An evening view of App State’s Hickory campus in January 2023. Two signature App State block A’s illuminate the building for passersby. Photo by Troy Tuttle and Brandon Pope
The App State Hickory Campus Advisory Council comprises a dynamic group of business, education, government and civic leaders from Hickory and the surrounding area who are participating in the planning process for App State’s Hickory campus.
Hickory Campus Advisory Council members
This list reflects active council members as of March 8, 2023.

Dr. Sheri Everts
Chancellor, App State

Austin Allran
Former North Carolina Senator

Kevin Baxter
Vice Chancellor and Chief Campus Officer, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM)-Morganton

Jeff Behmer
ABS Legacy Partners LLC

Eddie Beard
President and CEO, Catawba Valley Medical Center

Diana Beasley
Hickory campus community liaison

Vance Dalton Jr.
President and CEO, Carolina Farm Credit; Chair, Catawba Valley Community College Board of Trustees

Matthew Dockham
Director of External Affairs and Community Relations, App State

Mike Ellwanger
Director of Global Cable Product Development, Corning Optical Communications

Hank Foreman
Vice Chancellor for External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Chief of Staff, and Secretary, App State

Yaidee Fox
Executive Assistant Manager, City of Hickory

Mary Furtado
Assistant County Manager, Catawba County Government

Kimberly George
Senior Vice President, Alex Lee Inc.

Hank Guess
City of Hickory Mayor

Scott Hildebran
City of Lenoir Manager

Brandon Hucks '96
CFO, Century Furniture Industries

Sam Hunt
President Hickory Branch - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Lindsay Keisler
President and CEO, Catawba County Chamber of Commerce

Meg Nealon
Principal, Nealon Planning

Brock Long
Executive Chair, Hagerty Consulting

Chris Lovern
Aviation Companies

Andy Lovingood
President, McGill Associates

Tommy Luckadoo
President, Mayberry Partners LLC; Member of the N.C. Education and Workforce Innovation Commission

Andy Matthews
Executive Vice President, Matthews Construction Co.

Scott Millar
President, Catawba County Economic Development Corporation

Gigi Miller
Print Marketing LLC

Carol Moore
CEO and President, STEM West

Clay Neill
Vice President, Neil Grading & Construction Co.

Jill Patton
City of Hickory Council Member

Mark Poarch
President, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Todd Roberts
Chancellor, NCSSM

Carlos Rodriguez
Founder and Senior Pastor, iChurch

Stephen Shuford
CEO, Shurtape Technologies LLC

Anthony Starr
Executive Director, Western Piedmont Council of Governments

Paul Thompson
CEO, Transportation Insight; Thompson established the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship at App State

Charlotte Williams
City of Hickory Council Member; Former Associate Dean and Professor, Lenoir-Rhyne University

Tony Wood
City of Hickory Council Member

Warren Wood
City of Hickory Manager

Steve Wyatt
App State Board of Trustees Member
Major current projects:
- App State Hickory Campus
- Innovation District
- Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research
- Appalachian 105
- Arts Corridor
- Dining Facilities Renovations — Roess Dining Hall and Trivette Hall
- Holmes Parking Deck
- Wey Hall Renovation
- University Bookstore renovation
- Newland Hall Renovation
- Peacock Hall Addition and Renovation
- Edwin Duncan Hall Renovation
- Boone Creek Daylighting