Board of Trustees Biographies

Maribeth Anderson

Maribeth Anderson is a native and lifelong West Virginian and the daughter of a United Methodist pastor. She is at home at First U.M. Church in Huntington.

She the Director of Government Relations for Antero Resources. She came to Antero at the end of 2017, after serving in similar roles for Southwestern Energy and Chesapeake Energy since 2007. Prior to entering the energy sector, Maribeth was the news director for WSAZ Television.

In 2019 she became a certified Yoga instructor and has been teaching regularly ever since.

A graduate of Marshall University, Maribeth is married to Scott and they have a daughter in college and a son who plans to attend seminary this Fall.

Jarrod Caltrider

Rev. Jarrod Caltrider is an ordained elder who has served as the pastor of Dunbar United Methodist Church since July 2020. He has previously served congregations in Sandyville, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a native of Mineral Wells and a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College (B.A. Christian Education and Psychology) and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Jarrod serves on the West Virginia Annual Conference Rules and Program Committee. He also serves on the Outreach Committee for The Foundation. Jarrod and his spouse Breana, along with their daughter Ella, live in Dunbar.  
 

Susannah Carpenter

Prior to joining the staff in 2017, Susannah spent 14 years working in various positions for the West Virginia Department of Administration, including Chief Financial Officer, Assistant to the Comptroller, and Interim Chief Technology Officer.

A certified public accountant, Susannah's previous experience also includes working as a research manager for the State Legislative Auditor's office, and as a senior accountant for a private auditing and consulting firm. She graduated with honors from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia with a bachelor's degree in accounting.  

Susannah is a life-long United Methodist who is an active member of Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston.

Cheryl Davis

Cheryl is a native of Morgantown West Virginia.  She received a bachelor's degree in political science from WVU where she was elected as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Cheryl then graduated from the WVU College of Law where she was a member of the Law Review. Cheryl worked in government, private industry and the private practice of law.
 
Cheryl is a Certified Lay Minister in the United Methodist Church with additional certification as a Congregational Care Minister. Cheryl is active in her local church, Elizabeth Memorial UMC in Charleston in various capacities and serves as Lay Leader of the Nine Rivers District.  Cheryl previously served as Conference Coordinator of Refugee and Immigration Ministry and is on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry. Cheryl regularly teaches Sunday School, bible study and lay servant classes. She enjoys reading and travel.
 

Lauren Godwin

Lauren is an Ordained Elder in the West Virginia Annual Conference.  She serves Grace United Methodist Church in Keyser, WV and is a campus pastor at Potomac State College of West Virginia University.  
 
She has traveled abroad for missions, studies, and through her work with the General Church's Division on Ministries with Young People. 
 
While studying Secondary Education and Spanish at Marshall University (BA 2009), Lauren spent a semester studying at Córdoba University, a Jesuit school in Argentina.  She completed her studies at Drew Theological School (MDiv 2012) where she enjoyed working for The General Commission on Archives and History and serving as President of the student government for two terms.   She resides in Keyser, WV with her husband, Josh Hill, and their daughter, Nora. 
 

Barbara Hale

Barb received her undergraduate (B.S. ‘99) from the University of Maryland.  She is a 20-year, United States Air Force Retiree; and a 20-year Federal Civil Servant Retiree.  Barb is a member of Pea Ridge United Methodist Church in Huntington, WV, where she is a member of the Chancel and Bell Choirs; President of the United Methodist Women (UMW), a District Officer of the UMW and the church’s Liaison for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for Seniors; where the service 60+ Senior participants with food boxes each month.  Barb is married to William Hale who is also a 26-year United States Air Force Retiree.  They have one adult son.
 

Aliene Lee

Aliene Lee lives in South Charleston, West Virginia.  She has been a Trustee with the Foundation for several years, currently serving on the Audit and Outreach Committees. She shares that she has enjoyed my time as a Trustee.
 
Aliene was employed with the Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Medical Services.  She is a member of Simpson Memorial  UMC in Charleston,  West Virginia, where she is the Chairperson of the Trustees of the church.
 

Neil Leftwich

Rev. Neil Leftwich has a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University and a Masters of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in Ohio.  He has served three churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference before moving west to the Desert Southwest Conference, where he pastored three churches and served as a district superintendent.  He moved to West Virginia in 2018.  He was pastor at Spruce Street UMC before becoming the Northern District Superintendent. 

