Our Board of Directors

Eric Davis is Director of Production, WTVI Community Television.  He received his B.A. from the University of Florida and his M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Eric is the producer of several film documentaries, specializing in Charlotte history.

Deborah Bosley is Associate Professor of English and Director of The Center for Writing, Language and Literacy at UNC Charlotte.  She has a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Illinois and a doctorate degree from Illinois State University. She is Principal of The Bosley Group: Simplified Communication, a language consultancy serving the financial and health care markets. Deborah is the Chair of the Board of The Light Factory and on the board of the Women’s Impact Fund.

Justin Brittain is an attorney at Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson.  His practice focuses on the areas of corporate finance, investments, and mergers and acquisitions.  Justin represents private equity groups and companies in a variety of industries in merger and acquisition transactions.  He received his J.D. from Northwestern University, and his B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Charles Brown is Director of Libraries for The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Prior to joining PLCMC, he spent 10 years as Director of the Hennepin County Library in Minnesota and eight years as Director of Libraries in Arlington County, Virginia.  Charles received his bachelor's degree from Rutgers University, his Master’s degree in Library Science is from Columbia University, and he has completed post-graduate courses of study at both the University of Virginia and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

Jim Donnelly is Managing Director of Pursuit Group, LLC, developer of the Trust (formerly the Home Federal Savings and Loan Building), Encore (including the renovation of the Carolina Theatre), and the Grace Event Center (formerly the Grace AME Zion Church on Brevard).  He co-founded Emerson Joseph, the men’s grooming lounge, and IgoUgo.com, a travel site.  Jim served as an officer in the U.S. Army. He received his B.A. from the University of Texas and his M.B.A. from the University of Georgia.

Valaida Fullwood is President of Valaida Fullwood, Inc. She is a writer, project manager and event planner. She received a B.A. in International Affairs from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Valaida is active in African American nonprofits and philanthropy serving on the board of the African American Community Foundation.

Paige Gantt is Vice President, National Insurance Cross Sell Strategist, for Wells Fargo Insurance Services, with a specific focus on the Business Banking Group Partnership nationally. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with a B.A. in Mass Communications & Business Administration, a Minor Degree in Dance.

Don Jonas is Executive Director of the Presbyterian Hospital Foundation.  He was formerly senior vice president for community philanthropy at the Foundation of the Carolinas.  He received his bachelor of arts in political science from the University of North Carolina, a masters of arts in political science from Appalachian State University, and a doctorate in political science from the University of Kentucky.

Dan Melchior is a consultant with The North Highland Company, a global consulting firm. His primary area of focus is shared services and business transformation within the entertainment/media, financial services, construction, manufacturing and distribution industries. In 2007 he wrote the book Shared Services – A Manager’s Journey (John Wiley & Sons, 2007). Dan received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Southern Indiana.

Smokey Oats is Headmaster of Trinity Episcopal School. Smokey received a B.A. from the University of the South, an M.A. from Seabury Western Theological Seminary, and a doctorate from Columbia Theological Seminary. He serves on the board of the Children’s Scholarship Fund, and on United Way of Central Carolinas and ASC councils.

Hunter Widener is Chief Banking Officer of Carolina Premier Bank. He earned a BSBA degree in Business Management from Appalachian State University. A native of Charlotte, Hunter currently serves on several boards, including the Charlotte Chamber, Charlotte Regional Partnership, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Junior Achievement, The May 20th Society and was a member of Leadership Charlotte Class XXVI.