years of experience working in high acuity intensive care units of a large, academic medical center in WV. I spent the first six years of my nursing career working in the Medical-Surgical ICU, now known as the Surgical-Trauma Intensive Care Unit; the next seven years were spent in the Medical Intensive Care Unit & Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit.
In mid-2015, while I was weighing my options & awaiting acceptance into graduate school, I took the opportunity to expand my skill set by enrolling in New River Community & Technical College. I graduated from NRCTC in May 2016 as an honors graduate with a Certificate in Technical Studies—Medical Billing & Coding.
Immediately following my graduation from NRCTC, I was accepted into the Master of Science in Nursing—Family Nurse Practitioner program at West Virginia University. I graduated from the WVU MSN—FNP program in 2018. Following graduation, I became a dual board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. I hold certifications as an FNP from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as well as American Nurses Credentialing Center.
I am a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 41st District comprised of Nicholas & Greenbrier Counties. I was appointed by Governor Justice to serve in the seat vacated by my predecessor in June 2020. I was elected to the seat in November 2020. I am proud to say that I won the seat capturing a resounding 73% of the vote in the district. I currently serve on the House Education Committee, the House Health & Human Resources Committee, the House Infrastructure & Technology Committee, & the House Political Subdivisions Committee.
I am a member of the American Nurses’ Association, the West Virginia Nurses’ Association, & the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. I also serve as a member of the Nicholas County Republican Executive Committee. I am a member of the Nicholas County Community Foundation and the Grand Order of the Royal Leprechauns—scholarship & civic fundraising organizations. My involvement in these organizations help me to maintain my sense of community & keep my advocacy skills strong.
My goal as a Delegate is to work toward policy & legislation that improves the clinical practice environment for all patients & nurses in our state, improvement of the educational system for our children, & advancing Nicholas County as far as possible.

Barbara LeRose is a very active community member, alongside her husband Rodney. She owns and operates Starlite Promotions and currently serves on the Summersville Rotary Club. She resides in Summersville.

Michael Perilli, is a graduate of Marshall University with a degree in Marketing and Retailing. Having worked in the banking industry, he also serves as the WV State Bank Examiner before having started a coal brokerage business. He has served on numerous boards including the WV Coal Association, Seneca Mental Health, NC Community Action and currently on the BB&T Advisory Board. Mike and his wife Martha reside in Summersville.

Benjean Rapp will be serving her first term on the NCCF Board, as a member of the Social Media Committee. A resident in Lockwood, Benjean returned to her home place in 2000, after living in other parts of WV.
Being active in the Community of Athens, WV, where she worked for Concord University while residing there for 25 years . She was Chairwoman for the Athens – Concord Town Social for thirteen years, owner-hostess of Maple Leaf Bed & Breakfast, as well as a Real Estate Agent for twelve years, selling in WV and Sout Carolina.
Returning home in 2000 to Nicholas County, Benjean is active in County and State Republican politics. She is current County Chairwoman in NICHOLAS County, Chairwoman for 11th Senatorial Committee and Secretary for State Republican County Chairs. She served as Vice Oresident and President of the Old Main Foundation, stepping down in 2019. Is an active member Fairview Baptist Church, mother of three and grandmother of seven grandsons.

Robert Shafer, Mayor of Summersville, is currently serving his first term as a private citizen. He owns and operates Shafer Insurance Associates LLC, an independent insurance agency established in 1992. Robert serves on numerous boards of directors to support economic growth and improve the quality of life in southern West Virginia. Having served his country as a Marine he is an avid supporter of the military and our Veterans.

1967 to 1971 – Employed by Associates Capital Company in Virginia Beach, Va., Charlotte, NC., and Charleston, WV as a commercial/consumer lender.
1971 to 1978 – Employed by Ashland Financial Services, Summersville, WV as a commercial/consumer lender.
1978 to 2009 – Employed as Sr. Vice President by Farmers & Merchants Bank, One Valley Bank South, all predecessors to Branch Bank and Trust Company who purchased the common stock of One Valley Holding, where I served from 2000 to 2009 as the Sr. Vice President/ City Executive for the Nicholas, Fayette, Webster and Clay county area with a concentration of commercial lending and overseeing the five banking facilities in my assigned geographic area. Retired in September 2009 as Area President.
2009 to present – Retired
I currently and formerly served as a member of the Board of Directors for the following: Nicholas County Building Commission (current), Nicholas County Community Foundation (current), Nicholas County Solid Waste Authority (former)
Summersville Youth Athletics, Inc. (former), Summersville Regional Medical Center (former)

Dr. John Mark Walkup In his 30th year as a full-time faculty member in higher education, Dr. John M. Walkup is a Professor of Music at New River Community and Technical College where he teaches courses in music, fine arts, and education. During his tenure, he has also served as administrator in various roles from Department Chair to Interim Dean, and was named a Chancellor’s Leadership Fellow in 2009. He has earned degrees from Glenville State College, the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and West Virginia University. His solo piano performance venues in West Virginia comprise the Governor’s Mansion, the Greenbrier Hotel, and the Cultural Center in Charleston. Guest solo artist appearances include Georgia State University, St. Ambrose University, and Lincoln Land Community College.
He resides in Summersville with his wife, Angie, and their kids, Kathleen and Johnny. They all enjoy travel, various sports activities, and relaxing together at home.
All elected board member terms are three (3) years. With approximately 1/3 of the terms expiring each year. No member of the Board of Directors may be reappointed or reelected to serve on the Board when he or she has been on the Board for three (3) consecutive terms; however, a member may be elected again after a respite of one year.
NCCF Committees
In addition to our Board of Directors the Foundation relies heavily upon the work of our committees. These committees are comprised of both board member and other individuals, who are not serving on the board but support the mission of the NCCF. The committee structure and all committee appointments are evaluated annually and appointed by the President of the Foundation.
Asset Review
Donor Development
Finance
Governance
Grant Distribution
Investment
Marketing
Scholarship
Anyone interested in participating as a committee member or a director is encouraged to contact us at (304) 872-0202 or by email at [email protected]
Contributors
In keeping with the charitable purposes of the Foundation, our objective is to keep operating expenses at a moderate level and to provide a high quality service to all donors and charitable organizations. The NCCF covers its operating costs through administrative fee’s charged to each endowed fund (1% , or less, of the market value of endowed funds annually and 2.5% non-endowed funds), donations from private individuals as well as grants from businesses and entities of government.
The Board of Directors of the Nicholas County Community Foundation would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for their investment in our community’s future, as contributors to our operating fund:
Adkins & Young Accounting Services
Milan-Puskar Foundation
Community Trust Bank – donated office space
First Energy Corp – Operating Costs Grant
Truit Foundation of West Virginia
City of Summersville
United Bank Foundation
Greg Sproles Law Firm
Ferguson Accounting Firm