Teresa Markins

Rev. Teresa Markins serves as pastor of St. John United Methodist Church in Scott Depot.  She is a graduate of Marshall University and Duke Divinity School. Rev. Markins is an ordained elder.

Kimberly Matthews

Kim graduated with honors from Marshall University in Huntington, WV, where she received her Bachelor’s of Science and her Master’s of Science degrees in biology. Prior to joining the staff of the Foundation in 2008 as Associate Director, she served for 19 years as Research Associate with Marshall University School of Medicine and its affiliates, co-authoring several peer-reviewed journal articles.

Kim is a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners and is Vice President of Charitable Gift Planners of West Virginia.  She has a Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Indiana University Lily Family School of Philanthropy. 

Kim is a Certified Lay Minister who is active as a volunteer in her Church, District and in the Annual Conference. She serves as the Annual Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries.

Barbara McDowell

Barbara is a graduate of the Bluefield Sanitarium School of Radiologic Technology, Bluefield, WV and obtained her American Registry of Radiologic Technologist. She worked in radiology in the areas of Bluefield, Gary, and Princeton, WV until relocating to Charleston where she became employed by the WV Annual Conference as Administrative Assistant in the Communications Department for twelve years. After living in the Parkersburg area, Barbara was later employed by Washington UMC as the secretary.

Along with membership in the United Methodist Church, Barbara has been involved in several community and religious organizations.  She has been a member of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, WV United Methodist Minister’s Mates serving as a past President of the Bluefield (Southern) District, Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries, Board Member of Caswell County N.C. Task Force Against Substance Abuse, Lions Club International, and Boy Scouts of America serving as Assistant Cub Master of Pack 111.  She is also a member of United Methodist Women (now United Women in Faith) and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Barbara, now retired, is married to the Rev. Dr. Thomas McDowell who currently serves First United Methodist Church, Princeton where she is a member.
 

Patricia Mick

Pat was born and raised in Princeton, West Virginia. She received her bachelor’s degree in secondary education in mathematics and French at Concord University. She started teaching at Princeton Junior High School. After marrying for the first time, she moved to Greenbrier County and became a guidance counselor at Greenbrier East High School before moving to Cabell County. She did substitute work in that county. She then moved to Summers County where she taught at Talcott High School and Junior High School. She finished her teaching career at Summers County High School.
 
Her first husband passed away and she later remarried and while still teaching full time, she started as an assigned supply pastor and held this position for 6 years. She is the mother of two daughters, three grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
 
She attends Trinity United Methodist Church in Talcott, West Virginia, where she is the chairperson of the Church Council and the worship committee. She is the lay leader as well. She also prepares the weekly bulletins. She has been a member for 53 years of the Matthew French Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, in Princeton. She currently serves as the appointed Vice President of the Greenbrier District United Methodist Women. She formerly served as the West Virginia Conference President of the United Methodist Women and served as the chairperson for the West Virginia Conference Global Ministries for 8 years. 
 

Jamie O'Brien

Jamie O’Brien resides in Buckhannon and is a member of First United Methodist Church.  He received his undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, an M. Div. from Yale University, and a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law.  He is an attorney with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in its Bridgeport Office.  He previously served the Conference as Chair of the Board of Pensions and currently serves on the Rules Committee.  He is also a member of the finance committees of FUMC Buckhannon and the Upshur Cooperative Parish House.  Jamie is also active in the local Lions Club and a board member of the Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce.

Gina Palmer

Gina Palmer is a graduate of WV Wesleyan College (Speech and Drama) and WVU (Chemical Engineering).  She retired from The Dow Chemical Company in DEc 2016.  She serves on the Potomac Highlands District Lead Team and is the Administrative Board and Financial Chairperson at Buena Chapel UMC

Michael Perkins

Michael received his undergraduate (B.S. ’88) degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College. A certified public accountant, Michael started his career after college with Ernst & Young in Charleston, WV. In 1995, he joined WesBanco Bank, Inc. in Wheeling, WV and is now Senior Executive Vice President - Chief Risk and Administrative Officer of the Corporation.  

Michael is a long-time United Methodist who is an active member of Thoburn United Methodist Church in St. Clairsville, OH. Michael chairs the Finance Committee and is also involved in various teaching and music opportunities.  

