Bob Lee Brown Chai

Bob Brown who is employed in the Office of the President for the American Federation of Teachers, resides in Charleston, WV. Mr. Brown is Senior Vice President of the WV AFL-CIO; Chair of the WV Public Employee Grievance Board; a member of the WV Higher Education Policy Commission; a member of the WV Workforce Investment Council; a member of the Teachers Retirement System Committee of the WV Investment Management Board; a Commissioner for the Malden Public Service District; and a member of the WV Attorney General’s Citizen Advisory Committee. Bob Brown is a Marine Corps veteran of the Viet Nam war and was educated in Kanawha County public schools, West Virginia Institute of Technology, and West Virginia University.

Clarence Pennington
Vice Chair

Clarence (Butch) Pennington is a life long resident of Martinsburg (Berkeley County) and is chief operation officer of several small businesses throughout the county. Mr. Pennington is president of the West Virginia Gasoline Dealers and the Automotive Repair Industry. He is also chairman of the West Virginia Retailers and Wholesalers Alcohol Beverage Committee. He has served on the Berkeley County Planning Commission and chaired numerous civic and charitable activities. He served in the West Virginia 167th Air National Guard Unit from 1968 to 1975 and has been active in local and state politics. Mr. Pennington was awarded the West Virginia State Democrat of the Year in 2002. He graduated from local schools and attended Shepherd University.

Gregory Smith
Secretary

Greg Smith is the current Director of Marketing and Public Affairs for Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital. He owns B&G LLC, an outdoor advertising and real estate management corporation and also owns G&B Farms and manages farming, ranching, mineral and timber operations for properties near Williamstown. Mr. Smith has a BA in Psychology from Southern Utah State University, an MBA from Central Michigan University and an MS in Integrated Marketing and Communications from West Virginia University.  Prior to residing in West Virginia, he served more than 22 years in the United States Air Force with his last assignment as Secretary of the Air Force Director of Public Affairs, Midwest Region.  Mr. Smith has been recognized nationally for his work in public relations and is the recipient of numerous military decorations to include the Airman's Medal, the highest peacetime military decoration for heroism.

William "Bill" Baker

William H. (Bill) Baker of Daniels, West Virginia, has a wide and varied background in public education, from teaching to county superintendent and has received several awards for his educational excellence.  Mr. Baker served three years in the United States Army as a member of the Army Security Agency and holds a Bachelors Degree from Concord University, a Masters Degree from West Virginia University and has completed post graduate work at both Ohio University and West Virginia University.  Mr. Baker currently serves as Executive Director of the Jobs Foundation, President of New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, President of Forward Southern West Virginia, President of Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, and President of Beckley-Raleigh County Transportation Authority and various other boards. 

Jerry Berry

Jerry Berry is a native of Summers County and is serving his second term as County Commissioner. Mr. Berry is an entrepreneur who having started several successful businesses in North Carolina and West Virginia. He is very community minded and serves as the Governor's Chairman of the West Virginia WorkForce Investment Council, Chief Local Elected Official of Region 1 WorkForce West Virginia Investment Board, and President of the Community Action of Southeastern West Virginia Board. Jerry also serves on the boards of many other organizations that provide Healthcare, Travel & Hospitality, Planning & Infrastructure, Technology and Emergency Services in the New River Gorge region.

Keith Burdette

 In December 2010, Keith Burdette was appointed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin as cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Department of Commerce and executive director of the West Virginia Development Office. Keith Burdette began his public service when he was elected to the first of two terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates. In 1982 he was elected to the West Virginia State Senate. In 1989 Keith was elected the 42nd President of the State Senate at the age of 34, the youngest Senate President in the state's history. The West Virginia Jaycees named him their Outstanding Young West Virginian in 1991 and in 1992 the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce named him one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans for that year. Upon leaving the legislature in 1994, Keith formed a government relations and consulting business. Three days after the 2000 election Governor-Elect Bob Wise asked him to join the new administration where he served for three years as Director of Policy and Legislative Relations. After leaving the administration in 2003, Keith formed the Burdette Group Consulting firm. In November 2004 the Area Roundtable hired Keith to manage and operate the Area Roundtable and the Wood County Development Authority. He serves as President of the Area Roundtable, which is the umbrella organization for all development activities in Wood County including the work of the Wood County Development Authority and the Parkersburg-Wood County Development Corporation. Keith is actively involved in the Parkersburg community where he resides. He is married to the former Pat Haught Huffman and has two sons and two stepsons. 

Dr. Kathy J. D'Antoni

Dr. Kathy J. D'Antoni assumed the duties of Assistant State Superintendent of Schools on June 1, 2010. Prior to this appointment, she served as Vice Chancellor of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education. She obtained her doctorate degree from West Virginia University in Higher Education Administration. Dr. D'Antoni began her career in education as a teacher.  In 1992, she began work with the Tech Prep initiative at Marshall University and later served as the State Director for Tech Prep. She served as interim president of WV State Community and Technical College in 2008. Dr. D'Antoni has authored a number of articles on effective transition practices from public schools to higher education and collaborated on two books with national authors: Career Pathways and Adult Career Pathways. 

John M. Panza, L.P.C.

Mr. John Panza lives in Fairmont and owns Panza Vocational Consulting Services. He offers training seminars, symposiums and workshops. Mr. Panza diligently served the state and community for over fifty years. During his career he was Director for the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services from 1988-1994, District II Supervisor and was named State and National Counselor of the Year in 1965. He is a Fellow to the American Board of Vocational experts, holds many professional memberships and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Awards include the Distinguished West Virginian Award, presented to him by two governors, and Distinguished Service Awards presented by five associations. Mr. Panza serves on numerous community advisory committees and boards. Mr. Panza holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Fairmont State University and a Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance from West Virginia University. He has completed post graduate studies from the University of Oklahoma and doctoral studies from West Virginia University.

Nelson R. Robinson

Nelson B. Robinson, Jr., of Charleston, is currently President of Compensation Strategies, Inc., Executive Director of the West Virginia Chiropractic Society, and a government relations practitioner and lobbyist.  Previously, he was appointed by former Governor Arch Moore as Commissioner of the WV Workers' Compensation Fund from July 1986 until January 1989.  Prior to his appointment, he held several positions within the Governor's administration and also served as a member of the WV Public Employees Insurance Board.  A former resident of Shepherdstown, Mr. Robinson was a self-employed businessman in the Eastern Panhandle.  He served in the United States Navy from 1971-1978, from which he was Honorably Discharged.  He attended Shepherd University and the University of Charleston.

John E. Walker

John E. Walker of Chapmanville, West Virginia serves as the Chief Executive Officer of LifePoint Hospitals’ Acute Care Hospital, Logan Regional Medical Center in Logan, West Virginia.  His career includes more than 30 years of experience in both community and for-profit hospitals with more than fifteen years as a hospital chief executive officer.  Mr. Walker holds a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from North Texas State University, Denton, Texas and a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.  He is board certified in Healthcare Management and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.  He has been active in many national organizations including the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association and American Heart Association and currently serves on the local boards of the Chief Logan Recreational Center and the Logan Chamber of Commerce.