Jonathan Board
Executive Director
Jonathan Board
Jonathan Board holds a Bachelor of Science from Fairmont State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the West Virginia University College of Law. A prolific author, he has written extensively on public health, alternative dispute resolution, and historical legal theory. With a distinguished career in public policy, he has served as a policy advisor across state and federal agencies, contributing research and legislative authorship to expand interoperability, improve access to care, and enhance technology governance. His expertise as a health governance consultant has supported institutions such as the Veterans Health Administration, Department of Defense, CMS Innovation Center, Government Oversight and Accountability Office, and the West Virginia Legislature.
In recent years, Mr. Board has held key leadership positions, including Director of Public Policy for Mon Health System and Vice President of External Affairs for Vandalia Health. In 2024, he was appointed Executive Director of the West Virginia First Foundation by Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. A proud fifth-generation West Virginian, Jonathan and his wife have chosen to raise their four children in the Mountain State, deeply committed to the community and its future.
Romeo Tan
Deputy Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer
Romeo Tan
Romeo Tan brings a background in business, healthcare operations, human resources, and organizational growth to his role with the West Virginia First Foundation. A Marshall County native, he has built his career around systems that help organizations serve people more effectively, strengthen access to care, and respond to community needs with practical, sustainable solutions. Before joining the Foundation, Romeo served as Vice President of People Operations at Orb Health, where he built the organization's human resources infrastructure, led project implementation, oversaw remote patient monitoring operations, and drove business development, supporting programs designed to reach individuals where they are and improve coordination across care teams.
Previously, Romeo held several leadership roles within Mon Health System, including Senior Director of Operations, Director of Growth and Community Outreach, and Director of Operations. He began his career in healthcare administration, human resources, and organizational redesign with Ohio Valley Health Services and Education Corporation, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Wheeling Jesuit University.
Danin Cather
Chief Marketing Officer
Danin Cather
Danin Cather is a marketing and communications leader with extensive experience in healthcare and organizational growth. She previously held several roles at Mon Health System/Vandalia Health, most recently serving as Associate Administrator of Marketing, Communications, and Growth. Earlier in her career, Danin worked at MedExpress Urgent Care/UnitedHealth Group, where she managed national community engagement programs and crafted strategic marketing initiatives to support the company’s rapid expansion.
Danin holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Economics from Elon University and a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University. Her work has earned her significant recognition, including being named to WV News and The State Journal’s Generation Next: 40 Under 40, receiving several national Healthcare Ad Awards, and being honored with the Optum Superhero recognition by UnitedHealth Group. After moving from Florida, she has proudly called West Virginia home for over a decade, where she lives with her husband, a lifelong West Virginian, and their children.
Anthony Woods
Chief Financial Officer
Anthony Woods
Anthony Woods, CPA, has built a distinguished career in financial leadership and public service within West Virginia state government. He has served as Deputy State Auditor / Comptroller in the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office, Chief Financial Officer for the West Virginia Division of Tourism, and as a member of the West Virginia Hope Scholarship Board. Throughout these roles, Anthony has overseen complex financial operations, ensured compliance with state and federal regulations, and supported initiatives that strengthen the state’s fiscal stewardship and economic development
In addition to his government service, Anthony brings extensive expertise in auditing, financial reporting, and organizational management. His career reflects a commitment to accountability and transparency in the stewardship of public funds, and he has played a key role in supporting programs that directly impact West Virginia communities. A Certified Public Accountant, Anthony continues to apply his financial acumen to advance public initiatives and strengthen the organizations he serves.
Luella Gunter
Chief Development Officer
Luella Gunter
Luella Gunter is a seasoned fundraising executive with more than 25 years of experience advancing philanthropy in higher education, healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors. A graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, she began her career in public relations and quickly discovered her passion for building relationships that drive mission-focused growth. Her career has included leadership roles at the West Virginia University Foundation and, most recently, as Executive Director of Philanthropy for Mon Health System, where she cultivated major donor relationships and secured transformational gifts, including funding for the state’s first Perinatal Anxiety and Depression program.
Known for her collaborative approach and ability to connect stakeholders around shared goals, Luella is committed to addressing Substance Use Disorders and expanding prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts across West Virginia. She also volunteers her expertise to help smaller nonprofits launch successful campaigns, reflecting her deep dedication to strengthening her home state. A Morgantown Rotarian and founding member of the Healthcare Philanthropy Forum, she exemplifies servant leadership and a vision for sustainable impact. Both proud Braxton County natives, Luella and her husband Jeff reside in Morgantown.
Rachel Thaxton
Director of Program Operations
Rachel Thaxton
Rachel Thaxton has built her career around addressing West Virginia’s substance use epidemic. She was appointed as Assistant Director of the West Virginia Department of Human Services Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) in April 2019, where she helped plan and direct statewide strategies to combat substance use. Before joining ODCP, she was Director of Development for Recovery Point West Virginia after serving as Program Director for Recovery Point Charleston, where she oversaw the development and initial operations of the state’s first 100-bed residential recovery program for women, established in 2016.
Her earlier experience includes serving as Support Team Leader at Harmony House, where she provided case management and wraparound care for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Rachel holds both a Bachelor and Master of Arts degree from West Virginia University, with a background in Elementary Education, and spent several years as a Kindergarten teacher in Kanawha County before transitioning into her leadership roles in recovery and public health.
Jessicah Cross
Director of Strategic Funding
Jessicah Cross
A proud graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Jessicah Cross holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She also holds a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University. Prior to her current role, she spent nearly a decade serving United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito, building partnerships across West Virginia and advancing key federal initiatives to benefit West Virginia communities.
Beyond her professional commitments, Jessicah has a love for travel and serves as a foster with Cross Your Paws Rescue. She shares her home with Miah and Moose, her two beloved Flat-Coated Retriever rescues. Jessicah brings a thoughtful, mission-driven approach to her work, a deep connection to her community, and a well-documented reliance on caffeine to keep everything running smoothly.
Paulina Nottingham
Outreach Coordinator
Paulina Nottingham
Paulina Nottingham brings a diverse professional background in fundraising, program development, relationship building, and strategic outreach. Most recently, she served as Capital Campaign Manager and Major Gifts Officer at Mountaineer Food Bank. Prior to that role, Paulina worked across Mon Health Foundation and the Mon Health Human Resources Department, where she helped launch the Mon Pathways to Success program supporting workforce development for individuals overcoming barriers to employment.
Paulina earned both her Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Nonprofit Organizations from West Virginia Wesleyan College, where she was also a four-year NCAA Division II volleyball student-athlete. Born in West Virginia and raised in Illinois, she chose to remain in the Mountain State because of her deep appreciation for its people and communities. Outside of work, Paulina serves as a National-Level Head Volleyball Coach and Trainer with Level-Up Volleyball Club and Head Varsity Volleyball Coach for Uniontown Area High School.