Michael is married to Mary Perkins; they have four adult children and two-grandchildren.  
 

Judy Raines

Judy Raines is a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Bluefield and has been a Trustee since 2017. She serves the Foundation as treasurer. She serves on the Finance and Investment Committee and the Grants Committee.

A long time United Methodist Woman Judy has served as President of the local, District and the West Virginia Conference. She has served on the Leadership team of the Northeastern Jurisdiction as Chair of Nominations and is now serving with the Program Advisory Group of the National Office of United Methodist Women.

Active in her church, Judy was a Sunday School teacher for many years. Judy is an active volunteer of Mary’s Cradle for which she was named a Hometown Hero by WVVA TV. She has served as Chair of the Pastor, Parish Relations Committee at Trinity and is now serving as Chair of the Administrative Council. Also active in the West Virginia Conference she serves as Chair of the Board of Global Ministries. Judy is a Certified Lay Speaker and was just approved by the District Committee on Ministries to become a Certified Lay Minister.
 

Deborah Shaffer

Deborah graduated from Glenville State College with a BA in Education and Master of Arts in Liberal Learning with an emphasis in Organizational Management from Marietta College. Her career spanned positions in education, community development, and fund raising.

Deborah is a longtime supporter of WV tourism and has served on the state, regional, and local levels of leadership. She currently serves on the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, Parkersburg Architectural Review Board, and an officer for the Julia Ann Historic District Association.

Deborah is a certified lay minister in her home church, First UMC Parkersburg. She has also been actively involved in the United Methodist in a variety of positions on the annual conference, district, and local church. She currently serves as the director of the Little Kanawha Lay Servant Ministries Team.

Deborah is married to Rich Shaffer and they share their time and experiences in service to the church and their community.
 

Edward Sisson

Edward Sisson is a lifelong United Methodist. He graduated with a BS in Business Administration from West Virginia State University in 1980.

Edward worked in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry for 30 years and retired in 2010 from GlaxoSmithKline where he worked in the NeuroHealth Division. 

After his retirement from GlaxoSmithKline, he worked for 10 years at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Advancement and Development. He retired from there in November of 2020.

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

Sandra L. Steiner Ball was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and raised in Milford, Delaware.  She is a graduate of Dickinson College, (B.A. in Religion, 1984), Duke Divinity School (M.Div., 1987), and Wesley Theological Seminary (D.Min., 2003).

Sandra was ordained Deacon and Elder by Bishop Joseph H. Yeakel in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference.  She has served as an associate pastor, lead pastor, District Superintendent, and Director of Connectional Ministries(DCM). During her last year as a DCM, she also served as interim pastor of Bayside Chapel, a new church start.  Sandra was in this position when elected to the episcopacy by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2012 and was assigned to the West Virginia Area.

Bishop Steiner Ball was re-assigned as the episcopal leader of the West Virginia Annual Conference at the 2022 session of Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference. She is Vice Chairperson of the West Virginia Council of Churches and Co-chairs a task force of the Council working to address substance abuse and addiction in the West Virginia area.

Bishop Steiner Ball and her husband, The Rev. Barry D. Steiner Ball, have two daughters, Sarah Elizabeth and Sandra Rebekah, and one granddaughter, Sloane Shay. 

Jeff Taylor

Jeff received his undergraduate (B.S.’83) and law degrees (J.D.  ’86) from West Virginia University. He received his seminary education from Methodist Theological School in Ohio, where he serves on the Board of Trustees.

Jeff serves as Membership Chair of Charitable Gift Planners of West Virginia, a consortium of charitable organizations that focuses on strengthening communities through bequests and other planned gifts. He is a member of the West Virginia State Bar.

Jeff is a past president of the National Association of United Methodist Foundations, past president of the Cabell County Bar Association, and past president of the KYOWVA Planned Giving Council. 

Jeff is an ordained deacon in the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. 

James Wadsworth

Jim Wadsworth retired from Weyerhaeuser Company after 31 years of service in various capacities in Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia.  He is a graduate of Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in forest management and is a West Virginia Registered Forester.  Jim is a member of the Society of American Foresters and is a Certified Forester.  He is a member and former President West Virginia Forestry Association and a lifelong member of Pennsylvania Forestry Association. 
 
