Ashley Perkins
Co-Founder and Board President of We Matter Too, Inc.
Ashley Perkins, Pharm.D., is a mental health advocate with a background as a pharmacist and educator. She graduated from Butler University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2008 and is currently in the Ed.D. program at Marshall University with a focus on curriculum and instruction. At the beginning of 2020, she started the process of forming a non-profit organization which focuses on helping those with mental health issues and mental diseases through first-person narratives of experience. We Matter Too, Inc. is an organization with the idea that those experiences can be the best support for others who are struggling with their own mental health and are seeking information. By removing the biggest barrier of seeking help or treatment, stigma or fear of judgement, we can possibly help more people find help or seek treatment, if they so desire.
Founder and CEO of Coalfield Development
Brandon Dennison, a lifelong West Virginian, is founder and CEO of Coalfield Development. Coalfield Development has helped start over 50 new social enterprises and trained over 1,200 people facing barriers to employment. Brandon holds his Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University. He and his wife Ashley have two young sons.
Acting WV State Coordinator, Appalachia HIDTA
Lieutenant Chad Napier retired from the Charleston Police Department in October of 2015 with 20 years of service. The vast majority of his career has been spent with the Metro Drug Unit conducting or supervising drug investigations. He is currently employed by Appalachia HIDTA which has a mission to enhance and coordinate drug enforcement efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies within areas designated as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas by pursuing the disruption/dismantlement of Drug Trafficking Organizations, particularly as it relates to the specific drug threat of the Appalachian region. Over the past five years, Napier has spent the majority of his time presenting drug awareness and prevention presentations throughout West Virginia. Currently, he is the Acting WV State Coordinator for Appalachia HIDTA.
Cirque style entertainers + motivational speakers
Tyce and Mary Nielsen (Duo Transcend) are world-touring Cirque style entertainers and motivational speakers. Thrilling audiences young and old as they performing high above them on the Aerial Trapeze or with their spectacular Spherical Skating. They've performed their breath-taking act across the world, headlined the sell-out show CELESTIA in Las Vegas, and performed for Cirque Du Soleil, Ebay, Adobe, & the NBA. In 2018 Duo Transcend was a favored top 10 finalist on America’s Got Talent. In 2020, they were chosen as 1st runner up winners on America’s Got Talent, Champions with their stunning Aerial Trapeze performance.
Their 5-year-old son, Jaxx is the light and passion of their life. They have found balance and gratification in life with these six things: God, Family, True Love, Hard Work, Dream Career, & Love for Their Country. Duo Transcend aims is to inspire others to live an adventurous and fulfilled life and encourage all to pursue their passions and dreams.
Jack Lengyel
Former Marshall University Head Football Coach
Jack Lengyel is a former football coach, lacrosse coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the College of Wooster from 1966 to 1970 and at Marshall University from 1971 until 1974. At Marshall, he took over the Thundering Herd football program after the Southern Airways Flight 932 plane crash that killed nearly the entire team in 1970. Lengyel was the athletic director at California State University, Fresno from 1983 to 1986, at the University of Missouri from 1986 to 1988, and at the United States Naval Academy from 1988 to 2001. He served as the interim athletic director at Temple University in 2002, at Eastern Kentucky University from 2002 to 2003, and at the University of Colorado Boulder from 2004 to 2005. He currently resides in Annapolis, MD.
Kathy D.Antoni
Educator
Dr. Kathy D’Antoni recently retired from the West Virginia Department of Education. During her tenure, she served as the Associate State Superintendent of Schools and an Assistant State Superintendent, and served on the Governor’s Workforce Council, Council for Community College System, Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse, Prevention and Treatment, and Southern Regional Education Board committees. She is also former Vice Chancellor of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education. Dr. D’Antoni has worked extensively with curriculum alignment, curriculum development, workforce development, and economic development projects including the national and international award-winning innovative Simulated Workplace initiative, which was selected in 2020 as a top education innovation initiative by Finland’s HundrED.org She has authored articles and books on effective transition practices from public schools to higher education and education‘s role in the economy.
President and Co-Founder of Core10
Lee Farabaugh is a senior technology design, operations and business development expert with two decades of experience in financial technology (fintech) and health care IT. In 2016, she co-founded Core10, an innovative software development company with locations in Huntington, W.Va., Morgantown, W.Va., Martin, Tenn., and Nashville, Tenn., pioneering the Hereshore® model for US-based technology outsourcing. She currently serves as President of Core10, and has functioned in a number of roles, moving Core10 from scrappy startup to nationally recognized services firm, including operations, sales, and community development. Prior to Core10, Lee co-founded the Nashville health care software development firm PointClear Solutions, where she served as chief experience officer, chief innovation officer and executive vice president of professional services.
Red Dawson
Former Marshall University Assistant Football Coach
Red Dawson, a Valdosta, GA native, was a standout offensive and defensive end at both Valdosta High School at Florida State University. He was inducted into FSU’s Hall of Fame in 1993. He was selected in the NFL and AFL drafts and became a member of professional teams in the AFL (Boston Patriots), the Canadian Football League, and the Continental Football League. In 1968, Red became an assistant coach at Marshall University. On the rainy night of November, 14 1970, following the MU versus ECU game, the football team, coaches, family members, and supporters, as well as the flight crew, perished in a tragic plane crash at Tri State Airport in Huntington, WV. Red and another assistant coach drove home to recruit a potential player in Virginia. The loss of his team members, colleagues, and friends has remained for 50 years, and their memories have left an indelible mark on his heart forever.
Associate Director, Division of Science & Research, WV Higher Ed. Policy Commission
Suzanne Strait, PhD, is the Associate Director of the Division of Science and Research at the WV Higher Ed. Policy Commission. She is also in her 27th year of teaching human anatomy to up and coming health professionals in her position as Professor of Biological Sciences at Marshall University. Dr. Strait is very passionate about sharing her love for science and the importance of diversity and inclusion in all the STEM fields. As such, she is the founding Director of the STEM outreach organization West Virginia Science Adventures. Her most recent title is “Commander and Chief” of the West Virginia Mask Army. Early in the pandemic when our health care workers did not have access to adequate personal protective gear, she responded with lightning speed organizing, recruiting, and supplying a team of over 400 helpers and sewists. They were able to get masks out into the community as early as mid-March and went on to produce and distributed over 45k hand sewn masks throughout West Virginia.