FOUR NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO BRCC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION BOARD
August 09, 2018
The Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation Board has recently appointed four new members to fill spaces vacated by outgoing members. They are Ken Boward, Tom Mendez, Ruth Jones Turner and Sacha Purciful.
Ken Boward currently serves as treasurer and CFO of Sunnyside Communities, a life plan community catering to seniors at three campuses in Virginia. He also serves as a board member and treasurer for First Choice, an organization that provides home health, hospice and private duty services in our local area. Previously, he worked for Lumos Networks Corporation in Waynesboro, serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech and his Certification of Public Accounting (CPA) in the State of North Carolina. Ken resides in Fishersville with his wife, Laura, a GRASP representative in local high schools, helping navigate financial aid processes with students and families for post-secondary educational opportunities.
Tom Mendez is Vice President at BB&T Insurance Services where he provides risk management and insurance brokerage services to businesses, non-profit organizations and educational institutions throughout Virginia and 25 other states. After undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University, Mendez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Franklin University. Mendez has served as President of the Board of United Way, Chairman of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation Board and Chairman of the Harrisonburg City School Board twice during his 8-1/2 years on the board. Mendez and his wife, Lori, reside in Harrisonburg.
Ruth Jones Turner is a writer, communicator and marketing professional who has been sharing the stories of local people and organizations for the past 17 years. Jones began her career in 2001 as a news assistant, before becoming a news and features writer at a local daily newspaper. In 2007, she transitioned to marketing and public relations, serving as director of communications at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for seven years. She currently serves as the communications manager for the City of Staunton, working with both the school division and all city departments. Jones attended Virginia Commonwealth University and Bridgewater College earning a degree in communication studies. She resides in Stuarts Draft with her husband, Maurice.
Sacha Purciful has worked in broadcasting in Knoxville, TN, Orlando, FL, Huntsville, AL and now Harrisonburg, VA, where she serves as Vice President and General Manager of WHSV TV-3. In 2018, she introduced the “Thrive” speaker series to the Harrisonburg market, designed to connect and inspire women. Purciful received recognition as one of the Top 100 John Maxwell Transformational Leaders of 2018, an international award. She volunteers with Harrisonburg Meals on Wheels, the Harrisonburg Rockingham Child Day Care Center Board of Directors, the 2019 March for Babies Executive Leadership Team, and as a board member for Virginia Coalition for Open Government. Purciful graduated from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and resides in Penn Laird with her husband, Chad, and her young son, Connor.
Ken Boward currently serves as treasurer and CFO of Sunnyside Communities, a life plan community catering to seniors at three campuses in Virginia. He also serves as a board member and treasurer for First Choice, an organization that provides home health, hospice and private duty services in our local area. Previously, he worked for Lumos Networks Corporation in Waynesboro, serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech and his Certification of Public Accounting (CPA) in the State of North Carolina. Ken resides in Fishersville with his wife, Laura, a GRASP representative in local high schools, helping navigate financial aid processes with students and families for post-secondary educational opportunities.
Tom Mendez is Vice President at BB&T Insurance Services where he provides risk management and insurance brokerage services to businesses, non-profit organizations and educational institutions throughout Virginia and 25 other states. After undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University, Mendez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Franklin University. Mendez has served as President of the Board of United Way, Chairman of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation Board and Chairman of the Harrisonburg City School Board twice during his 8-1/2 years on the board. Mendez and his wife, Lori, reside in Harrisonburg.
Ruth Jones Turner is a writer, communicator and marketing professional who has been sharing the stories of local people and organizations for the past 17 years. Jones began her career in 2001 as a news assistant, before becoming a news and features writer at a local daily newspaper. In 2007, she transitioned to marketing and public relations, serving as director of communications at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for seven years. She currently serves as the communications manager for the City of Staunton, working with both the school division and all city departments. Jones attended Virginia Commonwealth University and Bridgewater College earning a degree in communication studies. She resides in Stuarts Draft with her husband, Maurice.
Sacha Purciful has worked in broadcasting in Knoxville, TN, Orlando, FL, Huntsville, AL and now Harrisonburg, VA, where she serves as Vice President and General Manager of WHSV TV-3. In 2018, she introduced the “Thrive” speaker series to the Harrisonburg market, designed to connect and inspire women. Purciful received recognition as one of the Top 100 John Maxwell Transformational Leaders of 2018, an international award. She volunteers with Harrisonburg Meals on Wheels, the Harrisonburg Rockingham Child Day Care Center Board of Directors, the 2019 March for Babies Executive Leadership Team, and as a board member for Virginia Coalition for Open Government. Purciful graduated from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and resides in Penn Laird with her husband, Chad, and her young son, Connor.
Contact:
Bridget Baylor, Blue Ridge Community College
(540) 453-2358