Jim served four years in the Air Force with a tour in southeast Asia.
 
He currently serves as Financial Secretary at Summersville Memorial United Methodist Church and sings in the choir with his wife Karen.
 

Vernon Webster

Vernon graduated from Moorefield High School in 1955 and accepted employment as an Electronics Technician with GTE where he was elected President of Local Union IBEW 2035 for 22 years. He received the Community Service Award from GTE and was also recognized as an Outstanding Young Man of America.  

Past  community involvements include: elected to Hardy County Board of Education, member of Hardy County Rural Development Authority, charter member and Director of Moorefield Jaycees, charter member and Director of Valley View Golf Association and Hardy County Campaign Manager for Jay Rockefeller's first term election as Governor.

Retired from GTE in 1994 in Monroe, Georgia as Service Operations Manager responsible for GTE's operation in Northeast Georgia and the Atlanta area.

Founded Highlands Appraisal  Group, Inc. in 1994, sold the business in 2005 and retired again.

Past offices held in Bakers Chapel United Methodist Church include: Sunday School Treasurer, Church Treasurer, Lay Leader, Lay Speaker and Chairman of the Administrative Board.
 

Jeffrey Welshonce

Jeffrey Welshonce was born in Elkins, WV into a Methodist family almost 70 years ago and his association with FUMC in Elkins continues today. He graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College and married the same year. He then attended graduate school at WVU and earned his master's degree in December of 1976.

In May of 1977, he and his wife returned to Elkins where he entered the insurance industry. Jeffrey retired from the insurance industry in September of 2016.

Currently, Jeffrey manages 2 family-owned rental businesses and is an active member of the Elkins Rotary Club. He also delivers backpacks to local schools. Jeffrey has 2 sons that have married and given him 3 grandsons. 

Kristi Wilkerson

Kristi Wilkerson began serving as Director of the Upshur Cooperative Parish House and Crosslines in July 2019.  Kristi has 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, public relations and strategic communication.  She previously served as Director of Christian Education and Programming at First United Methodist Church - Buckhannon, as Director of Alumni Relations at West Virginia Wesleyan College, and as Associate Director of West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities. 

Kristi was elected to serve on the Upshur County Board of Education in 2018 and she was elected Conference Lay Leader of the West Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church in August 2020.  She is currently a member of the WV UMC Core Leadership Team, and she has also served as an appointed member of the Historic Landmark Commission for the City of Buckhannon. 

Kristi received her bachelor of arts degree from WV Wesleyan and her master of arts degree from Miami University (Ohio).  She grew up in West Milford, WV, and now resides in Buckhannon with her husband Curtis and children Rebekah and Grant. She is an active member of First United Methodist Church - Buckhannon and serves on its Micah Outreach Mission Team.

William Wilson

Rev. Dr. William H. Wilson (Bill) formerly the Director of Connectional Ministries and Assistant to the Bishop of the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church retired June 30, 2013, after 45 years of active ministry. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from W.Va. Wesleyan College, a Master of Theology degree from Southern Methodist University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University. At his retirement he was conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from W.Va. Wesleyan.   Dr. Wilson served churches in West Virginia and Texas and 8 years as a District Superintendent. He was a Hospital Chaplain responsible for critical care and trauma as well as employee counseling at Methodist Hospitals of Dallas, Texas.   He served as District Superintendent of Potomac Highlands District from 1996-2000 and as District Superintendent of the Western District from 2000-2004. Bill's special training includes work in Spirituality & Spiritual Direction with the Episcopal Church's School of Spirituality in Dallas, and he is a Benedictine Oblate of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Indiana.   As a retired Elder of the West Virginia Conference, he was appointed as an interim pastor to two different local congregations in Huntington. He has served as a Trustee of West Virginia Wesleyan College, President of the Conference Board of Trustees and is currently an elected member of the Conference Board of Pensions.  He is a board member of the West Virginia United Methodist Foundation.  Bill teaches in the Course of Study for Local Pastors and district/ conference lay ministry courses.  He is a national board member of the Coalition for Physician Accountability as a consumer/ public member.  Dr. Wilson, who resides in Huntington West Virginia, a native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, is married to the former Jane Dennis of Terrell, Texas, a retired nurse; they have two married daughters, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.