The community foundation concept that Colonel Francis Fries brought to Winston-Salem in 1919 included a critical role for community leaders. The Foundation's basic structure remains in force today, with the addition of a professional staff to support day-to-day operations. The Winston-Salem Foundation is fortunate to have an extraordinarily dedicated and generous group of leading citizens on its volunteer committee.
The Winston-Salem Foundation Committee is the primary governing body of the Foundation.
Simpson "Skip" O. Brown, Jr. is founder and president/CEO of TriStone Community Bank. He also serves on the Wake Forest University Board of Trustees and the boards of Second Harvest Food Bank, Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, Old Hickory Boy Scouts, Arbor Acres, and the Children's Center. Brown was elected by the Committee in 2005.
John W. Burress, III was president of J. W. Burress, Inc. until he retired in 1997. He serves on the boards of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Summit School, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust Executive Council, Hospice, and Senior Services, Inc. He has also served on numerous other boards. He was elected by the Committee in 2003.
Rence Callahan is vice president and treasurer of Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce Architects. He serves as a board member of the Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, ECHO Council and Hospice. He has also served on many other boards. He was appointed to the Committee in 2002 by the Mayor of Winston-Salem.
Peggy Carter is vice president of the Forsyth Medical Center Foundation. She serves on the boards of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill, United Way of Forsyth County, Winston-Salem Campaign Coordinating Committee, Ronald McDonald House, Marshall B. Bass Children's Fund, and the Winston-Salem Public Facilities Commission and is vice chair of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce. Carter was elected by the Committee in 2005.
Gregory A. Cox is the senior vice president and the city executive for Bank of America in Winston-Salem. He is a board member of the United Way of Forsyth County, the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, the Goodwill Business Advisory Council, and was chair of the 2006 Family Services Capital Campaign. Cox is also a volunteer coach for youth sports and a volunteer in the public schools. He was appointed to the Committee in 2002 by Bank of America.
Lynn Brenner Eisenberg has expansive volunteer experience with local, regional, and national organizations over the past 30 years. She serves on the executive committee of The Women's Fund of Winston-Salem, the board of Summit School, and the Board of Visitors for North Carolina School of the Arts. She has served on the boards of Brenner Children's Hospital and the Arts Council. She was appointed to the committee in 2003 by the senior resident judge of the State Judicial District containing Forsyth County.
Robert E. Greene is senior executive vice president and manager of administration services for BB&T. He also is president of Branch Banking and Trust Company, BB&T Corporation's North Carolina subsidiary. Boards on which he serves or has served include Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, United Way of Forsyth County, Hospice Foundation of Winston-Salem, Board of Visitors at Winston-Salem State University, and !dealliance. He was appointed to the Committee by BB&T in 2003.
J. Andrew Hancock is president of Frank L Blum Construction Company. He serves the community in many ways including the executive committee of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, volunteer for the Samaritan Soup Kitchen, member of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utility Commission, and as board member of Winston-Salem Business, Winston-Salem Alliance, and Wake Forest University Health Sciences. He was appointed to the Committee in 2006 by the Board of County Commissioners.
Kay Lord retired as executive director/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County in 2004 where she spent eight years helping to increase affordable housing in our community. She has a long history of community involvement, including serving on the boards of Old Salem, the Community Care Center, and the Center for Homeownership as well as involvement with the Winston-Salem Rotary, the Cancer Patient Support Committee at Wake Forest University Medical Center, and the Wake Forest Alumni Association. Lord was appointed by the Clerk of Superior Court in 2005.
Dr. Harold Lee Martin, Sr. is the senior vice president for academic affairs for the University of North Carolina system. He serves on many boards, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina, the UNC Press, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, the UNC-TV Foundation Board, United Way of Forsyth County, and the Wachovia Bank Forsyth County Advisory Board. He was appointed to the Committee in 2002 by the U.S. District Court.
Janet P. Wheeler is a retired vice president of R.J. Reynolds and currently serves on the Wachovia Bank Advisory Board, Senior Services Foundation Board, Black Philanthropy Initiative Advisory Committee, Network 2000 Charities Board and St. Augustine’s College Board of Trustees. Wheeler has previously served on the boards of Old Salem, Kate B. Reynolds Poor and Needy Trust, Allegacy Federal Credit Union, YWCA, and Crosby Scholars, as well as on the United Way Campaign Cabinet. Wheeler was elected by the Committee in 2008.
Paul Wiles, president and CEO of Novant Health, serves as a member of numerous boards. These include NC Health & Wellness Trust Fund Commission, NCHA Center for Hospital Quality and Patient Safety Advisory Board, UNC School of Public Health Advisory Council, Wachovia Bank Forsyth County Advisory Board, Winston-Salem Alliance, and the NC Emerging Technology Alliance. Wiles was elected by the Committee in 2003.
Ralph Hanes Womble retired as chief executive officer of Hanes Companies in 2006. He serves on numerous community boards, including North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem Millennium Fund, Winston-Salem Alliance, Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, Downtown Arts District Association, and Winston-Salem Business Inc. He was appointed to the Committee by Wachovia in 2004.