Board of Directors

Eastmont Community Foundation

 

Board Leadership

Lauren Tate | President

Lauren graduated from Virginia Tech, earning both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in education. With over 26 years of experience in public behavioral health, Lauren has held various positions including direct care, case management and supervisory roles. She is currently serving as a Quality Assurance Program Manager. Lauren is actively involved in crisis response teams and project implementation teams, and she represents her region on several state committees. Lauren is dedicated to supporting her community through active participation in several organizations. She has served on the Steering Committee for To Our House (homeless program), Montgomery County Public Schools Gifted Advisory Committee, EMES PTO and SMS PTO groups. She is a member of the Virginia Tech Monogram Club and the Eastern Montgomery High School Athletic Booster Club. Since 2012, Lauren has been a member of the Eastmont Community Foundation board. She currently serves as the ECF Board President. She enjoys photographing sports and events in the area. Lauren and her husband, Ben, reside in eastern Montgomery County with their family.

James E. Pearman Jr. | Vice President

Jim co-founded Partners in Financial Planning LLC in 2009 and is a Senior Financial Planner. He authored the book “Financial Planning for the Older Client” and has been quoted on financial planning topics in a variety of local and national publications. He is active with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors and the NAPFA Consumer Education Foundation. Jim has served as an industry expert for the North American Securities Administrators Association Exams Advisory Project Group that develops and reviews questions for the Series 63, 65 and 66 securities exams. He holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Virginia Tech and has served in the financial services industry for 50-plus years. Jim enjoys being involved with his community. He chairs the boards of Feeding Southwest Virginia, Alta Mons, Inc. and serves as vice president of Eastmont Community Foundation as well as treasurer of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. Jim and his wife, Brenda, live in Salem with their cats and enjoys going to Virginia Tech sporting events, especially Hokie basketball and football.

George Smith III | Secretary

George holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University. He is a retired health care administrator and real estate broker. George is currently the Facility Manager for Eastmont Community Foundation. His community involvement includes serving as secretary and board member of the Eastmont Community Foundation, secretary of the Craighill Masonic Lodge, board member at Camp Alta Mons and Meadowbrook Museum, as well as current board member and former president of the Shawsville Ruritan Club.

Ellen Ryan | Treasurer

Ellen is an Emory & Henry graduate who has experience as a substitute teacher with Montgomery County Public Schools and has served on the Community Foundation of the New River Valley's board of directors. She has volunteered extensively in the eastern Montgomery area, earning recognition for her culinary skills and her supportive presence within the community.

Board Members

Allen Childress

Allen graduated from Eastern Montgomery High School and Emory & Henry University. He has taught and coached in Montgomery County Schools for over a decade, currently working at Shawsville Middle School. He chairs the Administrative Council of White Memorial United Methodist Church in Shawsville and volunteers in various roles to support Eastern Montgomery County, which he values greatly and wants to see thrive.

Cherie Jones-McHone

Cherie is a lifelong resident of Shawsville and graduated from Shawsville High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Radford University, and a degree from The Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management. She currently serves as vice president and senior branch manager at Atlantic Union Bank, earning multiple awards including Employee of the Year, Excellent Service in Action and Bank Platinum Club winner. Cherie is a charter member of Seneca Baptist Church in Elliston, serving in the Seneca Baptist Choir, Wednesday night Seneca Youth Club, Mission Trips and in the Good News Club. Cherie has been serving on the board of Eastmont Community Foundation for six years. Cherie is a member of the Montgomery County Chamber Women in Leadership. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, working on music, tropical vacations, working out and volunteering in the community. “I am truly blessed and I enjoy giving back and serving my community,” she says. She resides in Shawsville with her husband and two children.

Zach Milton

Zach is a lifelong resident of eastern Montgomery County and an alumnus of Eastern Montgomery High School. He earned his degree in business with a concentration in finance from Roanoke College, where he also played four years of college basketball. With over 13 years of experience as a real estate agent in the region and more than 14 years in property flipping, he has developed significant expertise in construction, remodeling, investment property and property management. Currently, Zach works in investment management. He has served on the Montgomery County Zoning Board of Appeals and is the current president of the Meadowbrook Investment Club. Since beginning his coaching career in 2021, Zach has been the varsity men’s basketball coach at Eastern Montgomery High School since 2023. Outside of his professional roles, he enjoys assisting on his family’s farm, spending time outdoors — particularly fishing — and being with his wife and three children.

