Craig Grooms, Executive Director
A graduate of the West Virginia Institute of Technology (B.S., 1985) and the University of Pittsburgh, (M.P.P.M. 2002). Craig joined College Summit in January 2006, after working for three years as the Director of Admissions for Marshall University.  He brings 20 years of experience in the field of higher education admissions.  He also has extensive direct-service experience and has participated in three College Summit Workshops.  In addition to his hands-on work with students, Craig is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the Chesapeake & Potomac Association for College Admission Counseling. 

Jon Charles, Program Director
Prior to joining College Summit, Jon was an English teacher and has an extensive record of coaching college-bound students in SAT/ACT prep and application essays.  He taught American literature and history in a gifted and talented magnet program and Theory of Knowledge in an International Baccalaureate school. In previous positions, he also served as professional development administrator and as state writing portfolio coordinator.  Jon graduated from Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky where he majored in English and history and minored in French and Italian.  Jon hopes his educational background and classroom experience will help College Summit overcome the challenges of college enrollment

Susan Shew, Development Manager
A graduate of West Virginia University (M.S. Industrial & Labor Relations, 2004 and B.S. Business Administration with honors, 2003), Susan joined the College Summit team as an AmeriCorps VISTA in March 2006.  After her VISTA term was complete, Susan was hired as a full-time College Summit employee.  Susan is a graduate of the 2007 Leadership West Virginia class and is a member of Charleston Area Alliance’s Generation Charleston.  At College Summit Susan works to build and maintain relationships with corporate, foundation, and individual donors in order to raise money and community awareness to support College Summit-West Virginia. Susan joined the College Summit team because of her passion for education and her home state of West Virginia.

Jayme Waldeck, Community Engagement Coordinator
A graduate of Shepherd University (B.F.A. Graphic Design, 2003), Jayme joined the College Summit team in February 2006.  Jayme was first able to learn about College Summit, during the summer of 2005 when she volunteered as a Writing Coach at a College Summit workshop.  Jayme worked as a Service Learning Specialist at the University of Charleston through the AmeriCorps VISTA program.  During her term, Jayme worked with college students, high school students, and area non-profits, in order to partner them with meaningful community service projects.  Jayme joined College Summit to help influence college enrollment in West Virginia.

Keri Ferro, School Partnership Manager
A graduate of West Virginia State University (B.A. Education, 2002) and Marshall University (M.A., Leadership Studies, 2005), Keri joined the College Summit team in September 2007.  Keri is a former Chemistry teacher in Kanawha County and also a former College Summit Advisor.  She is currently seeking her Doctorate of Education at Marshall University, while continuing to coach Cheerleading at St. Albans High School.  Keri joined the College Summit team because of her passion for education and for the opportunity to help affect system change.

Billy Burdette, School Partnership Manager
Billy Burdette uses his innovative spirit and experience in the public school system to encourage schools and individuals to participate in College Summit.  He attended West Virginia State University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education.  Billy was the Director of Choral Activities at Courtland High School in Spotsylvania County, VA before joining the College Summit West Virginia team in April 2008.

Jennifer Wood, School Partnership Manager
Jennifer joined the College Summit team in July 2010 as a School Partnership Manager and is a graduate of West Virginia University Institute of Technology (B.S., Business Management, 2001) and West Virginia University (M.S., Integrated Marketing Communications, 2009). Jennifer brings experience and expertise from the nonprofit and higher education sectors with interest and experience in college access.  Prior to joining to the College Summit team, Jennifer volunteered for College Summit for three years. She is passionate about College Summit because of the opportunities it provides to students and because it makes a difference in her home state.

Kristin Worley, School Partnership Manager
A native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Kristin joined the College Summit team in July 2010 as a School Partnership Manager and is a graduate of Marshall University where she received her bachelor’s in Counseling and Rehabilitation in 2005 and her master’s in School Counseling in 2008. Kristin worked as a high school counselor in a College Summit partner school for two years where she also served as the school’s Upward Bound Coordinator. In her spare time, she enjoys being surrounded with my family and friends and loves to cook, travel, read, exercise, and spend time with her animals.

Regional Advisory Board

Brad Rowe, Board Chair
Vice President – Operations, General Corporation
Nikki Gray, Vice Chair
Group Recruiting Manager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Julie Mork, Founding Chair
Managing Director, ECA Foundation
General Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong
President and Executive Director, Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation
Dr. Hazo Carter
President, West Virginia State University
Lloyd Jackson
President, Jackson Gas
L. Newton Thomas, Jr.
President, Daywood Foundation
Larry Salyers
Vice President, United Bank
Jeremiah Jasper
Pastor, Johnson-Memorial United Methodist Church
Scott Kaminski
Partner, Balgo and Kaminski, L.C.
Dr. Dan Foster
West Virginia State Senator, (D-17th District)

**Emeritus Status Board Members
Edward G. Maier
President, the Maier Foundation, Inc.
I.N. “Ike” Smith, Jr.
Vice Chairman, United Bankshares