Niki Shumate

Niki was raised in Shawsville, where faith, family and community were integral to her upbringing. She has been an active member of White Memorial Methodist Church for many years, an institution that significantly influenced her values from an early age. Niki is a graduate of Shawsville High School and went on to earn a degree in music from Radford University. Her parents emphasized the importance of community service, a principle that continues to guide her personal and professional endeavors. Currently, Niki serves as the bookkeeper at Eastern Montgomery High School, supporting students, faculty and staff through her role. Additionally, she works part-time in the box office at the Salem Civic Center, maintaining her connection to the arts and local events. Niki demonstrates a dedicated commitment to service, education and community engagement — values deeply rooted in her background and reflected throughout her professional journey and volunteerism. In her free time, Niki enjoys spending time with her husband, John, two step daughters, Karli and Lauryn, and her two dogs.

Kate Stewart

Kate is a lifelong resident of the Eastern Montgomery community and a graduate of Eastern Montgomery High School. She went on to earn a degree in interdisciplinary studies from Emory & Henry College, returning home to begin her career as a first-grade teacher at Shawsville Elementary School. Motivated by a passion for literacy, Kate pursued her reading specialist degree at Radford University and later served nine years in that role at Eastern Montgomery Elementary, where she also completed her administrative endorsement. In 2022, she transitioned into school leadership as assistant principal and most recently became principal in the spring of 2025 at EMES. Throughout her career, Kate has been committed to improving educational opportunities for students in her home community and supporting educators in delivering high-quality instruction. She brings deep experience in literacy, instructional leadership and community engagement to the ECF board of directors. Above all, Kate remains passionate about serving and strengthening the Eastern Montgomery community.

Casey Underwood

Casey was raised in Radford and holds a bachelor’s degree in crop and soil environmental science from Virginia Tech. With over 27 years of experience in athletic facility and grounds management at Virginia Tech, Casey currently serves as the senior associate athletics director for facility maintenance and capital projects. He has also contributed to the community as a board member for two local travel soccer clubs and has coached youth sports at recreational, travel and school levels. Casey is an inductee of the Radford High School Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Frank Beamer Award. In addition to his professional commitments, he enjoys fishing, bird hunting, spending quality time with his children and volunteering.

Vacant Position

Community Representatives

Chelsea Stewart

Chelsea was raised in the close-knit community of Lee County, where her strong work ethic and dedication to service first took root. With over 19 years of experience as a title abstractor, she has built a reputation for precision, reliability and deep expertise in her field. Outside of her professional life, Chelsea is an avid lover of reading, movies and music, finding inspiration and joy in stories of all kinds. A die-hard University of Tennessee fan, she proudly represents the Vols wherever she goes. Chelsea is especially thankful for the opportunity to lend a helping hand and is committed to contributing to the continued growth and success of the Eastmont Community Foundation. Her passion for community, paired with her professional experience and personal dedication, drives her to make a meaningful difference wherever possible.

Debbie Sisson Owen

Debbie is originally from eastern Montgomery County and is a graduate of Shawsville High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science with teaching certification from Mary Washington College, graduating Cum Laude, and earned a Master’s in Education Administration from the University of North Texas in 1998. Her professional experience includes two years of teaching in the Dallas Public School District and three years in the Carrollton Farmers Branch School District in Texas. Additionally, she worked for five years as a Systems Analyst at Computer Sciences Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. Debbie has actively participated in various school parent organizations across multiple states and countries, including Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Mexico, Panama, Minnesota and Virginia, adapting to the diverse communities encountered during relocation. During her time in Minnesota, she served on the board of Habitat for Humanity in Winona. Currently, Debbie volunteers locally at the Meadowbrook Museum, Eastmont Community Foundation, EMHS Athletic Boosters and EMHS PTO. Her personal interests include horseback riding, gardening and culinary pursuits.

Adam Ryan

Adam is a native to the eastern Montgomery area. He earned a Bachelor of Science in math and physics from Emory & Henry, as well as a Master’s in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech. Adam is a mechanical designer at Salas O’Brien, specializing in plumbing and fire protection design for a wide range of projects, including high-rise hotels, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, university laboratories and multifamily buildings. Adam also provides food catering for various community foundation events and designs amateur golf courses for the annual Meadowbrook Open tournament. For enjoyment, he loves cooking new food receipts with his wife, skiing with his family and exploring scenic attractions in his local area.

Emeritus Members

  • Dr. George R. Smith: A retired family physician and founding member of the foundation.

  • Thomas M. Dunkenberger Sr.: Retired vice president of Sisson & Ryan Quarry.

  • Dot King: A retired educator and principal of Shawsville Elementary School.

  • Dale Mull: Retired from the solid propellant research and development division of Hercules Inc. and Alliant Techsystems. He is founder of LINC, a community newsletter, and was the coordinator of the area’s food pantry.

  • Marty Childress: Childress Insurance in Shawsville and Christiansburg.

  • Spencer Winfrey: Retired from Federal Mogul.